How to Plan a Backpacking Trip for First-Time Travel Backpackers
If you have a strong, almost insatiable desire to travel, then you’ve come down with a case of wanderlust. But many young nomads don’t want to just tick off a box. Their goal is to intimately explore places on their bucket list and get to the heart of the people and cultures of those locations. How can you do that without breaking the bank? By planning a backpacking trip! This guide will explain just how you can do that, especially if you’re a beginner.
What Is Travel Backpacking?
Travel backpacking is tourism that emphasizes bringing the minimum with you while experiencing as much as you can. The idea is to let your money take you to as many places as possible, so the per-day budget is lower, but the trips are usually longer. Travel backpacking shouldn’t be confused with hiking-focused backpacking, where you take all of your gear (tent, food, etc.) to a remote nature area.
Is Travel Backpacking Right for You?
There is certainly a stereotype that travel backpacking appeals to, and for good reason. Many people who are advocates of this type of trip are young, adventurous, and budget conscious. Here’s why:
- Young & Healthy: Carrying all of your possessions on your back over the course of weeks or even months is not for the faint of heart. You need to be in good shape to handle the physical aspects of this type of travel.
- Adventurous: The idea of living out of a backpack for an extended period of time gives you the freedom to be truly mobile. So, instead of settling down in one spot, you can move around and see and experience as many things as possible.
- Budget conscious: While this kind of trip doesn’t mean you’re slumming it, it’s not about five-star hotels and spa treatments. The idea is to make each day’s spending as economical as possible so that you can stretch the length of the trip for as long as you can.
How to Choose Your First Backpacking Destination
As you evaluate where your landing spot will be, keep a few factors in mind:
Comfort Level
Since this is your first backpacking trip, you may not want to go too extreme with how simple you plan to make it. If living without certain amenities is completely new to you, you could end up hating the experience simply because of that. Give some thought to what’s important to you, and try to find a location that will accommodate those needs. This could be a wide range of things, from air conditioning (you probably won’t have that in most places) to Western-style sanitation methods.
Visa policies
This is one factor that can close or open a window for you. If you want to travel in the near future and you’re on a definite timeline, there are some countries where the visa process may take longer than you have. Other countries simply do not grant tourist visas for the amount of time you might want to spend there. Or, a visa could be too expensive for your budget.
Cost
When it comes to how far your money will go, not all destinations are created equal. The sad truth is, your money will stretch much further in places like southeast Asia, Central America, and South America. European locations are not as cheap.
Safety
Of course, your wellbeing is the most important factor to consider. Safety is influenced by many things, like the weather, political and civil happenings, and social conventions, among others.
Culture & language
Part of the beauty of travel is getting familiar with other cultures. But it’s also important to determine if you can live for a while in an area that may be vastly different from what you’re used to. For instance:
- Food: If you have allergies, or are vegan, vegetarian, or dairy or gluten free, does the destination offer your preferred diet?
- Values/Beliefs: Is there any aspect of the local religion or traditions that would make you feel awkward or uncomfortable?
- Language: Would you be able to get by if you aren’t fluid in the local language?
Regions That Are Great for First-Time Backpackers
There are certain hot spots for travel backpackers. They normally have a good combination of affordability, things to do, and access. And, since many backpackers have already been there, the locals are used to this type of tourism.
Southeast Asia
Being literally halfway around the world, it’s vastly different than what most Americans are used to. It can also be very cheap, even in some of the larger cities. Specific countries to consider:
Europe
Your dollar may not go as far, but there is a ton of history to explore and some first timers are more comfortable with the familiarity they’ll find here. Specific countries to consider:
Latin America
As far as budget goes, this falls between Southeast Asia and Europe. If you’re a Spanish speaker, this may be a good fit because you’ll be able to converse and perhaps improve your language skills. Specific countries to consider:
How Long Should Your First Backpacking Trip Be?
For first timers, a good place to start may be a trip length of two to four weeks.
That gives you ample time for rest days and slower travel. It also accounts for any unexpected delays or interruptions you might experience. Plus, you might have enough time to add in some impromptu activities that you hear about once you arrive at your destination.
