Backpacking Holiday

Travel light, budget travel or backpack holidays are a great way to experience the unexplored areas of the world. The extra edge about backpacking travel is 'travel very light and move around anywhere and everywhere quickly'.

Backpack holidays can be a welcome break for fun-loving people who wish to take a break from tedious daily routines. Budget air travel, budget hotels and online resources have made it easy to plan and execute backpacking holidays. Backpacking holidays are perfect for those who would love to stay over a weekend at an adventurous or fun-to-explore destination. Backpackers love to explore beautiful and fascinating places that may possibly have limited access.

Things to carry on a backpacking holiday

Choose the right backpack

• Select a backpack that is comfortable and fits you well.Backpacks are available in various models, backpacks with extensions for long-haul camping vacations, backpacks with external frames for heavy loads, etc.
  
  
• The material used to make the backpack should be of good quality.
  
  
• The backpack should have strong shoulder straps.
  
  
• Make sure your backpack has adequate padding and curves to protect your collarbone from strain.
  
  
• A backpack should have strong and durable zippers;choose bags with large zippers as they are easy to use.
  
  
• Backpacks should have a good waist strap.Waist straps take away the weight off the shoulders thus making it easier to carry the backpack.
  

Camping gear and cooking utensils

• Shelter is the foremost requirement during a camping vacation, so ensure you choose the right camping gear
  
  
• Backpacking camping tents should be lightweight and compact
  
  
• Cooking equipment should include utensils, stove and cooking fuel. Remember to carry containers to fetch water.
  
  
• Carry iodine tablets to treat water before drinking it.
  

Sleeping Gear

Rest and sleep are very important on a backpacking holiday. Good sleeping gear would include:

• Sleeping bag: thicker bags can be used for cold climates and thin bags can be used for warm climate. It is suggested that all sleeping bags should have a liner.
  
  
• Air pillow
  
  
• Sleeping mat
  

Personal Gear

• Shoes/boots
  
  
• First-aid kit
  
  
• Eye protection
  
  
• Sunscreen lotion
  
  
• Headgear
  
  
• Daypack
  
  
• Water bottle
  
  
• Spare clothes
  
  
• Maps
  
  
• Compass
  

Do's for a backpacking holiday

Check on all the aspects before you embark on a backpacking holiday. The list should include:

• Carry only the essential items, do not overload your backpack
  
  
• Carry all the necessary documents including insurance, passport and visas for the countries you wish to travel to.
  
  
• Brush up your knowledge on environmentally-specific hazards, both botanical as well as animal.
  
  
• Check National Forests and Parks for camping seasons and make a list of items that you should carry and should not carry.
  
  
• Hire local guides and eat at local hotels
  
  
• Pick clothes that suits the climatic conditions and terrain
  
  
• Respect the locals and their customs and traditions
  
  
• Try to learn a few key words of the local language
  

Don'ts for a backpacking holiday

• Do not over pack or overload your backpack
  
  
• Do not litter
  
  
• Do not offend the locals
  
  
• Try not to travel alone
  

Limitations of backpacking holidays

• The weight that each traveler carries on such trips can slow down his pace of travel.
  
  
• Setting up camps can be time consuming for beginners.
  
  
• Cooking food can also be time consuming.
  
  
• Backpackers can face risks like difficult terrain, wild animals, unfavorable weather, etc.
  
  
• Backpackers might suffer unexpected illness like heat exhaustion, altitude sickness, dehydration, etc.
  

Backpackers who plan their trip carefully can avoid such risky and tricky situations.

Backpacking insurance

Traveling light does not mean travel without insurance. It is advisable to pick a good backpackers travel insurance policy. Most insurance companies offer customized backpackers travel insurance products. Backpacking insurance is available relatively cheap as people do not carry too may belongings or high value articles on their trip.

Before settling down on an insurance package, check out on the agents and the options they offer. If you wish to explore various countries, ensure that your insurance provider covers that country. Not all insurance providers cover all countries you might wish to travel. Consider the following while picking up backpacking holiday insurance:

• If you are planning to carry expensive equipment,make sure you are covered for it. You may have to pay extra for expensive equipment like camera or MP3 players. Ensure that the backpacking insurance policy mentions the items covered in writing.
  
  
• Cheaper policies offer only medical coverage and nothing more.
  
  
• Check if the backpacking holiday insurance has coverage for theft. You might have to check on whether the insurance provider offers cover for the cash you carry.
  
