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Backpacking in Canada

In 2017, Canada will celebrate its 150th birthday as an independent nation. But that is not the only reason to visit Canada. Even before the big celebrations begin, it’s worth exploring Canada. Take your time, however, as you enter the second largest country in the world in terms of area. Not only many cultural highlights await you in the cities from east to west and from north to south, but also an immense geographical variety.

The country stretches from Banff to Baffin Island, from Tofino to Toronto. Only 33 million inhabitants are distributed in the infinite vastness of Canada. Most of them also live in the big cities of Montreal, Calgary, Halifax, Toronto or Winnipeg. The rest is pure wilderness, where you can chase up your adrenaline during trekking tours through partly uninhabited areas.

Backpacking in Kanada - Panorama

Backpacking in Canada – Panorama

Or don’t you think you’ll jump up at the sight of a grizzly or polar bear hunting freely in the wild? You will meet a friendly people known for their hospitality and varied cuisine. From east to west you often cross 5,500 km of untouched natural landscape. Start at the Atlantic Ocean and end your trip at the Yukon River, where thousands of lucky knights once lost their lives in search of gold in the so-called gold rush.

You’ll encounter bizarre rocky coastal formations, emerald green lonely mountain lakes, endless primeval forests, huge mountain ridges, vast prairies and multicultural cities on your trip through the country. Because of its size, Canada is divided into six different time zones from coast to coast. So you’ll have to constantly change the clock when you switch from one to the other.

  • GMT-8 Pacific Time (Yukon, British Columbia)
  • GMT-7 Mountain Time (Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)
  • GMT-6 Zetral Canada Time (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario)
  • GMT-5 East Time (Ontario, Quebec)
  • GMT-4 Atlantic Time (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island)
  • GMT-3.5 Newfundland time

Take the full trekking equipment with you, because you will need it when crossing the 37 Canadian national parks. 15 more national parks are currently being planned. Adventure highlights include a visit to Cape Breton Island, the Interlake Area, Jasper National Park and the mighty Niagara Falls.

Backpacking in Kanada - Moraine lake

Backpacking in Canada – Moraine lake

Explore the capital Ottawa with its many museums and the By Ward Market. Enjoy your stay in Halifax, Canada’s oldest city park. Join the local and international audiences at the many street shows and night events in Canada’s metropolis of Montreal or ski and visit the beach in and around Vancouver in one day. Traveling as a backpacker in Canada isn’t exactly cheap, but if you take advantage of all the possibilities, you’ll get through the country quite cheaply. The range of means of transportation leaves a lot of room for manoeuvre for every budget. That means you can keep your finger off the highway or book a domestic flight.

What is valid for the locomotion in Canada is also valid for the overnight accommodations. If you want to camp wild for free, you can’t do that everywhere. But, if you hit your way through the bushes, that’s already possible. But you’d better stay at the campsites provided for this purpose. You can use Bed and Breakfast privately with families or stay overnight in inexpensive hostels and hotels. If the budget is sufficient, then of course also in first class first class sheds or in exclusive resorts.

Tradition and Culture in Canada

Canadian culture is strongly influenced by French and English culture. Both languages are also the official national languages. In addition, many immigrants from Asian countries came to the country over the years. The neighbouring American culture also has a great influence on the Canadians. The American Ice Hockey League consists of clubs from both countries. Not to forget the still strongly represented indigenous population group with its more than 1.4 million inhabitants.

After all, 600 so-called first nation governments or bands are recognized by the Canadian government. All have their own language, culture and music. These include the Dene, the Cree, the Blackfoot and the Atikamekw. You’ll get to know cities that, according to the Mercer’s Quality of Life Survey Index, are among the most liveable in the world. You can eat your way through the different regional cuisines in the cities and countryside. There’s more meat and vegetables in the country, fish and seafood on the coasts. Tried in restaurants or at an invitation dishes such as Montreal Style smoked meat, Maplesyrup, Poutine, Nanaimo bar or Peameal ham.

Backpacking in Kanada - Toronto

Backpacking in Canada – Toronto

Backpacker Route in Canada

Backpacker routes for Canada can be arranged according to your preferences. One likes it adventurous and wants to go through all the national parks. The other one prefers the culture and still others want both. You should also consider in your planning whether you want to visit the country in summer or winter.

As always when planning a road trip or a backpacker route through a country, it is important to decide how much time and budget you have available for your Canada trip. But now a few suggestions for a few backpacker destinations in Canada, which you can assemble into a complete route or travel to individually.

Please don’t forget that you will have to plan more time if you want to travel to the mountains. Around Montreal you can also use Montreal as a base and then go on day trips or multi-day trips over and over again.

