An itinerary is something that will make the difference between a good vacation and a bad one. This is true whether you are on a luxury vacation or on a tight budget one. The more you can squeeze out of your money in terms of experience however will definitely affect how great you feel about your time off from the world. Read on to see the factors that may affect where and how you spend your hard earned off time and how to plan it so you can get best backpacking trips around.
Whether or not you plan to take your trip in a Western more developed country or a lesser developed Eastern country will affect your plans as a whole, and possibly even your comfort. For Western countries, backpacking culture has firmly basically ingrained itself so you will find more backpacker friendly facilities like hiking routes, campsites and cheaper hotels. In other countries however, this may not be the case and you will have lesser of these kind of facilities.
However, most hikers and packers would love the thrill of adventure and so despite the lack of facilities, they go to lesser developed areas to explore and to have a bit of an adventure. Nothing beats the thrill of adventure but you must take precautions when going to lesser travelled areas.
When choosing to go far flung areas make sure to travel with someone, especially someone who is familiar with the place that you are going to, or familiar with the surrounding region. Not only will you have someone to talk to when lonely, but you will feel more secure that somebody has your back. Safety in numbers is definitely true in this case.
Always acquaint yourself with news on the area or region you are heading to. Make sure that it is safe and does not have crime or peach and order problems. You can get much of the details and information you need by reading the local newspapers.
When you do finally go the place you planned to go to, then it is best that you will make any one of the locals you meet into a sort of tour guide to make things more fun. A local person whom you befriend can show you things that no travel brochure can, and probably even more.
As additional advice, since you will be hiking in areas unknown to you, always bring plenty of drinking water with you. Also, ask around or mark on your map the closest clinics and hospitals so you know exactly know where to go in a medical emergency. It would not hurt to know where local law enforcement offices are also.
And of course, lower your expectations when going to hike in places unknown. Many people do not get good trips not because they are in a backward or far flung place, but it is because they have already carried over some mental preconceptions. It is best to leave all your prejudices behind and enjoy the trip for what it is, a new and exciting one.
Whether or not you plan to take your trip in a Western more developed country or a lesser developed Eastern country will affect your plans as a whole, and possibly even your comfort. For Western countries, backpacking culture has firmly basically ingrained itself so you will find more backpacker friendly facilities like hiking routes, campsites and cheaper hotels. In other countries however, this may not be the case and you will have lesser of these kind of facilities.
However, most hikers and packers would love the thrill of adventure and so despite the lack of facilities, they go to lesser developed areas to explore and to have a bit of an adventure. Nothing beats the thrill of adventure but you must take precautions when going to lesser travelled areas.
When choosing to go far flung areas make sure to travel with someone, especially someone who is familiar with the place that you are going to, or familiar with the surrounding region. Not only will you have someone to talk to when lonely, but you will feel more secure that somebody has your back. Safety in numbers is definitely true in this case.
Always acquaint yourself with news on the area or region you are heading to. Make sure that it is safe and does not have crime or peach and order problems. You can get much of the details and information you need by reading the local newspapers.
When you do finally go the place you planned to go to, then it is best that you will make any one of the locals you meet into a sort of tour guide to make things more fun. A local person whom you befriend can show you things that no travel brochure can, and probably even more.
As additional advice, since you will be hiking in areas unknown to you, always bring plenty of drinking water with you. Also, ask around or mark on your map the closest clinics and hospitals so you know exactly know where to go in a medical emergency. It would not hurt to know where local law enforcement offices are also.
And of course, lower your expectations when going to hike in places unknown. Many people do not get good trips not because they are in a backward or far flung place, but it is because they have already carried over some mental preconceptions. It is best to leave all your prejudices behind and enjoy the trip for what it is, a new and exciting one.
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