I did not start backpacking until in my 30's I am still young (34), but I was fortunate enough to have people guide me.
This post will be my guide to you on what you need for your first backpacking adventure. We will cover the all your considerations including:
Although this post is for first timers, we have had a look at different regions and rough budgets, so there may be something for everyone to learn. Let us know your thoughts in the comments at the end of the post and strap in as its a long one.
Lets get started on what do I need for backpacking in 2024?
What do I need for backpacking?
The most important question is why do you want to travel?
This is personal to every individual and there is no wrong answer. You may be 18 and want to experience the wider world on your own. You may be 25 and want to have a career break, you may be 30 and have burnout catastrophically (me). You maybe 40 and ready for an adventure. Whatever the reason, identifying what it is you want to get from the trip is a valuable place to start.
For me, I needed a break from the world as I knew it. I had to remind myself there was more to the world than working 24/7 and that not everyone is out to get you. Spoiler, travelling really helped! I chose Central and South America as my first big trip, here is why.
Central America had the promise of everything from stunning beaches and beach parties (Mexico), to deep jungle treks with ancients architectural pilgrimages (Guatemala) as well as some incredible wildlife and biodiversity (Costa Rica). Interestingly my first trip did not go to plan due to various countries keeping their borders closed during covid (Japan) so I had to adapt and change. I ended up in South America, I used the money budgeted for flights from Costa Rica to Japan and instead carried on to Panama before boating around to Colombia which turned out to be an incredible experience!
One thing you will learn is ... plans change and you have to be relaxed enough to be water and flow where the world is pulling you.
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Choosing Your Destination.
What are the 'General Routes'
General backpacking trips tend to be by continents, with Asia being cut into a multiple because of its size. Generally they are:
North America - USA and Canada (usually separate trips)
Central America - Even though Mexico is North America it usually becomes part of a Central America trip
South America - frequently done with Central America
Western Europe
South East Asia
Africa
Oceana - New Zealand and Australia
With more specialist trips as:
India & Sri lanka
The Middle East
China
Japan & South Korea
This is as a generalisation, but these make up the more 'typical routes/ groupings' however the beautiful thing about backpacking is you can do any route you want. Ok so sticking with the general routes, lets look at which one might be for you?
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: North America
Backpacking here is more like the 'Great American Road Trip' you are not going to come across language barriers, you will generally be safe and depending on which route you take, you will be able to see a lot of interesting architecture and landscapes as well as find a night out or party. What you will not get here (as a western writer) is a big culture difference. America is a melting pot of immigration but generally America is not so different from Europe, although the architecture in Europe tends to be a lot richer in history.
Its important to note that your money will not go far. Prices are largely the same as London, Germany, France etc and you are going to need a lot of flights/ bus journeys or you may need to rent a vehicle to get around. Fuel is not cheap in 2024!
What America does have is some stunning scenery/ landscapes/ wildlife! Some plain unusual tourism, think alien spotting, mega gambling or a Hollywood star tour. Your cultural exploration will vary greatly depending on where you are and this in itself could be a reason to take the trip. From California chill to texas horse ranching to the global economic hub of Wall Street you will find a world of different people all going about their lives in extremely different ways!
Budget: $2000USD per month to be safe!
The key to success is going to be getting good hostels and cook your own food!
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Central America
"Inmediatamente tienes una barrera del idioma" or "Immediately you have a language barrier". This is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact its a good thing. If you chose central or south, start practicing now, well ... after you have read this blog!
There is an arsenal of material out there for learning a second language, I personally used audible to go through a number of Spanish books which helped massively, you can sign up for a 30 day free trial with our backpackers audible link, even if you do not carry on for the monthly subscription the trial helps us massively so please give it a go but ... I am linking audible because it really is a useful way to learn Spanish and I have used it extensively over the past 4 years!
The books I used were:
Before finally moving onto
Learn Intermediate Spanish Bundle - good luck with this one its not for the faint of heart!
I would also highly recommend the podcast 'Coffee Break Spanish' along with Duolingo, I started learning around 6 months before flying and was terrible on arrival but after 6 months I was well on my way and still practicar mucho!
I was told that in Central America, there will be a lot more people around 25 years old upwards which was true, but I did come across a lot of groups around the 18-21 age point. Central and South would be a lot to take on for an 18 year old solo traveller but as a group you will be fine. Most solo travellers I met were 25+ (but not all), if you do got it alone, your fellow backpacker is a friend. If you are nervous about getting to the next place (no matter your age) team up with someone.