Route 1: The classic (15-20 days)

  • 1 day Big Muddy Valley
  • 2 Days Canadian Badlands
  • 1 day Cape Breton
  • 1 day Fogo Island
  • 3 days from Jasper to Banff via the Icefields Parkway
  • 1 day Georgian Bay
  • 2 days Gros Morne National Park
  • 3 Days Culture and Nightlife in Montreal
  • 1 day Prince Edward Island
  • 2 Days Culture and Nightlife in Vancouver
  • 1 day Dinosaur Provincial Park
  • 1 day Nahanni National Park Reserve
  • 1 day Niagara Falls

Route 2: All orNothing (32-42 days)

  • 1 day BigMuddyValley
  • 2 days CanadianBadlands
  • 1 day Cape Breton
  • 1 day Fogo Island
  • 3 days from Jasper to Banff via the Icefields Parkway
  • 1 day GeorgianBay
  • 1 day Niagara Falls
  • 2 days Gros Morne National Park
  • 3 Days Culture and Nightlife in Montreal
  • 1 day Prince Edward Island
  • 2 Days Culture and Nightlife in Vancouver
  • 1 day Dinosaur Provincial Park
  • 1 day Nahanni National Park Reserve
  • 1 day Charlevoix
  • 1 day Cape Breton
  • 1 day The Discovery Islands
  • 3 Days Eastern Townships
  • 2 days Churchill
  • 1 day Bay of Fundy
  • 1 day L’Anseaux Meadows
  • 1 day Lake Winnipeg
  • 3 days Laurentian Mountains
  • 1 day Prince Edward Island
  • 1 day Agawa Canyon
  • 1 day Yellowknife and Great Slave Lake
  • 2 Days Ward’s and Algonquin Islands
  • 2 days Toronto
  • 2 Days Quebec City

Such a partial route could look like this:
Via Highway 401 to Toronto, rest in Ottawa, then on to the Niagara Waterfalls. Highway 11 to Algonquin National Park, Thunder Bay to Winnipeg and on to Edmonton, Jasper National Park, Lake Louise and Banff.

Travel times in Canada

As you can easily imagine with these dimensions that the country has to offer, it is not easy to give a brief overview of the climatic conditions in Canada. Basically, summer is when Europe is summer. The rule also applies in Canada: the further north, the more brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. From the fiftieth degree of latitude in the east and the fifty-fifth in the east it becomes more pleasant.

Well, let’s say so. Let’s say it goes. There is no more eternal ice, that is to say. In the Pacific region it is rather mild in winter. But the summers are rather fresh. It rains all year round. In the interior from a height of 700 m it can get up to 30 degrees below zero in winter. The climate of the Midwest is extreme. From -35 °C to +35 °C everything is possible.

In the east of Canada the climate is quite varied. The Atlantic Ocean, with its moderate weather currents, plays a decisive role in the quite mild climate in the east. The Great Lakes, for their part, contribute to this. Longer dry seasons and humid periods can actually always occur.

Backpacker Budget in Canada

You can’t travel as cheaply as in some Southeast Asian or South American countries in Canada. But it’s quite cheap if you keep an eye on the offers of the individual transport companies. However, one thing must be clear to you. Due to the gigantic distances, you can get from one place to another quite cheaply, converted into kilometers. But you have to cover many kilometres on land, on water or in the air and that adds up. According to the North America Backpacker Index, Canada is one of the cheapest countries in the region.

Montreal Budget as Backpacker

  • Hostel: 14 Euro
  • Transport: 4 Euro
  • Food: 17 Euro
  • Drinks/Entertainment: 5 Euro
  • Attractions: 7 Euro
  • Daily Backpacker Index: 47 Euro

Toronto Budget as Backpacker

  • Hostel 14 Euro
  • Transport: 4 Euro
  • Food: 17 Euro
  • Drinks/Entertainment: 9,5 Euro
  • Attractions: 12 Euro
  • Daily Backpacker Index: 53 Euro

Bus fares and domestic fares in Canada

The quickest way to cover the huge distances is to take a domestic flight. This is cheaper than you think. A flight from Montreal to Winnipeg and back with the Canadian low-cost airline Westjet costs 288 Euro out of season. With the most famous Canadian bus line Greyhound Canada you pay about 150 Euro for the same route oneway.

So check before and compare. The price example was chosen in the low season. Take a look at what Air Canada has to offer. The advantage of a bus trip, however, is that you can save an overnight stay with a clever time management. Take a look at the bus lines Coach Canada and Megabus for offers and prices.

Air Hitchhiking in the Arctic Sea Regions

You can even hit pilots who land in the lakes on seaplanes. Expect the boys in relevant pubs, at the local weather service, at the service stations or where they go ashore with their passengers. Transport is often free of charge.
Rent a car in Canada

A cheap option is to rent a car. With a little searching you will find a rental car that will cost you 1000 Euro for 22 days. If you look at the bus and flight prices for only one transport, it’s a gift. Look out for offers from the providers and rent a small car, then it’s even cheaper.

