Athabasca Glacier Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Athabasca Glacier. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Tread Lightly Glacier Hikes

• Canadian Rocky Mountains & Banff 5-Day Premium Tour

• Athabasca Falls/Abraham Ice Bubble, Sunwapta Falls, Icefield & Peyto

• Jasper to Banff 1-Way Tour

• Canadian Rockies and Banff 4-Day Tour From Vancouver (Chinese & English)

While there’s no specific fee to visit the Athabasca Glacier—unless you want to take a guided tour or—you will need to pay for a Parks Canada entry pass because the glacier is within Jasper National Park. Day passes cost CA$12.25 for adults, CA$10.75 for seniors, and CA$24.50 for families or groups. Youth enter free. Annual passes are also available and are a good value if you plan to travel extensively through Canadian national parks. Parks Canada Discovery Passes cost CA$83.50 for adults, with alternate pricing for seniors and families.

Yes, the Athabasca Glacier is definitely worth visiting while you're exploring Jasper National Park or if you're road tripping along the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper. You can admire views of the glacier from the parking area or get closer on a hiking tour or an all-terrain vehicle tour, with vehicles specially modified to drive on ice.

Per one customer who booked the Tread Lightly Glacier Hikes, "Once in a lifetime experience! Being able to rappel into a crevasse on Athabasca Glacier is not something you get to do every day. Our guide Sarah was amazing, being able to cater to different age groups, fitness levels, and yet everyone was able to enjoy themselves!"

While you can explore Athabasca Glacier alone, there are some limitations. Independent travelers can't walk on the glacier—they can only admire it from the hiking trail or the road. However, you can walk on the glacier on a tour with a guide and the right equipment.

On the Athabasca Glacier tour, wear layers that can be easily removed or added in case the weather changes and sturdy boots that will keep your feet dry and warm. Don’t forget a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the glare of the ice and sunscreen to protect your skin.

Visiting Athabasca Glacier in the summer months between June and August is recommended. With warmer temperatures and longer days, you will have more time to marvel at the landscape. However, tours quickly book out in these months, so also consider May or September for a quieter option.

A tour of Athabasca Glacier typically lasts around three hours, enough to get a taste of what walking on the ice is like. However, depending on your desired level of involvement and exploration, you can book full-day tours with up to six hours of glacier walking.

Yes. It's wise to book an Athabasca Glacier tour in advance, especially in the summer months. Not only does pre-booking ensure your spot, but it also saves time and ensures you receive the best possible experience. After all, this breathtaking natural wonder may not be around forever.

While you can hike up to the glacier's edge independently on the Athabasca Glacier Trail, you can only hike onto the glacier with a guide. The glacier is a constantly evolving landscape, requiring a certain level of physical and mental stamina and the right equipment to tackle it safely.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Athabasca Glacier. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Alberta:

• Johnston Canyon

• Bow Falls

• Moraine Lake

• Lake Minnewanka

• Banff Gondola

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Alberta.