• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • CONTACT
  • COURSE
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • CONTACT
  • COURSE
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

How to Plan & Prepare for a City Backpacking Trip

Last Updated: October 20, 2021 · Backpacking

Right now (literally), I am planning for our next backpacking trip. Destination: Southeast Asia!!! Oh, how planning and preparing for this tour around SE Asia brings back memories of the first time we planned for our backpacking tour around Europe.

Doing this over again was so much fun.  Who knew I loved event-planning! Anyways, thanks to our first trial around Europe, I know what to look for and what to skip over, and for that, I save so many hours of searching and searching. This time around, I learned how to make quick, efficient decisions without (much) hesitation.

Even though we still have a few more things to plan before our SE Asia tour begins (in 10 days!!!) I decided to share all my top secrets of how I plan and prepare for our backpacking trips.  Hopefully, you can benefit from some of them! 🙂 

First off, before I even begin piecing together a backpacking tour, I first dream about where I can go considering my current situation.  That last bit is really important!  For example, I have been living in Nepal since July 2015.  I am right next door to Southeast Asian countries which are well-known backpacker routes.

Even though I do not have tons of money to spend right now this moment, I consider backpacking SE Asia now as an investment. And by that I mean, backpacking now (despite my near-empty bank account) requires much less money to travel around these countries than it would be if I decided to put off this tour until I had more money (which would be much later in life and would most likely require a round-trip expensive flight). Since my current situation puts me so close to these countries, why not take advantage?

With that being said, pick a backpacking route where you can easily get to without having to spend a fortune from flying across the world to do it. Seize opportunities whenever possible!

Table of Contents show
Pick a place
Decide on a budget
For how long?

Pick a place

Where do you want to go? If you are in the US, for example, you could consider backpacking cross-country, hiking the Appalachian Trail, hitting all the major cities or national parks – just consider a place that you have never been, but want to go, and somewhere that is a reasonable distance to travel to/fro.

Side note: I only backpacked Europe because I had been living in France and I had free time at the end of my study abroad year.  This time around, I am backpacking SE Asia before going home to the US because I quit school and my job here in Kathmandu, which yes, coincidentally left me with less money, but beneficially, more time.  And thanks to this free time, I now have the opportunity to backpack around SE Asia. Yay!

Have you picked your place? Usually, when I choose a backpacking route, I do some research to see which cities/places/attractions I want to visit. For example, we are traveling through Siem Reap, Cambodia, not because I knew about the city itself, but because we had been wanting to visit the ancient Angkor Wat temples for quite some time now.

Decide on a budget

Though I don’t do this in any particular order, it’s nonetheless very important to choose your budget.  So though I like to dream about the backpacking route first, that dream always gets fine-tuned by my budget… and by reality. 😉

The best way to decide on a budget is to do some research first.  There are lots of resources out there to help you determine the average cost per day in a specific country.  For example, we originally wanted to debut this backpacking tour in Singapore, and then work our way up from there.  But then things changed once I read several sources that gave an estimate of what a day in Singapore would cost: an average of $40-50 per day.  That was double what my budget allows.  So basically visiting Singapore would have to wait, for now.

You could also plan your backpacking trip by first using your budget to determine where you go, what you do, and how long you do it.  Are you saying, “I have $500? Where can I go, what can I do?” Then go, go, go!  There is not only one approach to planning a backpacking adventure.

For how long? 

“For how long?” might be a question you will often be asked while planning and preparing for your backpacking trip.  In fact, it’s even a question you should ask yourself!

Choose how long you would like your backpacking trip to be.  The sooner you decide, the clearer your daily expenses will be. If you need to be strict on time, deciding to leave for 12 days (for example) will also help determine which/how many countries, cities, attractions, landmarks, etc., you can reasonably see within that allotted amount of time.

Otherwise, if you plan your backpacking trip to be more or less spontaneous and flexible (which is quite ironic, no?), you could always decide on backpacking for roughly two weeks or one month, and then adjust the countries/places you visit and how long you will be there, based on your budget.  Did you have a coup de cœur with Italy? Thailand? England?

Then if your budget + time allows for it, why not be flexible and explore the place further! The options are endless.

That’s what is so great about backpacking trips! You can plan and prepare it a million ways if you’d like.

Where will you go next? What do you want to see and do? One thing I love about traveling is that your experience of it is unique, even if you visit the same attraction like thousands of other tourists do each year.  It’s your experience, your perception, your thoughts, your feelings, and your adventure that make it all unique.

I love discovering travel through backpacking.  How do you like to travel? Share your thoughts & comments with me below!

Are you a student and love to travel? You may want to check this out… Read how to travel while in college. 

By: Bri · In: Backpacking

Join the List

Stay up to date with the latest adventures and travel guides.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

Nepal Peanut Masala/Sandheko Recipe

Primary Sidebar

hello!

I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

About Me

Connect

join the list

Featured Posts

25 Things to Do in Merida Mexico for a 3 Day Itinerary | Bucketlist Bri #merida #mexico

25 Fun Things to Do in Merida, Yucatan’s Colonial Capital

Indigenous woman weaving with backstrap loom in Zinacantan Chiapas Mexico

How to Visit Zinacantán & the Indigenous Women’s Weaving Co-op

Exploring the Artsy Maya Town of San Juan La Laguna

QUICK LINKS

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • CONTACT
  • COURSE
  • DESTINATIONS

Search

Let’s Connect!

@bucketlistbri

Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
Follow My Adventures

Footer

On the Blog

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Info

  • Work With Me
  • Blog Course
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

adventures await x

Copyright © 2023 · Bucketlist Bri | All Rights Reserved

0 shares