The road between Banff and Jasper is widely considered one of the most scenic journeys in Canada. Running along the eastern edge of the Rockies, it delivers huge mountain views, glacier-fed rivers and those bright, ice-blue lakes that make this region so iconic. If you’re not self-driving this section, a guided coach transfer is a great way to do it, with comfortable transport plus commentary along the way, so you still get the story behind the scenery rather than simply watching it go by.

Departing from Canmore or Banff, you’ll begin with a stop at Lake Louise, giving you time to take in the famous turquoise water and the surrounding peaks. From there you’ll continue north along the Icefields Parkway, pausing at a series of viewpoints for photos and short leg-stretches as the landscape shifts from lake country into higher, more glaciated terrain.

At the Columbia Icefield, you’ll have time at the Icefield Discovery Centre and a break for lunch. You’ll also have the option to visit the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored viewing platform extending out above the Sunwapta Valley for wide, high-level views over the wilderness. We generally advise against the Ice Explorer-style glacier vehicle experiences for environmental reasons, but you’ll still get a fantastic sense of the icefield from the viewpoints and interpretive areas.

Total journey time is around 9.5 hours.