Popular Backpacking Routes

I’m going to use this popular backpacking routes hub to outline the common destinations British (and other nationalities) travellers regularly move through.

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Destination Trails

With the world being so big, there are countless backpacking routes that people can travel through. However, some regions are well-connected to make exploring easy. When it comes to gap years and backpacking routes, people usually pick the same general tourist spots, and these places are popular for a reason.

Trail 1

Banana Pancake Trail – Southeast Asia

Although the route can be split into much shorter ones, the most Popular Southeast Asia route for Backpackers (Banana Pancake Trail) goes through the entire South Asian region from India down to Indonesia.

However, since my site is aimed at British backpackers, I am focusing on the 4 countries below, which are usually grouped together for gap year travellers.

Cambodia

Laos

(coming soon)

Thailand

Working as a Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary volunteer

Vietnam

Trail 2

The Gringo Trail – Central America

The Gringo Trail travels all the way through Central America from Mexico to Panama. This route is an overland trail that many backpackers enjoy, whether they complete the entire route on their gap year or just pick 1 or 2 countries during their trip.

Belize

Guatemala

Backpacking & long-term Travel Tips

Before we begin, I need to give you this fun fact: Backpacking has a different meaning depending on whether you ask someone in Europe or North America. So, I, being from the UK (a European), have focused much of my backpacking posts about the type of trip often associated with gap years and long-term travel, with a backpack, but not limited to just camping and the wilderness. I have “backpacked” through over 30 countries with a mix of hostels, hotels, and one or 2 tents along the way!

Backpacking to Europeans includes carrying everything in a backpack, except you can travel through both urban and rural destinations staying in hostels and other accommodations. Europeans focus emphasis simply on the type of luggage used.

Backpacking to North American’s is where you carry everything you need in a backpack, head out in the wildnerness and usually camp or sleep in tents. American’s put emphasis on this being an activity that warrants camping with no physical accommodation.

Part 1

Backpacking Tips for long-term traveller’s

This section covers posts about different tips and useful advice to better prepare for your own long-term backpacking journey.

Part 2

hostels & accommodations for backpacking

This section covers posts about different tips and useful advice to better prepare for your own long-term backpacking journey.

Part 3

Staying Healthy While Backpacking Long Term

There are different types of risks that could arise while you’re on the road as a backpacker so I’ve set up this section to offer advice regarding your physical and mental health along the way.

Covering everything from travel insurances, how to manage jet lag on long flights and how to stay social and beat homesickness.