Icefields Parkway GyPSy Guide

I have never felt that an app was so valuable that it was worth the time spent writing a review... until now. I write this only to strongly encourage anyone visiting the Canadian Rockies to seriously consider purchasing the entire package—Icefields Pkwy, Banff,Jasper, and Lake Louise. My wife and I spent many hours researching and planning our trip to the Rockies and we still would have missed several key stops had it not been for this app. Even the Fairmont concierge’s recommendations were not sufficient. There are so many jaw-dropping stops, that it would be nearly impossible for a first-time visitor to plan a trip that properly balances time and value of each stop. The narrator provides just the right amount of commentary and detail to allow you to make an informed decision about what to see and how long to stay. In addition, the app works in real time with a phone gps, so there is no need to carry a map and count kilometers when you should be enjoying the spectacular views. I keep thinking of all I would have missed on this trip if not for this app. My wife and I are truly grateful.

I read about this app online before we left the US for Canada, and went ahead and purchased it and had it downloaded when we got there. Be sure to do this before your drive as there is no cell phone service along the drive. I was afraid my kids (boys ages 13, 16, and my 21 yr old nephew) would think it was cheesy and not want me to play it. Boy was I wrong! They quickly named the narrator “Clyde the Guide”, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the history as well as learning about upcoming stops and whether they were “must see” or “if you have time”. The narrator was fun to listen to, and made the time pass so quickly. We drove from Banff to Jasper, had lunch, then drove back and we listened both ways. The talking points were similar going both ways, but not exactly the same. It sure made our 12 hour round trip fun!! We are looking for more guides to use on our future travels!!

This app is super well done. The narrator is super fun to listen to and it really made our trip more enjoyable. He points things that we would have never noticed and is very educational. His suggestion for hikes are really good and more than once he helped us optimize the trip. Kudos!!! Highly highly recommended!!!! One note to the vendor: you should seriously consider redoing the Banff townsite app. The different narrator is pretty good and I would kill to have his voice but not as fun as the the one who did the rest of the package. Also - the tour itself is not as good as the others, as sometimes it would just tell you to “turn right “ without letting you know what you would be able to see there (ie if you do not follow the full tour in one day, it’s not as efficient as the other ones). Still kudos to the creators!