The road from Jasper down to Banff 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 memorable. 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 get more out of the landscapes you’re passing through.

Travelling south along the Icefields Parkway, you’ll stop at a series of scenic viewpoints for photos and short leg-stretches as the terrain shifts between valleys, waterfalls, and high mountain passes. At the Columbia Icefield, there’s 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 surrounding 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.

Later, you’ll stop at Lake Louise to take in its striking turquoise waters and dramatic mountain backdrop before continuing on to your final destination.

Total journey time is around 9.5 hours.