r/backpacking

I am not sure if you guys will ever read this.

This has honestly been sitting in my chest for years and I always wanted to say I am sorry.

Back around 2007–2009 (I honestly do not remember the exact year, maybe I am even wrong by a year or two) I met a group of 3 or 4 backpackers near the train station in Ulaanbaatar on a very sunny summer day. I was a teenager going home because I lived near the station. You guys asked me for directions to Khövsgöl Lake on the map.

Here is the thing: I was a stupid teenager 😭😭😭 I thought I knew locations and routes better than I actually did. In my head, I thought maybe you could take the train from UB to Selenge and then continue by furgon/minivan toward Khövsgöl since they both are in way of the North.And I genuinely wanted to help. I really did.

Also… why would you ask a teenager of all people 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I helped you buy hard seat train tickets, and you guys were genuinely thanking me. I said goodbye, went home, then randomly came back again because I guess that is just how a teenager’s brain works 😂 I remember wanting to make sure you found the correct waiting area with the chairs and windows where you could see when the train arrived.

Then months later, I found out there was actually a direct bus to Khövsgöl from a completely different location in the city, only around 25 minutes away by bus. Later somebody also told me that yes, technically there IS a way from Selenge, but it is more the kind of information locals know, not really something backpackers would easily figure out 😭

Ever since then, I have felt guilty thinking I accidentally sent you in the wrong direction.

To the backpackers who ended up going to Selenge because of me: I truly hope you are all healthy, happy, and doing well in life 💕

If my actions caused you stress, confusion, lost time, or hundreds of unexpected problems, I am sincerely sorry. I hope you can forgive me.

At the same time, part of me also hope that maybe you still enjoyed the beauty of Selenge along the way.

In 2020, I visited Khövsgöl and Selenge for the first time myself for a two-week winter trip, and honestly I kept thinking about you guys the whole time and how I failed you.

I am sorry for my mistake🙏🙏🙏

I wish all of you happiness, good health, and safe travels wherever you are now.🫶

I have recently gotten into backpacking, but have been looking for a good tent for my trips. I am looking for a one-person tent, preferably one that would fit my pack and me, but this is not a requirement. I am not opposed to a two-person tent; it would just be for myself, though. I am looking at a North Face Stormbreak 1, so if anyone has any feedback on this tent, it would be appreciated. If there are any other tents in a similar price range that anybody would recommend, this would also be appreciated.

I had a couple wax fire starters in my bag last season and put my bag in a tote over the winter. The weathers warming up so I was getting my stuff ready for memorial weekend and noticed a bunch of white crystals all over my bag. Originally thought it was mold but noticed that my fire starters had evaporated? They were about half the size they were when I put them in and they have the same crystal look as the stuff all over my bag.

Has anyone had this happen to them? I can’t find any answers on Google.

I am in the very early stages of planning and I definitely have "Do It All!" fever. I'm planning on going for ~3 weeks traveling (thinking of doing a one way ticket and see how the days land once I'm there, but would like to keep it right around 21 days). First time in Europe, not completely new to backpacking light/short trips, very frequent budget traveler.

I've heard people recommend 2-3 days at each city/location to enjoy it. Does that include daytrips? How do you factor that in when planning? ​

Would you say it's better to spend 2-3 days in every location to see a little of a lot, or would it be better to plan for 5-6 days in each location and only hit ~3 in that time?

I'm looking at the Slovenia-Croatia area. Possible plans to land in Portugal for a few days to hang out with family, hop on a plane/train to jump to Slovenia are​a. I'm very comfortable on long train trips, and thought this would be a good way to see the Spain+France landscapes without stopping much or at all. I have ideas to jump through Hungary and spend time in Western Ukraine with distant relatives, but feel that may put a burden on enjoying the coast.

I'm tempted on spending the main hunk of time in Slovenia-Croatia area (12+ days), but then I feel like I'm missing out elsewhere.

Definitely just struggling with the mentality of wanting to see it all but wanting to enjoy myself. Big on hiking/scenery/beaches, sightseeing, would love to meet some people and socialize on the way (but I'm not huge on partying), explore local culture as much as possible. Prefer cheaper than not.

