Top Destinations: Backpacking Holiday

Netherlands

A backpacking holiday in the Netherlands is a great adventure and an inexpensive way of exploring the the Dutch countryside and the country's hidden treasures. The Netherlands are also a great starting point for a backpacking holiday across Europe, with easy access from the UK and borders with Germany and Belgium. Having said that, there is plenty to see and do in the Netherlands, whether you want to visit the islands and beaches of the north, or you prefer the nightlife of Amsterdam, or the sleepy towns of the central Netherlands.

As the Dutch public transport system is so good, you can pack everything in to one short holiday! Although there are Youth Hostels in the Netherlands, as well as low cost guest houses and hotels that are in the price range for backpackers, you need to be aware that they are relatively few and far-between in some towns and even cities. Ironically, this is because of the highly efficient transport system. Most Dutch towns and cities are within easy reach of Amsterdam, so many holiday makers stay there and travel other places for the day. Hence, it may be a good idea to book your accommodation in advance if you can, especially in the summer season. A dormitory bed in an youth hostel is likely to cost you £20 upwards per night and a private room £36 in Amsterdam and slightly less in other towns and cities.
 

Croatia

It's easy in practical terms to backpack in Croatia. Backpacking in Croatia is on the rise and although the rail system outside of the capital is fairly basic, there is an excellent coach system around the country, well organised, generally reliable and also very cost effective. It is possible to survive on around €27 (approx. 200 Kuna) a day in Croatia, if you stay in hostels or camps. It is more likely to find private accommodation though. To save oneself the hassle of finding accommodation while backpacking in Croatia it is a good idea to book in advance. In the high season locals who have rooms for rent will wait for tourists to arrive at bus stations and will try to offer their rooms. It is advisable to look at the accommodation before committing to it.

Spain

Backpacking in Spain is one of the best ways to get to see all of its vibrant scenery and culture. But don't assume that you will be able to deal with English speakers; while this may be true on the more popular holiday resorts, you will need to know basic Spanish if travelling inland or to more remote regions. Travelling by train in Spain while you backpack is relatively easy, but can be expensive depending on where you are going.

Spain has an extensive bus system which is useful for travelling to the more remote areas if you do not have a car. You may also want to rent a car for part of your trip, which is easy to do through a car hie company. Finding accommodation while you are on your backpacking trip in Spain is easy too, as there are numerous camp sites throughout Spain which tend to be open all year due to the country's mild climate. Hostels for backpackers in Spain can be found in the many tourist hot spots, but it is well worth exploring the 'real Spain,' away from the busier areas, where you will be richly rewarded with local hospitality.
 

Morocco

A backpacking holiday in Morocco is a great adventure and a wonderful way of seeing this diverse and exotic country. Perhaps, you would just like to spend a little time, inexpensively, enjoying the sun and sand? Morocco is an excellent country for a beach holiday that does not cost the earth and you would be hard put to finding better beaches anywhere else! Morocco is a real paradise for the budget traveller, so much so that many places have become well-established backpacker getaways. Prices in Morocco for food, restaurants, transport and accommodation are well suited to the needs of the budget traveller. Morocco is easily reached from Spain and France and it provides an excellent starting-point for travel in Africa, as it borders Mauritania to the south (the Algerian border is currently closed). However, you may just want to explore Morocco itself, because there is plenty to see and do here for backpackers. Morocco has many economical unclassified hotels, which are found in the Medinas, or Arabic quarters of towns and cities. In other places, such in central and southern Morocco, offer mattresses on their roof terraces or under large Berber tents, and can be a bargain for budget travellers, as you can expect to pay around £3 to £5 for a single room. There are also many budget options for eating out, with meals only costing £3 in many simple restaurants. Morocco is an excellent destination for a backpacking holiday.

Turkey

Backpacking holidays in Turkey are popular with a number of European backpackers heading to the country owing to its economic viability and stunning surroundings. Tour companies organize backpacking trips, or you can form a group of your own and set of on an individual backpacking holiday in Turkey.

Interesting areas for a backpacking holiday in Turkey include Ephesus as a well conserved ancient Greek city, Pamukkale and Cappadocia with the world famous calcium deposits and thermal baths amongst Greek and Roman ruins, the cities of Millet, Priene, Didium and Kusadasi for their fascinating landscapes and ruins. Most travelers being their backpacking holiday in Turkey from Istanbul. Many backpackers spend 4 to 5 days in Istanbul itself, witnessing the culmination of two cultures in its architecture, museums and palaces.

Other areas popular for backpacking holidays in Turkey are the Kapei Mountains which are reached by foot from a small fishing village called Cumyuva, Cedelma which is a small mountain village in the middle of the Tahtalı Mountain chain among others. A backpacking holiday in Turkey is safe. Follow normal rules. Carry enough rations for long trips into the wilderness. Turkey scores 7 on 10 as a backpacking holiday destination.

