If you go for backpacking and traveling on a lower budget, one of the best destinations to head is the Balkan Peninsula, and more precisely the Republic of Albania. Albania is located at the western part of the peninsula, on the shore of the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the countries where tourism is now on the rise, prices are quite low, but quality is not less than any commercial tourist sites.
The Albanian Adriatic coast especially in the southern parts of the country has many beautiful beaches and the blue clear waters. It is no wonder that in recent years there is increased number of backpackers visiting the country and its coast. Down southern near the border with Greece are the most beautiful places, at the region of Ksamil, you can go exploring the many islands near the shores, go swimming around and visit the local establishments, bars and restaurants where fresh seafood is served, cocktails with fresh ingredients, and all this is very affordable.
Albania, as a country but also in its most popular tourist spots, offers accommodation both for those that go on a high budget, but it is especially popular for those that go on a low budget. There are hostels were renting a room will cost less around 15 dollars, and there are locals also that rent rooms for even lower prices than that. Food is also very cheap in Albanian cities and on the coast. There are also many attractive activities, such as water sports on some of the resorts on the Albanian Riviera and they all come in fair prices. Public transportation is also cheap, so you can move from city to city and from a tourist resort to another with low expenses, thus make your stay here very diverse.
One of the most beautiful and wealthiest regions of Europe is the Scandinavian Peninsula, where the kingdom of Sweden, Norway and Denmark and the Republic of Finland are located. It is a region where nature has not spend any resources, on the Scandinavian Peninsula you can see the fjords and glaciers of Norway, there are thermal springs and geysers on the north side of the peninsula, there are many mountains Norway, the ground of the peninsula is carved and filled with many lakes, there are rivers flowing everywhere. On the North side of Norway are the snowy islands of Svalbard, homage of the polar bear; in Finland’s north is the home of Santa, Santa’s village.
You can skiing and hiking in Norway, go for a ride with a bike in Finland or visit the Danish beaches; you can go fishing in the lakes and rivers, and in the sea. Visiting the capital cities is a wonderful experience; you will see the authentic wooden architecture in Norway and Oslo, there are many Viking museums, whole Viking ships included in some, such museums are all around the peninsula. Beside the capital city of Stockholm, which is one of the most beautiful European cities, one should also visit Gothenburg in Sweden. Copenhagen, the capitol of Denmark, and Helsinki, the capital of Finland should not be missed. All of the mentioned cities offer vibrant night life, various night clubs and many life concerts to attend.Scandinavian Peninsula has one of the most evolved rock scenes in the world.
Despite the cold weather, people of Scandinavia will greet you warmly, this are peaceful countries and are very safe for a backpacker. When it comes to Scandinavia everything beside from the prices is good. You should consider having more costs when visiting the north, alcohol and cigarettes are really expensive.
Backpacking is one of the newest forms of tourism, it has its roots in the Hippie era, but its expansion was in the beginning of the 21th century. It is low cost form of tourism, including a backpack and use of cheap lodging and public transport. It is also energy demanding, due to the constant walking around with the heavy backpack on. You can get some blisters and end up in the rain and cold, but you can see the world for small amount of money. So what should a novice in backpacking do:
- Before going on the first trip one should buy a backpack, choosing the right one is essential, because you will have it on your back most of the time and if it gives you discomfort, you will greatly regret your poor choice. Buy backpack that will be a little bigger than all you need to carry, it does not have to be the biggest you will see. Be aware that you will use public transport, so the backpack will have to fit somewhere eventually. It is good option to go for a known and reliable product, rather than the cheapest.
- When packing clothes take everything necessary but do not forget that you will carry this all the time, what sort of clothes you will take depends on the region and the climate you plan on visiting. Do not forget to take some medications, such as anti – diarrhea pills, an antacid and maybe antibiotics.
- With the information on the internet and the possibility to book hostels, you can plan your trip before it has started; this is a good idea because you will have an idea of what the place where you will stay looks like.
- When arrived at the destination, start exploring and making friends, enjoy other cultures and have a good trip.
To fully experience the magnificence of the Grand Canyon one must step on his foot firmly and start exploring the vast space of this peaceful and mesmerizing place. Far away from civilization and in the heart of geological heaven you will travel million of years back in time and feel the primitive beauty. The Grand Canyon is protected by as a world heritage site by the UNESCO; this massive rocky formations are also declared as national park. There are two main areas in the Grand Canyon national park: The North Rim and the South Rim, the second of which is far more visited. The park’s fauna is mostly known by its birds, most famous is the California condor, but it is also very rare. You can often spot a coyote while the other predators are more cautious and can rarely be seen.
The Grand Canyon is a land of extremes; there it can get very cold in no time. Therefore in order to backpack in the Grand Canyon you need to be well equipped, backpacks for such venture are quite heavy and the terrain offers no relief, you will walk over rocky ground with constant ups and downs. Proper hiking boots are the difference between success and failure here, so checking if your boots are in good shape before you go backpacking is a must. Going hiking and backpacking in the Grand Canyon is not recommended if you have no previous experience, it imposes risks even to your life. When going on a hike here you must also have hiking gear, a group should have: tents, cooking gear, first aid and water filter this is for a group use; as for individual use, besides from already mentioned backpack and boots, you should carry many things: clothing, but not too much, bottles of water, headlamp, sunglasses, rain jacket, different foods and the list is quite long and it depends on your needs.