There are always backpackers crossing boarders and often, if they are on their own, they will be happy of the company. The old adage that "as a solo traveller you are never alone" is very true! As I mentioned above I wanted a full mix of beach parties to jungle exploration and Central America was fantastic for this, I would highly recommend it for those looking for a cultural experience with plenty of room for a world class parties (Granada in Nicaragua hosts several of them, two words 'Tree House') If you want to know more on this check out our Nicaragua backpacking travel guide for more information on this cool country.
Safety: A quick word on Honduras and El Salvador. Both countries are known for being less 'stable', if you do go into one of these countries for an extended stay do your research, things can change in a moment in these counties, but, Honduras has incredible diving spots, most visit Utila Island for this, and El Salvador some world class surf just off the south costal road. Both of these areas are regarded as 'safe'. Most of the issues revolve around the cities but if visiting either country, put an itinerary together and share it with a few people. Also stay in regular contact with family and or friends and ask your hostel about safety in the area, their local knowledge will be the most valuable thing you can attain. We have put a page together on "Is Nicaragua Safe for Backpackers?" and we intend to do dedicated posts for Honduras and El Salvador soon so subscribe to make sure you do not miss them.
Budget $1300USD per month
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: South America
Similar to the above, most travellers continuous down (or up). What South America has are,
The Amazon Rainforest
Patagonia
Macchu Picchu
Salt flats
Stunning beaches
Deserts
Incredible architecture!
Pretty much a bit of everything! The questions here is more about the environment you want to be in, all the continents have these but incredibly South America is still vastly different to Europe or South East Asia so understand what it is you want to see. If heat is important to you then you need to be in Argentina between December-March but even then if you are down in Ushuaia its still going to be cold. So bare this in mind when planning (I will talk more about weather cycles below).
Budget $1300USD per month
During Central and South America in 2022, $1300 a month paid for a hostel, food and drink, travel and most (but not the big) excursions. I could have done this cheaper for sure and I know some people who were able to be around $1000USD a month but I am fortunate enough to have the backing of my 20's at work. One thing to note is, I am not a diver! A few people I know are, and man, that is an expensive hobby so it is not included in the above $1300, bare that in mind if you are big on SCUBA diving.
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: West Europe
Perhaps the safest and one of the easiest for a backpacker, but also one of the most expensive. Europe has so much to do and even more to see. The travel network across Europe is perhaps the best in the world, it is definitely the best from a continent point fo view. Trains will get you almost anywhere or at least close to where you want to be, there are buses and taxis easily accessible also. You will spend a lot on travel and it will not slow down when you eat out or have a night out. So why would you travel Europe? Its the history, there is just so much of it, and it is vast and beautiful. From Rome in Italy, to the Greek Islands, the alps of Switzerland, sipping wine in Paris, having beer in Germany, Spain, Portugal the UK, there are just to many countries to get excited about and they all have varied cultures and offerings.
Budget, go big here, think $2000USD a month
In cities like London you will be hard stretched to get a hostel for less that $40USD a night which on a 30 day month is going to set you back $1200 alone, before travel and food! London is one of the most expensive cities in Europe but there are many that are not far behind. Again if you are on a budget find hostels with kitchens and cook!
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: South East Asia
Asia gets cut up because its so big. South East Asia is the term you will hear role of the tongue of travellers, this is the sub region of Asia made up of the following countries:
Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
This area is where the 'younger' backpacker may start. The country is so well travelled you will never be far from another backpacker and most people and areas are polite and friendly due to the culture. There will be a language barrier, but again due to the paths being well trodden, this should be easier to overcome. Beyond that South East has some of the most stunning landscape on the planet, incredible food, a totally different culture and some otherworldly religious architecture hidden by rainforests. Whats not to get excited about!
Budget: $1000 a month
The most expensive part of this journey will likely be the airline flights to get there and whilst excursions will set you back a bit, your hostels are going to be cheaper and so is food and drink which is perhaps why it draws the younger more cash strapped backpackers!? Who Knows!
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Africa
The Big Game Continent and one for the very experienced traveller. This Continent is crazy beautiful, but it also has some of the most dangerous continents to take on. Backpacking here is not to be taken lightly. Personally it is high on the bucket list but the best way to do this may be to take a tour with an experience company like Oasis Overland if you want to travel through multiple countries. If you want to visit Africa for safari, Kenya or Tanzania are good bets, but there are also some more well travelled spots like South Africa, Egypt and Morocco where you will be able to stay out of trouble. The major danger lies in areas like The Central African Republic, the DRC, South Sudan, but generally extensive homework is essential for all African Countries.
