How much an Abraham Lake bubble tour costs
A day trip to the ice bubbles of Abraham Lake costs from ~$78 in a big van to ~$187 in a group of ten. The difference buys a smaller group and more help on the ice, not better bubbles. Below, the four tours side by side, then the extras the fares leave out.
Four tours in one table
The table lists the four tours on our home page at their regular "from" price per person. Both booking sites often show a lower sale figure, so read these numbers as the most you are likely to pay.
| Tour | From | Length | Group | Pickup towns | Included | You pay on top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Journey (our pick) | ~$78 | 7.5–12 h | Up to 24 | Calgary, Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise | Crampons, hot coffee or tea, GST | Lunch, CA$15 guide tip |
| Radventures | ~$187 | 8 h | Max 10 | Banff hotels | Hot drinks, cleats or crampons, hiking poles | Lunch, park pass, guide tip, CA$20 skate or snowshoe rental |
| Rockies Journey | ~$93 | 10.5 h | Up to 24 | Calgary, Canmore, Banff | Water, snacks, hot drinks in winter | Meals, CA$15 guide tip |
| Top Choice Tours | ~$121 | 12–13 h | Up to 13 | Calgary, with Canmore and Banff options | Snacks, drinks, admission and parking fees, ice cleats | Check the listing |
On GetYourGuide, Vancouver Journey and Rockies Journey both cancel free up to 24 hours ahead, and you can reserve now and pay later. For Radventures and Top Choice Tours, check the listing for the terms before you pay.
The two budget vans
Vancouver Journey from ~$78 and Rockies Journey from ~$93 are the cheapest ways onto the ice. Each puts up to 24 people in a van with one guide, and that headcount is what keeps the fare low.
Vancouver Journey lends free crampons and pours hot coffee or tea, with GST already in the price. It scores 4.9 from 540+ reviews on GetYourGuide and 4.9 from 240+ on Viator, where it sells as Banff Journey.
Rockies Journey covers snacks and water, with hot drinks added in winter, and it spends about an hour at Abraham Lake with a guided walk. It also scores 4.9, from 320+ reviews on GetYourGuide and 130+ on Viator.
The downside on both is the crowd. A full van means sharing every viewpoint with two dozen people, and one reviewer found the Rockies Journey minivan cramped over a long day. Our van versus small group comparison goes through that trade.
The cheapest seat on the ice
Vancouver Journey lends crampons and serves hot coffee or tea. Its winter route adds Bow Lake and Peyto Lake to the Abraham Lake stop. Bring your own lunch and CA$15 for the guide.
Top Choice Tours sits in the middle
Top Choice Tours from ~$121 caps the group at 13 and starts from Calgary, with Canmore and Banff options. It sells only on GetYourGuide, where it is often shown lower and scores 4.9 from 190 reviews.
The fare covers more than the vans do. Snacks and drinks (coffee, tea, lemonade, water) come with it, and so do the admission and parking fees. In winter, ice cleats are handed out too.
Its drawback is the length. At 12–13 hours it is the longest day of the four, and the route bends to weather and road conditions, so Abraham Lake is on it only in season. A private option exists if you want the van to yourselves.
What the Radventures fare buys
Radventures from ~$187 costs more than twice either van. For that you join a group of ten at most, collected from Banff hotels at about 8:30 am for an 8-hour day.
The guide is trained in photography and storytelling and plans the route on the day around conditions. The fare includes hot drinks and water refills, so bring a bottle. Ice cleats or crampons come with it, along with hiking poles.
It scores 5.0 from 60+ reviews on Viator and 4.8 from 20+ on GetYourGuide. Apart from the price, its weak point is that it only picks up in Banff; our guide to the pickup towns covers what that means for a Calgary stay.
What you pay on top
Lunch is the extra people forget. Vancouver Journey asks you to bring your own, and Nordegg, roughly half an hour from the shore, has the closest restaurant. A packed lunch and a thermos are the sensible plan.
The two big vans list a CA$15 guide tip as not included, and Radventures leaves the tip to you as well. On Radventures, skates or snowshoes cost CA$20 to rent; ask the operator after booking.
The drive passes through Banff National Park, which needs a Parks Canada pass. Top Choice pays admission fees and Radventures does not, so check each listing to see who covers it before you budget.
- Packed lunch and a hot drink in a flask
- A guide tip in Canadian dollars, cash is easiest
- Skate or snowshoe rental on Radventures, CA$20
- A Parks Canada pass where the tour does not include it
- Warm boots and layers if you do not own them (see what to wear on the ice)
Every price on this page is a regular fare. GetYourGuide often shows Vancouver Journey well below ~$78 and Top Choice below ~$121, so check your date before you rule a tour out on cost.
Which fare suits which traveler
If the bubbles are the point and money is tight, Vancouver Journey gives you the lake plus Bow Lake and Peyto Lake for the least. Rockies Journey suits you if you want a set hour on the ice with a guided walk.
Pay for Radventures if you are staying in Banff and would rather share the ice with nine people than with twenty-three. The photography-trained guide helps if pictures are the main reason you are going.
No tour can promise bubbles. A snowfall can hide the ice for days and a thaw can cloud it, and the guide decides on the day where it is safe to walk. Our season guide helps you pick the weeks, and the driving guide prices the alternative.
