For anyone looking to backpack on the spectacular west coast of Canada, there is no better place to spend a week or two than on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Whether you are an Aussie looking for surf (warning – its cold here!), German travellers searching for amazing hiking trails (and there are many!) or American ecology students on a backpacking trip to study the Vancouver Island rain forest… its all here!

There are so many unique locations and diverse geographical areas including Nanaimo, Victoria, Tofino, Ucluelet, Port Hardy and the Inside Passage, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley and Port Alberni – to name just some of the most popular locations for backpackers coming to Vancouver Island.

Continue reading this article below which includes sample island itinerary for backpackers…

Here’s the Scoop

By and far, the three hottest destinations for backpackers, and absolutely the “must see” locales for international travelers who want to experience the great outdoors without sacrificing modern conveniences are NANAIMO, VICTORIA and TOFINO.

Know Before you Go!

Most backpackers make decisions on the fly, they have a general game plan and the details fill themselves in as they go along – that’s what backpacking is all about!!  Here are some learning lessons so that you can avoid disappointment:

• Tofino (HI Tofino – Whalers on the Point Hostel) and Victoria (HI Victoria and Ocean Island Backpacker Hostel) and usually fully booked in summer well in advance.  If you can’t make a booking, most backpackers stay at HI Nanaimo and go over for the day.  Car rental is cheap, usually cheaper than the Tofino Bus.
• In Tofino, HI Tofino – Whalers on the Point Hostel, requires a minimum two night stay.  Some backpackers find this restrictive and expensive.
• Backpacker hostels in Victoria and Tofino are expensive, HI Tofino Whalers on the Point will set you back $32/night plus tax for a dorm bed.
• Some backpackers underestimate the size of Vancouver Island, Tofino Bus links Victoria, Nanaimo and Tofino.  Victoria to Tofino costs $61 plus taxes, and Nanaimo to Tofino is $40 plus taxes.

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Sample Itinerary:

There are a few commonly followed routes that Backpackers take when visiting Vancouver Island.  They all start in Vancouver, travel to Victoria, Nanaimo, and Tofino and back to Vancouver.  You can’t experience the Island without seeing all three.  We suggest two other Options subject to your time constraints: if you are short on time, there is an Express Option; and if you have lots of time the Fully Loaded Option.

Most Popular Route

Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino (5+ Day Trip)      Download PDF (2 options)

Express Option

Vancouver, Nanaimo, Tofino (3 Day Trip).     Download PDF

Fully Loaded Option

Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino, Courtney, Port Hardy (8+ Days Trip)    Download PDF

Click here for a full list of hostels and backpacker friendly guesthouses on Vancouver Island

There is an array of backpacker hostels all across Vancouver Island, including the island’s hotspots such as Nanaimo, Victoria and Tofino. Here is the complete list of hostels and guesthouses who welcome backpacking travellers from all over the world…

Nanaimo is known as the ‘harbour city’ and boasts a real working port and a quaint, walkable downtown that is inviting to locals and travelers year-round. Bruce & Angie, hosts of the Painted Turtle Guesthouse, have traveled to many towns in Europe, Canada, and Australia but fell in love with Nanaimo after visiting downtown for only two hours…and decided to make it their home. We invite you to visit our magnificent, oceanfront location and see what other travelers are talking about!

If you are a backpacker coming to Vancouver Island, Canada to experience all the great hiking opportunities, this is the page for you! As you will soon learn, the Central Island has the most abundance of hiking trails and is well situated to explore many other parts of the island.

Northern Vancouver Island (Port Hardy Region)
Cape Scott Lighthouse Trail Cape Scott Park Trails Grant Bay Trail Lowrie Bay Trail Marble River Trail	Nootka Island Trail North Coast Trail Raft Cove Trail Schoen Lake Park Trails Songhees Lake Trail
Central Vancouver Island (Nanaimo, Cowichan Valley, Comox Valley and Port Alberni Regions)
Bedwell Lake Trail Cathedral Grove Trail Della Falls Trail Elk Falls Canyon Elk River Trail Englishman River Falls Trail Kwai Lake Loop Labour Day Lake Trail Landslide Lake Trail Little Qualicum River Falls	Lupin Falls Nature Walk Morte Lake Trail Mount Albert Edward Trail Mount Arrowsmith Trails Newton Lake Trail Paradise Meadows Loop Ripple Rock Trail Sawdust Trail Strathcona Provincial Park
Southern Vancouver Island (Greater Victoria Region)
China Beach Trail Coast Trail – East Sooke Park Cowichan River Footpath Elk & Beaver Lake Trail Francis/King Regional Park	Galloping Goose Trail Juan De Fuca Marine Trail Lone Tree Hill Trail Thetis Lake Trail Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park
Pacific Rim (Tofino, Bamfield, Uclueluet Regions)
Mount Arrowsmith Trails Pacific Rim National Park Trail Port Alberni Trails	Stamp River Provincial Park West Coast Trail Wild Pacific Trail

