Backpack Moments

A Blog About Long-Term Backpacking, Budget Travel, and Unforgettable Experiences

I’m Simon the Backpacker

Being a backpacker is about having memorable experiences without breaking the bank.

I bet you want that too. You’ve come to the right place!

I create travel guides that include logistics, planning, saving money, and travel inspiration for backpacking across Asia and beyond.

I don’t sugarcoat places and I only recommend what’s worth it.

By a backpacker for backpackers, welcome to Backpack Moments.

Simon smiling

Latest on the Blog

My latest guides, tips, and posts. I hope they are as entertaining as they are informative!

an ancient Champa temple in My Son Santuary

How to Visit My Son Sanctuary as a Day Trip

Finding Hindu temples in Vietnam may seem surprising unless you know about the Champa Kingdom.[…]

Inside a Vietnamese sleeper bus

Sleeper Buses in Vietnam: Coffins on Wheels or Adventure Capsules?

A mode of transport you will find hard to avoid in Vietnam is the famous[…]

Is Hoi An a Tourist Trap or Vietnam’s Best Town?

Hoi An is kind of like that one friend who everyone thinks is cool, but[…]

My Favorite Apps for Backpackers

Smartphones have become a literal extension of our hands. We backpackers have it easy nowadays—everything[…]

How Much Does Long-Term Backpacking Cost?

Are you planning to backpack for a while and want to plan a budget? No[…]

bank cards

The Ultimate Guide To Money While Backpacking

Short trips abroad are rather easy to organize money-wise, but long-term travel presents unique challenges.[…]

Onward Ticket: How To Get a Legit One for Free

You go to check in for your flight and hear: “Do you have a return[…]

How to Choose an Awesome Hostel?

The hostel is the backpacker’s sanctuary. Picking a good hostel can be the difference between[…]

IATA Timatic Visa and Passport Requirements

How To Quickly Check If You Need a Visa

Open any Facebook travel group and you will see way too many visa-related questions. While[…]

Favourite Places

Svaneti Region

  • Zhabeshi, Georgia

The Dead Aral Sea

  • Muynaq, Uzbekistan

Ha Giang Loop

  • Dong Van, Ha Giang, Vietnam
Check out these

Cool Destinations

top destination of 2024

Timor Leste

Who even visits Timor Leste? Not many, that’s for sure. But I did and let me tell you – it’s an incredible country with a huge potential to become the next Bali. Or more!

But I hope it doesn’t. East Timor’s charm is in its pristine nature, the unspoilt beaches and the incredibly warm and friendly people.

It’s firmly in my top 10 countries in the world!

Hitchhiking in a microlet with some lovely people in Timor Leste
Collage of places on Java
My Most Detailed Guide

Java

  • Indonesia

Java island, home to 160 million people doesn’t get enough hype. However, anything you can find on Bali, you can also find on Java and then some!

Java has huge busy cities, ancient temples, cute beaches, exhilarating waterfalls, growling volcanoes, authentic culture, delicious food, and lovely people.

Here’s the best 2-weeks itinerary about places to visit between Jakarta and Bali.

Off-the-beaten path

IRAQI KURDISTAN

  • Northeastern Iraq

This place is simply amazing!

The region has all the bad reputation, but is actually pretty safe and the Kurdish people are one of the most welcoming and hospitable in the world!

Check out the Ultimate Guide to Backpacking in Iraqi Kurdistan!

You can buy anything at the Sulaymaniyah Bazaar!

I swear I don’t always have such messy hair, my beard isn’t usually so weird, although my hoodie is a goodie.

If you see me wearing the same clothes in pictures from different countries, it’s because as a backpacker these are the only clothes I have (I hate buying new things if the old still works!)

My Life Moto

Collect Moments, Not Things.

I have been traveling full time for a while now. Everything I own fits inside my backpack.

I don’t buy magnets, keychains, postcards, or other memorabilia because I have nowhere to store them!

I collect moments instead. Fleeting, pleasant and not so pleasant, serene and loud, intimate and exhilarating.

Thus was born the name: Backpack Moments.

To move, to breathe, to fly, to float,
To gain all while you give,
To roam the roads of lands remote,

To Travel Is To Live

Hans Christian Andersen said that and I couldn’t agree more.

I only blog about places I’ve personally visited and all content is written by me without the use of AI.