For those who love to travel, going it alone on a backpacking adventure should be an experience of a lifetime. No matter where you head to in the world, seeing new places, engaging with the locals, and immersing yourself in new cultures can broaden your horizons and give you a totally new perspective on life.
If you’re considering a solo adventure, or you’re about to head out the door, it’s important that you’re well prepared and ready for your backpacking venture. To keep you in control, here are five things that you need to know before embarking on a solo backpacking trip.
Choose Your Destination Wisely
For those who aren’t sure where to go for their solo backpacking trip, it can be hard to make the final choice. With a whole world out there to explore, it’s best to opt for places where you won’t run into problems such as a language barrier. Picking areas where the locals are known to be helpful and friendly can also put your mind at ease and ensure you have the trip of a lifetime. Feeling safe and secure should be your main concern, so having residents in the place where you’re staying looking out for you and giving you guidance can make all the difference, especially as you’re traveling on your own.
Pack Appropriately
Where you head to in the world will determine what kind of things to pack for your solo backpacking trip. Taking the weather forecast into account should be your first port of call, helping you to put together a packing list that is practical and realistic. You should also do some homework into whether there are any cultural standards expected of you. Dress codes can vary from country to country, so it’s important that you are respectful and polite when on your adventure. There are lots of handy tips that you can check out to make sure you have packed the bare essentials.
Book Some Accommodation in Advance
Once landing at your destination, it’s only natural that you will want to have some kind of transport and accommodation booked in advance. Travelling somewhere new can be exhausting, especially if you’ve just got off a long-haul flight, so having everything booked before you board your flight can keep stress levels down and ensure your adventure gets off to a good start. Once you feel settled and are ready to explore, you may want to look for a reliable backpacking tent which will give you a base to get some much-needed rest when outdoors.
Make a Communication Plan
Saying goodbye to your friends and family can be difficult when heading on a solo backpacking journey. If you have a strong support network, don’t be surprised if your loved ones express some worry or concern about your travel plans. In many communities, travelling solo is still regarded as somewhat unusual, and in many cases, it’s viewed as being a dangerous pursuit. Thankfully (and thanks to technology) there are lots of different ways that you can keep in touch with your loved ones while travelling. Whether it’s by purchasing a global SIM card for your phone, or finding places that have Wi-Fi, providing your nearest and dearest with updates of your backpacking adventure will help them relax.
Keep Your Belongings Safe
When travelling solo, you are solely responsible for everything you do. Because of this, it’s crucial that you keep your belongings safe and secure. Safety should be at the top of your list when traveling. To avoid any valuables going missing, there are numerous things that you can do. For example, packing sentimental and valuable possessions in zipped up hard to reach areas will reduce the risk of you being pickpocketed. The last thing you want is for items such as your phone or laptop to be stolen, leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere with no means of communication, so being alert and on your guard at all times is important.
If you’re serious about going on a solo backpacking trip, it’s crucial that you get everything in order before heading out the door. While it may feel daunting to go it alone and explore the world, as long as you stay alert and aware of your surroundings, as well as have the necessities at hand, your adventure will be one that you will never forget, for all the right reasons.