Seeing Eastern Canada From the Windows of a Bus

Exploring the back roads of eastern Canada has gotten a lot easier thanks to several services geared to young travelers.

Canabus Tours operates a jump-on, jump-off bus service along a 1,056-mile route around Ontario. The minibuses depart Toronto every Tuesday and Saturday until November. The route includes the giant dunes at Sandbanks Provincial Park; Kingston, to explore Old Ft. Henry and ride the Wolfe Island Ferry; Ottawa for city tours and white-water rafting on the Ottawa River; jet-ski touring in the Ottawa Valley; Algonquin Park for canoeing and a cookout; the native exhibit at Brantford; a beach break at Wasaga; mountain biking around Blue Mountain; a visit to Mennonite country; and Niagara Falls and hiking in the Niagara Gorge.

The $185 fare does not include accommodations or entrance or activity fees. Canabus has negotiated special rates for its passengers at activities along the route. The driver-guide will drop and pick up passengers at budget accommodations; the company has scouted out some for less than $13.50 per bed, per night. You can spend extra time at locations along the route by arranging to board another Canabus at a later date. Contact Canabus Tours Inc., 74 Gerrard St. East, Toronto, Ont. M5B 1G6; telephone (877) CANABUS (toll-free) or (416) 977-8311; Internet https://www.canabus.com.

The Moose Travel Co. operates a similar service that covers both Ontario and Quebec until mid-October.

Moose’s 15-seater buses make stops for mountain biking, white-water rafting, fiord hikes, whale watching, rock climbing and canoeing. Night stops are made at youth hostels and campsites. If you hop off, another bus will come at least three times a week.

The 930-mile Beaver Trail Tour costs $180 and takes a minimum of four days (they recommend you plan on 10 days). The route starts in Toronto and goes to Sandbanks Provincial Park and Kingston; Montreal and Mt. Tremblant in Quebec; then Wakefield, Algonquin Park and back to Toronto.

The Loonie Trail costs $126 and takes at least three days (they suggest seven). This 620-mile journey through Quebec starts in Montreal and includes Quebec City, Tadoussac, Trois Rivieres and Lac St.-Jean, then returns to Montreal.

Both routes combined become the Moose Trail, a 1,865-mile adventure that costs $220 and takes a minimum of six days (recommended time is 14 days).

New for this year is a $23 Niagara Day Tour from Toronto. It is operated in conjunction with Furthur Still Tours and includes the falls plus a stop at a winery.

The Moose Travel Co. is at 499 Greig Circle, Newmarket, Ont. L3Y 8S7; tel. (905) 853-4760; Internet https://www.moosetravelco.com.

If you see a psychedelic bus heading along a Canadian highway, chances are it belongs to Furthur Still Tours.

These are not hop-on, hop-off-style trips; the same group travels together from beginning to end. The buses carry 30 passengers, and stops are made for swimming, canoeing and hiking. Nights are spent camping (equipment is provided) or at youth hostels. Passengers contribute to a fund for meals and accommodations.

The Western Expedition (travel either way between Toronto and Vancouver) takes 21 days. The regular rate is $595 plus $205 for the food and lodging fund.

The 2,175-mile Eastern Experience covers a route through Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It takes 14 days and regularly costs $395 plus $120 for the food and accommodation kitty. The two tours can be linked.

Furthur Still also operates three-day Ontario getaways for $68 plus $42 for food and lodging, and day trips from Toronto to Niagara Falls for $23 or tours of the Niagara Falls area for $18. Call (877) 371-8747 (toll-free) or (905) 371-8747; Internet https://www.furthur still.com.