Just got back from my first real backpacking trip, and I honestly can’t stop thinking about it. No fancy hotels, no strict plans, just a backpack, cheap buses, random hostels, and figuring things out as I went. Met people from all over the world, got lost more than once, ate some questionable street food, and somehow those ended up being the best memories 😂

One thing I didn’t expect was how freeing it feels to live with basically nothing for a while. You realize how little you actually need to have a good time. Also learned very quickly that packing light is NOT optional.

I'm already planning the next trip now. I'm thinking somewhere in Southeast Asia or maybe Eastern Europe. For the experienced backpackers here — what’s one thing you wish you knew before your first long trip?

Hey everyone, please let me know if this isn’t the right reddit group to post to.

I’m currently planning a trip with some friends to Vietnam between October 20th 2026 to October 27th 2026. But I’ve been thinking of staying a couple of days longer by myself particularly looking at 27 to 30th of October 2026 (I’m mostly going to spend my first week in Ho Chi Minh City). If I decide to do this it will be my first time travelling overseas by myself and I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for me.

I’m a bit of thrill seeker and love the drinking culture and sight seeing of Vietnam.

Would really appreciate someone directing me to the right reddit group if I’m posting in the incorrect one. But would also love it if someone could point me to different groups and backpackers, international families or activity’s that might suit my thrill seeking and love of drinking.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Hey everyone,

Long time lurker, first time posting. I'm a 26 year old Italian and this will be my first ever solo trip and first time outside Europe. Flying from Milan on July 1st, arriving Brisbane July 2nd, flying home from Melbourne on August 9th — 38 nights total.

Travelling with an Osprey Fairpoint 40 as my main carry-on backpack and a North Face Base Camp Duffel S as my checked bag / day bag on the ground. Fully committed to the backpacker setup.

Here's the plan:

Brisbane — 2 nights (Jul 2–3)
Jet lag recovery, South Bank walk, sort my SIM card. Staying at Bunk Brisbane.

Noosa — 8 nights (Jul 4–11)
Main goal here is learning to surf. Booked 5 lessons at Merrick's Noosa Learn to Surf, 3 flex days for extra lessons or independent board rental. Staying at Nomads Noosa.

Agnes Water / 1770 — 2 nights (Jul 12–13)
Quiet reset. Reef snorkel day trip (southernmost point of the GBR), LARC tour, beach walks. Backpackers @ 1770. Overnight bus to Airlie Beach at 8pm.

Airlie Beach — 4 nights (Jul 14–17, 2 hostel + 2 on boat)
Whitsunday Adventurer 2-day/2-night sailing trip departing July 15. 12 passengers max, catamaran. Staying at Bounce Airlie Beach for the hostel nights.

Mission Beach — 4 nights (Jul 18–21)
Jul 18 arrive and rest. Jul 19 skydive from 15,000ft with Skydive Mission Beach (beach landing). Jul 20 Dunk Island snorkel day trip. Jul 21 Tully River white water rafting (Grade 4–5). Mission Beach Treehouse for accommodation.

Cairns — 11 nights (Jul 22 – Aug 2, 7 hostel + 4 on liveaboards)
This is the big one. Doing the full PADI sequence with Pro Dive Cairns:

1. Jul 23: Pool + classroom day (Open Water)
2. Jul 24–25: Open Water liveaboard (3D/2N, 9 dives across 4 outer reefs)
3. Jul 26: Return, rest
4. Jul 27–28: Advanced Open Water + Nitrox liveaboard (3D/2N, 11 dives inc. 2 night dives, depth to 30m)
5. Jul 29: Return, rest
6. Jul 30: Daintree Rainforest + Cape Tribulation day trip
7. Jul 31: Atherton Tablelands (hired car, or any suggestion?)
8. Aug 1: Rest / possible Green Island fun dive
9. Aug 2: Fly evening to Sydney

Staying at Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront, Gilligan's for the last couple of nights.

Sydney — 4 nights (Aug 2–5)
First time in the city. Plan: harbour at dawn, Manly ferry, Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, kayak under the Harbour Bridge (if is not too cold). Sydney Central.

