Just do it!
For everything there is a first time. For me, that first time was my trip to Ecuador. Picture this: after enduring what felt like the longest flight of my life, I finally woke up the next day in some random hostel bunk bed in Quito. There I was, all by my lonesome self, armed with nothing but my trusty backpack, in the middle of South America. All I knew was that I had to get to Baños, that little backpacker’s paradise I had stumbled upon in my dog-eared Lonely Planet guidebook.But how on earth was I going to get there? The city seemed like a chaotic mess, with traffic jams at every turn and more bus terminals than I could count. I started wandering the streets, heading in what I hoped was the general direction of where the buses might depart. I was clueless, lost in a foreign land.
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And then, just when I thought I was in over my head, it happened. Out of nowhere, a jam-packed bus came roaring by, and there was this small boy hanging halfway out of the door, yelling at the top of his lungs, “BAÑOS, BAÑOS, BAÑOS!!!” When he spotted the hopeful looks in my eyes, he waved the bus to a screeching halt, pulled me on board, and in a matter of seconds, we were back on the road.
That was the moment I fell in love with backpacking. Now, I won’t lie to you, not everything goes that smoothly, but here’s my two cents: just take the plunge. Embark on that first backpacking adventure, and you’ll figure it out along the way. Trust me, it’s worth every effort.
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Travel light
I had heard countless times from seasoned backpackers about the importance of traveling light. Yet, I always shrugged it off, thinking, “What difference do those few extra kilos make? I’m a strong guy, after all.” So, once again, I embarked on my journey with a backpack that seemed larger than life itself.But fate had a surprise in store for me when my oversized backpack was stolen from a bus in Costa Rica, leaving me with only my daypack and two more months of Central American adventure ahead. To my surprise, it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. I stocked up on a bunch of boxer shorts and T-shirts and with a lightweight daypack, I discovered a newfound sense of freedom. I could effortlessly hop on and off passing buses or hitchhike with ease. I realized that I could truly wander, rather than lugging my oversized backpack to the next hostel, only to start exploring from there.
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Now, I’m not suggesting you go out and get your large backpack stolen, but I do encourage you to pack only what you genuinely need. My personal goal is to always fit everything into hand luggage.
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Trust the people
Sometimes, I see backpackers sticking close to their backpacker buddies and treating any interaction with locals as sketchy and risky. With a default “no no” to anyone from the country they’re visiting, they start creating this divide between the locals and the tourists.But honestly, here’s my two cents: default mode should be to trust and mingle with everyone. Save the caution for sketchy areas or late-night city escapades.
Let me share a little story to drive the point home. I was in Jordan and had my heart set on visiting the gorgeous Wadi Rum desert. The catch was that you could only get there through organized tours because there was no public transport. But that isn’t my cup of tea. I hopped on a bus to the nearest junction and told the driver to drop me off there. He looked at me like I was nuts but obliged.
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At the junction, I stuck my thumb out and started hitchhiking. A pickup truck pulled up after about five minutes of waiting. The dudes inside seemed alright, so seconds later I found myself in the back of the truck. We safely reached the little town where all the desert trips kicked off. Then these guys asked me where I wanted to go. I hesitated and mumbled, “Wadi Rum,” not sure what they’d say. To my surprise, they offered to take me there, cheaper and more fun than a tour. Anything to avoid the touristy stuff, right? So there I was, a few hours later, in the middle of the desert, just me and three Jordanian dudes in a pickup truck.
As they started cooking dinner, a little panic crept in. I began to doubt my decision. They saw my anxiety and played a prank, telling me it was camel meat and cobra milk. In my nervous state, I believed them, and they burst into laughter. Turns out it was just chicken and regular cow milk. With that shared laughter, we broke the ice, and the four of us had the most incredible four-day adventure crossing the desert.
See, defaulting to trust has led me to some incredible experiences. From crashing a Pakistani wedding in a mountain village to helping excavate ruins in Petra, or even staying with a Kyrgyz family in their mountain yurt. Ninety-nine percent of the people you meet while traveling are absolute gems. Don’t let that one percent sour your view of the other ninety-nine.
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No plans
This is probably the best tip I can give to any backpacker. Ditch that guidebook and your mobile phone and allow your travels to unfold through the people you meet. There’s truly nothing worse than forming a bond with fantastic folks, only to realize your paths are diverging, and you can’t journey together.Let me paint a vivid picture with an example. I once spent two weeks in Morocco. I packed my bags sensibly, with a stack of shorts and T-shirts, given that the mercury was dancing around 30 degrees on average. Then, enter four Norwegian Vikings (I can’t think of a more fitting description). These intrepid sailors had embarked on a voyage from Norway with dreams of conquering the Caribbean. Fate, however, had other ideas, as a tempest forced them to seek refuge in Morocco for a spell.
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They asked if there were any strenuous activities they could engage in, because they knew they’d be twiddling their thumbs in the days ahead. Some Google sleuthing led us to the mighty Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak, which seemed like our calling. And so, there we were: four Vikings and a Dutchman, utterly unprepared, embarking on an ascent of this formidable little giant. Wrapped in my assortment of T-shirts and my lone sweater, sporting my towel as an improvised hat, two days later, we triumphantly stood atop this mountain.
