Articles Tagged with: backpacking

If you are someone who loves adventure and can handle a backpacking trip, there are many backpacking routes in Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah, a Malaysian state. Kota Kinabalu is located on the island of Borneo and is ideally located with all the right connections to leading resorts and hotels, whether you are traveling on a budget or you don’t have a limit. For backpackers in Kota Kinabalu, there are some awesome trails that you can take across the island that will lead through amazing scenery that allows you to explore the nature and beauty of the island. Overall, the island will provide you with an adventure, whether you are traveling across the whole island, or staying in Kota Kinabalu.

When you arrive in the city, you will find that you are always within 5 -10 minutes from the main city center.

Since you have opted to travel backpacker style, you will take the road less traveled alongside other backpackers in Kota Kinabalu. There are many excursions and trips that you can participate in on the backpacker route around the island of Borneo. If you decide that you will trek the whole way, you will find the island’s 30 ethnic groups enlightening and you might even learn a thing or two from them.

There are many places that you can visit on your trip. The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is considered one of the best parks and areas for water sports. Kinabalu National Park is another great location that you can visit. Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain on the island and has many trails that you can follow. You may want to take into account that the Kinabalu National Park and the mountain itself are sacred to the local people, who have a sacrificial practice of offering up chickens to their ancestors.

Since the mountain is accessible to most people, you can easily find one of the trails to trek on.

The mountain is not difficult to climb so no mountain climbing experience is needed. Finding accommodation is not very difficult once you arrive in Kinabalu. There are many kinds of backpacker lodges available. You would be better off staying in a registered lodge unless your budget is really tight, then maybe you can opt out. For any Sabah Backpackers, you will find that the Sabah State Museum will provide you with a broad view of the history of the island and its people. You might also want to visit the Kundasang War Memorial which is located about 2 hours outside of Kota Kinabalu.

With many options and backpacker excursions available, you might even decide to bunk in any of the many Kota Kinabalu Hostels that are around the area for a real backpacker experience. The key to really enjoying this interesting city and island is to maximize your time on the road. If you love backpacking, joining other fellow Kota Kinabalu Backpackers will only add to your pleasure. If nothing else, you will be able to enjoy the culture of the area.

Read more about Enjoy Backpacking in Kota Kinabalu on this website.

A good backpacking water filter will help ensure that you have a safe wilderness excursion and protect you from parasites, bacteria and possibly even viruses. A wilderness expert would tell you never to drink untreated water no matter where it’s coming from. Many times beautiful mountain water or clear streams are contaminated with dead animals or other pollutants and can cause you to become very ill. There are two different options for treating your water… a water filter, or iodine.

Most typical backpacking water filters will treat about a quart of water per minute. In the beginning they are very effective, however the more they are used, the more sediment will clog the filters. It is important to bring back-up filters with you to ensure that they are continually working at their best. It is also a good thing to look for a water filter that contains a pre-filter.

This pre-filter is used to remove larger floating particles and will extend the life of your filter. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you are using the filter properly and that it is working efficiently.

If you don’t want to carry along filters, another option for treating the water is iodine tablets or crystals. The advantage of these is that they take up practically no room in your backpack and they are extremely light weight. Though they are convenient and easy to use, many wilderness experts question how well they work to eliminate the dangers of parasites. Again be sure to follow the treatment instructions on the bottle if you choose to use the iodine.

Some of the top rated backpack water filters that you may want to explore are:

• Crystal Quest Mfg.

Water Filters

• MSR Miniworks

• Exstream MacKenzie

• Katadyn Guide

• Katadyn Hiker

• McNett Aqua Mira

Backpacking water filers are essential for any wilderness excursion where bringing bottled water is not an option. Read reviews and watch for durability, price, filter replacement and effectiveness. The bottom line is to make sure you are protected and that your backpack is not too much heavier. Shop and compare online and find the best filter that will fit your needs.

Lightweight Backpacking is all about taking only the necessary items with you, while on the trip, and making use of them to the fullest. The catch, however, is that lightweight backpacking is not easy pickings for everyone. You need to develop the knack of packing light and still being able to carry all that you would need on your trip- something that comes with experience and expertise.

There are, however, a few things that you can take care of in order to ensure that you pack light and pack well for the trip. All through the remainder of this write-up, we will be examining some steps which should see you through. For the readers’ convenience, I have divided the article into five questions (or steps) that you should ask yourself every time before packing.

-What can I possibly do to make it lighter?
This question should be asked each time you intend to carry an item.

For instance, if you can leave the sleeping-bag carry bag and accommodate the sleeping bag as-is in your backpack, you should leave the carry bag behind. You can shorten the toothbrush, leave some accessories and you should see a pound or two lightening up from your backpack.

