Top 10 Best Backpacking Routes in the World

The Inca Trail is the world's most famous multi-day trek, a four-day hike through Andean cloud forest to the Sun Gate above Machu Picchu. The route passes Inca ruins, high-altitude passes above 4,200 metres, and extraordinary mountain scenery. Permits sell out months in advance — early booking is essential.

The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway in the world, spanning nearly 10,000 km from Moscow to Vladivostok. Travellers spend up to seven days crossing steppe, taiga, and the shores of Lake Baikal on the world's deepest lake. The journey itself — sharing compartments with locals, watching Siberia pass by — is the destination.

The Camino de Santiago is one of the world's oldest pilgrimage routes, with the classic Frances route covering 800 km from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. Walkers of all faiths and none share the path, creating a transient community unlike any other. The Cathedral of Santiago's Botafumeiro ceremony is an emotionally powerful conclusion.

The Balkans have emerged as Europe's most exciting backpacker circuit, combining affordability with extraordinary medieval architecture and Adriatic coastline. The route through Ljubljana, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Mostar, and Sarajevo packs more historical drama per kilometre than almost anywhere. The relatively low cost of travel allows budget travellers to stay longer and go deeper.

Morocco's backpacker loop runs from Tangier through the imperial cities of Fès, Meknès, Marrakech, and into the Sahara at Merzouga. Camel trekking into the Erg Chebbi dunes and sleeping under desert stars is one of Africa's defining experiences. The medinas of Fès and Marrakech reward days of aimless wandering in their labyrinthine souks.

Patagonia is the ultimate end-of-the-world adventure, combining the granite towers of Torres del Paine with the Perito Moreno Glacier and Tierra del Fuego. The W Trek in Chile and the Huemul Circuit in Argentina challenge even experienced hikers with raw Patagonian weather and stunning rewards. Cheap parilla steakhouses and hostel culture add warmth to the wild landscapes.

East Africa's classic overland route links the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Kilimanjaro into an unrivalled wildlife and landscape experience. Budget safari operators in Nairobi and Arusha make the Great Migration accessible to backpackers for the first time. Zanzibar's spice-scented Stone Town and coral beaches provide the perfect coastal finale.

Central America's Pacific-to-Caribbean overland route links Maya ruins, cloud forests, active volcanoes, and both ocean coastlines. Guatemala's Lago de Atitlán and Antigua's colonial streets are among the most photographed scenes in the Americas. Surfing the Pacific breaks in El Salvador and Nicaragua adds adrenaline to the cultural immersion.

India's Golden Triangle — Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur — is the most travelled backpacker circuit on the subcontinent, dense with Mughal heritage and sensory overload. Extending into Rajasthan adds Udaipur's lake palaces, Jaisalmer's desert forts, and camel treks into the Thar Desert. The rail network makes navigating India's scale on a budget both practical and thrilling.

The Inca Trail is the world's most famous multi-day trek, a four-day hike through Andean cloud forest to the Sun Gate above Machu Picchu. The route passes Inca ruins, high-altitude passes above 4,200 metres, and extraordinary mountain scenery. Permits sell out months in advance — early booking is essential.

The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway in the world, spanning nearly 10,000 km from Moscow to Vladivostok. Travellers spend up to seven days crossing steppe, taiga, and the shores of Lake Baikal on the world's deepest lake. The journey itself — sharing compartments with locals, watching Siberia pass by — is the destination.

The Camino de Santiago is one of the world's oldest pilgrimage routes, with the classic Frances route covering 800 km from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. Walkers of all faiths and none share the path, creating a transient community unlike any other. The Cathedral of Santiago's Botafumeiro ceremony is an emotionally powerful conclusion.

The Balkans have emerged as Europe's most exciting backpacker circuit, combining affordability with extraordinary medieval architecture and Adriatic coastline. The route through Ljubljana, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Mostar, and Sarajevo packs more historical drama per kilometre than almost anywhere. The relatively low cost of travel allows budget travellers to stay longer and go deeper.

Morocco's backpacker loop runs from Tangier through the imperial cities of Fès, Meknès, Marrakech, and into the Sahara at Merzouga. Camel trekking into the Erg Chebbi dunes and sleeping under desert stars is one of Africa's defining experiences. The medinas of Fès and Marrakech reward days of aimless wandering in their labyrinthine souks.

Patagonia is the ultimate end-of-the-world adventure, combining the granite towers of Torres del Paine with the Perito Moreno Glacier and Tierra del Fuego. The W Trek in Chile and the Huemul Circuit in Argentina challenge even experienced hikers with raw Patagonian weather and stunning rewards. Cheap parilla steakhouses and hostel culture add warmth to the wild landscapes.

East Africa's classic overland route links the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Kilimanjaro into an unrivalled wildlife and landscape experience. Budget safari operators in Nairobi and Arusha make the Great Migration accessible to backpackers for the first time. Zanzibar's spice-scented Stone Town and coral beaches provide the perfect coastal finale.

Central America's Pacific-to-Caribbean overland route links Maya ruins, cloud forests, active volcanoes, and both ocean coastlines. Guatemala's Lago de Atitlán and Antigua's colonial streets are among the most photographed scenes in the Americas. Surfing the Pacific breaks in El Salvador and Nicaragua adds adrenaline to the cultural immersion.

India's Golden Triangle — Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur — is the most travelled backpacker circuit on the subcontinent, dense with Mughal heritage and sensory overload. Extending into Rajasthan adds Udaipur's lake palaces, Jaisalmer's desert forts, and camel treks into the Thar Desert. The rail network makes navigating India's scale on a budget both practical and thrilling.