If it weren’t for my looming return to work a week later, I swear I would’ve joined those Vikings on their Caribbean seafaring adventure. These kinds of experiences etch themselves into your memory for all time. They’ll keep coming your way, as long as you remain open to altering your plans at a moment’s notice. Or perhaps, it’s even better to sidestep planning altogether 😉🌍🌴
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Take time
When you arrive in Peru, you might feel compelled to check off all the highlights like Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Colca Canyon, Lima, Huaraz, and so on. But hold on! If your travel objective is simply to check these popular places off your list, you might be better off booking an organized tour. While these highlights are famous for a reason, consider selecting a few and leaving the rest as motivation to return to this beautiful country. It took me quite some backpacking trips to realize and appreciate this, but your journey becomes infinitely more enjoyable when you leave room for spontaneous exploration and meaningful encounters with people.
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My personal revelation about the value of slow travel happened in Peru. It was one of my earlier backpacking trips, and despite allocating an entire month to explore Peru, I found myself rushing from one must-see attraction to another. In Cuzco, I fell ill – not severely, but enough to slow me down. It was almost as if fate had intervened. That’s when I crossed paths with a young local from Cuzco, whose family ran a restaurant. His job was to persuade tourists to dine there.
I decided to lend a hand, and together, we approached people on the streets, recommending the restaurant. The combination of a local and an outsider endorsing the same place worked wonders. In no time, “our” restaurant was fully booked for the first time ever. The young man was overjoyed with the success and wanted to express his gratitude, so he took me out for a night on the town. Even in the most touristy town in Peru, I found myself partying with locals, having the time of my life.
While falling ill isn’t ideal, I really recommend you to take your time and immerse yourself in the local culture. Sit on a local terrace, read a newspaper, and observe life as it unfolds around you. This will lead to new adventures that may be far more enriching than snapping a selfie with a crowd of tourists at Machu Picchu.
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Do unexpected things
My life motto while backpacking is saying yes to almost anything that crosses my path. This is how I ended up helping a family whose duty it was to excavate ruins in Petra, offering me a unique perspective on this remarkable place. Sometimes, finding the unexpected requires proactive effort rather than relying on chance. After completing a two-week organized tour in the Galapagos Islands, I felt the urge to break free. I made a spontaneous decision to board the first bus departing from the Quito bus terminal, no matter in which direction, and disembarked at a random mountainous location. The bus driver questioned my choice, but my feigned self-confidence convinced him to let me proceed. From that point on, I ventured into the breathtaking mountains on foot.
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After approximately three hours of hiking, I stumbled upon a village where I sought shelter and sustenance. I ended up in the mayor's residence, engaging in hours of storytelling with the villagers.
While this tip may be one of the most challenging to execute, it can also yield the most rewarding experiences, as illustrated by another story, from Vietnam. In Vietnam I had rented a small motorbike for a trip through the mountains, from Hanoi to Saga. Even though back then already that trip wasn’t that common, for sure there were a few others on the way. When I arrived in Saga, the common thing to do was to park your motor bike in the train and rail your way back to the capital. But here I decided to continue my route on bike. That evening, I discovered why this wasn’t the norm. After hours of riding, I hadn’t find a single village for lodging. Just before nightfall, I was lucky and encountered a village consisting of five bamboo houses. I entered the first one, greeted the occupants with a smile, and inquired about a place to spend the night. Surprised by this unexpected guest, the homeowner graciously offered me food, which I gladly accepted, having not eaten since breakfast. During the meal, I noticed an English school booklet on the floor and inquired about it. It turned out to be for her two sons, and I soon found myself giving impromptu English lessons.
That night, I slept soundly, despite the thin bamboo mattress, until a bright flashlight startled me awake. Opening my eyes, I saw a police officer holding the flashlight and requesting my passport. Panic set in as I realized I was in a stranger’s house, with a motorcycle I didn’t own, and without my passport or driver’s license (which I had left in Hanoi). Trembling with fear, I handed him a photocopy of my passport, indicating that it was all I had. He smiled and motioned for me to join him at the dining table. It turned out he was the husband of the homeowner, returning from his duties, and he needed my passport for information since he didn’t speak English. You can imagine the relief I felt when I realized I wouldn’t be ending up in a Vietnamese jail.
The following morning, I profusely thanked them and set off for the next village to enjoy breakfast. Just an hours drive away, I encountered more bamboo huts and stopped at the first one. They asked me what I would like, and I responded positively to their various offerings: “Eggs?” “Yes.” “Rice?” “Please.” And so on. I had the most diverse breakfast I could have hoped for. As I ate, I noticed the entire village had gathered around my table, and each time I took a bite, someone from the village smiled at me. When I asked for the bill, the hostess mentioned “5” and clarified by holding up five fingers. I handed her a note of five. She hesitated and said, “No... um, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1.” I understood the situation only then. She distributed the ones to all the different villagers who had contributed to my breakfast. It became clear to me why there was always someone smiling when I tasted an ingredient.
I hope these stories inspire you to seek the unexpected. By keeping an open mind and straying from the beaten path, you’ll undoubtedly create your own unique experiences while traveling.
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About me
In 20 years backpacking I explored 83 countries in six continents. Every trip has been a unique experience with stories that stick in memory for life.Now, I hope to inspire and help (future) backpackers to start exploring the world, meeting people, and creating your own unique experiences.