Hop On, Off Canada Bus Lines

With its favorable exchange rate, Canada offers lots of economical opportunities for young travelers this summer who want independent travel along with the advantages of arranged transportation and guides. All prices are in U.S. dollars.

Moose Travel Network, Internet https://www.moosenetwork.com, a “hop-on-hop-off” bus service geared to young travelers, has routes in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta. It also offers special rail links for access to the rest of Canada. Its 15-seat buses make stops for rafting, mountain biking, whale watching and canoeing, and deliver passengers to hostels and campsites.

You can cover the route at the pace you choose, with buses serving stops at least three times a week and passes valid until mid-October.

The East Pass is valid for 1,864 miles of travel in Ontario and Quebec for $399. (Plan at least 14 days.) The 1,243-mile Beaver Pass circles Ontario and Quebec from Toronto or Montreal for about $207. An 1,800-mile West Pass covering highlights of British Columbia and Alberta is $259. The All Canada Pass, a combination of the East and West bus passes, is $488.

A Prairie Rail Link Pass for 2,485 miles of travel on VIA Rail between Toronto and Vancouver is $266. The Maritime Rail Link, 870 miles from Montreal to Halifax and back, is $97. For information, call (888) 388-4881.

One of the stops on the Moose Ontario Route is Maynooth, where, from the South Algonquin Backpackers Hostel (telephone [800] 595-8064), Call of the Wild takes passengers for two-or three-day canoe trips in Algonquin Park; tel. (905) 471-9453, https://www.callofthewild.ca.

The Furthur Still Magic Bus Co. offers daily backpacker trips to Niagara Falls from Toronto for $25. For information, tel. (877) 371-8747, https://www.furthurstill.com.

Jo Jo Tours takes backpackers from Toronto to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake six days a week between May and late October. The Backpacker rate of $33 includes free time in both places plus a wine tasting. Jo Jo also operates Sunday tours for canoeing, riding and other activities. For information, tel. (416) 201-6465, https://www.interlog.com/~jojotour.

Bigfoot Adventure Tours offers tours in Western Canada. Stops are made at popular activities and hostels. Tours range from one day (Vancouver/Seattle shuttle) to seven days. For example, the six-day “Hoodapus” tour from Vancouver to Squilax, Banff and Jasper, then back to Banff, Kamloops and Vancouver is $187. Though not included in the fare, accommodation is reserved for Bigfoot passengers at hostels en route. For details, contact Bigfoot Adventure Tours Inc., tel. (888) 244-6673, https://www.backpackertours.com/Bigfoot/index.shtml.