Tips for Backpacking AbroadArticle filed under: Travel Tips
You are all set to embark upon a thrilling Asian backpacking adventure. You have your tickets and you can’t wait to traverse the exotic terrains of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and India. Before you set out on your trip, there is a lot of preparation to do at home. As important as it is that you have all of your travel plans in order, making things are organized at home before you set out will allow you to be at ease and fully enjoy your vacation. Follow these tips for backpacking to help you be completely prepared for your next adventure:
Have up-to-date Immunizations if hiking abroad
It is likely that if you are planning on travelling abroad for your next backpacking trip that you will need to have up-to-date vaccinations and immunizations. Different countries require visitors to have different vaccinations. Use this interactive infographic to determine what shots you will need before you are able to travel abroad.
Have appropriate visas/ passport
This is the most crucial of all of the tips for backpacking. Make sure you have all of the travel documents you will need to travel abroad. Your trip will be off to a slow start if you try to enter a country without the proper documentation. Make your visa appointment and order your passport months in advance of your depart date in order to avoid the drama of scrambling to collect this information at the last minute.
Have guidebooks, or clearly marked maps
It is important to have a clear idea of where you will be travelling well before you land in your destination. While it may be appealing to have a spontaneous “off the beaten track” mentality, straying too far in a foreign country can have dangerous consequences. Stick to well-marked trails and seek the aid of a guide if you are wary of traveling in a foreign country alone.
Make sure friends and families back home have maps and a complete itinerary
This is one of the tips for backpacking that your family will appreciate the most. Realistically, backpacking can be dangerous. In the event of an emergency it becomes crucial that loved ones have a good idea of where you might be. Provide them with clearly marked maps and a complete itinerary so they can track where you will be and when. You may also consider creating a schedule for contacting them on a regular basis. In the event that you miss a contact date, they will be aware of where you were supposed to be and contact the appropriate authorities to get in touch with you.
Train for the trip
Make sure you are physically up to the challenges that a backpacking trip can present. By training well in advance, you will be confident in your ability to tackle the more challenging terrain that the trail can present. It might even be beneficial to train with your fully packed backpack or similarly weighted objects so you are used to not only walking long distances for extended periods of time, but also to bearing additional weight.
Never carry a pack that is more than 1/3 your body weight.
The last thing you want to do is over exert yourself or strain your back by being careless with your packing. Before you depart, assess how much weight you are actually able to carry. As a general rule of thumb, do not attempt to carry a pack that is more than one-third your own body weight. Get used to how your backpack feels and estimate how long you can handle carrying it. You don’t want to have to cut your trip short because of a self-induced injury.
By following these tips for backpacking, you will have much less to be worried about while on your trip. You will be able to focus on completing an awesome physical challenge and experiencing the beauty of the world on foot.
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