Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010
We all know Cancun, Miami and Cabo are great for spring break. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the company of drunken college chicks and cheap tequila on the beach. But this year, we urge you to dig a little deeper. An entire world of similarly (likely more) satisfying experiences lie ahead and the best time to begin exploring them is now. From the best beaches, most picturesque scenery to the best drinks, food and art, OTP has you covered. Based on our network of backpacking buddies who have traveled the world throughout 2009, here is our list of the Top 10 Backpacking Destinations for 2010:
Cheapest: CAMBODIA
Travel guides have advised their readers to go to Thailand for years because it’s a cheap travel destination. Subsequently, swarms of backpackers, then tourists, congested the shit out of Bangkok. For this reason, we say forget Thailand and go to Cambodia before it gets tourist trapped. Although getting to Cambodia will cost you some cash (about $1000), once you’re in, you will feel like a millionaire. Since bargaining is common practice in most of Southeast Asia, it is said that you should aim for getting whatever you want for half of what people initially offer. Just to give you an idea: a pack of cigarettes is 20 to 25 cents. Breakfast: about $1. Hostels run $5 per day (if you get ritzy, a nice hotel is $15-$30 per day). The most expensive thing you should encounter is the entrance fee to the Angkor Temples (about $20 per day). These ancient ruins are not to be missed and will be worth spending a few dollars on.
Nightlife: Reykjavik, Iceland
With Ibiza dying out, Tokyo becoming increasingly expensive and Amsterdam (well it’s still a party if you don’t turn into a lazy stoner during your visit) we turn to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, for insane nightlife. The nights are longer here which means the parties last and last. The girls and guys are hot, the temperature is cold, so dancing, drinking and debauchery are all accepted forms of keeping warm. Plan a trip for new years to get the best of the Icelandic party experience (fireworks and all). This is what Quentin Tarantino had to say about partying in Iceland. Hey if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for us.
Beaches: The San Blas Islands, Panama
The world is over 70% water, that water is usually connected to land by beach. With so many beaches to choose from, how does one place stand out from the rest? The perfect beach must have all of the following: soft clean sand, clear water, a fair amount of nakedness, natural surrounding beauty and as few tourists as possible. Very few destinations can offer the seclusion from tourists necessary to have a perfect beachgoing experience. We think the San Blas Islands near the coast of Panama come the closest. San Blas, inhabited by the Kuna Indians, offers that little bit of seclusion that tourism has yet to ruin. Women dress in handmade molas (beautifully colored fabrics), everyone has a natural sun glow tan and fresh fish is caught daily by locals in handmade kayak boats. Get your beach skimpies on and head out to Cartegena, Colombia where you can catch a boat for $300 to the San Blas Islands. The fee includes a 5 day, all-inclusive stay in beach paradise. Can’t argue with that.
Sightseeing: ITALY
Though not a very off-track destination, Italy has so much to offer historically. Rome is home to the Vatican, Pantheon and Coliseum; Florence to the statue of David and then there’s that leaning tower in Pisa. Genoa is the proud home of Christopher Colombus and the roots of pizza lie in Naples. From Sicily to Milan, ancient Roman ruins are sprawled out in this land of history for you to see. Every corner of Italy will have your camera in overdrive. So read up on Italian historical events and head out to explore the land your history books only vaguely succeeded in describing.
Best Art Scene: Barcelona, Spain
Italy has the best classical art scene. But when the same naked figures, realistic religious scenes and landscapes get boring, drop Italy and cruise over to Barcelona to refresh your artistic eye. Two greats, Salvador Dali and Antonio Gaudi , rule Barcelona’s art culture. Both are pioneers of surrealism in painting (Dali) and architecture (Gaudi) and their art kicks ass. More than being visually orgasmic (Dali Painting, Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia), surrealism opened the door to a whole new world of art that Barcelona continues to redefine; a world where former rules of “fine art” are bent and distorted. Although some stuffy, snotty, overpriced art galleries do exist here, it’s easy to find your art fix on the streets of Barcelona. Gaudi’s trippy buildings are scattered throughout the city and the museum of Dali is only a 40 minute scenic train ride north to Figueras. If these guys don’t tickle you pickle, Barcelona is also packed with more thought-provoking graffiti than you can imagine, inspiring street performers and tons of off-beat artistic expressions (this cat statue for example).
Most Remote: LAMU
In our world of “been there, done that”, very few places can still be considered “remote”. Most regions in the world have been taken over by luxury hotels and tourist traps. It’s hard to set foot on land that is truly remote. On that note, OTP brings you Lamu. Off the coast of Kenya, the Lamu archipelago is the oldest inhabited settlement south of the Sahara, its inhabitants are still largely Muslim and here, deserted beaches are still a reality. Whereas most places in the world are locally navigatable by train, car, bus or at least moped, Lamu’s locals get around on donkeys ONLY (now that’s some serious remoteness).