Melbourne — 3 nights (Aug 6–8)
Queen Victoria Market, laneways, St Kilda sunset. Fly home August 9.

---

A few specific things I'd love input on:

1. Is the Noosa surf timing realistic? 5 lessons + 3 flex days — will I actually make meaningful progress or am I being too optimistic?
2. Whitsunday Adventurer specifically — has anyone sailed with them? The small boat (12 pax) appealed to me over the big social boats like Atlantic Clipper, but open to being talked out of it
3. Pro Dive Cairns back-to-back liveaboards — Open Water then Advanced in consecutive trips. Anyone done this? Any reason not to?
4. Agnes Water — most people seem to skip it. Worth the stop or should I just go straight to Airlie?
5. Anything obviously missing or badly sequenced?

First time doing this so I genuinely have no reference point. Be brutal.

Thanks

I’m feeling a bit of FOMO on the REI sale. I’m new to hiking and starting to build gear from scratch. I already got a Gregory Zulu 65L and was planning to get a Half Dome 2 Plus tent, Kelty Cosmic 20 sleeping bag, a basic sleeping pad, and hiking shoes.

But my cart is already around $700, and that doesn’t even include things like a water filter, stove, trekking poles, or rain gear.

Now I’m wondering if I should just focus on getting my day hiking setup dialed in during the sale and slowly build my backpacking gear over time instead of trying to buy everything at once.

What would you do if you were starting out?

Apologize if this is a repost. I also acknowledge the role about political post but am unable to locate the pin mega thread.

For everyone’s awareness.

I was in the Alicante airport (an emergency flight since my travel partner booked the wrong date for the train to Lyon) and while waiting in security, a guy randomly grabbed my passport with gloves on, and simply looked at the first page of it not even my picture page. I'm a little concerned that maybe he had RFID gloves on because I don't remember if he was in uniform. Should I be worried about this?

many bv products are officially approved, for instance on the yosemite list. user reviews 5-15 years old report bears getting into them, including in the sierras. did they change the design or materials in the past 5 years or so? I vaguely recall there being a bear in the dacks that could open them, like twenty years ago. are there lots of folks using them in the sierras without issues?

I'm going on a 3 night backpacking trip with my sister for the first time in PNW in a few months. She's quite outdoorsy but I'm not yet ready to humble myself by asking her for help haha

I'm *very* confused on how I'm supposed to measure my hips for a pack and where that hipbelt is supposed to sit once I get that pack. Added over a drawing of myself so hopefully other women with short torso have a guide!

greenified for anonymity

In white are my ribs (not to scale). #2 is where my waist is, i.e. the smallest part of my torso. When I put my hand on my hip as shown in measuring guides, it follows the faint (srry) dotted blue line at #4.

My belly button is at #3 and there is <2″ distance between #2 and #4. My iliac crest is #5 and #6 is where low-waisted jeans would sit just for reference.

Am I correct in using #4 as my hip measurement? Or should it be slghtly lower so it sits anterior the actual bone of my iliac crest (as opposed to superior to the bone)?

Also, what part of the hipbelt (top, center, bottom) should be directly on the line that I'm using as my hip measurement? I don't know how I'm supposed to avoid my hipbelt going over my waist unless I wear it lower on my iliac crest or the belt is very thin.

Hello! I am looking for advice on my first tent. I want to start getting into backpacking and this is the last piece of gear I need. I have a budget of ~$120and would like to stick within that budget.

The three I have been looking at are the Naturehike Cloud Up 2, the Naturehike Mongar 2, and the Kelty Discovery Trail 2.

Does anybody have any advice on these tents? Thank you!

I’m planning a 3 month backpacking trip and wanted to know if this route makes sense or if I’m going to be wasting time/money travelling back on myself.

Current idea is:

Bangkok → North Thailand → Laos → Vietnam → South Thailand → Australia

I’d probably spend most of the trip in Thailand/Laos/Vietnam, then finish with a couple of weeks in Australia.

Main things I’m trying to balance are:

•cheapest/most efficient route

•avoiding unnecessary flights

•still doing the popular backpacker route/social hostels

•Does this route make sense or would you change the order completely?