Hitchhiking in Canada

In Canada hitchhiking is probably the cheapest way to get around. Take a look at the parking lots where the big trucks are. There you will surely find a trucker who will take you with him.

Backpacking Kanada

Backpacking Canada

Rail travel in Canada

Travelling by train is considered unattractive in Canada because it is relatively expensive. The basis is a wrong transport policy of the government. Why are buses cheaper? Because a fat lobby puts pressure on the responsible authorities.

Your costs also include tips. You should already add 10 to 15 % to the bill so that you are not dismissed by bad faces.

Backpacker accommodations in Canada

Depending on your budget, you can choose from a variety of accommodations in Canada. The modern and exclusive 5 and 6 star hotels in the big cities as well as super luxurious mountain resorts on beautiful lakes are available. With a small budget you can look around for a hostel. There are hostels all over the country. According to Hostelworld the beds cost on average per night and head in.

  • Toronto 23 Euro
  • Montreal 23 Euro
  • Vancouver 25 Euro
  • Quebec 16 Euro
  • Banff 24 Euro
  • Ottawa 24 Euro
  • Calgary 25 Euro
  • Whistler 25 Euro
  • Niagara Falls 21 Euro

A double room also doubles the price. It is therefore worthwhile to look for small inexpensive hotels or to stay in Bed and Breakfast. Especially if you are travelling together, this can make sense. Especially as the guide with the hot tips is also integrated. Motels are another alternative, but because of their cheap equipment in the lower price segment not always the hit. A room already costs 30 to 50 euros in a motel. Bed and Breakfast rooms for two can be found between 35 and over 100 euros. Check out the following Canadian websites for good deals:

During the summer months you can even stay overnight in different universities. You have to search for “residence” or “rez” rooms at the universities.

Camping in Canada

Camping in Canada is a popular sport. Campsites with top equipment or just basic equipment can be found all over the country. Partly at the best places. In the entrance fees to the national parks you can pay for the overnight stay at the same time. The campsites in the national parks are all in state hands. However, there are also a lot of private campsite operators.

Here you can have a look at the entrance fees for adults, teenagers, children, groups, students etc. in the parks. And also the camping prices. If you are looking for campsites in Canada, then have a look at the website of camping-canada.com or here.

Backpacker Trips, Tips und Highlights in Canada

Canada has so many great spots to offer that you should take a lot of time. But as already mentioned under Backpacker Routes, you can take a closer look at certain zones. Only if you have a big budget, it is possible to visit the best highlights of Canada in a very short time. Of course you should spend a para day in the multicultural metropolises Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver or Hallifax.

There you will get to know the nightlife, the multifaceted cuisine and the urban Canadian lifestyle best. Experience Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island or stroll through the centuries-old narrow streets of Quebec. The wild, untouched Canadian nature awaits you not only on Fogo Island in Newfoundland, but also in the Big Muddy Valley or the Canadian Badlands.

Backpacking in Kanada

Backpacking in Canada

Take the Cape Breton route from Jasper to Banff and the Icefields Parkway. Also worth a detour are Georgian Bay and Gros Morne National Park. In St. Andrews By-the-Sea you will encounter a rustic village charm. Or take a look around the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg Manitoba. You should definitely visit the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, because the starry night sky over the Rocky Montains will blow your socks off.

It’s not for nothing that the Royal Astronomical Society of Alberta has settled there with its observatory. The bizarre northern lights can be seen by far not only in Sweden and Norway. The Canadian Northwest Territories are considered the northern lights capital of the world. The best place to see the lights is in Nahanni National Park, where you can also enjoy a diverse range of outdoor activities including trekking, paddling, horseback riding, etc. A visit to Niagara Falls in Canada is not complete without a visit to Niagara Falls.

Backpacker Trips & Tips in Canada

Canada has so many spots worth seeing that you should take a lot of time. But as already mentioned under Backpacker Routes, you can take a closer look at certain zones. Only if you have a big budget, it is possible to visit the best highlights of Canada in a very short time. Of course you should spend a few days in the multicultural metropolises Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver or Hallifax.

There you will get to know the nightlife, the multifaceted cuisine and the urban Canadian lifestyle best. Experience Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island or stroll through the centuries-old narrow streets of Quebec. The wild, untouched Canadian nature awaits you not only on Fogo Island in Newfoundland, but also in the Big Muddy Valley or the Canadian Badlands. Take the Cape Breton route from Jasper to Banff and the Icefields Parkway.

Kanada Backpacker

Canada Backpacker

Backpacker Highlights in Canada

Canada has a very special charm in autumn. In the so-called Canada Autum, the country is immersed in a colourful natural splendour of colour. Furthermore, you have to try the versatile Canadian cuisine in the cities and especially in the small villages in the countryside. Famous is the Montreal Jazz Festival, where every year the greats of the scene perform. Canada and wild bears. That belongs together. Where you can see them?