This is a hard one to budget for as the countries are so varied and Africa can be a tough one to master so we are not going to put a number on it ... sorry!
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Oceana
Another one of the 'safer' choices with no language barriers. Australia and New Zealand offer great transport links as well extensive wildlife. One for the animal lovers there is extensive marine life and not to forget koalas and kangaroos. You will also find some iconic architecture and naturally a lot of great surf spots.
Budget $1800USD You hostels here will not be as expensive Melbourne for example will be between $20-30USD a night.
So now you have has continental considerations lets look at time considerations
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Planning Your Trip
When To Go Where
This again comes down to what you want, for example if you want to visit Argentina for Ski purposes, go between June and October. If you want are from Europe and want winter sun, hit Australia from October onwards. Natural this needs to be a consideration because it is going to effect what you need to pack and or your route. I got to Peru in July 2022 and decided to fly back to Mexico because I was packed for the heat and wanted sun not snow! If you are going to do all four season, you are going to need to take a big back with you! So once you know where, check the when. Not lets talk about your bags, literally 'what do I need for backpacking?'
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: What And How To Pack
What To Pack
You lucky bunch, when taking my first trip I put together a spreadsheet for every item to take. I will put it below for you to look at!
I have an Osprey Farpoint 40 litre, it took me hours and hours to pick a bag, even going to shops, trying them on and looked through the sections and pouches. This bag has not let me down, my only small criticism is you need to buy a separate waterproof cover, but other than that I cannot recommend it enough. Osprey also a womens versions called Farview, whats the difference? Backpacks for women have higher hip straps due to the differences in male and female bone structures. So if you are female and reading this and think this is the bag for you then to reiterate and for links to the backpack:
As for my day bag I have a 20L The North Face Bag, (I travel light) why so light? I did not want to have to check my bags and the Farpoint 40 works as a cabin bag! You can fold and zip away the harness and its small enough to use for trekking. As a recommendation if you do want a nice small day sack then I am really enjoying the look of the Osprey Daylite Plus. Let me know what you think of this bag if you have it
I took the 20L bag for casual use around cities or beach days etc. This bag also had my 'tech' in it (laptop and DSLR camera). On travel days this bag always stayed with me. Some countries really throw your luggage about so you need to keep these items on you at all times. Even though the Farpoint 40 has a laptop pouch, if your bag is on top of a shuttle bus in Nicaragua its going to get damaged, don't risk it!
The downside to packing so light. You will need to visit launderettes more often, I only took one pair of shoes and one pair of sandals, and my shoes were Trail running shoes which really did not look good on a night out!
That said one of the best bits of advice I will give is take a trail running shoe and oversize it by half a size much like if you were running a marathon. I used my Hoka Speed Goats for treks in the amazon, mountain trails and I even did Aacatenango (the Guatemala Volcanoe) in them and they were fantastic. They are just darn ugly! Hoka have released the Skyline-Float X which is a good looking Unisex shoe and made for both hikes and the streets check it out here (be warned they are expensive at £160). Let me know what you think.
Do I need packing Squares?
This always makes me smile because the super simple answer is ... no. But its not a hard no! Travelling light, I almost found them a waste of time, however I also came across people who had what looked like a wardrobe on their back! If you are a wardrobe carrier then I get it entirely, they can save you pulling everything out of your bag whilst looking for a single item! The other useful thing that backing cubes can be used for is a laundry bag allowing you to separate nice and clean smelling clothes from 3 day worn dirty clothes! Osprey do these also and they are usually made in a much more sustainable material than some of the cheaper nylon offerings, try to look for something made from a sustainable material if your budget allows - take me to the packing squares.
Just as a caveat, other than the shoe issue, travelling light worked super well for me! You move around that much and meet that many new people that your regular clothes are all new to the people and places you visit!
For my full itinerary of items to take head across to my free backpacking checklist 2024
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Injections
Travel injections are extremely important but wont cover everything, dengue fever for example (we will talk about insurance next). There are several sources for information but perhaps the best is the NHS website:
This will direct you to further websites such as:
Generally these will put you in good stead, The other way to find what injections you need is to visit your local provider for a consultation. For UK readers Boots Pharmacy offer a consultation, your pharmacist will know what you need for where you are going. I booked into my local pharmacist for an injection I knew I needed (Rabies) then spoke to the pharmacist about what else I would require and he guided me through the process and booked me in for each Jab. Some require more than one dose, you will have to pay for some budget around £300 for this.
