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Looking for the cheapest way to see the Canadian Rockies? Well, I successfully did a budget and solo trip to Banff and Jasper, and I’m here to pass my tips on to you!
When I lived in Vancouver, I wanted to see the Canadian Rockies before leaving. But after a lot of research, I realised it would be the most expensive place to visit on my entire three-month trip around North America. From transport to accommodation to activities, visiting Jasper and Banff hurts the wallet; there’s no doubt about that. However, the Canadian Rockies were spectacular, and I know I would have regretted not going. So here are my top tips for travelling solo and (trying) to stick to your budget in the Canadian Rockies.
10 solo and budget travel tips for exploring the Canadian Rockies
1. Take the train to the Canadian Rockies
As a solo traveller, hiring a car and driving on the other side of the road isn’t cost-effective. It also kind of freaks me out. So, coming from Vancouver, I chose to take the train to Jasper. The trip took about 19 hours, but it was definitely cheaper than flying. It was also quicker and more comfortable than the bus. The train only goes to Jasper, so I started my journey in the northern town.
2. Splurge on accommodation in Jasper
I wrote previously about my 24 hours in Jasper but decided to spend only one night in Jasper due to budget restrictions. After researching, I decided my budget could stretch further in Banff, and I was happy with this decision. There is one hostel in Jasper, but it’s located out of town, which was too much of a hassle for me when I was there for only one night. I opted for a B&B in town called Accommodations Jasper. It was perfect and still under $100. Going over that price point would have totally made me cry.
Find accommodation in Jasper on Booking.com
3. Hit the pavement in Jasper
Jasper is very walkable, and I spent most of my time walking through the streets and taking photos of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. There were plenty of opportunities, cute shops and restaurants to keep me busy before my brief visit ended.
4. Take a tour outside of Jasper
If I were in Jasper longer, I would have taken a sightseeing tour of all the beautiful natural attractions outside the small town centre. But with only 24 hours, this wasn’t achievable. However, I would definitely recommend it, even if it pushes the budget.
Check out this post for more fabulous places to visit in Canada
5. Take the shutter from Jasper to Banff
One of my biggest struggles was finding the cheapest way to get from Jasper to Banff. Car, Greyhound and the train were not options unless I wanted the journey to take twice as long. There are also day tours, which were slightly out of my price range. I decided to go with Brewsters.
The shuttle cost quite a bit, but the plus side was I got to go on the Columbia Icefields Parkway, known as one of the most picturesque highways in the world. Other private tour companies do similar shuttles, but I found Brewsters to be the cheapest. They also dropped me at my accommodation in Banff, which was helpful.
6. Stay in a hostel in Banff
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about finding cheap places to stay in Banff, as quite a few hostels are close to the town centre. I stayed at Samesun Backpackers, and it was excellent. The rooms were extremely spacious, there were private bathrooms, and the complimentary breakfast was delicious. I highly recommend checking it out for your own solo trip to Banff.
Here are my top hostelling tips for fellow solo travellers
7. Take a walk in Banff
Like Jasper, there is much to do within walking distance of Banff, including Bow Falls. There is also the option of hiring a bike or taking the public bus to cover a greater distance and see sights such as the Hot Springs (a personal favourite). Fortunately, seeing Banff doesn’t have to hurt the budget. Hooray!
Here’s everything I got up to with only two days in Banff
8. Visit the supermarket
I found the restaurants quite expensive in Banff and didn’t even visit during peak season. I used Samesun’s kitchen and picked up groceries at the local Safeway. It is just a short walk from the hostel and has everything you need.
9. Take a tour to Lake Louise
I can’t do a post on the Canadian Rockies and not mention Lake Louise. It had to be on the itinerary. But how do you get there and see the sights without a car? There is the option of taking the Greyhound, but with my limited time, I wanted to be able to see as much as possible. So I decided to do a tour.
I chose Discover Banff Tours as their half-day trip allowed me to see Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, which was an absolute bonus. Once again, the price was worth it for the convenience and amazing sights that awaited me. A similar option if you want choices is through Viator.
10. Finish your trip in Calgary
The good thing about visiting Jasper first is that Banff is just a short bus ride from Calgary. Although Calgary and I didn’t have the greatest of meetings, from there, you can fly, bus or train a lot easier to other places in Canada and America. Personally, I got a cheap flight on Westjet to Chicago, where I continued my journey.
Hot tip: If you plan on flying with WestJet often in Canada, it’s worthwhile signing up for the WestJet Rewards program to earn rewards on every flight.
Solo and budget success in the Canadian Rockies!
I hope you find this post useful, as I struggled to find the cheapest way to see the Canadian Rockies as a solo traveller. At the end of the day, though, it is one of the most beautiful places in the world, so seeing it yourself is worth every penny.
In case you missed these posts, here’s my Jasper guide, my Banff guide, my entire three months of travel itinerary, and other fantastic places to visit across Canada.
Before you go, visit my Resources page for all of my favourite travel planning websites, and don’t forget to organise travel insurance before your trip!
Have you visited the Canadian Rockies before? Share your tips below.
Thank you to Frugal Flyer for partnering with me on this post.
Hi Hayley, thanks for a really helpful blog, I’d like to know about the train from Vancouver to Jasper, was it a tour train or a public purpose train like Amtrak? The tour trains are soo expensive and I’m finding little alternative for that leg of my journey. Any advice would be great please.
Hey Shaar, the Canadian version of Amtrak is VIA Rail, which is what I used. The Rocky Mountaineer is crazy expensive, I agree, but check out VIA Rail and you should be able to find a reasonably priced ticket.
Hi! I just came across your blog while researching stuff on Canada (fellow Aussie here!) My partner and I are thinking of travelling to the Rockies in August next year. I was wondering, did you feel like you got to see everything you wanted on your trip even though you didn’t have a car? I’m always nervous about hiring cars in case something goes wrong, but I don’t want to feel like we ‘missed out’ without a car (but my boyf is European so can drive on the ‘wrong side’ of the road if it would be a better trip). Thanks!
Hey Shanarah! Personally, I think if you had a car you could visit more lakes and more tourist sites, like Johnston Canyon, Peyto Lake, etc… If I had the time, I would recommend a car. But seeing as my stay was so short and I was solo, a car wasn’t ideal. But for the amount of time I had, I saw everything I wanted to and have no regrets. I think it ultimately depends on the length of your stay. I hope that helps!