How to prepare for a world tour with a backpack

The trip around the world we are gathered with simple objectives: a break from the hectic city life, "recharge the batteries", and of the world, of course, see.

Having spent eight years in France in IT, we have decided that working in a large corporation can wait and be Does the possibility, time and effort to go in this trip in 10-20 years, we do not know, so you have to go now. our plan was simple - to go wherever and whenever you want, until you run out of money, or as long as the tire of adventures. "Circumnavigation" a journey only formally, that is the globe we did obognom, but the country was visited by no more than 10-12.

Budget

So deciding on such an adventure, the first question that we had to decide - financial. We must consider how long you want to stay in the journey as usually spend on vacation, and plan the budget accordingly.

It all depends on the countries in which you go, and comfort level. In South-East Asia - Indonesia, Cambodia,

Thailand - can live for 10 euros per day, but, for example, in Japan or Australia already and 100 euros a day for a couple is not enough. We based our monthly budget of life in Paris, and multiplied by 12 months. We have estimated that in South-East Asia, we do spend less than planned, but in New Zealand and South America, may have to save somewhere.

The monthly budget we have included accommodation, meals, entertainment and local travel on buses and trains. To this amount we add the cost of all flights - about 8 000 euros for two people - and health insurance for the year - 600 euros per person.

Route

It so happened that we definitely decided to leave in September, immediately after the summer vacationsWithout starting a new project at work. It was the decisive factor in the choice of destinations. We compiled a list of countries and looked in some months there is good weather. That is, for example, in October in Mongolia already cold - is expunged, while China still warm and sunny - we go.

Countries can get long - this is normal, will correct the course. But to hold in one country in less than 3-4 weeks will be very tiring. It should also take into account how long and hard to get a visa. It is necessary to check whether you can get a visa online or only from their country of residence.

Among other things, at first, when you have a lot more energy, a place worth visiting "more complicated." It may be some countries where you have to make an effort to move a lot of public transport, to overcome the culture shock or the language barrier.

We tried not to overdo it with the planning and be ready to change our itinerary at any time. To begin, we bought one-way tickets to China, the first country from our list. Get a visa was not so difficult, but it took a couple of weeks of waiting. And it was also one of the reasons why we decided to start with China.

Tickets and travel

There are special tickets for travel around the world from aviaalyansov like Star Alliance. The bottom line is that you pre-pay a fixed price of tickets and plan your route.

On average, you can take about 15 major flights, and they should be in one direction: from east to west and from north to east. In addition, it is necessary to go back exactly to the city from which you were leaving. These tickets with open dates, and you can book a flight, simply call one week before departure. Very convenient, but it's worth it from 3500 to 5000 euros per person.

For us, the main problem was the strict planning of the route, albeit with open dates flights. We would like to choose the direction to go and not be bound by the decisions that we have taken a year ago, when a vague idea where we were going.

travel style

It's not about the clothes and the color of it, talk about it a little further. What style are you going to go? Want to spend the night alone in hotels and travel by taxi, spending time in big cities or on the beaches, in'll go there tripsWhere you will be sleeping on the nature, you go there in places with cold and rainy climates, limit, or whether you need a smartphone and a tablet computer?

On these issues would be nice to think ahead of time, because the shape of the luggage and its weight will depend on your freedom of movement on foot. In addition, you can save a good idea, if we restrict hand luggage during air travel. In general, there is something to think about.

Our travel style - to be in nature and in the campaigns as long as possible. And we backpacks filled accordingly to be prepared for any weather conditions. Minimum weight and versatility of equipment were the main criteria. We have chosen the things that come up and in the mountains, and in the city. And if you suddenly decide that for our wardrobe warm countries is missing, then buy the right on the spot.

Content packs

Having determined that we hikers, the choice of clothing and equipment we have done for the benefit of versatility, lightness and strength. Materials desirable synthetic, no cotton - it is heavy and, when wet, dries very long. Discovered the cool stuff - merino wool. From it and make T-shirts, and socks, and everything else. It is light, quick drying and does not smell even after several days of wear. In general, the most it for dirty bekpakerov.

All the equipment fits in backpacks capacity of 45-55 liters and the weight of each does not exceed 10 kg, ie slightly less than 20 kg for two. And by the way, than the more volume you take a bag or backpack, the more likely that you fill them to the top. So it is better from the outset to limit bags medium and small size.

And regardless of your travel style, we would recommend to collect the baggage, which you can carry at least half an hour looking for the hotel anywhere in Jakarta.

Our clothes

• Wool thermal underwear from Merino wool.
• Couple T-shirts of the same material.
• Pants and light and warm socks (not more than three pairs) are also out of merino wool.
• Light hiking pants made of soft shell material.
• Jacket fleece.
• Lightweight down jacket.
• Membrane jacket for protection from rain and wind.
• Membrane pants.
• Running shoes (need to keep yourself in shape and in the journey).
• Lightweight hiking boot.
• Light woolen gloves.
• Dense wind- and waterproof gloves.
• Bandana Transformer Buff.
• Points.

