12 Practical Tips For Planning a Backpacking Trip: The Ultimate Guide

I remember myself several years ago scratching my head, wondering how to plan a backpacking trip. I tried desperately to figure out which destination really ticks all my boxes, what to pack on a backpacking trip, and how to pack a backpack the right way …to name a few. I can’t believe it was actually me.

 

After plunging myself into the subject, I’ve found out that the less you plan, the more money you will spend. This is particularly true when you are short on time. While it is up to you to decide where, when, and how you will be traveling, I firmly believe that a little bit of planning goes a long way allowing you to get the most out of your trip for the lowest cost.

 

Skipping some of these steps could result in a missed opportunity. You won’t be able to find cheap flights or check what means of transportation are available to compare prices. You also won’t be able to estimate to any degree of accuracy how much your backpacking trip will actually cost you and, might miss out on enjoying attractions or other activities.

 

In addition, at least for me, planning is always the most fun part of any trip: finding all the amazing things I’ll do once I arrive!

 

It doesn’t really matter whether you are a neophyte backpacker or have been tramping around the woods for years, pre-trip planning is essential for a successful backpacking trip. That said, there’s a number of steps to take when you are planning a backpacking trip.

 

In this blog post, I break down how to plan a backpacking trip into 12 achievable steps so you feel less overwhelmed and confident as you get ready for your next adventure. Whether you want to backpack through the Coastal Trails on the Pacific Coast or hit the Hang Nak Mountain Nature Trail in Thailand, this step-by-step backpacking guide will help you plan your backpacking trip from A to Z, knowing that you aren’t really missing out on important details. Let’s dive right in!

how to plan a backpacking trip

 

How to Plan a Backpacking Trip

1. Choose a Travel Destination

There are several factors I keep in mind while choosing my next destination. Maybe I heard about the sunsets of the place or I just know the destination is extremely affordable at the moment, saw spectacular photos of it on Instagram and Voila I’m packing my backpack and leaving for the airport. It depends on the situation. It is necessary to choose a destination that would fit both your budget and time constraints.

 

Do a quick research to determine, which destinations offer better value for money, cheaper accommodation and a wider array of activities to attend. If you want to go on a sightseeing tour, fishing, or want to spot a mountain goat, then you should plan your trip accordingly.

 

Prices are generally lower and crowds thinner during the shoulder season, so take advantage of it. Travel forums, discussion boards, guidebooks, hiking, and backpacking magazines are usually a valuable source of information when you need help in choosing a destination. Make sure to check local airport restrictions and rules before you fly.

 

To begin planning your backpacking trip, take a look at the following:

Clearly, you can backpack in South America at a fraction of the cost it would cost you to travel in Northern Europe.
So, if you are traveling on a small budget, consider visiting relatively cheap destinations. Personally, I spend roughly $1,300 USD/month while traveling in these places) but remember that sometimes you will spend a lot of money to get there:

 

  • South America (with the exception of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile)
  • Central America (excluding the Caribbean islands)
  • Eastern Europe (particularly countries which are outside of the EU)
  • Most of Africa (although, I would only recommend this for the seasoned travelers)
  • Some Middle Eastern and Arab countries that are not major oil producers
  • Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, to name a few)
  • India
  • Southeast Asia (the backpacker’s paradise after Europe and Australia)

 

These are quite expensive

Personally, I spend roughly $2,800 USD while traveling these regions:

  • The USA
  • Canada
  • Western Europe
  • Oceania (mainly Australia with the mining “boom”)
  • South Korea
  • Middle Eastern countries not associated with oil

 

The following destinations rank among the world’s most expensive.

Personally, I spend roughly $3,400 USD while traveling in these places:

  • Scandinavia
  • Switzerland
  • Denmark and Iceland
  • Some scenic islands like Bermuda
  • Some countries in the Middle East (mainly large oil producers like the UAE)

 

Just keep in mind that, generally, the more expensive a country is, the more tourist infrastructure you will find and the easier it’ll be to travel around.

 

2. Set Your Targets

The ultimate way to get the most out of a backpacking trip is to know exactly what type of trip you need. If you want cultural immersion go to Europe. Shopping? Try the United States. Adventure can be everywhere and South America, Africa, Oceania, and Southeast Asia are the biggest draws.

 

Is it a leisurely getaway, with plenty of lakeside naptimes, or perhaps a strenuous summit hike to panoramic and fantastic views? Search for routes that fit in your criteria, then focus on the best-graded options alternatively.

 

3. Pick a Date For Your Backpacking Trip

Figuring out the best time to go is the second step in how to plan a backpacking trip. Your dates will affect your entire experience so choose wisely. If you want to go in January, then you’ll be limited to places like Joshua Tree, Santa Rosa Wilderness, Marble/ Cottonwood Canyon loop, and Florida. If it’s summer, then you’ll want to hit the mountains.

