It’s time to visit those famous blue lakes that you’ve seen in postcards! Lake Louise is calling, as is Moraine Lake (seasonal) before heading along the Icefields Parkway for breathtaking views of jagged mountain peaks, glaciers, raging rivers and more turquoise lakes. Keep your eyes peeled for iconic Canadian wildlife such as bears, moose and elk as we make stops at the Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake (our favourite) and Mistaya Canyon before arriving at our rustic wilderness hostel. We invite you to immerse yourself in your beautiful surroundings with a dip and a sauna, and a campfire under the stars with your fellow travelers and a home cooked pot luck dinner. 

Moose Accommodation: HI Mosquito Creek, HI Rampart Creek or HI Athabasca Falls 

Optional Meal Inclusion: Home style group meal 

Please Note: there are no alternative accommodation options at this location, but we know you’ll love having a true taste of Canada at one of our wilderness hostel stays.

Jasper National Park today! First, we’ll stop at Big Bend lookout for a stunning view of the 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). We will then head on to Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park, for a short 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. 

Optional Afternoon Activity: Mountain Biking in Jasper 

Moose Accommodation: HI Jasper 

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. Next, we head to Waterfowl Lakes to soak in the backdrop of Mount Chephren, which was named after the 4th Dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh. After this, we’ll return to Banff for a group dinner, and once our bellies are full, the night is yours! See what Banff nightlife has to offer or take a relaxing dip in the Banff Upper Hot Springs. 

Morning Meal Inclusion: Breakfast at HI Jasper (bolding) 

Evening Meal Inclusion: Dinner at Cougar Pete’s Restaurant & Lookout (bolding) 

Moose Accommodation: There is no accommodation included tonight. You will need to make your own arrangements. We recommend that you do not book onward travel on this day in case of traffic or weather delays.

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 our Wilderness Hostels). 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 a 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 Mosquito Creek, Rampart Creek or Athabasca Falls, 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 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.