-Ask yourself if there is a lighter version of the stuff you are carrying
Now, this question might seem obvious, but this is probably the most important aspect of lightening the load off your back. The tent, the shelter and the sleeping bag are the three heaviest materials that need to be examined carefully for lighter alternatives. Picking lighter clothing, lightweight tarps, lightweight tents, lightweight rucksacks and lighter but stronger gear can go a long way in reducing the overall weight of your backpack.

-Do I really need this?
Ask this question for every item that you put into your bag.

This becomes all the more important if you happen to move about in a group. There are certain things (chess boards, cooking utensils etc.), which can be shared by all the people in the group. Ask yourself if one T-shirt would suffice or would you need more. This can help you in preventing yourself from carrying a few additional pounds on your back.

-Finally, remember:
The motto of cutting down on weight is simple- do not over do it and try to ensure that you are covered for all the eventualities that you might face on the trip, while ensuring that the weight is still relatively lighter than it would otherwise have been. So be it backpacking in European alps or in the deserts of Mid-East and Morocco, these tips should keep you in good stead.

If you are planning a backpacking trip to South America, you should take Backpacking Peru into consideration. Following are some places that you may want to visit on your trip.

Cuzco: In the heart of the Sacred Valley lies this former Incan city. Cuzco is a starting point for most backpackers on their way to Machu Picchu. Spend some time checking out the historical attractions with stunning architecture all over the city. Two examples of this are the Cathedral on Plaza de Armas and the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus, both of which you can take tours of.

Machu Piccu and the Inca Trail: Almost every traveller is familiar with Machu Picchu. These lost Incan ruins situated on the top of a mountain, gives some insight into their way of life. Travellers can also hike the Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu, the way the Inca’s used to.

This hike takes four days and can be quite exhausting, due to the elevation of the hike. If you plan to hike the Inca Trail, be sure to book well in advance, as hikes fill up fast.

Nazca lines: A different type of attraction to visit are the Nazca lines. The Nazca lines are ancient geoglyphs that were created in the desert dating back to around 500 AD. To get the best view, you can take an airplane tour to view the geoglyphs from the sky.

Lima: Most often Lima is the entry and exit point for backpackers travelling Peru. Travellers tend to overlook Lima, heading straight out to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. If you do have some time to spend in Lima, check out Plaza De Armas. The plaza is lined with many beautiful buildings, including the Presidential Palace.

Take a quick stroll to the Monasterio de San Francisco, where not only can you tour the church, but you can also visit the underground catacombs.

So you have wanted to take a backpacking holiday for a long time and have a long weekend coming up. You want your mate or your sweetheart to take the adventure with you, but they are not so crazy about sleeping out under the stars in some remote region of the outback as you are. One of our backpacker campervan vehicles may be just the solution to convince them to join the adventure. Camper rental can get you to the remote location with some of the comforts of home conveniently transported with you. Our vehicles are economical for hiring and fuelling. Considering where you want to backpack, you can contact a campervan hire Tasmania service branch, a campervan rental Brisbane branch, or one of our other branches near to where you would like to take your backpacking tour.

Our inexpensive campervan hire fleet has a small kitchen area with a fridge, gas cooker and sinks. They are fitted with a double bed for the night layout. While they may not be able to go as far off-road as you would like, they can get you out in the more remote outback with your mate or partner where you can park close to areas for day hiking or any other activity outdoors. These campervans are the perfect compromise. Your partner can still sleep on a bed at night, get up and cook breakfast on a stove with a sink at hand and then backpack out with you during the day.

There are several obvious benefits to hiring a backpacker campervan for the adventure holiday. The fact is you will have to get yourself to your dream-backpacking destination by some form of transportation. You can bring your own vehicle that may not be equipped as our campers are, or you can invest a little more so that you and your partner can both enjoy the adventure. Campervans are fuel conservers for their size and use. Even if you have a family or a group, one or more of these camper vehicles can help make your holiday a success. For larger groups you could take one car and a campervan, or two campervans. Those who would like to sleep under the stars can do so, and those who prefer a bed in an enclosed space can have the vehicle. Maybe a compromise would necessitate swapping, one night outdoors and one night in the bed.

The advantages of camper rentals are many providing practical transportation and accommodation facilities. So, go ahead and plan your backpacking getaway. Now you have an answer for your partner or mate’s comfort and you can both look forward to that long weekend together. Hike Tasmania’s West Coast Mountain Range, or backpack Avon Wilderness Park and adjoining Alpine National Park. Explore the Blue Mountains out of Sydney. Enjoy the natural springs and the multiple terrains in Carnarvon National Park in central Queensland. With attractions everywhere to be discovered, what are you waiting for? Hire a backpacker campervan and hit the road.