Summary For Backpacking Adventures
Overall rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ – 3 adventure travel stars
Backpacking adventures are personal expeditions that teach you incredible lessons, especially about how to be self sufficient.
It’s a great way to get out and enjoy nature while finding a little peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind.
There’s little to moderate risk involved, and just about anyone who can hike some distance while carrying a load on their back can do it.
From Nepal to the United States, and all over the globe, incredible backpacking opportunities are everywhere.
Be forewarned if your idea of roughing it is a small bed and breakfast with a communal bathroom. Camping is one of the required elements in a backpacking adventure, so you may have to forego the shower in the morning… and maybe a little bit of privacy.
Risk Factor
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ – 3 adventure travel stars
Backpacking is most often defined by combining two activities: hiking and camping. Backpackers will hike into the wilderness with everything they need – including food, water, shelter and other equipment – to sustain them overnight.
Staying out over night in the wild has risk attached, so you shouldn’t take it lightly. But if you plan well, and research the area where you’re going to be camping, you shouldn’t have any trouble.
If you’re going into some dangerous, inaccessible back country, that’s a different story, but most casual backpackers don’t tend to end up in places like that, so the level of risk is low, to moderate, generally speaking.
Skill & Physical Factors
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ – 3 adventure travel stars
You really need to have the ability to plan well if you’re going to be a competent and safe backpacker. And if you venture out into the wilderness for several days at a time, you need to be extremely skilled and in good physical shape. You’re survival depends on it.
For the average backpacker, who may go on overnight excursions, you should have at least moderate planning skills, and be in pretty good shape because you will be hiking over distance with 20 or more pounds strapped to your back.
Fun Factor
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ – 3 adventure travel stars
Sometimes you just need to escape the rat race for a little solitude, peace and quiet. Backpacking will do that for you. What could be better to reenergize your body, mind and spirit than communing with nature?
Watching a colorful sunset from a picturesque spot only you know where to find, counting falling stars as they streak across the night sky and then taking in a gorgeous sunrise on a crisp, clear morning… now that’s a wonderful experience only nature can provide.
Backpacking adventures may not provide the chaotic excitement of a white water rafting ride, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a thrilling experience. If you love nature, backpacking could prove to be heaven on earth for you.
Popular places for backpacking adventures
Just about anywhere you go you can find great opportunities for backpacking.
Following are some of the most popular destinations if you’re looking for incredible experiences while taking everything you need on your back.