Adventurous: The Himalayas (Tibet/Bhutan/Nepal)
Although these areas are quite difficult to get into (as the Chinese government expressly limits tourism here for tense political reasons, see our Volunteer Tibet Article for more info), once you’re in, the Himalayas will quench your thirst for adventure. Hiking these peaks isn’t for pussies. The elevation gets painfully high and the trek becomes difficult but if you can grow a pair, this destination offers the adventure of a lifetime. Hikes through the Himalayas are laced with spiritual hilltop villages, Buddhist temples and monasteries (where you can actually stay with monks and experience their peaceful way of life). A hike through the Himalayas not only awakens your physical sense of adventure but also connects you to a spiritual world unlike any other.
Nature Filled: BOLIVIA
Everyone was exposed to the natural beauty of New Zealand following the release of Lord of the Rings. Yes, it is very green, lush and mind-blowing. But in the same vein, it’s also incredibly expensive to get to ($1400-$1800). Instead, feast your eyes on Bolivia. With no compromises in the natural beauty department (c’mon it’s in the Amazon), and a huge price cut ($800 roundtrip), Bolivia offers backpackers some amazing nature-related perks. This place has salt flats, sand dunes, zip lines, exotic animals and plants, incredible rolling green hills and enough ancient ruins to overload your senses into oblivion. Go get your Amazon on (bring bug spray).
Hottest Locals: BRAZIL
With so many beautiful people in the world, how do we pick just one place as the home of all that’s hot? Easy: Nakedness that’s how. Home of the Brazilian wax (necessary if all you’re wearing is body paint), Brazil offers up some incredibly sexy locals. Although the nakedness is at full force during Carnival (February) when Rio is torn apart by women wearing nothing but body paint and feathers, the best time to see the local hotties is in June during the Boi Bumba Festival. Fear not, the same nakedness is in store but minus the insane crowds that Carnival attracts. This annual festival takes place in Parintins (a small river community in northern Brazil) and is based on a legend about killing a bull and eating his tongue. Dancers are designated as various characters in the festival, each wearing very little and shaking their endowments all over the place. Here are some photos for visual convincing.
Overall: COLOMBIA
Our best overall spot goes to a destination that embodies all the qualities of our top 2010 list and, to spice it up, adds a little danger into the mix. A long-time “no go” zone for Americans, Colombia is 2010’s hottest backpacking destination. It’s cheap as hell (2,500 pesos, or $0.75 for a beer), has beautiful locals (Shakira, case closed), incredible artists (Botero: the fat man that does fatty art) and remote beaches (how does sleeping in a hammock hostel sound for $2 a night?). The danger element comes from rumors of American kidnappings and drug wars, although Colombia has become much safer in recent years. In larger cities like Bogota and Medellin (home of Pablo Escobar), solo backpackers are advised to stay in at night on weekdays, places like Cartegena and Santa Marta are safe at nightfall. Besides, a little danger always makes for a good time in paradise.
Whether its nature, art, history, hotties or beaches you seek, the above spots will satisfy whatever your craving may be in 2010. Don’t be afraid to get a little off track this year; drunken Cancun will still be around in 2011.
Written By: Anna Starostinetskaya
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Right now, almost anywhere within China and Asia is going to be a great travel value. It’s just to see if Americans are in the mood to travel.
I’m happy to see so many destinations in South and Central America made the list! Thanks for the great suggestions!
Lindsey
I’m both happy and surprised that Colombia made it to the top of the list! I was just there this past May and completely agree – Cartagena and Santa Marta are some of the most beautiful places you can imagine! GO!
I went to Reykjavik back in September and had the most fun I’ve had in a while! The people are all beautiful and the atmosphere is absolutely insane yet not at all like your typical Spring Break locations!
Absolutely recommended!
I can’t wait to go to italy! And I also agree with most of the places you have on the list.
Have a great trip!
Great tips! I absolutley LOVED Cambodia when I went in 2007…so many great people, things to see (Angkor Temples…wow!), and was so cheap. The nicest hostel I have yet to stay in was in Siem Reap, with an ‘indoor’ pool and awesome bar for only $10 or so a night.
Now, I think I need to get back to South America…Colombia is calling me!
Hey everyone..thanks for all the positive responses. We’re glad to hear you’re happy with our choices of destinations for 2010. Stay tuned for OTPs Top Spots to hit for New Year’s 2010, it shall be epic
i know this guy i party with him and i really miss him…its true freddy brother thx so much for talk so well about colombia i wish to see u again soon!!!!
