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Important Update: Jasper National Park and the town of Jasper have experienced severe wildfire damage. The region is closed to visitors and all reservations have been cancelled up to September 3, 2024. Please refer to the Jasper Facebook Page for updates before planning your trip.
Are you looking for the best tours from Calgary to Jasper? I have a list of them for you below!
We’ve lived in this area for a long time and know firsthand how driving the distance from Calgary to Jasper can be quite a hassle. And if you aren’t interested in renting a car how will you be able to see all of the amazing stops on the Icefields Parkway? But don’t worry! This is where our local expertise comes in handy and we have solved those problems for you.
All you have to do is check out the best tours we’ve found below that not only get you to Jasper but also see some incredible places along the way. Win-win!
Best Jasper Tours from Calgary
1. One-way Trip from Calgary to Jasper including Bonus Stops and Glacier Tour
If you want to get to Jasper in a day but still want to stop at iconic locations like the Columbia Icefield and Lake Louise this specific Calgary to Jasper tour is our recommended choice. And since it ends in Jasper, it’s perfect for those of you who want to spend time there anyway!
I like this tour because it includes everything (except food and drinks) so there are no surprise costs. From the moment you board to when you get dropped off at your Jasper hotel, the local guide takes care of everything throughout the day. That includes fun and interesting information about each stop you make!
If you’re flying into Calgary and taking this tour, I suggest staying at one of the two hotels they pick up at for your convenience for the 6:15 am pickup.
Two of my favorite experiences on the Icefields Parkway are included. The Athabasca Glacier Adventure Tour where we got to ride a massive Ice Explorer bus onto the glacier and fill up our water bottles with the purest water I’ve ever tasted! Plus the Columbia Icefield Skywalk has us walking along a glass floor over the Sunwapta Valley. There are also bonus stops at beautiful Lake Louise and the Crowfoot Glacier.
Available from May through mid-October this tour is $425 CAD.
Book your one-way ticket from Calgary to Jasper here including epic stops along the way!
Related Read: If you’re wondering what Jasper has to offer, check out our list of the 33 best Jasper activities for ideas!
2. Jasper National Park 2-Day Tour that Starts and Ends in Calgary
I recommend this 2-day tour of Jasper for people who only have a couple of days to visit but still want to see the best the Canadian Rockies have to offer.
This tour begins and ends at the Coast Calgary Downtown Hotel. You can still take this tour if you aren’t staying there, but you’ll have to find your way to the hotel by 7:30 am. You also have the choice of booking the tour with or without experiences like the Maligne Lake Spirit Island Cruise (read my review of the cruise here!) and the Columbia Icefield Glacier Tour. If I were you I would pay a little extra to do both!
Over two days, your guide will take you through the heart of the Rockies. I love glacial lakes and looking for wildlife and you will do plenty of both! Another thing I enjoy about this experience is that you end your first day in Jasper and are given time to explore it on your own. It’s a fun little town to explore!
Between walking on glaciers, enchanting cruises, and beautiful lakes you’ll find yourself back in Calgary in no time. Price varies by group size, but for two adults it costs $806 CAD per person with the upgraded ticket including the cruise and glacier adventure. The tour is available from May-October leaving on either Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday.
For more time to see this beautiful area, book this 2-day tour from Calgary here!
3. 3-Day Rockies Tour with Overnight Stays in Banff and Jasper
If you have a little more time and a slightly bigger budget this 3-day Canadian Rockies Tour not only visits some of my favorite places, but others that are off of the tourist trail.
This tour picks up and drops off at the Coast Calgary Downtown Hotel. If you aren’t staying there, you can still book this tour, although you have to get there yourself by 7:30 am the day it leaves. There are also optional experiences that you can pre-book like the Columbia Icefield Glacier Tour (read my review of the Glacier Tour here!) and Maligne Lake Spirit Island Cruise. I highly recommend both!
Over the next three days, you’ll tick off favorites like Lake Louise, the Columbia Icefield, and Maligne Lake. But what I really appreciate is that they take you to lesser-visited spots like Emerald Lake. Fewer people go there and it’s one of my favorites!
Since you will stay the night in both Banff and Jasper, I have some food recommendations. In Banff don’t miss out on Three Bears Brewery and when in Jasper wine and dine yourself at Fiddle River Restaurant. That does remind me to mention that only breakfast is included in this package. Besides that, your guide will keep you happy and entertained the entire time!
This experience’s price varies by group size but for two upgraded tickets you will pay $1,202 CAD each. This tour has limited availability from May through mid-October so don’t miss out!
Book this 3-day tour of the Rockies here!
