Camping and Bus Tours Keep Canada Affordable

Backpackers who want to explore western Canada this summer can choose from a variety of economical and adventurous tours. These companies will match solo travelers up with roommates rather than charge single supplements.

This year, Bigfoot Adventure Tours has expanded, offering one- to seven-day tours in British Columbia and Alberta. The Bigfoot buses, which carry up to 11 passengers, stop for activities and at popular hostels. Accommodations are not included in the fare, but beds will be reserved for passengers at hostels en route (except in Vancouver and Banff) at an average cost of $8 to $10 per night.

This summer the company offers eight tours. A two-day Vancouver-to-Banff trip (with a stop at Squilax at Shuswap Lake) is $67. The six-day “Hoodapus” tour from Vancouver to Squilax, Banff, Jasper, back to Banff, Kamloops and Vancouver is $193. A seven-day tour from Vancouver to Whistler, Kamloops, Jasper, Banff, Revelstoke, Kelowna and back to Vancouver is $216.

Most tours have three departures per week.

For details, contact Bigfoot Adventure Tours, 1900 Valmont Way, Richmond, Canada V6V 1Y4; telephone (604) 278-8224 or (888) 244-6673, fax (604) 278-4881, Internet https://www.bigfoottours.com.

Moose Travel Network West continues to offer a hop-on, hop-off backpacker transportation service along a 10-day circular route in British Columbia and Alberta. Buses depart Vancouver on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and visit Whistler, Kamloops, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Kelowna and Penticton. With this ticket you can travel at your own pace, finishing your journey as late as October.

Passengers can choose to go river rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding or sightseeing by glaciers. The fare is $254. For more information: tel. (604) 944-3007, (888) 388-4881, Internet https://www.mooserun.com, but switching soon to https://www.moosenetwork.com. You can write to Moose Travel Network West at 1653 Coquitlam Ave., Port Coquitlam, Canada V3B 1H8. This company also links up with Moose Travel Network East to offer a Canada-wide pass.

Seagull Expeditions can help you explore Vancouver Island with a camping tour. Equipment is supplied; passengers contribute $5 to $7 per day to a communal food kitty.

The three-day Strathcona Provincial Park camping tour costs $87. Participants hike in an ancient rain forest and see the salmon-spawning channels near the Campbell River. It departs Victoria every Saturday throughout August.

A three-day Pacific Rim National Park tour, which departs Victoria Mondays and Thursdays, stops at Tofino, where passengers can join whale-watching excursions. The fare, camping fees included, is $87.

A five-day combination of both tours is $134.

The newest program is a three-day Vancouver-Victoria-Vancouver trip for $50. On this route, hostels are used and are not included in the fare.

For more information, contact Seagull Expeditions, No. 213951 Topaz Ave., Victoria, Canada V8T 2M2; tel. (250) 360-0893 or (800) 580-3890, Internet https://www.backpackertours.com.

True North Tours operates the Rocky Express, a six-day budget adventure through the Rockies in 15-seat vehicles. Rocky Express departs Calgary and Banff every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, mid-May through early October (the Friday departures stop Sept. 8). Stops are made in Banff, Lake Louise, Lake Moraine, David Thompson Country, the Columbia Icefields, Athabasca Falls, Jasper and Maligne Lake before returning to Calgary.

At stops passengers can try white-water rafting, caving, hiking, swimming, mountain biking, horseback riding, canoeing or touring a glacier. In addition to the $199 fare, you’ll need to budget $10 to $21 per night for hostel accommodation. Passengers contribute to a communal food kitty or purchase supplies from supermarkets along the route.

For more information, contact Rocky Express, c/o True North Tours, Box 75051, Cambrian P.O., Calgary, Canada T2K 6J8; tel./fax (403) 912-0407 or (888) 464-4842, Internet https://www.backpackertours.com/truenorth.

Contiki Holidays operates bus tours for travelers age 18 to 35. Accommodations are usually in rooms with two single beds (in Banff it’s four per room). Its route is Seattle or Vancouver to Whistler, Kamloops, Jasper, Banff, Calgary, Kelowna and back to Vancouver or Seattle. Fares start at $955, which includes breakfasts and some dinners. See a travel agent or call (714) 935-0808, Internet https://www.contiki.com.

Furthur Still’s 30-passenger “cosmic coaches” (former school buses painted with flowers by previous passengers) take travelers on loosely scheduled 21-day adventures between Toronto and Vancouver. Nights are spent at campsites (equipment provided) and occasionally at youth hostels. The fare is $603 plus $204 for a communal food fund. For details, contact Furthur Still at (905) 371-8747 or (877) 371-8747, Internet https://www.furthurstill.com.

Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance writer. Internet https://www.izon.com.