Backpacker: South of Poland Photo by Gerrit Prenger

Backpacking is one of the least expensive ways of communing with nature, of discovering non-tourist frequented places. Careful planning must be done for a safe and enjoyable backpacking trip. Here are several dos and don’ts to ensure that the backpacking trip will be both a safe and an exciting adventure.

Do make a detailed backpacking plan that will include map of the hiking trails, the camping sites and the estimated number of days for the trip. Leave the plan to a friend or a family member. This will come in very handy should something wrong happen and if you do not return on the expected time.

Do make a list of the gear, the clothes and the food that you will need. Do not include unnecessary gears and clothes that will only increase the weight of the backpack. But a compass, a torch and a first aid kit are essential items.

Although it is important to stay nourished to keep the energy levels up, do consider the weight of the food and the room it would occupy in the backpack. Single serving dehydrated food is a good choice as apart from being light, a lot would not need cooking.