A two-to-four week backpacking trip gives you some flexibility without being overly ambitious for your maiden voyage. That being said, there’s no rule for how long a backpacking trip has to be. Your responsibilities, budget, and stamina will greatly affect how much time you schedule for travel.
Popular Itineraries for First-Time Backpackers
The internet is filled with blogs and web diaries of veteran backpackers who want to share their expertise with others. Take advantage of that!
An especially valuable type of resource that they offer are sample itineraries. These guides are tried and tested, so there’s no need to start from scratch, especially as a first timer. If you love this type of travel, you can always customize your own itinerary on future trips.
IndieTraveller has great information for first-time backpackers. The founder, Marek Bron, started traveling the world in 2012 and launched the website soon thereafter. He and his small team write about places they’ve been and the experiences they’ve had, and it’s a wealth of good advice.
Two Weeks in Thailand
In week one, visit Bangkok, Sukothai and Chiang Mai. Then, for your second week, fly down to the southern coast and enjoy nature or beaches there. It teems with scenic cliffs, scuba diving meccas (don’t forget scuba insurance!), and “party islands.”
IndieTraveller suggests a daily budget of $25-$35 for central and northern Thailand, and up to $45-$55 for the coast and islands.
One Month around Europe
If you’ve got a month and you want to give Europe a try, limit your itinerary to a certain section of the continent. IndieTraveller likes the Balkans. Part of the reason for that is that it’s cheaper than Western Europe. You can go down the Croatian coast and then visit Montenegro, Albania, and Greece, or explore the Transylvania region. $30-$45 per day should be enough to travel around the Balkans.
Three Weeks in Guatemala
Flores is a good place to start to explore the Mayan. Then head into nature in Semuc Champey, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan. Xela gives you an authentic city experience. You can also throw in a trip to the cloud forest of Coban or Biotope del Quetzal. A budget of $25-$30 is recommended for Guatemala.
Three Weeks in Colombia
IndieTraveller recommends starting in Cartagena. From there, you can go to Santa Marta, where you can visit the Tayrona National Park or do the Lost City Trek. Minca is a laidback town that’s popular with backpackers, while San Gil is just the opposite—Colombia’s adventure sports capital. Medellin is the country’s second-largest city and worth a visit, along with the capital, Bogota.
Colombia isn’t quite as cheap as Guatemala. IndieTraveller says $40 a day is what’s realistic, though if you’re really budget conscious, you could stretch it to $30 a day.
How to Create Your Backpacking Budget
It’s hard to know how much you should plan to spend on your first backpacking trip. This is again where relying on people’s past experience comes in handy.
Search online for travelers who have been to the places you’re wanting to visit and see what they suggest as a reasonable budget. The term “reasonable” is key here. You certainly don’t want to run out of money midway through your travels. And, you don’t want to be miserable because you are scrimping in every area. Budget Your Trip has a handy calculator for creating a spending plan.
The main categories for your budget are accommodation, food, transportation, and insurance.
The first three can vary widely depending on how much importance you give to each and where you’re going. Even within a country the more touristy zones will be priced at much more expensive rates than the quieter areas.
The cost of your travel insurance will depend on where you’re going, how much your trip costs, and what kind of coverage you want. But it’s a vital item in your budget, because it can save you a lot of money when the unexpected occurs.
As far as estimates, you can expect the following costs, depending on your destination.
- Europe: $60-$90/day (Western Europe is much more expensive than other parts. Your activities will greatly influence your costs as well.)
- SE Asia: $30-$50/day (Touristy areas inflate prices on everything—from food to accommodation)
- Latin America: $35-$60/day (Central America and South America each have high and low areas, with Costa Rica and Chile being the most expensive.
Of course, the currency exchange at the time of your trip will play a key role, too.
Tips for Stretching Your Money
There are ways to make your money go farther. It may require putting convenience on the back burner, but you also may draw closer to the land you are visiting by using these cheap tips:
- Accommodation: If you have friends or family that you can stay with, that’s always the cheapest. But in a lot of popular backpacking destinations, low-cost options like hostels are plentiful.
- Food: Eating like a local—even by cooking yourself with native ingredients—is usually the most cost-effective option and a great way to step out of your comfort zone.
