Backpacking destinations need three things: a healthy hostel layer, daily costs that allow a multi-week trip, and established routes that connect cities and regions overland. The destinations below all qualify — places we’d send a first-time backpacker without hesitation, where the infrastructure has been built up over decades of travellers passing through.
Below: every destination we cover that fits, with links to the destination guide, the seasonal best-time breakdown, the itinerary, and the budget — so you can plan the whole trip from this page.
Our picks
AlbaniaAlbaniacoastal, beach, offbeat
BangkokThailandfood, urban, budget
Chiang MaiThailandculture, budget, mountains
GuatemalaCentral Americaculture, adventure, nature
How we picked these
Selected for low daily-cost destinations with established hostel ecosystems, manageable visa logistics for long-term stays, and overland route systems that connect to broader regional travel. Excluded: high-cost destinations where the daily budget makes multi-week stays impractical for typical backpackers.
The full list
| Destination | Country | Budget | Best months | Defined by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Albania | Budget | May, Jun, Sep, Oct | coastal, beach, offbeat |
| Bangkok | Thailand | Budget | Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec | food, urban, budget |
| Chiang Mai | Thailand | Budget | Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec | culture, budget, mountains |
| Guatemala | Central America | Budget | Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov… | culture, adventure, nature |
| Hoi An | Vietnam | Budget | Feb, Mar, Apr, May | culture, food, coastal |
| India | India | Budget | Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct… | culture, food, history |
| Medellin | Colombia | Budget | Jan, Feb, Mar, Jul… | urban, food, budget |
| Oaxaca | Mexico | Budget | Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov | food, culture, mountains |
| Porto | Portugal | Budget | Apr, May, Jun, Sep | food, wine, coastal |
| Prague | Czech Republic | Budget | Apr, May, Sep, Oct… | history, culture, beer |
| Samarkand | Uzbekistan | Budget | Apr, May, Sep, Oct | history, culture, offbeat |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Budget | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | culture, beach, wildlife |
| Tbilisi | Georgia | Budget | May, Jun, Sep, Oct | food, wine, culture |
| Vietnam | Vietnam | Budget | Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct… | food, culture, history |
Plan a trip from here
- Albania: guide · best time · itinerary · budget
- Bangkok: guide · best time · itinerary · budget
- Chiang Mai: guide · best time · itinerary · budget
- Guatemala: guide · best time · itinerary · budget
- Hoi An: guide · best time · itinerary · budget
- India: guide · best time · itinerary · budget
Compare two side by side
The interactive comparison tool sets any two of these next to each other on best months, budget, crowds, trip length and vibes.