Backpacking rocks! You can go to the most beautiful places in the World, expand your mind, meet some incredible people and try some amazing new things. But if you’ve never gone away before, or are planning a new trip, it could be a bit daunting - so I thought I’d offer some travel advice. Here are my top 5 tips for backpacking that I picked up after spending over 2 years on the road.

1. Don’t plan too much

It’s tempting to plan your trip or gap year down to the smallest detail. But as I see it, part of the fun of travelling is being flexible. You could be sitting on a beach chatting to someone who says “Hey, you’ve got to go here…” or “I’m going to check out wherever. Come along…”. It’s really cool to just change your plans and tag along. Spontaneity is the key. Of course, the degree of flexibility you’ll have depends on the amount of time you’re on holiday for. So that brings me on to… (more…)