  

Always carry your backpacking insurance details. Retain all the receipts for your purchase and ATM cash withdrawals as most insurers ask for proof of purchase when you make a claim.

Cheap backpacking holiday

• Traveling on weekdays rather than weekends as weekend travel is expensive when compared to weekday travel.
  
  
• Plan your trip in advance. It is advisable to travel during off-season months as you can benefit from discounts on airfare, hotel tariff, etc.
  
  
• Traveling in the night would save a lot of money on room rents and also save time.
  
  
• Travel by the cheapest mode of transportation available. Traveling by bus or coach will give you the opportunity to explore the terrain and interact with the locals.
  
  
• Stay in youth hostels
  
  
• Try to eat in local eateries or cook your own food
  

Backpacking holiday in Europe

Europe has diverse cultures and people; a backpacking holiday to Europe is definitely fun. Europe is filled with museums,art galleries and many more interesting attractions. You can enjoy walking tours, bicycle tours, European river cruise or the traditional coach ride while holidaying in Europe. Festivals and fairs are a common affair in Europe all through the year; do not miss them while on a holiday. While you plan a backpacking holiday to Europe:

• Make a list of the countries and the places in those countries that you would wish to visit
  
  
• Decide on how you would wish to travel to these countries and within the respective countries
  
  
• Check out on the visa requirement and other formalities for each of these countries
  
  
• June, July and August would be the best time to go backpacking in Europe
  
  
• Travel during spring (March, April, may) season can fetch you a lot of discounts but remember during off-season few attractions are either closed or have restricted visiting hours
  
  
• Plan your stay in youth hostels, as they are an inexpensive option for stay in Europe
  

Backpacking holiday in Thailand

Thailand is a welcome retreat for backpackers with its perfect mix of ancient monuments and modern cities; beautiful landscape, culture, weather, nightlife, beaches and cost-effectiveness. Thailand backpacking has gained huge popularity among budget travelers as other countries especially in Europe have become too expensive. Temples, serene beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling, spas and many more activities are offered at affordable rates thus attracting numerous backpackers. Accommodation and food are also available at reasonable rates. While planning a backpacking holiday to Thailand:

• Remember that the visa granted in Thailand is only for 30 days from the date of entry.
  
  
• Visa extension is expensive.
  
  
• Carry your passport with you wherever you go
  
  
• Bangkok is the hub for backpackers traveling to Southeast Asia.
  
  
• Accommodation is available aplenty and cheap in Thailand.
  
  
• Daily food markets and night markets are very famous for eateries, try them to enjoy the authentic Thai cuisine
  
  
• November through February is the best time to travel to Thailand mainly for backpack travelers as the weather is both cool and sunny.
  

Backpacking holiday in Australia

Northern Australia is an excellent place for backpackers who wish to explore natural attractions. Australia as such is a beautiful combination of nature and metropolis. Australia has plenty of backpacking accommodations like youth hostels, swags, safari tents, hotels etc.

March to May is off season and does not require any advance booking. Trips during spring (September - November) and summer (December - February) seasons need more planning and reservations. While planning for a backpacking holiday to Australia remember:

• To book your accommodation in advance
  
  
• Accommodation in Australia gets very expensive during the Christmas and New Year season
  
  
• Eating out in restaurants can be very expensive; it is advisable to cook your own food
  
  
• Traveling by campervans is the cheapest option of local travel within Australia
  

Western Australia: Perth is the Capital and has many backpacking hostels. The beauty of the Western Australian coastline is something that no backpacker should miss. Be it SharkBay, King Sound or trekking through deserts - experience it all while backpacking through Western Australia.

South Australia: Adelaide is the Capital and offers fantastic nightlife and great beaches. Other places are also worth exploring.

Victoria: Melbourne is the capital and the largest cosmopolitan city of Australia. It has many backpacking hostels. The National parks and Philips Island are worth visiting.

Northern territory: Darwin is the capital.The climatic conditions of the Northern territory are varied. It is a hot desert in the center and filled with lush greenery in the northern most territory. Dramatic scenery at the center and National parks are the major attraction for every backpacker.

Queensland: Popular as the sunshine state of Australia, Brisbane is the capital of Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef is the major attraction for every backpacker. Cairns is equally popular among backpackers. The most popular choices of a backpacker are Perth, Melbourne,Canberra, Brisbane, Byron Bay,Sydney, Tasmania, surfer's paradise, Broome and Cairns.