This post will share five tips for planning your next solo backpacking trip.
I can’t be the only one now thinking about taking a long-term solo trip. I’m talking about six months to a year just travelling the world. It doesn’t help that my TikTok For You page constantly inspires me by showing backpackers on their trips. Every now and again, I get the sudden urge to quit my job, pack up my stuff and travel the world. But as a responsible adult, I wish it was that easy. This is why I’m just pacifying myself with short city breaks until I can afford to take that much time off.
I’ve been solo travelling regularly for one year now, and let me tell you, it hits different. I’m not even sure I can cope with travelling with people. I’m simply too used to the freedom of solo travelling without being accountable or dragging anyone behind me. It is possibly the best gift I’ve given myself as an adult.
Everyone who solo travels know that no matter the length of your trip, there’s always a level of planning involved. Before my short-term trips, I put together a quick travel plan in my Google Keep with the details of all the essentials I’ll need for my trip. This helps my trips go smoothly without any issues.
So, if you’re thinking of taking a long-term solo trip and are unsure how to plan, this post is for you.
Here Are Five Things To Consider When Planning A Solo Backpacking Trip
While booking a flight and hopping on a plane might look so easy, you must ensure some things are in place before taking your trip. Trust me when I say proper planning makes the difference between a great solo trip and a not-so-great one. People who hate solo travelling are often terrible planners without any sense of direction, so don’t be one of them.
The Length of Your Trip
Before taking a solo backpacking trip, you need to think about long you’ll be away. You can decide to go for as little as one to six months. It all depends on you. Knowing how long you’ll be gone will help you put certain things at home in shape before you leave and when you come back. You don’t want to leave and end up stranded when you return home.
Your Current Rent
Backpackers that travel for extended periods tend not to have a valid tenancy. Some people either move back into their parent’s homes, sublet their flats while they are away to generate an extra income, or just keep the flat occupied, especially if they still have a fixed-term tenancy. Others move out of their flats, sell off as much as possible, and keep the rest in a self-storage unit. If you choose the last option, you should consider Curries Easy Self Storage. They offer self-storage units of different sizes for short and long-term travellers.
Your Bills
Another reason solo backpacking requires planning is certain things like bills also need to be sorted out. Do you want to wait till the end of your contract before travelling, or can you speak to your service provider and pause your bills? If neither of these options is viable, you need to consider how you’ll pay your bills while you’re abroad to prevent penalties when you return. If you’re subletting your home, you need to ensure plans are in place for your bills to be paid promptly in your absence.
The Amount of Money You’ll Need
This might be a no-brainer because most people either save up from their salaries or get a side job during their trips to sustain them. Funding your trip might be the easiest part of the planning process, but you’ll be surprised by how many people are terrible with money management. So make sure you’re saving enough and prepare alternatives just in case you run out of money. Many people have had to end their trips abruptly due to a lack of funds. Try not to get yourself into that situation as well.
Your Prescriptions & Medications
Before travelling, you must ensure your prescriptions can be provided for the duration you’ll be away. There’s nothing like being in a foreign country without access to your medications. If you’re not allowed to take that many prescriptions with you, make sure you have health insurance that will cover the costs if you decide to get alternatives abroad. It goes without saying that you need to ensure that you’re healthy enough for long-term travel.
Finally
Solo backpacking requires a bit of planning before, during and after the trip. One of the ways you can gauge how well you’ll cope is by taking a series of short trips first. This will give you an idea of what to generally expect while solo travelling and prepare your mind for long-term travel. It is usually not advisable for your first solo trip to be long-haul. Start slowly and build your confidence.
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