- Transportation: Using the local methods of getting around may not be the most comfortable, fastest, or most reliable, but it will save you the most dough. Taking night buses and other non-peak travel times helps, too.
- Activities: Look for free walking tours or go explore a neighborhood or area on your own. In most places, natural sites like beaches and woods don’t charge to enter. You may even be able to find museums without an admission fee.
- Travel Off-Season: If you’re already following the advice above, then missing the high travel times probably won’t affect your food and local transportation much. But it might affect your accommodation rates, and it could make a major impact on one of your biggest line items: the flight taking you to and from your destination.
Packing Tips for Travel Backpacking
This is the type of trip where how you pack really matters. Remember, the rule of the game is everything you bring must fit into a backpack, so think like a minimalist. One of the masters of budget-friendly travel is Rick Steves. You can use his packing list as a guide, including these essentials:
- Clothes: You can always do laundry, so don’t bring too many of the same thing.
- Toiletries: Many things can be bought once you arrive and replenished throughout your trip, but bring anything that might be tough to find away from home.
- Tech needs: Chargers, laptop/tablet, mobile hotspot
- Small first aid kit
- Water filter: This is vital if you are in an area where water is not potable.
- Personal safety devices: These are especially important if you’re traveling alone.
For your backpack, there are a lot of styles and sizes to choose from. Many opt for 40L-55L, but some say that’s too big, especially if you’re taking flights on airlines that are very strict about weight limits. Packing cubes help to shrink things down and stay organized. In addition to size, you’ll want to think about functionality. A clamshell design is usually the most convenient for packing and unpacking because it allows you to see everything easily. Many people appreciate a good amount of pockets to stash things. Plus, you’ll also want to pay attention to the straps to make sure they’re comfortable.
How to Find Affordable Places to Stay
While you shouldn’t expect a Four Seasons experience, there’s no reason your backpacking accommodations have to be squalor. An entire sector of the travel industry caters to budget travelers and backpackers, so you have a well-established range of housing to choose from.
- Hostels: Hostels vary in size and quality. Often, people think of hostels as dormitory style, with up to about eight bunk beds to a room. But, many also have more expensive private rooms if you’re not into sharing. For the most part, hostels are no frills, and some don’t even have the basics like towels, so you’ll need to bring your own. You’ll also want to have a padlock to secure your belongings. Two good sources for booking hostels are hostelworld.com and booking.com.
- Airbnb/Guest Houses: Depending on how long you are staying in one place (like if it’s 30 days+), this could be a cheaper option than a hostel. The advantage of these is that you’ll have some more privacy. And if it’s a home-stay, you can get to know the owner of the property.
- Work Exchange: This setup pairs you with a host that will give you some labor to do in exchange for a free place to crash. You choose how much time you are willing to volunteer each week. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the culture and learn a new skill to boot. Workaway.info is the most popular platform for this type of accommodation.
- Couch Surfing: Couch surfing platforms are generally free places for travelers to spend short visits. The idea is to build community person-to-person. This article by Nomad Sister touches on some of the main sites and highlights their advantages and disadvantages.
Regardless of what type of accommodation you choose, make sure to read up on reviews and always keep your safety top of mind.
Tips for Getting Around While Backpacking
No doubt you have your preferred apps and websites for booking airplane tickets, such as Google Flights, Kayak, or Priceline. But Skyscanner’s search engine does a really good job of offering flexibility, especially when your dates and destination aren’t fixed. It also gets kudos for its international routes, so you can use it to fly from the US to your first location, or between destinations.
Rome2Rio is a great tool for looking at all possible options to get from point A to point B. It will include different modes of transport, times, and stations (e.g., it will tell you if it makes sense to go to the smaller train station or airport rather than the large one). There’s a good article about this trip planner on The Traveler.
While Rome2Rio’s focus is giving you the info about how to get there, other sites help you buy the tickets. Omio is a booking site that concentrates on Europe and 12go’s description on their homepage says it all: trains, buses, ferries, transfers, flights—across Asia & Beyond. You can get your transport tickets straight from either site.
When you arrive, you’ll find that each region—and sometimes each country or even each city—have their own preferred modes of transport. In southeast Asia, tuktuks are extremely common. In Latin America, colectivos, which are small vans or buses, can be seen all over.