4. Rockies 4-Day Tour from Calgary to Jasper with Stops in 3 National Parks
This Canadian Rockies Tour is great if you’re flying into Calgary and you want to jump right into an epic 4-day itinerary before returning to the city. It’s loaded with both big-ticket items and lesser-seen destinations for an amazing itinerary.
What I loved right away about this tour is that it’s a mix of guided and self-guided tours. While I love tours, I also like the freedom to explore on my own and this tour is the perfect mix!
It starts with the quick drive from Calgary to Banff where you’ll have the entire day to soak up the beauty of Banff. I highly recommend riding the Banff Gondola, taking the easy hike to Johnston Canyon, and taking lots of pics when the tour stops at the “castle in Banff” aka the Fairmont Banff Springs for lunch.
Day 2 is all about the Icefields Parkway on the journey to Jasper with stops at Bow Lake, Athabasca Falls, and time to hop on the Ice Explorer Tour onto the glacier if you want to add that on! After spending the night in Jasper, the next day takes you to highlights like Maligne Lake for the epic cruise.
The final day is packed full of some of the most beautiful lakes in the world! I’m not exaggerating – you get to see Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Emerald Lake. These lakes are not the easiest to get to on your own (parking is a nightmare!), so the fact you get to drive right up to them as part of the tour is a huge perk in my books.
Only available from May through October this is not an experience you will want to miss at only $1,305 CAD plus any activities and food you add on.
Book this incredible 4-day experience in the Rockies here!
Related Read: For more ideas on easy-to-reach destinations from Calgary, check out the best day trips from Calgary here!
Why book a tour from Calgary to Jasper?
Let’s start with the obvious, it’s a seriously long drive. From Calgary, it takes 5 hours one way and that’s without stopping. Considering you’ll be traveling on one of the most scenic roads in the world, you’ll probably want to make a few detours. And by a few, I mean it could turn into a multi-day event!
Despite the initial high price tag on tours, it’s actually more cost-effective, especially if you want to do the trip over a few days. If you combine the cost of a car rental, fuel, a Parks Canada Pass, accommodation, etc. you’re spending a pretty penny! And you still would have to plan all the logistics – no thanks.
But perhaps the biggest reason I recommend taking a tour is because it’s a stress-free way to enjoy all of the best stops between Calgary and Jasper. Planning and driving this on your own can be a lot, but with a tour, you avoid those issues altogether. Plus, the guides in Canada are incredible, and I am always amazed at how much we learn when we take an organized tour.
I personally recommend a multi-day tour because you see more and it breaks up the trip making it a whole heck of a lot more comfortable. There is a reason people come here from all around the world, it’s so dang pretty! Trust me, you don’t won’t regret spending as much time as you can exploring the area.
Where to Stay in Calgary
Calgary is a pretty large city, so you can bet that there are a ton of options when it comes to places to stay! To help you narrow it down, here are some of my top picks for accommodation in Calgary:
Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire – $$$
For a really luxurious stay, you’ll want to check out the Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire, which must have one of the most amazing views of the Bow River we’ve seen in Calgary! The hotel also has its own indoor pool (with a waterslide), a hot tub, a fitness center, a hair salon, and so much more. With a wide range of suites on offer, this is also a great option if you’re spending your honeymoon in Calgary.
You can book a room here at the Sheraton for as low as $246 CAD; however, rooms usually average $300-400 CAD per night.
Coast Calgary Downtown Hotel and Suites – $$
Our favorite mid-range option is the Coast Calgary Downtown Hotel and Suites, where all rooms come equipped with a full kitchen – great for homemade meals that can save a lot of money! With its very own on-site fitness center, this hotel is also located in the middle of downtown, which is ideal for this itinerary.
Rooms here start at $167 CAD per night, which we think is great value considering the location and breakfast being included too. You can secure your reservation online here.
Wicked Hostels – $
Right in the center of the city is Wicked Hostels, which is a great choice for travelers on a budget. We’ve found this hostel to be super clean, comfortable, and located in a great area too (bonus points from us)! While there technically are cheaper places to stay in Calgary, the location and the reliability of clean dorms here put Wicked Hostels at the top of our budget category in Calgary.
Dorms here start from $90 CAD per night and can be booked online on Hostelworld or Booking.com.
Thanks for reading!
I hope our guide on the best Jasper tours from Calgary has helped you find the right one for you! From a one-way trip to multi-day tours, we think these tours showcase the best this part of the Rockies has to offer and are super convenient at the same time!
While you’re planning a getaway to the Rockies, check out our other blogs about Alberta and Jasper. We have lots of travel inspiration and tips to get you ready to visit one of the most beautiful places in Canada!
Guide to Planning the Most Romantic Honeymoon in Jasper
33 BEST Things to do in Calgary, Alberta
5 AWESOME Lake Louise Tours from Calgary to See All the Highlights!