Cambodia is simply divine. People will love it there. i was there just a few months ago roughly stayed for about a month around the country. Interested to go to Brazil not only there are beautiful people, the scene is just so alive.
next stop, the himalayas!!!
I am not sure I can call Thailand cheap, may be because I am going there during New Year time, but prices there doesn’t look very attractive. It is too late to choose Cambodia..
Hi, followed your link from your comment at http://matadortrips.com/lps-top-10-destinations-for-2010/. You’re right, a much better list. Nice work!
And nice looking website…will have a poke around here…
Cheers.
Can someone post the information for the ferries from Cartagena to San Blas? The info that I found on Crucero Express says that it is no longer in service. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Mari, my best suggestion is to just walk over to the port and ask someone…I have some friends who might know, as soon as I can get a hold of them I’ll find out for you.
Fabulous list! Love your Brazil justification.
do you expect Turkey
Turkey is on the radar
[...] if you are thinking about taking your first backpacking trip in the new year. They have some great recommendations on where you should go for night life, food, adventure, budget-friendly trips and more. And may we [...]
how about Bali ?
Love the photos. Definitely some must-see places in here. The caves of Capadoccia in Turkey would be a nice addition.
Maybe the island of Corsica will make it to the next list. It has more than 200 campsites, miles of beaches, mountains with glaciar lakes, and great food. Take a ferry ride from Italy and visit Cinque Terre and Corsica in one trip.
Great site. Following on Twitter.
mari im from colombia im in cartagena i got few friends that gotosan blas ok call me 3015350355 manuel take care
HAHA!! Manuel is a good friend of ours…a GREAT guy to introduce Cartagena, Colombia to you!
what about mexico?
im form the Canada and i travelled around the world to so many places and i really have Mexico on my top 5!!!
wpw amazing destinations chosen for 2010,just by looking pics and reading made me be there right away
Great tips.
All the destinations are rocking.. and awesome..
Very interesting and excellent photos. I would love to see Italy.
bolivia is the best place
Great choices, but I’d add a few.
Galicia is gem that most miss and it is one of the most pristine & beautiful areas in Europe…plus gorgeous beaches & not too hot or crowded in summer! Walk the Camino,from France or Portugal, then take your time & explore ALL of Galicia!
Croatia is also extraordinarily beautiful, pristine & not crowded outside of July & August.
Morocco..like no where else on earth. Forget Marrakesh, but don’t miss Fez Medina (closest you will get to doing time travel back to middle ages), the gorgeous Merzouga Sahara dunes, Atlas Mountains etc!
Turkey..the whole country is a wonder with the best hospitality in the world & so cheap and easy to do independently. Don’t miss Cappadocia, Istanbul and a blue cruise on gulet from Fetheye to Olympos!
Greece…island hop out side of July & August (May,June & Sept are ideal) and you will love it!
Don’t miss the hidden gems in Costa Brava when you visit Barcelona!
Happy travels!
In all of this specially i like to visit at Reykjavik, Iceland. Because one of the main causes for this is that alcohol is relatively expensive at bars. People tend to drink at home before going out. Beer was banned in Iceland until 1 March 1989, but has since become popular among many Icelanders as their alcoholic drink of choice.
Fiji Islands definitely should have made this list, especially now in 2010 your American dollar is worth $1.70 Fijian. This is a Must See! exotic island group.
Great roundup! I have a friend who’s in iceland right now and loving it. Locals are extremely warm and friendly, and there’s lots to see and do.
Lists like these just remind me to pay a little extra on my next RTW ticket. Might as well see as much of these as possible while I’m out and about.
Cambodia and Vietnam are next on my 2010 list. Am glad that my next destination got into the list. I certainly will not miss Angkor Wat!
Thnx
I just want to post in here since it’s your latest blog of 2010 and I only just read your “Top 9 Travel Blogs” from last November. That was the most ludicrous choice of travel blogs aside as from IndiePodcast who’s a wonderful guy, all you are posting about is your own incestuous little circle of travel blogs, can’t you do better than that? Unbelievable that you’d actually list some ignorant crap like Christine Gilbert’s idiot site which should surely be renamed from AlmostFearless to AlmostClueless. It’s a great big cyber world out there with many, many people doing genuinely great work in travel online — how come you never ever bother with that? How come you have the gall to tell Jeanne Dee that family travel just “happens” to be not a travel niche?
The way the Australian dollar is performing, Thailand is still a good cheap place to visit. Cambodia is cheap too, been there three times so far, favorite spots Sihanoukville and Angkor Wat. Great pictures.
