"Don't know where to start?"

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
Travel Route Planner

Getting started backpacking

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.

Search for cheap flights to Asia:

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.

Getting Started Backpacking: To show you an example of a travel route, I'll show you the route I set up for my backpacking trip:

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:

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

Then:

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 Laos
Itineraries for Cambodia
Itineraries for Southern Thailand
Itinerary for Malaysia
Itineraries for India
Having trouble on where to travel in Asia? How to set up an itinerary? Click here to learn how to create a good itinerary for Asia.

Getting Started Backpacking:
Pearls from the Backpacking Forum

This book is personally recommended by me. I read it after I went backpacking for the first time. I wish I had read it before!


Here are some post from the travel forum that can help your planning, and where to travel in Asia:

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


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Next stop is...


• When to travel in Asia

Click onto the next page!

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Stories about Backpacking in Asia

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What Other Visitors Have Said

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How to find the best and cheap backpackers travel insurance

Check out my backpacking checklist!

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getting started backpacking