robyn596

We are from Australia and spending 3 weeks touring throughout the western part of Canada in July. We have accommodation and a car organised. Is it necessary to make bookings for the usual attractions before coming. I am imagining things like the Peak to Peak Gondola in Whistler, the Snocoach onto Althabasca glacier etc. Will there be long waits? I would appreciate any advice as we will not have a lot of time as we are also doing a 7 day Alaska cruise in the 3 weeks.
Thanks.

krp329

The snocoach on the Athabasca Glacier doesn't take advance bookings unless you are a group of (iirc) more than 15. July is high season for tourism in the Rockies, but if you aren't trying to go to attractions on the long weekends, you shouldn't have to wait very long.

robyn596

Thanks for the reply. Can you just clarify for me....long weekend is very early July, isn't it?? Any others?? I was concerned about booking in advance but after reading all these forums I feel more confident we can just turn up and shouldn't have too long a wait. Hopefully It will work out ok.

krp329

The two holidays that may affect you are Canada Day, July 1 and Heritage Day, August 1 this year. The long weekends are July 1 - 4, and July 29 - August 1.

krp329

I recently noticed on their website that the sno-coach tour has changed their system, and you can now book ahead. However, it says on their site that boarding is "first come, first served", so it doesn't appear that booking ahead gives you a definite time, nor priority to the head of the line. Also, this is one of the things that is really weather dependent... if it is a cloudy, socked-in, rainy day, there may be no visibility on the glacier, so you will pay $50 to see ... not much but clouds.