 

When setting out for the first time, 1-2 nights is the right amount of time to get the feel of the place and get some hiking trails under your belt. After the extensive first-hand experience, you’ll be able able to answer a lot of questions you have now. What gear worked and which didn’t. Whether you chose the right food. What pace you like to hike at, to name a few. The more experienced hikers may want to go for longer. Keep in mind, the longer you’re out there, the more time you have to unwind and appreciate the benefits of being in the wilderness.

 

4. Decide What to Pack For Your Travels

Generally, the fewer items I put in my backpack, the happier I feel on the road. I hate paying extra for overweight luggage. While it can be tempting to stuff everything into your backpack, packing a backpack to its full capacity is a bad idea. The golden rule here is that your backpack should be no more than 75 percent full.

 

You will end up carrying gifts, dirty laundry, and cheap objects at some point of your trip. Furthermore, some clothes tend to take up more space and weigh a lot, so leave yourself some room. It will make packing and unpacking your backpack much easier.

 

For beginner hikers, choose a minimum of two survival-oriented items and leave them at home. Earnestly, you won’t need that kind of stuff on the road.

 

Don’t even bother asking yourself if you going to need survival gear. Unless you’re going to hike Great Himalaya Trail in Tibet, you probably won’t need it.

 

While smartphones and digital gadgets have made our lives easier, you will not need many distractions on your backpacking trip. Just take what you need to live. Let fellow companions provide the deck of cards or travel chess set.

 

You can always go to quieter local shops if you forgot something.

Batteries are heavy; don’t carry extra. Shop for replacement batteries locally instead of buying online.

 

Remember the golden rule for packing a backpack: Lay out what you want to bring and then ditch half of it!

 

Unless you are going trek to the North Pole, you will be able to buy most of that survival gear on the road at each destination. If you are traveling in developing countries, you will definitely get a chance to find stuff you need at more affordable prices.

 

Do not bring anything priceless or unique. Leave that watch your grandfather gave you. Stuff you bring will be exposed to the mistreatment, and possibly broken or stolen.

 

Do not bring a lot of clothing. Although debatable by some who is looking for a new acquaintance of the opposite sex, fashion is less of an issue on the road than it is at home. You can wash laundry regularly, either yourself or in self-service laundries. If you feel that you do not have enough to wear, purchase local clothing for cheap.

 

Take the following approach: “wear one, wash one.” Backpacker fashion requires a minimum amount of clothes to survive.

 

Bring clothing that is versatile (for example, swimsuits that can double as another pair of shorts, etc).

 

Make sure to strap items such as fishing rods, climbing gear, or sleeping pack on the outside if you do not have sufficient space to put them inside. Consider purchasing trail running shoes or hiking boots for your travel. The longer your trip, the burlier, and the more durable boots you will need. Do not forget to take extra shoelaces.

 

Pack shorts or synthetic hiking pants as they dry quickly. I prefer wearing wool or fleece over synthetics, as they are odor-resistant. Carrying long-sleeved shirts will reduce UVR exposure and will protect you from mosquitoes as well. A lightweight rain jacket or shell will always come in handy.

 

5. Plan Your Travel Budget

It is definitely one of the most important steps to take when planning a backpacking trip. Travel budget depends on a multitude of factors specific to each traveler. You can roughly calculate it by specifying your destination, activities you plan to do, airline class, food, length of stay, and accommodation options.

 

What you can do is calculate travel costs before and get a rough perspective on your travel expenses. Add up all the potential costs, and see if it fits your budget.

 

6. Visas

Lots of countries require travelers to present entry visas on arrival. While this usually applies to US citizens, Canadians, EU residents, Aussies, and Kiwis, other nationals may want to obtain a visa prior to arrival. Be sure to research the country’s visa rules depending on your citizenship. In a similar way, you should find out how long you can stay in an area either visa-free or with your visa.

 

I find Wikipedia is a reliable resource for checking visa requirements.

 

7. Find Cheap Flights Like a Pro

While there is no consensus on the best time to book a flight, I’ve booked flights the week or even three days before and didn’t pay that much for my ticket. in general, the earlier you know your dates, the better.

 

It makes sense to sign up for our newsletter to stay on top of things. That way, I’ve scored many cheap flights with EasyJet and Ryanair by jumping on the deals they offer through their newsletters. I’ve also scored super cheap flights by scrolling through travel hacking websites.