North Island
Cape Scott Lighthouse Trail Cape Scott Park Trails Grant Bay Trail Lowrie Bay Trail Marble River Trail	Nootka Island Trail North Coast Trail Raft Cove Trail Schoen Lake Park Trails Songhees Lake Trail
Central Island
Bedwell Lake Trail Cathedral Grove Trail Della Falls Trail Elk Falls Canyon Elk River Trail Englishman River Falls Trail Kwai Lake Loop Labour Day Lake Trail Landslide Lake Trail Little Qualicum River Falls	Lupin Falls Nature Walk Morte Lake Trail Mount Albert Edward Trail Mount Arrowsmith Trails Newton Lake Trail Paradise Meadows Loop Ripple Rock Trail Sawdust Trail Strathcona Provincial Park
South Island
China Beach Trail Coast Trail – East Sooke Park Cowichan River Footpath Elk & Beaver Lake Trail Francis/King Regional Park	Galloping Goose Trail Juan De Fuca Marine Trail Lone Tree Hill Trail Thetis Lake Trail Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park
Pacific Rim
Mount Arrowsmith Trails Pacific Rim National Park Trail Port Alberni Trails	Stamp River Provincial Park West Coast Trail Wild Pacific Trail

These trail lists and information are courtesy of Vancouver Island Trails Information Society – a not for profit organization – dedicated to provided information to the public about parks and trails on Vancouver Island. So, if you are coming to Vancouver Island to hike, make sure you spend some time on their website – specifically check out their amazing hiking trail guides!

A Mecca for Backpackers, Hikers and Surfers Alike

Tofino is a small, yet prominent peninsula located on Vancouver Island just off the main coast of Greater Vancouver. This popular surfing destination provides and ideal summer retreat for relaxing on the beach or for satisfying your desire for outdoor pursuits.

To get to the island requires a 1 ½-hour ferry ride from either Tsawwassen or Horseshoe Bay ferry terminals, on the mainland. The ferry ride is a delightful experience. Not only are the ferries well equipped (with shopping, bar and café facilities), but also you are treated to some spectacular vistas from the vessel’s deck. The clear waters and the smaller Gulf Islands that line the route are a real treat for the eyes. Occasionally, passengers will be lucky enough to spot a group of porpoises skipping along the water-surface.

The arrival destination on Vancouver Island is Nanaimo. There are three hostels in Nanaimo, but the Painted Turtle Guesthouse is highly recommended for price, cleanliness and friendliness. After a stay in Nanaimo, connect with the road to Tofino. If you do not have a car then there is a bus service that runs every hour or so from the ferry terminal. The road trip from Nanaimo takes approximately 3 hours. There are alternative means of travel to reach Tofino i.e. by boat or sea plane, however to get an appreciation of man’s endeavour to access the most secluded exotic locations, the tarmac option must be taken. The road to Tofino is a rare proposition as it weaves through uninhabitable terrain consisting of tree filled hills and rocky rivers. There is hardly any sign of human existence except for the odd clearing where there may be a small isolated dwelling. Realisation kicks in, that if somebody has gone to the effort of constructing such a lengthy road along a route that consists of, well, nothing…then there must be something very special at the end of it. This is a musing that does not end in disappointment.

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People young and old, from all corners of the globe find backpacking a challenging, rewarding, fun and affordable experience that is often life changing. Most consider their first backpack travel experience as being like a right of passage to becoming a worldly traveler.

Without constraints or firm schedules, backpackers are completely free. With only your pack on your back, there are no limits to what you can do or see. Experiencing different cultures, overcoming language barriers, and making new friends (locals and other travelers) are all part of the adventure. (more…)

Travelling to Vancouver Island, Canada… there are three MUST STOP locations – Nanaimo on Central Vancouver Island, Tofino on the Island’s Pacific Rim West Coast and Victoria, on South Vancouver Island…

"Photo credit: Destination360 Victoria Canada"

Victoria BC is pretty – British – quaint. A good place to retire. These are all the historical definitions of this weird little town. To bring its reputation into the present, Victoria is a loophole where you can get your big city pleasures – all within a tiny downtown, which can be traversed on foot within 15 minutes (not counting bumping into friends), or by bike in 5. And the weather! Victoria is comfortable every month of the year. It gets cold (but not super-cold) and rainy in winter and bright and sunny (but not extremely hot) in summer.

Victoria’s Neighbourhoods

Downtown

The City of Victoria proper is full of cool little shops, public squares, awesome restaurants and cafes, a tiny and beautiful Chinatown on one end and the majestic Inner Harbour on the other. There’s a bit of a bohemian scene among the young people, there’s a bit of a nightlife going on, some art etc. This is the area that most of the info in this guide centers on. (more…)