Canada on a shoestring... Can it be done?

[geordieracer]

So I've been offered very cheap flights out to Vancouver late in August/ September this year, and whilst I've been out before, I've never been shall we say, short cashwise, this time however the budget is very small!
I'm thinking the trip will be more camping and trail exploring than being a total tourist in Vancouver, as I could have 3 weeks to fill.
Wondered if anyone had any experience of such a 'budget trip.'

[Vytalis]

It should be possible - Vancouver is a fairly expensive city but there are entry of cheap eateries and lots of free and cheap things to do. The problem is that anywhere epic is also fairly touristy and so is expensive (e.g. Whistler). The other problem is it s a big country so time to get places could be an issue.

At a guess, I'd be going off the beaten track a bit and using public transport. Maybe head to somewhere inland via train and set up camp there where you can find cheap hostel and 'local' priced food. From travelling down from jasper, there are stacks of cheap places to stay and eat if you are prepared to hunt around a bit - $6 for a full stack of pancakes, bacon and bottomless coffee at a roadside cafe jst down the rosd from mountains against $20 in centre of whistler.

[Vytalis]

Trying my memory, the places I felt were worth a stop and were off the tourist trail included pemberton, kamloops, lilouette. All seemed to have a few days of interest while still being cheap. Maybe there is an interrail type ticket for the rail (which seemed fairly frequent)

[Whoozit]

This travel blog is a little old (9 years old . . . ) but could still be useful and give some hints and tips

http://www.rfleming.net/Canada.htm

[Amateurish]

I spent 4 weeks doing a budget trip around the East Coast of Canada when pretty broke, camping in various National Parks. We did have a borrowed car though. Food and drinks was pretty cheap IIRC, easy to fill up at places like Tim Hortons.

[Alfachick]

Take buses as well, Greyhound run in Canada, and are really cheap! I think (if I remember rightly) we got from Vancouver to Banff for about $50 one way. It was a LONG coach ride but it was kinda cool.
Like others have said stay away from the super touristy bits and its cheap enough. Local diners etc tend to be pretty good.
Loads of walking/rambling/faffing about can be done for free. Vancouver island is a good place to visit, and is really quite big for an island! They have 100 mile beach and ancient redwood forests. But again is a bit more expensive as its a bit more touristy.

[downthepub]

Forget about trains, no Inter-rail type tickets, not even standard tickets, only thing would be the Rocky Mountaineer which is $$$$$. On a shoestring, as mentioned Greyhound buses, but Canada as a country does not lend itself to public transport so doing an off-airport rental for an econobox is probably worth a stretch.