The Republic of Macedonia occupies the center part of the Balkan Peninsula, many cultures and roads has passed through Macedonia and left their marks. The capital city is Skopje, it is the biggest city in the country and it offers fast life and diverse culture, there are many construction sites now in the city and many new monuments are been build. Transportation here is not expensive as the whole Europe, so you can move from one place to another cheaply. You can also go hitchhiking cause people here are quite friendly. Next destination you can visit is Ohrid.
Besides the lake Ohrid, with many beaches and clean water, there are plenty historic places to visit, here is the Samoil’s Fortress, the ancient theater, and many churches, so many actually that you can’t visit them all even if you stay for few months. Local bars and restaurants offer local delicacies such as Ohrid lake trout, which is protected by the law and endemic specie. In the restaurants of Ohrid and all around the country you should try some of the Macedonian wines, many years of tradition and quality made Macedonian wines famous in Europe.
Near the city of Ohrid, not more than 1 hour ride with car is the city of Bitola. It has been host city to the Turkish officer and revolutionary statesman Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and it was important centre of the Turkish empire. Bitola is abundant with remains and structure of ancient, Roman and Byzantine time. The marks of the Ottoman occupation are most evident. In Bitola you can visit the ancient city of Heraclea Lyncestis or go hiking in the mountain of Baba and conquer the peak Pelister, where you can see the glacier like. This city is especially vibrant at night and a visit on the main street is a must for every tourist.
Not every one will like the idea of backpacking. But if you are the outdoorsy type, this is one holidaying activity that you will surely enjoy. Backpacking simply means going on a holiday without all the luxury of hotels, resorts and shopping spree activities. When you go backpacking, you will have to carry your backpack with you most of the times and that means you need to be physically fit.
Live on the Edge Cheaply
Backpacking is all about living on edge and living mostly without hot showers. It is the cheap alternative if you want to hop from one destination to another if you do not have the money for luxury cruises. Backpacking is fun as long as you come prepared.
Choose the Right Backpack
Embarking on your backpacking trip starts with preparing your backpack. The first thing that you need to do is to choose the right size of the backpack; choose one that is too big and you may have a hard time storing it on trains and planes, too small and you may not have enough room for your essentials and some take home goodies.
Make sure that your backpack is made of durable material as you will be taking it everywhere you go and it will be your lifeline during the entire trip. Choose one with as many straps as possible; you will need to ensure that the weight of the backpack is evenly distributed in your body.
Pack that Backpack
Next you need to ensure that you will bring enough clothes and of course the right ones. Deciding on the clothes to bring as well as other essentials like medications, toiletries, sandals and your gadgets is an important factor. You do not want to be heavily burdened with a backpack full of unnecessary items, so just what you need and you can purchase the rest on your destinations.
September 7, 2012 – 6:39 am
If you want to experience the nature in its purest form, you must venture deep into the jungle. To know more about the nature and its surroundings, you must make it a point to walk your way. The most famous trail ride in New Zealand is called Milford Track, a hiking trail that crosses an area of mountains and temperate rainforest in the Fiordland National Park.
It is one of the most beautiful walks in the world (between glaciers, giant waterfalls, lakes, giant lived trees, steep cliffs between fjords and waterfalls). Of course, no one would forget to bring anything to guard against the moisture and water falling. This area is one of the wettest spots on earth. Southwest of the South Island of New Zealand receives rain between 6,000 and 8,000 millimeters per year, an amount of water that leaves its mark on the landscape with hundreds of “rivers” that fall on steep slopes of the mountains and forests that are saturated mosses and fungi, as in an enchanted landscape.
The points to be joined are the Lake Te Anau, to go north to the area of Milford Sound, or the country’s fjords area famous for its hot mirrored dozens of waterfalls and streams fall in the sea. All the way you cross forests, wetlands, and to a great mountain pass, all in a way that was used by the native Maori and today is one of the tourist attractions of the country. The following is a selection of images from the trip that do not follow a linear path, but rather, they serve to illustrate the incredible scenery that can wait for those experiencing the place.
To start the journey, we must start from Te Anau, a small town by the lake. Mostly between October and April, you can cover most of the routes north and over four days, sleeping in cabins in specially delimited areas managed by the Department of Conservation. Only allowed a maximum of 90 hikers a day, so it is important to book months in advance.
Romania is a country which has many beautiful medieval towns; the best known are in Transylvania, which is known as “the land beyond the forest”. It has picture-perfect landscape, with mountains and steep wooded valleys, forts and castles with towers for defence whose sharp forms defy the clouds.
Often, the name of Transylvania is confused with the vicissitudes of the literary character invented by Irish writer, Bram Stoker: Prince Dracula. It is linked to Prince Vlad Tepes, an authoritarian and cruel monarch, which soon attracted the hatred of many subjects. Here’s how to visit this mysterious place.
To begin, you should know that the castle was built in the fourteenth century and then in 1900 it passed into the hands of Queen Marie of Romania. Today, it houses an important museum of feudal history. The thing that will surely impress you while reaching the castle is the presence of large blocks of stone with which the castle is made. In addition, you will see four tall towers that surmount the sides of the castle.
Inside, you can admire the Hall of Arms, with armour and crossbows of the sixteenth century, the chapel in Gothic style, and the Music Room, where you can see beautiful pottery in the Baroque style of the seventeenth and eighteenth century from various countries such as Italy, Spain, France and England.