The Orford River Valley in British Columbia is probably one of the best spots to watch the huge grizzlies fishing for salmon. If you’re in Canada in July, go to Calgary Stampede. The festival attracts nearly a million visitors every year. Of course you’ll also have to try the world-famous Canadian maple syrup. The best way to enjoy the Rockies is to take a train ride in the Rocky Mountaineer, which will take you across the mountains. Polar bears live also await you in Churchill, Manitoba.

Backpacker insider tips in Canada

Discover Canada’s southernmost point, Pelee Island, in Pelee National Park, where the Monarch Butterflies start their hike at the right time of year. A visit to Dawson City will give you a real gold-digger atmosphere. Kitesurfing, surfing and beaching are great on the island Îles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands in the Gulfof Saint Lawrence). The Haida Gwaiiislands, where the indigenous people live, is a wild and quaint place. Beside the two main islands Grahamund Moresby you can explore further hardly visited 150 islands. For trekking fans looking for a real challenge, the Alberta Badlands is the place to be. Nearby is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dinosaur National Park.

Between Halifax and Cape Breton, the endless expanses of Antigonish County in Nova Scotia stretch out. Also a top spot for outdoor fans who want to meet as few people as possible. A less strenuous adventure, but an exciting one, is the train ride from the Pacific to the Great Lakes with the VIA Rail Trans-Canada. Take a “flight” over Rockies with the world’s longest lift system, the Whistler Blackcomb – PEAK 2 PEAK Alpine Experience.

On Turtle Island, you can experience indigenous culture first hand at traditional festivals. An unforgettable experience is the 1 393 km trip from Whitehorse to Tuktoyaktuk in the Arctic Circle, which leads over a 2 meter thick layer of ice. Don’t worry! There is no thawing. Also far to the north is Nunavut, where the Eskimos (Inuit) live and you can watch the polar bears, narwhals, beluga whales and much more.

Food & Drinks in Canada

Canadian cuisine is extremely diverse due to its French, Anglo-Saxon and indigenous basis. You enjoy real gourmet specialities, and you don’t even have to go to a first class restaurant. The cuisine is also known for maplesyrup, nanaimobars, buttertarts and beavertails. Now, however, the Canadian-English cuisine, which is quite similar to the us American cuisine, must be distinguished from the French-international cuisine of the country, which is much more multi-faceted.

Montreal, which is French-speaking, is the country’s kitchen Mecca. But not only there you will find specialities like tourtière, a meat dish dating back to the 16th century. You can also try a cipaille, which is a meat and vegetable casserole, or you can try a knuckle of pork ragout – ragoût de pattes.

Try salmon or blueberries, which still come from the wild nature of Canada or try the Canadian wild rice, which is not rice, but the seed of the wild growing water grass. The indigenous cuisine surprises with delicious recipes like the Three Sisters Soup, which consists of pumpkin, beans and corn. But also the delicious Saskatoon berries and the exotic fern sprouts (fiddleheads) come from the Indian kitchen.

In the course of the centuries many immigrants from China flocked to the country, who of course have not forgotten their own Chinese cuisine. A large Ukrainian community in Montreal has preserved its old cooking tradition. Sushi can be found at every corner, as well as roti, jerk, pizza and pasta, Mexican tacos and of course all the famous delicacies from the international fast food chains such as: McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut etc. The most famous restaurant chains in Canada are Boston Pizza, EastSide Marios, Harvey’s, JugoJuice, TheKeg, Kelsey’s, Lick’s Homeburgers & IceCream or mmmuffins.

Drinks in Canada

You should know that in the states of Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec you get alcohol from the age of 18, but in all others from the age of 19. Beer is available in bulk. Quality – well. You can drink it. Wine is cultivated in the country in the Niagara region in Ontario and in Okanagan in British Columbia. A speciality in Canada is ice wine. It is even sweeter than the German ice wine. Otherwise there are as in the USA the usual Sodas plus some local marks.

Backpacker Visa and Vaccinations in Canada

Entering Canada is not particularly complicated, but you should have all your documents up to date. According to the Federal Foreign Office, the following rules apply to German citizens entering Canada:

  • Passport: Yes
  • Provisional passport: Yes
  • Identity card: No
  • Temporary identity card: No
  • Children’s passport: Yes, with photo
  • Still valid child ID according to old model: Yes, with photo

IMPORTANT: Children’s entries in a parent’s passport are no longer valid. Each child needs their own identity card.
Visa

You can easily stay in Canada without a visa for up to six months.

Vaccinations and medical advice

You should have the usual vaccinations when entering Canada. The West Nile fever season starts in May. You should therefore protect yourself from the mosquitoes that transmit them.

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