.. “that tourism has yet to ruin.”
I hate passive expressions like these.. Animals can “go extinct”
Indians are “living history” etc. Western culture is sick and the expressions they use reflect that very well
Brazil and Panama are high on my list of places to visit. It is of course the girls that does it for me. A wee bit of danger is good, tell that to the next Yank that gets his head cut off for being in the wrong place and at the wrong time!
in fairness the list is actually a good set, i like brazil as the best place for the hottest locals! would be daydreaming to visit rio and the beach very soon! nice list!!!
GO TO COLOMBIA!!!
You will enjoy your stay and will meet the greatest people… Colombia is not as dangerous as the media say ( less crime than in other turistic places). Have fun!
What a stereotype you guys have of Brazil… unbelievable! Do u guys really think everybody goes everywhere almost naked?
I just got back from Rio a week ago, and I can confirm they’re are some untrue stereotypes built up about the place. But, I have never seen so many men walking around in speedos all over the place anywhere else.
Hard to beat the hiking in Scotland. They have excellent infrastructure criss-crossing the countryside.
According to national gegrophy Nepal is one of the best travel destination for traveller and according to lonely planet guide book nepal is 6th famous destination
Great list of beautiful destinations.
I have to agree that Barcelona and Spain have some of the best modern art we saw in all of Europe. Parc Guell in Barcelona was like being inside an art installation, it was without a doubt the coolest thing I saw in all of our European adventures. An entire park designed to be a community, turned into a public space where every angle is twisted, pillars have different symbols in them depending on what angle you view, and the best view of the entire city, it is something I would tell everyone to go see. Plus he designed several other buildings and a huge church, Guadi was a busy man. When you get tired of this you can stroll the waterfront looking at other artists work, and if you have time, take a train outside the city to the Salvador Dali Museum which is also his tomb. Unbelievable amount of artwork is available in Spain within a very small amount of space.
I just visited Cambodia, and I have to say — it’s worth going to for more than the prices! The Angkor temples are amazing, but I think my best memories will be of the wonderful people we met there. Haggling finally became fun for me in Cambodia, where it is always done with lots of laughter.
italy is beautiful but is not really “backpacking” friendly. since the euro went in place is now a flashbacker destination and relying on public transport to backpacking around it will limit the traveler a lot. i will suggest to get a car but don’t dare to drive in palermo or naples. and please go visit sardinia and sicily there are stunning.
rome, florence and venice are surely unique and beautiful too.
your blog helping to nepal and tibet tourism. all above list are must visited place once in life. thanks for sharing the list
Great list of destinations – I see that the San Blas Islands were mentioned in there! They truly are amazing. Also be sure to check out Bocas del Toro in Panama!
Awesome post! I’ve already started dreaming of my next big backpacking adventure. It will hopefully be one of these destinations!
What a sight! So breath-taking! I have always wanted to go in that place.. But I guess when you travel to foreign countries, avoid wearing loud T-shirts. Leave the flags, team jackets, and baseball caps with funny sayings at home. If you stand out from the crowd, you are more noticeable to thieves or anyone who might have a gripe against your country.
These places are all great and marvelous! But be aware, when touring a coastline, plan to travel in the direction that puts you and your passenger on the ‘view’ side of the road. This way you can see down a coastline and anticipate where the best turnoffs are going to be, and most importantly, you will not have to be crossing and recrossing traffic in order to access the beach or viewpoints.
[...] I move through the list Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010 compiled by online travel magazine Off Track Planet, I hope looking back on GoNOMAD feature [...]
[...] on with the blog series looking at Off Track Planet’s list of the Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010 , I hope to shed more light on the destinations selected this year by searching the GoNOMAD [...]
Great list, almost intact. I would agree with ‘putude’ though, add Bali to the list!
this is a great list, I am so happy that so much central and south american destinations have made it on the list. My personal favorite suggestions are panama and colombia, they are totally worth it!!!
Excellent list of location. I love Panama and Colombia review and I must say that beach in that part of Panama is gorgeous. I wish you included Cuba to that location as well.
cheers!!
Good Work keep it up.
Happy to see LAMU in Kenya in the List.
Nature is beautiful.Enjoy what Our ancestors enjoyed decades ago.
Kenya has some of the best beaches in the World.
Great list. However, from someone who lives in Bogota, I disagree with your advice on staying in at night during the week. I’m not sure what that’s based on, certainly not on anyone who lives here I’m sure. Everywhere in Colombia at night people take care (locals included) and taxis are widely used, plentiful and cheap. But, don’t stay in! You’d be missing out on some of the best parts of the country. Come visit and get to know the country – including the nightlife!
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