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Insurance
Buckle in for a big expense, I paid £750 for a years worth of cover from True Traveller, I upgraded to some personal items including cameras, laptops and phones over 12 months. True Traveller packages are quickly and easily navigated and clearly marked with what is included and what is not. Insurance is available from a lot of providers, another 'traveller focused' option is World Nomands, I have put a side by side comparison for packages that are as close together as possible from a cover point of view for 6 months of cover from October 2nd 2023 - April 01 2024.
World Nomad - £545.65 'Basic Policy' - Excess £100 - Set Up For South East Asia
Baggage and personal items - £1,000 cover
Hiking up to 6000m (roped accents/ mountaineers skill required not included)
Medical Cover - £5,000,000
Personal Liability - £2,000,000
True Traveller - £560.17 'Traveller Package' to 'Extreme Pack' Option - Excess £75 - Set Up For South East Asia
Baggage and personal items - £350 (additional baggage option included in comparison).
Hikes over 6000m (roped accents/ mountaineers skill required not included)
Medical Cover - £10,000,000
Personal Liability - £2,000,000
The price comes out remarkably similar. True traveller has a lot more add ins/ take outs so you can really personalise you insurance where as World Nomad is more straight down the line with a 'Basic Option' and an 'Explorer Plan'.
Again there are more companies out there, this is just a really quick loose comparison to give an idea of possible costings for budgeting purposes. Make sure you do your own research and 'READ WHAT IS COVERED'.
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Visas
If you are from Europe or the UK, you are fortunate as you have a passport that will get you around the world without requiring too many visa. The best place to check if you need one or not is Passport Index, this website easily colour codes your passport into 'visa free/ visa on arrival/ e-visa or visa required'. A really well put together website you can lose some time here comparing world passports!
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Flights
There are several ways to find a flight, the quickest is usually to pull up sky scanner, kayak, Priceline or Booking and search for flights. I have dropped a link to Skyscanners 'last minute deals' landing page below or
Kayak, Priceline and booking are all owned by Booking Holdings Inc.
Sky scanner is owned by trip.com
One hack I have found is to go directly to travel companies offering package holidays in an area you are happy to land. For example. Here in the UK, Tui, an all inclusive package holiday company offer holidays in Cancun Mexico. If you are totally flexible on flights, they will have a seat on a plane that needs filling. Particularly when their target consumer (families) are not buying, during school term time. Stating the obvious but avoid Religious holidays/ school term holidays and New Years day.
Its more digging around, but for your first flight from your home country you will save yourself a bundle by doing this.
For flights in other countries (Peru to Mexico) for example, it is much easier to let the big companies compile flights together for you especially for smaller flights where you just wont be saving yourself much money.
There are benefits to using them and I still do! Particularly booking.com for hostels and hotels as the genius program does offer some good discounts.
What do I need for backpacking in 2024: Picking Your First Hostel
If this is your first big travel then this task in itself can feel intimidating but we have some tips:
Don't rush your first hostel. You are going to be in a new country, your body will need to acclimatise and you may have jet lag. Do not be scared to book a week and treat it as a holiday before your adventure. This will allow you to talk to fellow travellers and get early tips.
Look for a hostel that has a big community table and breakfast included. This forces interaction so you will make friends quickly.
Look for good staff reviews, good staff can make an average hostel great.
Book well ahead of time, if you are landing and staying in a popular location 7days is not always possible booking ahead will ensure you have a bed.
Expensive does not mean best, some more expensive hostel are nice in the pictures but are totally dead as far as socialising goes. This can happen particularly in co-working hostels. You are usually blocked from interaction by a laptop. On the flip side if you don't want to socialise they can be good for this also.
Beware the party hostel. If you book into a party hostel, do not expect a solid 8 hours sleep. You can stay in a hostel nearby and visit the party hostel for an evening.
Thats about it, once you have had your vaccines, booked your flights, got your insurance you just have to back your back and arrive at your first hostel. If any of the above has been useful please let us know and share with all of your backpacking friends. Alternatively if you are not a first time traveller and would add something to the list, let us know.
If your first trip is coming up, we are very envious. Take care, travel safe and look after your fellow backpackers
For the love of earth
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