Cairo

Cairo is a back-packers dream, with cheap accommodation, cheap fast-food, bars and Bazaars and countless historical and fascinating attractions to visit. There are a number of reasonably priced youth hostels in Cairo, some offering special prices and free tours for a specified stay, (i.e free tour to pyramids for a 2 nights in a private room.) Once you are there, a backpacking holiday in Cairo is very cost effective, with beds costing around £3-£5 pounds, local buses about 25p and shish kebabs for 50p. There is also a host of tourist attractions to explore, many of which are free to enter.

India

English and Australian students often backpack through India during their "gap year" between secondary school and college. Many Israelis make nearly religious pilgrimages to India after they serve in the army. Americans often travel between graduating from college and entering the workforce. One of the main draws of backpacking (besides pinching pennies), is the camaraderie. "Staying at hostels is a great way to meet people your own age on the road," says Laura Gordon, a former Let's Go writer and avid backpacker. "You make friends from literally all over the globe. It can also be really convenient, especially for female travelers, since hostels are the best places to find groups to go out at night with."

Most backpackers, however, don't have sherpas setting up camp. Living on a shoestring is always a challenge, especially in India, where pinching pennies means crummy hotels, suspect food and grueling travel. But the few who brave it are rewarded with an up-close-and-personal view of India--one that even if they wanted to, they probably couldn't forget.
 

Costa Rica

A backpacking holiday in Costa Rica is most likely to be part of a backpacking holiday around South America. With its close borders to Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is a very pleasant crossing and the least violent county in South America. Hostels are situated in and around Costa Rica, each offering cheap accommodation, people from all walks of life and cheap amenities. Added to the fact one can get cheap bus transportation between Costa Rican cities, it is the ideal stop for a backpacking holiday – and essential for those far-away holiday snaps. Costa Rica is blessed with beautiful scenery, paradise locations and plenty to see and do once-in-a-lifetime experiences, all at very reasonable prices.

Bangkok

A backpacking holiday in Bangkok is a great way to see the city and the surrounding areas. Bangkok caters for all holiday types and there is a more than welcome attitude towards backpackers. There is even a street in Bangkok built up around the idea of backpackers coming to Bangkok looking for some cheap accommodation, decent Thai and international food and a night out enjoying the local beer.

The famous street is Khao San Road, it offers a wide variety of backpacking accommodation, cheap travel tours, bus routes to other parts of the country, a few nightclubs and bars, many market stalls and street food stands. Most of the hotels in Khao San Road are suited for the backpacking holiday in Bangkok. Prices can start from as little as £2 or £3. If you want air-con, T.V, an en-suite bathroom or a swimming pool the price will become more expensive but not too expensive for a typical backpacking holiday in Bangkok.

Brazil

For the more intrepid explorer, there are backpacking options aplenty in Brazil. Plan your trip for the summer (December to February) if you want to experience the festival season, but be prepared for higher prices throughout the country. The time just after Carnival, around mid-March through May, could offer the same weather as the summer months without the crowds and escalated prices. It is possible to backpack through Brazil at any time of the year, but remember that summers tend to be muggy and winters can be rainy.

Spend at least 10 days travelling the country. However, most people believe that you can only experience a country and its people by spending at least a month visiting the different regions and cities. Take precautions against disease and infection. Get vaccinated against yellow fever before heading to Brazil. This is a requirement for visiting the Amazon, northern Brazil or the central-west portion of the country. It is also a good idea to get immunised against hepatitis and typhoid. Consider taking malaria tablets with you if plan to backpack to Amazonia or areas of low-lying forest.

Choose accommodations based on location, style and price. Overnight accommodations are readily available in family hotels known as Pousadas. Albeurges, which are youth hostels, offer less expensive overnight facilities and usually provide breakfast. Cheaper Albeurges and Pousadas may not provide hot showers, but you can plan to stay in more deluxe facilities every few days to get cleaned up. Of course, luxury hotels are available in the cities. These typically offer beach views and luxurious pools. If you are planning your trip during Carnival, book the accommodations well in advance. Pack light. Remember you have to carry what you pack. Use clothes that are easy to layer and wear multiple times. Shorts or cropped pants in light colours with comfortable walking shoes are important pieces of clothing. If you go during the colder months, take a jacket and long pants. A good mosquito repellent is also a good idea of you plan to backpack through the forested areas.
Plan to spend about $40 to $50 each day of the trip if you will be visiting some big cities. Northern Brazil is less expensive, but you must know some Portuguese to manoeuvre through the area effectively. Make sure you have everything needed to ensure your entry to Brazil. A passport is required and it should be valid for at least 6 more months. You must also have a return ticket and be able to show evidence that you can support yourself during your stay. Use buses for transportation within the country. There are economy and deluxe bus services available. The buses are reasonably priced and fairly comfortable. However, you should be prepared for long, bumpy rides. Brazil is a massive country, requiring a large amount of travel time to see everything. The roads are also filled with potholes. This is especially true inland and in the northern part of the country. Regional bus companies can be a great choice for those backpacking through Brazil. Overall, few countries can compete with the length and breadth of everything Brazil has to offer, anyone looking for a unique and unforgettable backpacking break.
 