Worth noting that the list of our very minimalistic. Things themselves should be universal in color to everything easily fit together.

And since a significant part of the trip, we plan to be in nature, it took a tent, sleeping bags, air mattresses and the burner.

Our electronic Soup

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• Instead of a computer - lightweight tablet Surface Go.
• Reader Kindle.
• GoPro, to shoot video, and Sony DSC-RX100M4, to photograph. Both devices are easy to take off your footage to your phone via Wi-Fi.
• GPS-navigator Garmin Oregon 450, so as not to get lost in the campaigns.
• A great little gadget Garmin inReach Mini, to submit an SOS if need help rescuers.
• Sports watches that measure your heart rate and altitude.
• Pair of external battery to charge all electronics on the go.
• USB-charging at the three ports.
• Skross adapter sockets. Throughout the world, the outlet is not yet standardized, unfortunately.
• Couple headlamp flashlight Petzl. Many models are now being charged from USB.
• A pair of USB-cable and cheap headphones that do not mind losing.

The three most favorite things

Anton

• Norrøna down jacket, because it is compact and technologically. From down and synthetic filling.
• Watches Garmin Phoenix. Because it is better to watch for running and hiking there.
• Backpack Gregory. Because the light, only 1 100 g

Ina

• Down Jacket Patagonia, because warm and lightweight.
• Cumulus sleeping bag, in which comfortable even at -10 ° C, because also very warm (appends article in Nepal, and at night are very cold well).
• Norrøna pants, because light, black and universal - both for the mountains and for the city.

Insurance

A journey of a year can not do without some minor or major problems. Ideally, of course, to find insuranceWhich will cover and a visit to the doctor, and lost luggage, and call a helicopter at an altitude of 5000 meters above sea level. Universal insurance that you can buy without looking, we did not find, so I had to think, what exactly do we want from the insurance package, and see what is on the market.

There will have to delve into the details and understand that every insurance company means by "extreme sports." After all, I do not want to break a leg, to know that mountain biking or surfing is not included in this list.

Find out exactly whether you will be able to claim compensation if you get robbed anywhere on the streets of Paris or Nicaragua. In that case, we have kept a copy of all e-cash vouchers for the purchase of equipment.

Major insurance companies that specialize in travel around the world, - World Nomads and True Traveller. Here you can select different options, depending on the style of your trip. Read the full terms of your contract and find out exactly what to do in each insurance case.

Vaccination and first aid kit

Depending on where you travel, it is necessary to make a few vaccinations. The list of countries and the necessary vaccines can be found in the recommendationsRequirements and recommendations for vaccination for those international travelers World Health Organization.

We were vaccinated against these diseases:

• tetanus;
• diphtheria;
• polio;
• hepatitis B;
• hepatitis A (particularly in South-East Asia);
• fever;
• yellow fever (for South America);
• rabies.

More, we have collected a small first aid kit, not to look for, where to buy the drug at the first sign colds or indigestion. It is important not to overdo it, because the self-we also want to not do it. For any serious disease it is necessary, of course, contact the professionals. A first aid kit is better to collect the very first talking to your doctor.

What's in our medicine cabinet:

• plasters and bandages;
• disinfectants;
• anti-diarrhea;
• the overall effect of antibiotics;
• probiotics;
• paracetamol (a lot of it is not necessary to take, it can be bought absolutely everywhere);
• gel diclofenac;
• sunscreen.

As bags drugs We have something resembling a school pencil case. And you can save space by putting all the pills in individual bottles.

training plan

During the six months prior to departure

• Choose a route.
• To approve the budget.

Five months before departure

• Check expiration date passport and apply for a new one, if the term is about to expire.
• Start vaccination.
• Resolve the issue of leave from work. If possible, it is best to leave unpaid.
• Buy tickets.
• Consult with your doctor, to visit the dentist.

During the three months prior to departure

• Start buying equipment.
• If you rent an apartment, the landlord notice that he was leaving.
• To apply for an international driving license.
• Apply for a visa in the country where you go first.

Two months prior to departure

• Find where to leave your furniture and other things, if come from a rented apartment.
• Check the terms of bank card action.
• Check card limit on cash withdrawals.
• Close subscribe to the internet, telephone, car and health insurance, if any.
• Search through friends may be familiar in countries where to go.

A month before departure

• Sell ​​unnecessary things.
• Decide how you will share experiences with loved ones: Will Instagram news, YouTube channel, or simply send a photo in the messenger.
• Read anything about the first country of your trip.

Two weeks prior to departure

• Buy medicine in the medicine cabinet.
• Pay for travel insurance.
• Download music and movies on your phone and laptop (if takes it with him).
• Add to the bookmark numbers of relatives and emergency numbers (banks, insurance companies, consulates).
• Make multiple copies of passports.
• Print the certificate of insurance.
• Take photos for documents (10-15 copies). Useful for visas and permits to visit the national parks.

A week before departure

• Relax. ;)