 

It pays to be flexible when planning a backpacking trip. If you’re not yet locked into dates for your trip it promises great chances for finding a cheaper flight. Being flexible with your travel dates allows you to take advantage of the cheap flight costs on days when flights aren’t as in-demand as on ordinary days. This can be especially helpful when booking popular flight routes, such as between London and Sydney, or Paris to New York.

 

Use flight search engines like Google Flights and Expedia, Select the region you’re most interested in and you might find awesome deals.

 

Another clever way to save even more money is to book in the local currency and language. Use Google Translate to book the flight in these cases. I’ve saved a lot of money by booking flights in French for Europe and Portuguese for South America.

 

8. Ensure You Have the Right Amount of Time

It sounds confusing but let me elaborate on this one. If you’re packing for a month-long backpacking excursion, I do not believe going to Aruba is the best option. This is a small island and you don’t want to end up wasting all that time there. With one month on your hands, it would be better to go to Europe, for instance. Same thing if you have only 5 days of vacation and you go from the United States to Thailand. The actual traveling time will be too short if compared with the time and money you will spend on the flight.

 

9. Book Some Activities in Advance

What motivates you to visit a certain destination? Do you want to hike, swim, surf, watch birds, or just chill? In some cases, booking things ahead of time can be your best bet.

 

If it’s a popular beach town, find your ideal accommodation quickly. I like Agoda.com for this.

 

If it’s a hiking hotspot and they require wilderness permits like in Mt. Whitney Trail, California book as far ahead of time as possible to avoid last-minute surprises. Make sure to book popular hiking permits at least 3-4 months in advance. Research the rules for your hike, you can usually find permit requirements on the federal or state agency’s website.

 

Depending on where you are backpacking, there might be some additional requirements. For example, while hiking in the backcountry, backpackers need camping reservations to sleep anywhere outside of designated campgrounds.

 

10. Get Offline Maps

I love navigating around the place with ease, so I prepare a detailed map well in advance. Carrying a map is a must for backpackers venturing into the wilderness or exploring a new city, even if they think the trail is well marked and the trip is going to be a breeze.

 

Sometimes, printed maps are available at ranger stations and Forest Service offices, but I’d not rely on them. Instead, bring a GPS unit or download digital maps onto a smartphone. Consider downloading other layers, too, like Landsat imagery, property boundaries, and Gaia GPS app. The latter allows you to preload maps and GPS tracks into your smartphone before your trip.

 

Then when you are out on the trail without Wi-Fi or cell service, you can use the offline maps along with your smartphone’s GPS to do all the mapping and navigating you need.

 

When it comes to getting around a new city, nothing can beat Google Maps and Maps.me. While it is up to you, maps.me worked better for me when I compared these two apps in Israel.

 

11. Invite Your Friends (or Commit to Traveling Alone)

If you want someone to accompany you, try to round-up a few friends who share your tastes. Drop them a line or put a note out on Facebook. If that doesn’t work and you are unable to find anyone you know to go with, fret not, there are still a couple of options.

 

Check if there are any relevant groups or Facebook communities in your region area for hikers. MeetUp can be a great way for finding like-minded friends who love outdoor adventures and trips. Are you part of a pilates studio or fitness class? Those are also great places to meet active people, and maybe you can make new friends who share your hiking tastes.

 

If you can’t find anyone, don’t let that discourage you. Backpacking solo is a rewarding experience and is worth trying at least once.

 

12. Inform Relatives or Your Friends

Make copies of your backpacking route and inform your family or friends about where you will be and the general time you plan to check-in with them. It’s hard to think about getting caught in a life-threatening situation but bad things happen on the road. Sharing your plans gives you the best chance of surviving a tough moment. In fact, some wilderness permits cannot even be obtained without first sharing your backpacking plans!
 

 

The Bottom Line

You worked hard to get to this point. Know that most people experience a couple of minor travel mistakes on their first backpacking trip. On my third backpacking trip, I forgot my trekking shoes and ended up with blisters on my feet after hiking 33 miles of Escalante Route. Plus, I didn’t pack nearly enough food. It also made me realize my hiking skills leave much to be desired. That said, watching the sunset over Seventyfive Mile Canyon was a turning point in my life. That very backpacking trip changed my whole relationship with the outdoors… hit the road and have a good time.

 

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4 Comments

  • Great tips! I’d love to try backpacking sometime.

    04/05/2020 at 1:15 pm
  • Rebecca

    Reply

    I haven’t been backpacking in a while but it’s such a fun way to explore a place. Great tips.

    14/05/2020 at 2:26 pm
  • Your blog is so beautiful and I cannot get enough reading your articles.

    14/05/2020 at 7:59 pm
  • Great tips!! Thanks for sharing! Definitely gonna implement some of them for my trips after COVID-19.

    16/05/2020 at 2:22 pm

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