While Uber is ever-expanding, in some places, other rideshare apps have a larger presence and are cheaper. Grab is really popular in southeast Asia, Cabify is well known in Latin America, and Freenow and Bolt can be found in Europe.
While America is very car oriented, you’ll find other localities have many more options for public transport. Trains can be found all over Europe, and its well-designed infrastructure means you can travel easily for fairly cheap. One option is to get a Eurail Global Pass, which covers 33 countries and can be bought for a continuous time period (of 15 days to 3 months) or as a flexible pass.
Don’t forget to investigate some more budget-friendly options like night buses and budget airlines (Ryanair is a big one in Europe, and AirAsia is a leader in the East.) And if you are open-minded about where you are going and when, you might be able to score a deal. Flexible travel is oftentimes cheaper. However, if you really like to stick to a planned itinerary, then you should be sure to book in advance to get the best price.
Travel Insurance for Backpackers
Anytime you get on a plane to leave home, there’s always the risk of the unexpected. That’s especially true on a backpacking trip, because it usually involves being on the go and visiting a lot of different places. Travel insurance is your best bet to protect yourself in case something unplanned happens.
A major benefit that travel insurance offers is Emergency Medical. It reimburses you for unexpected medical expenses during your trip, such as doctor visits, ambulance services, hospital stays, x-rays and lab work, and prescription drugs. This is especially important since most health insurance plans do not provide coverage abroad.
Another travel insurance inclusion that many backpackers rely on is Baggage and Personal Items Loss. This covers belongings that get damaged, lost, or stolen on your trip. Common items that fall under this benefit are luggage, clothing, toiletry, travel documents (like your passport), jewelry, and electronics (including cameras and computers). Typically, your policy will have per-person and per-item limits.
If you’re a thrill seeker, then you might also be interested in adventure travel insurance. It covers medical costs, search and rescue efforts, and weather losses while engaged in or related to a variety of adventure activities.
Safety Tips for Backpackers
Here are a few things to keep in mind to prioritize your safety:
- Make sure the host is verified when booking accommodations like couch surfing or guests houses
- Lock your valuables when sleeping or showering, especially if you’re in a place with dormitory-style sleeping arrangements
- Use safety devices like door stops or alarms to prevent or notify you if someone tries to enter
- Look out for scams, especially on third-party apps
- Be conscious of food and waterborne parasites. Make sure anything you eat is cooked thoroughly. If the water is unsafe, avoid eating raw fruit or vegetables and opt for commercially bottled drinking water or use a purification method.
- Get any mandatory or recommended vaccines for the places you’ll be visiting.
- Always keep a friend or relative back home aware of your plans.
FAQs: Backpacking for First-Time Travelers
Is backpacking safe for solo travelers?
Yes, backpacking is safe for solo travelers, as long as you keep basic security precautions in mind, such as being aware of your surroundings at all times, locking things properly, and paying attention to reviews before booking. You might also pack some safety devices for extra protection. And although some backpackers plan their trips and travel to their destination alone, many make friends among locals or other travelers. Some even continue the journey with their new traveling companions.
What’s the best age to go backpacking?
There is no best age to go backpacking—it’s open to young and old alike. While many assume your late teens or early 20s is the ideal time to take a backpacking trip, it all depends on your fitness level and, perhaps even more important, your outlook. In fact, there’s currently a midlife gap year trend, where older travelers are taking bucket list trips in backpacking style. Some are doing it after they retire and others are taking advantage of leaves of absence or sabbaticals. The point is, if you have the desire and your lifestyle and bank account allow it, then you should definitely give it a try.
Can you go backpacking with no experience?
You can absolutely go backpacking with no experience. Jesse Itzler, an American entrepreneur (who also happens to be married to the founder of Spanx, Sara Blakely) said, “No experience is necessary to push yourself past what you think you can do.” If you only did things you’ve done before, you’d never do anything new. But along with the right mindset, make use of all the resources you can find online, especially on blogs and forums of people who have taken backpacking trips. Their experiences will prove to be invaluable as you plan your own trip, and even as you have questions along the way.