It is time for yet another backpackers guide to help you make the most of your budget-minded travels. This time, we have put together a five part series that will get you acquainted with backpacking in Asia. The Asian continent has a lot to offer by way of culture, dining, history, nature, and amazing people. Moreover, you can see it all on a budget when you go backpacking.
As with all of our backpacking guides, we will begin by listing some of the most important things you need to know about travelling in Asia. Parts two through five will deal with specific areas. We will talk about some sites you will probably want to see, some of the routes you can travel, and whatever else tickles our fancy. So let's be our way!
Tips for Making the Most of Your Trip
Backpacking is a great way to see the world because it is cost-effective and fairly easy to do. However, the Asian continent is probably unlike most other places you have been to. Therefore, it pays to know a little bit about what you are doing before you leave. Here are some of our tips for making the most of your trip:
- Planning – Planning your trip is important no matter where you backpack. Nevertheless, in Asia, language barriers and government restrictions make planning even more necessary. You need to know where you are starting, where you want to end up, and where you plan to go in between. In each country and indigenous region, you need to know what restrictions might be in place. There are many online resources for checking this sort of thing.
- Pack Lightly – It goes without saying that you will be packing lightly as a backpacker. Nonetheless, take this to an extreme for Asia. You will be doing a lot of travelling on foot, especially in more remote areas, and any public transportation you do use will likely be crowded. The less you have to carry, the better off you will be.
- Language – Though it is easier than ever before to find English speakers around the world, there may be times when you run into significant language barriers. It helps to install a dictionary app on your smart phone for emergencies. It also helps to learn a few basic words in the languages you are likely to encounter on your trip.
- Shopping – Whether you are buying food, clothing, or small trinkets, bargaining is part of the Asian culture. Do not expect to walk into a shop and see a price tag. If haggling with shopkeepers is uncomfortable for you, practice before you go. Bargaining is a necessary part of life in both the cities and small towns.
Take some time to look around online for more helpful tips before you set off. Then come back and visit our site for part two of this series. We will begin laying out our journey starting in western Russia. Our route will follow a large loop that eventually takes us back to Europe.