Columbia Icefield Parkway & Oldest Tree in Canada | Private Tour | La Vacanza Travel

Columbia Icefield Parkway & Oldest Tree in Canada | Private Tour

Duration: 7 to 10 hours
Destination: Canada, Alberta, Calgary
from
297.03

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  • 7 to 10 hours
  • Calgary
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

See almost 3,000 years the oldest tree in Canada!

This private guided Banff and Jasper National Park tour may be just what you need. Escape the crowds and witness nature's breathtaking spring, summer fall and winter transformation. The itineraries for this tour are based on the cultural heritage and history of Banff and Jasper National Park . An essential part of this tour is taking short and easy walks away from crowds. Travelers with all abilities can manage these walks.

Among the scenic features at Northern Saskatchewan River tour stop, are the gnarled and windblown limber pines growing on exposed rocky ridges. On this trip you will have a chance to see the Limber Pine estimated to be about 2500-3000 years old, making it the oldest living Limber Pine in the world and the oldest tree in Canada.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Bow Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta Canada

Bow Lake sits at an elevation of 1920 meters and spends most of the year locked away in ice. The lake acts as the source of the Bow River that flows through Banff, Canmore, and Calgary.

At this location, we will go for a lovely hike that traverses the shores of Bow Lake, travels through an interesting gorge, and then ascends an outwash plain to the base of stunning Bow Falls tumbling down a rugged cliff.

Don't forget to bring with your lunch for an amazing picnic at an elevation above 7,000 feet.

Hiking Difficulty Level: easy-moderate

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Peyto Lake, Icefield Parkway, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta Canada

Before named Peyto the lake was known as Doghead Lake—exactly what it resembles from any high point near its south end looking north. It was renamed for guide/outfitter, Bill Peyto, who would later become one of Canada’s first Banff National Park warden.

The panoramic lookout is insanely beautiful.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Saskatchewan River Crossing, Highway 93 and Highway 11 Improvement District No. 9, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta Canada

Historically, North Saskatchewan River Valley, White Goat Wilderness Area and Kootenay Plains Corridor commemorate the diversity of human experience and the legacy of thousands of years of human history and mark the tangible cultural remains of the lives and stories of the people who used this part of Canadian Rockies as an important trade and travel corridor linking the Alberta Plains to the interior of British Columbia.

Among the scenic features are the gnarled and windblown limber pines growing on exposed rocky ridges.

There is a Limber Pine growing in this. It is estimated to be about 2500-3000 years, making it the oldest living Limber Pine in the world and the oldest tree in Canada and you will have a chance to see this tree during this tour.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, Highway 93 Icefields Pkwy, Improvement District No. 12, Jasper National Park, Alberta T1L 1J3 Canada

The Athabasca is the most-visited glacier on the North American continent. Situated across from the Icefield Centre, its ice is in continuous motion, creeping forward at the rate of several centimeters per day. Spilling from the Columbia Icefield over three giant bedrock steps, the glacier flows down the valley like a frozen, slow-moving river. Because of a warming climate, the Athabasca Glacier has been receding or melting for the last 125 years. Losing half its volume and retreating more than 1.5 kms, the shrinking glacier has left a moonscape of rocky moraines in its wake.

Duration: 3 hours

Inclusions
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Private transportation
  • Private Guide
  • Small private group maximum 2-3 travelers
  • Entry/Admission - Saskatchewan River Crossing
  • Entry/Admission - Peyto Lake
  • Entry/Admission - Bow Lake
  • Entry/Admission - Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre

Exclusions
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Near public transportation
    • Most travelers can participate
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • This private tour will have a maximum of 3 travelers
    • Free pick up/drop off from Hotel and Airbnb
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    Departure Point

    Traveler pickup is offered


    Departure Time


    Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
    Columbia Icefield Parkway & Oldest Tree in Canada | Private Tour
    11/3/2021 - 4/25/2025

    Monday - Sunday : 06:30 AM - 06:30 PM
    Tuesday - Thursday : 07:00 AM - 06:30 PM
    Friday : 06:30 AM - 06:30 PM

    Voucher info

    You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

    Duration

    7 to 10 hours


    User's Reviews

    Kathy M

    02 Mar, 2024

    What an amazing day! Jersey is an absolute joy!!! He’s knowledge of the area is thoughtful and engaging. The scenery in the middle of winter was breathtaking. I can’t wait to come back in warmer weather. I would redo the tour again with Jersey in a heartbeat!

