How To Plan A Backpacking Trip: Ten Tips To Help You Get Started | AD

*This is a collaborative post

Planning a backpacking trip can be daunting, especially if youโ€™ve never done it before. But thereโ€™s no reason you canโ€™t enjoy this activity, and with a little bit of preparation, you can have the best time backpacking youโ€™ve ever had. Unfortunately, most people are afraid to plan a trip because they donโ€™t know where to start or how much it will cost. The good news is that planning a backpacking trip doesnโ€™t need to be complicated or expensive. Here are some helpful tips to help get you started:

Decide how long youโ€™ll be gone

The length of your trip can have a huge impact on how much you spend and what you bring along. For example, if youโ€™re backpacking for a few weeks, youโ€™ll need new clothes, extra food, and a larger backpack. If youโ€™re backpacking for a month, you can travel lighter and still see a lot of new places. If youโ€™re unsure of how long youโ€™ll be gone, try planning a shorter trip first. This not only gives you a better idea of what youโ€™ll need, but it also lets you get used to backpacking again if youโ€™re used to regularly traveling by car or plane. Shorter trips can also be a great way to get out of town for an inexpensive vacation.

You could also travel abroad for your backpacking trip, but this can be an expensive option. However, backpacking abroad can be hugely rewarding as it gives you the chance to experience new cultures and countries. If you decide to stay in hostels you can find accommodation there pretty cheaply.

Research what to see and where to stay

No matter where you go or how long youโ€™ll be gone, you need to know where youโ€™re heading. Now, this doesnโ€™t mean spending hours on a research binge, but a little legwork can save you a lot of time, effort, and money. For example, you can use online resources such as Wikitravel, or Bing, to get a basic overview of the country or state youโ€™re planning to visit. You can also use various websites and apps to research hostels, hotels, and camping spaces near your destinations. Next, youโ€™ll want to consider where youโ€™ll stay. This can be a key aspect of your trip that you donโ€™t take the time to research. 

To save money while backpacking, youโ€™ll want to stay as close to your destinations as possible. In many cases, this will require you to stay in urban areas. However, if you can find a remote area to stay in, you can sometimes save a lot of money. Always make sure to book accommodation in advance so you know that you have somewhere to stay and always try to find discount codes for travel.

Estimate how much food youโ€™ll need

Backpacking is a great way to get in shape, but it can also help you save money. For example, if youโ€™re not a big eater of pizza or ice cream, you can often save money by buying less food. Before you go, take some time to estimate how much food youโ€™ll need. This will help you get the most from your food budget and also give you a better idea of what youโ€™ll need to buy. If youโ€™re going on a backpacking trip thatโ€™s longer than a week, youโ€™ll likely have snacks to bring along. To save money, you can estimate that youโ€™ll only need one-third of the snacks youโ€™re bringing.

Figure out your budget

When youโ€™re out on the trail, you donโ€™t have to spend a lot of money. However, you should still keep in mind your budget and make sure you have money left over for emergencies. To begin with, you should always have a budget for the trip. This budget can be as simple as a dollar amount you set aside for each activity, or it can be a complicated budgetary plan that takes all your expenses into account. Next, youโ€™ll want to think about how often youโ€™ll be eating. If youโ€™re backpacking for a long time, you can often save money by buying more food or eating out less often. You should also keep in mind things that are outside your budget, such as a major repair on your vehicle or injuries that will require you to stay in a hospital.

Choose equipment and packing list

When youโ€™re backpacking, youโ€™ll have to make some difficult decisions. For example, youโ€™ll have to decide what to bring and what to leave behind. Before you go, you should decide what equipment youโ€™ll need. This can include things such as a backpack, sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag. You can also think about other things such as a headlamp, a knife, a compass, a first aid kit, and a change of clothes. Next, you need to think about what youโ€™ll bring with you. This can include essential items such as toilet paper, a toothbrush, and other essentials. However, it can also include things such as your smartphone, a laptop, and other items that you donโ€™t need often but could come in handy.

Finalize the details with your friends or partner

When youโ€™re backpacking, youโ€™ll want to be sure to keep your loved ones informed of your plans and whereabouts. You can use social media to broadcast your trip or send a few texts from each destination to your friends or family back home. However, you should keep in mind that youโ€™re out in the wilderness, so your communications may be spotty. You should also keep your partner or friends informed of your whereabouts. This will let them know where you are, help them if you get into an emergency, and let your loved ones know that youโ€™re okay. 

It might be a good idea to take someone with you on your trip. This is good for not just safety but also the company, as backpacking alone can be daunting and lonely at times, so it might be a good idea to take someone along with you for the ride. 

Research the rail network

One of the best ways of getting around much of Europe is by train. Itโ€™s much cheaper than flying and itโ€™s also better for the planet, so it would be a good idea if you thought ahead and looked up train timetables in the locations that youโ€™re going to be visiting. However, many countries such as the UK are experiencing rail strikes at the moment so it would also be a good idea to look up bus timetables just in case these strikes impact your journey.

Research local regulations and restrictions

Another thing youโ€™ll want to research is the local regulations and restrictions in the area that youโ€™re backpacking in. Backpacking is a popular activity, and there are often a variety of regulations and restrictions in place to protect the area and keep it as pristine as possible. If youโ€™re planning to hike in a National Park, or in a Wilderness Area, youโ€™ll usually have to abide by a specific set of regulations and restrictions, and you should research them before you go. Other than these specific regulations, you should also research the general regulations and restrictions that apply in the area youโ€™re hiking in. These may include things like NO alcohol, NO fishing, NO littering, and more. When planning a trip, youโ€™ll want to know what you can and canโ€™t do to keep yourself and others as safe as possible.

If you decide to go abroad for backpacking, then it is important to know the laws in that country. For example, in some parts of the UK it is illegal to carry an open bottle or can of alcohol in public, so make sure that you know the local customs so you donโ€™t find yourself in trouble for something that you did not know.

Author

  • Donna Wishart is married to Dave and they have two children, Athena (13) and Troy (12). They live in Surrey with their two cats, Fred and George. Once a Bank Manager, Donna has been writing about everything from family finance to days out, travel and her favourite recipes since 2012. Donna is happiest either exploring somewhere new, with her camera in her hand and family by her side, or snuggled up with a cat on her lap, reading a book and enjoying a nice cup of tea. She firmly believes that tea and cake can fix most things.

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