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Backpacking is a massive industry. More and more people each year are seeing the benefits or taking a year out and backpacking round the world whether that be on a gap year abroad or on a career break.
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Advances in communication technology have made backpacking an entirely different experience these days. It used to be that when you were away backpacking the only means of communication was either by making expensive telephone calls home or by using poste restantes in big cities. The way the poste restante system worked was that a backpacker could give an approximate date of when they would be in a particular city, and friends and family could then send any post to the poste restante in that place. The invention of email in the last decade has completely transformed the backpacking experience and made it so much easier for backpackers to keep in touch. Anyone backpacking can easily find an Internet café, even away from big cities and towns, and communicate with people at home both instantaneously and inexpensively.
The most popular backpacking destination is undoubtedly Australia. The key advantage of backpacking in Australia is that, if you're aged between 18-30, you qualify for a working holiday visa. If you're backpacking around the world, Australia is a natural half-way point at which to earn some money before setting off again and it has popular backpacker hostels.
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If you are planning on going backpacking the most important thing you need of course is a backpack! Outdoor shops are generally very good at giving you advice on what sort of kit you'll need to buy for going backpacking. If you're going to be away backpacking for a considerable period of time then you shouldn't be tempted to go for the lowest grade of backpack. These might be fine for a week or two camping, but when you are away backpacking your pack is thrown on to buses, etc, and receives all kinds of harsh treatment. A well-made backpack might be more expensive but will be far more likely to stand up to the daily rigours of backpacking. The better backpacks, as well as being harder-wearing, are also generally better designed in terms of comfort as well. When you're away backpacking you'll really feel the benefit of extra padding on the straps and extra belts to stop unnecessary movement, etc.
Within reason you can go backpacking wherever you want. The most common backpacker trail if you're travelling round the world is to fly to Asia, then on to Australasia, then possibly fly to some of the Pacific islands such as Fiji, then to the USA and then home. You can also do similar backpacking routes to the above example to take in South America or Africa as well. If you follow such typical examples of well-established backpacking routes you're sure to meet plenty of other travellers along the way.
If your considering going backpacking, why not book your hostel online before you go, booking your hostel through Real Gap is a safe, secure and easy way to sort out your accomodation.
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