Laos

With its convenient location in Southeast Asia and close borders with the likes of Vietnam, China and Thailand, Laos is the perfect destination for the backpacker. Though you should be aware of local dangers such as diseases (don’t go too far off of the beaten track), this is small consolation to pay for an area of Asia so naturally preserved, largely underestimated by Westerners and providing fantastic value-for-money. Food, accommodation and expenses are generally cheap and you will also likely meet people here the like you never will again. Laos is a great place for backpackers, with the right visa.

Malaysia

Malaysia is an excellent backpacking destination. Backpackers in Malaysia can find a wide range of activities to do; Malaysia is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

South Africa

Backpacking holiday in South Africa

There are more than 150 backpackers' accommodations in South Africa, and you can book ahead by contacting Backpacker Tourism South Africa. Hostel rates are astoundingly cheap and they provide a perfect place to plug into the local travelling network and discover everything that South Africa has to offer. Whether you’re looking to part until dawn or relax and enjoy the surf, backpacking is a good way to explore the heaving melting pot of South Africa’s cultures, colours, languages and traditions.
 

Thailand

Thailand is a backpackers paradise, friendly people, plenty of accommodation, reasonable transport system, stunning scenery and extra low prices. There are a number of youth hostels that cater for all the backpackers needs dotted around the country and can be found easily for £2-£5 a night. Most have mixed dorms, but some segregate male and female on request. They also have private dorms with their own shower and washing facilities. They all provide breakfast, clean bed linen, luggage storage and internet. Travelling around the country is affordable and eating out is varied and very cheap.

Cambodia

Backpacking is a great way to explore Cambodia. Staff are friendly, service is good and there are plenty of youth hostels and cheap guesthouses in Cambodia offering a good standard of accommodation at great rates. Most hostels in Cambodia have mixed dorms, but some segregate male and female on request. They also have private dorms with their own shower and washing facilities. They all provide breakfast, clean bed linen and luggage storage. Most have internet though connection is unreliable. Prices range from between £3 and £7 a night making back packing around Cambodia an affordable and enjoyable experience.

Vietnam

Ride a longtail down Bangkok's canals, discover the ancient temples of Chiang Mai, cruise down the Mekong River, swim under a tropical waterfall in Luang Prabang, unwind in Vientiane, enjoy Hanoi's French fancies, be enchanted by stunning Halong Bay, explore imperial elegance in Hue, channel the spirits of old traders in Hoi An, tantalise tastebuds in Ho Chi Minh City, ponder Phnom Penh's volatile past, view the incredible temples of Angkor.

Backpacking in Vietnam is the perfect way to explore this beautiful cultured country at your own pace. With so much to do, so much to see, exploring this country on a budget means you need to cut costs to be able to extend your trip. And trusts us – its worth it. Vietnam offers a wide range of options for backpackers and visitors travelling light.

With cheap accommodation at your finger tips, tasty food that isn't costly and friendly locals who aren’t used to an extravagant lifestyle, backpacking in Vietnam couldn’t be more simple. On our top ten destinations to go for a backpacking holiday, Vietnam will definitely be an experience.

New Zealand

New Zealand is the perfect destination for backpackers, and a backpacking holiday in New Zealand is a great way to see the country on a budget. New Zealand is firmly on the international backpacking route and there are numerous high quality hostels all over the country offering a range of accommodation, from simple shared dorm rooms to very comfortable hotel standard double and single rooms. There is also a very popular backpacker bus company running reasonably priced tours of the whole country, stopping overnight at recommended hostels and arranging excursions and activities for passengers.

Cairns

Backpacking and Cairns go hand-in-hand, and the city is really set up for this type of travelling. Cairns is visited by hundreds of backpackers every year, and a backpacking holiday in Australia is extremely popular and one of the most cost effective ways of exploring the great attractions which the country has to offer. Cairns has an abundance of hostels with prices starting from around A$18 for a shared dormitory, and is a great way for travellers to meet like-minded people. The nightlife which the city has to offer is also renowned, and there are plenty of places to eat out for those who are on a tight budget.

Sydney

A backpacking holiday in Sydney offers scope for a fantastic adventure and is also an inexpensive way of experiencing the city’s wealth of man-made and natural beauty. Sydney has numerous cheap and efficient hostels for those on backpacking holidays on a budget and a has one of the highest numbers of hostels out of any city in the world and so there are hundreds of options for accommodation, in a wide choice of location and standards. Kings Cross houses the largest selection of affordable places to stay but others in places like Bondi, Coogee, Glebe and Manly are also recommended. The average price to expect for a reasonable dorm bed is around $20, although this will rise during the peak summer period. For cheap beach locales choose to Bondi or Manly, only a short ferry ride away, while those seeking hostels in the heart of the popular nightspots and close to creature comforts should head for Kings Cross. Excellent transport links make the city a useful starting point for backpackers in Sydney to visit the National Parks, pristine beaches and other wildlife hotspots that litter the east coast.