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Getting Started Backpacking
"Don't know where to start?"
All information below is subject to change
In this article you'll find:
Planning for a backpacking trip in Asia is fun! But getting started is not always easy, especially for newbies. Have in mind that you have a lot of planning ahead of you and ... ...Be flexible... It's not the end of the world just because not everything go as planned! You will occasionally alter your plans during your backpacking trip which is very common for backpackers. Like, you might end up not liking the place you`ve planned to stay for 3 weeks, and have to be on the move again after 5 days. ... Now, let's get started! "Getting Started Backpacking" is an extensive topic and therefore I have divided this article into four parts. This page is Part 1. Here are the other pages: Part 2: When to travel to Asia and the best time to travel in Asia Part 3: Who to travel with, about traveling alone and how to travel as a couple Part 4: How to calculate your budget and other useful budget advice Click here to share a tip or a GREAT story about backpacking in Asia Where to Go in Asia
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Bangkok is usually the gateway city to Southeast Asia, if coming from Europe, US and Australia.
Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are also practical hub cities if you're coming from Australia or New Zealand, and planning on traveling in Indonesia as well.
If you don't have a clue where to start, you should start here:
Read travel guide books and research your possible destinations
I recommend renting/buying books like Lonely Planet or Rough Guides. These books introduce you to all the things you need to know about backpacking, and are easy to read.
For more information on how to choose the right travel guide book, click here (opens in a new window)
Talk to friends
who have been backpacking in Asia before and
take note of places and activities you want to see and do. It's your trip. You can go wherever you want.
Remember that your backpacker-friends are your best insider-source... AND... they're your friends. They'll probably be happy to share honest advice, thoughts and experiences!
Getting Started Backpacking: In the process of planning...
Ask yourself these questions:
How much is it for a flight ticket?
Where do I want to start?
Start gently! When I started my first backpacking trip, India was my first stop. The country's beautiful, but if I could go back in time I would have picked the country as my last stop.
Where do I want to end my trip? (on the beach, in the mountains etc.)
How much time do I have?
Be realistic. If you only have one month or two, focuse on the places you really want to see. A stressful backpacking trip is not ideal if you can't even remember where you've been.
Can I easily return to a place I enjoyed if I want to?
If I don't like the new area, do I have a back up plan?
You should have other places in mind when you get in this situation. Feel free to be impulsive as well. Talk to other travelers on the road, and ask where they've been and about their experiences.
Things to consider:
Concentrate on one area at a time. If you're going to Chiang
Mai, focuse on the North. When you're done traveling in the North, travel to South and explore that part of the country and so on.
To save time and energy, start as north or south as possible and
make your way up or down, east or west. This way, you don't need to come to the same place twice or more.
Example: From Pai to Lao border -- instead of traveling via Chiang Mai again, travel directly from Pai to Chiang Khong.
The trip lasted for 4 months, and I still had all the time in the world visiting these places.
I started of course in Oslo, then:
Then:
Mumbai
Palolem (Goa)
Jaipur
New Delhi
Bangkok
Chiang Mai
Pai Thailand
Chiang Khong/Huay Xai border (Thailand/Laos)
Luang Prabang Laos
Vang Vieng
Vientiane
Pakse
Don Det
Voen Kham/Koh Chheuteal Thom border (Laos/Cambodia)
Phnom Penh
Siem Reap Cambodia
Battambang
Poipet/Aranyaprathet border (Cambodia/Laos)
Back to Bangkok
Koh Pha Ngan
Krabi
Koh Lanta
Ko Phi Phi
Back to Krabi
Ao Nang
Khao Lak
Ranong/Kawthoung border (visa renewal)
Ranong
Hua Hin
Cha-am
Bangkok
Ko Chang Island
Back to Bangkok again
You can travel the other way around too, like starting in Bangkok, then travel to the border of Cambodia, Siem Reap and so on.
The great part of planning a route is that you don't need to stick to it!
Use route planners so you won't forget the important places you want to see, and to make sure you actually know where you're heading, more or less. There are tons of other places to go during this route.
You need to find the place YOU want to go to! And another thing: You'll get more out of your adventures if you're more spontaneous.
Getting Started Backpacking: Need more tips on where to go?
Check out these itineraries.
If you want to go straight to a specific country/part of a country -- click on these links:
Itineraries for Northern Thailand
Itineraries for Southern Thailand
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What are the highlights of Asia, country by country
Itinerary advice for Southeast Asia
Six weeks backpacking Thailand, Cambodia, Laos
Bangkok to Laos, Cambodia, South islands of Thailand in 30 days
What is the best circuit for Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and maybe China
Planning a trip in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia
Visiting a large variety of places in just 2 months -- possible?
Malaysian itinerary for one month
How to get from Goa (India) to Cambodia
Backpacking advice for planning South east Asia trip
Next stop is...
| Next Page |
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Do you have a great story about backpacking? Tips on how to get started? What do you regret doing in Asia?
Your story can be from anywhere in the world! It doesn't have to be backpacking in Asia.
PS: I reserve the right to delete a submission if it's not original, or if it's too short.
By original I mean the content is NOT copied from another website.
Any submission below 10 sentences will be deleted.
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page! You can also comment them.
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