It’s time to visit those famous blue lakes! Lake Louise is calling, as is Moraine Lake (seasonal) before heading onto the Icefields Parkway for breath-taking views of jagged mountain peaks, glaciers, raging rivers and more turquoise lakes.  Keep your eyes peeled for large furry animals as we make stops at the Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake (our favourite) and Mistaya Canyon before arriving at our rustic wilderness hostel alongside Rampart Creek. We invite you to really take in your surroundings with a dip and a sauna, and perhaps a campfire under the stars.

Moose Accommodation: HI Rampart Creek. Please note: there are no alternative accommodation options at this location, but we know you’ll love having a true taste of Canada at Rampart Creek’s rustic wilderness hostel.

Jasper National Park today! But first we’ll stop at Big Bend lookout for a great view of the U-shaped North Saskatchewan River Valley. Get your legs ready because next up is the Columbia Icefield, the largest ice field in the Rocky Mountains at 325 square kilometres, where we’ll hike to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier (conditions permitting.) Then on to Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park, for a hike that crosses several bridges over the canyon with jaw-dropping views. Jasper townsite is our destination, and if you’re seeking an adrenaline rush, there is an option to take a guided mountain bike tour on arrival.

Our first stop: Athabasca Falls, one of the most powerful and picturesque in the Rockies! This is followed by a bit of mountain goat spotting (we’re still amazed at how they hold on) at the Goats and Glaciers viewpoint. Then on to Waterfowl Lakes to soak in the backdrop of Mount Chephren, which was named after the 4th Dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh. Our tour ends after a group dinner back in Banff.

Meal inclusions: Dinner

The Athabasca tour through the heart of the Rocky Mountains offers incredible experiences for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Go mountain biking through the alpine forests, or whitewater rafting through the gushing valleys. There are plenty of options to experience the incredible mountain vistas no matter what your activity level and budget – from hiking to soaking in mountain hot springs. (Note: some of the activities below are only available after finishing the tour in Banff).

Optional activities are booked and paid through your Moose tour guide while on the tour. No need to pre-book! The following optional activities are available on this tour:

On a non-accommodated tour package, you must book ALL your accommodation yourself (except at Rampart Creek – see below). Moose does NOT include nor hold any accommodation reservations on your behalf in the overnight locations on this package. The non-accommodated package is designed for travellers who wish to stay in private rooms or in alternative properties.

NOTE 1: The only exception is at Rampart Creek Wilderness Hostel where one (1) night in a mixed gender, hostel dormitory bed is included with this package. There are no alternative accommodation properties nearby and no private rooms available at Rampart Creek, hence why this hostel overnight is included.

For the accommodated version of this tour, click here.

The Athabasca is the middle 3 days of the 8 day Caribou tour, and is part of numerous combination tours we offer. Some of your fellow travellers will have started together in Vancouver before you join them. After you finish in Banff, many travellers will continue towards Vancouver the following day.

All tour finish times are approximate. We strongly recommend that you DO NOT book onward travel on the final day of the tour, since traffic or other unexpected circumstances may cause delays.

Please note that our itineraries can change and/or activities can be cancelled without notice as a result of circumstances beyond our control, such as weather, traffic and unforeseen events. If this does occur, there may be alternatives available, or you may get to enjoy more free time to explore on your own!

Some sites on this tour are only available seasonally. Moraine Lake is only accessible from late May until mid-October. If you want to visit this site, please choose a departure within the appropriate date range.

This tour starts and finishes in Banff. The closest airport is in Calgary (YYC).

If you’re flexible about when you can travel, consider the pros and cons of our travel seasons. In Low Season, you’ll get the BEST VALUE on our tours, there’s less traffic, and far fewer people at the most popular sites. The trade off is that the weather is typically more variable, cooler and wetter. Plus, a few sites may be closed, and the glacial lakes may still be frozen in the spring, although that’s also beautiful! In Peak Season, everything is open, the weather is more consistent, warmer and generally drier, and the glacial lakes are in their full glory. However, our tours cost more, traffic is busier, and the most popular locations on our itineraries can be very busy.

We take your safety, and the safety of our staff and partners very seriously. Click here for more information.