    Alberto_G

    23 Jan, 2024

    A refreshing experience well worth the time! We are a bit late on this review due to continuous travels, but are now taking the time to mention our extraordinary experience on our trip to Alberta, Canada, during December 2023. We are avid travelers who prefer to take our journeys in depth, and typically venture out on our own, but having an experienced guide made the visit so much more than we could have imagined. We are typically keen on experiencing our geographical roadmaps with included areas of cities or towns well known, but highly prefer to have a distance from the crowds while enjoying lesser known areas or locations which are just as beautiful and more memorable than your typical beaten path. Jerzy, was able to balance both of these for us, and was by far the most kind, and flexible tour guide we have ever had during our Winter adventure. Being a photographer hobbyist, we felt so much support from Jerzy, with his extensive knowledge on the history behind our visited locations, and recounting tales of Jimmy Simpson, who was a guiding and outfitting pioneer in the Canadian Rockies and founder of Num-Ti-Jah Lodge at Bow Lake, which was absolutely breathtaking! We were able to see the glacier caps over the mountains, and an impressive view of the glass shards pushed on the shoreline while the lake was in process of the fall overturn while at this location. Every moment we spent on this trip, and the locations were truly magical! Emerald Lake, Peyto Lake, Herbert Lake were among some of the fascinating locations we experienced, but the enthusiasm and journey and humility that Jerzy, provided was what made our day very special, and unmeasurable. We consider Jerzy, a new friend from the Canadian Rockies, and will look forward to more journeys together in the near future. Thank you Jerzy, for your kindness and extensive experience!

    Luke_B

    21 Jan, 2024

    We did this tour with Jerzy back in September (sorry for the very late review!). We did not have a car during our holiday, so this tour was a great way to see lots of places we would not have been able to see otherwise. It was great having a private tour as Jerzy recommended places and we picked where we wanted to go. Whilst driving Jerzy played some interviews on the history of the area with Jimmy Simpson which were interesting. to hear. Our favourite places we visited were Bow Lake, Takakkaw Falls and Marble Canyon (we had the whole canyon to ourselves!). Jerzy is a great guide and made sure we covered everything we wanted to without feeling rushed. We would recommend his tour. Thanks Luke and Steph

    Margaret A

    29 Oct, 2023

    Jerzy is a friendly & sincere guide, which tries his very best to bring the ultimate Banff experience to us. At the beginning of our journey, he tailored the journey by first understanding what spots we have been to before, and what experience we would like to have during this 1-day tour (eg: hiking/sight-seeing etc.). I still remembered that the weather that day is not really nice in the morning, but Jerzy paid an effort in keeping track at the weather in Banff, discussed with us and had re-arranged the travelling spots for us. Throughout the day, we had an excellent experience, which could go to the spots that we want to go in Banff. Thanks Jerzy for your excellent tour! :) We went to the Yoho National Park (Emerald Lake, and the Natural bridge), the Peyto Lake, the Bow Lake, the Bow Falls, and the Surprise Corner. Jerzy knows very well about Banff, and he knows some secret best viewing point that only a local would know! If you’re looking for the most local experience, then Jerzy’a tour would definitely be a good choice for curating your Banff journey. Thanks Jerzy, my mum and I enjoyed your tour very much, and thanks for trying your very best in curating the ultimate Banff journey for us :)

    sayandatta

    09 Sep, 2023

    As the title suggests, Jerzy is simply the best. This was my second experience of a private trip with him and like last year the experience was top notch. We covered Bow lake, Peyto lake and YOHO national park attractions. Jerzy is much much more than a tour guide. He is a story teller and is an expert on all the hidden spots for breathtaking views. The weather was not best but even then the day turned out to be perfect thanks to him going out of the way and ensuring we get the best possible experience. For example he could read the weather patterns to the t and used that to plan out the order of attractions for the day. He will also ensure that you avoid the crowded touristic view points and in the process help you experience Banff in a completely unique way. I only have the highest recommendation and in my opinion this is the best guided trip out there.

    User's Picture Gallery

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    Wow! Beautiful! Amazing! Repeat!

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    A Unique Experience in The Canadian Rockies

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    Simply the best tour guide out there in Banff...

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    Best Scenic and Personal Adventure

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    Our guide Jerzy was very...

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    One of the best…

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    Must do in the Banff

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    FANTASTIC!

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    Perfect personalized day trip with a great nice guide

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    Would go all over again.

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    Best tour ever!!

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    From the story of Jimmy Simpson to the beauty of a glacier

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    The BEST tour experience!

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    Amazing trip

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    You Have to Book This!

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    Absolutely amazing

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    Will book with Jerzy again if we make it back to Canada.

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    Amazing

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    Winter in Banff

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    AMAZING private tour in banff

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    Best way to experience the Canadian Rockies and see everything in one day

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    An Unforgettable Experience

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    Best day ever!

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    A fantastic tour with an even better guide!

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