| Backpacking is a term used to denote a form of | | | | 'developed' world tend to be communal to some |
| low-cost independent international travel, | | | | degree, and thus backpacker culture is often |
| differentiating it from other forms of tourism | | | | highly social and emphasizes the camaraderie of |
| notably by the following typical attributes: minimal | | | | communal life, such as the shared kitchens |
| budget use, longer duration traveling, use of public | | | | common in many hostels. When backpackers stay |
| transport and multipliable destinations/countries. | | | | in one place for a while, they often seek a |
| The origin of the name comes from the | | | | house-share with numerous other backpackers |
| backpacks that budget travelers generally carry in | | | | and are likely to share a room to keep the costs |
| the interests of mobility and flexibility. | | | | down. In the 'developing' world accommodation is |
| Many commentators see backpacking as | | | | normally found in cheap hotels, pensions or |
| descriptive, not only of low-cost travel, but of the | | | | guesthouses. |
| culture and philosophy often associated with it, | | | | The common language of backpackers is |
| especially anti or trans-nationalism as well as a | | | | overwhelmingly English in varying levels of fluency |
| romanticization of wanderlust and a desire for | | | | while German is arguably the second most |
| "authentic" contact with local culture. | | | | common language encountered due to the large |
| The term backpacking is said to have originated in | | | | presence of backpackers from Germany or |
| the early 1970s with the advent of low-cost jet | | | | Switzerland. (However, German-speakers will |
| airplane fares. During this era it became common | | | | usually only speak German informally amongst |
| for young Westerners, to follow the hippie trail | | | | one another, and will otherwise speak English in |
| into India and Southeast Asia. This period also | | | | most other situations). Britons, Australians, |
| gave birth to the first budget guidebooks (see | | | | Canadians and Germans typically form among the |
| Tony and Maureen Wheeler) and began to change | | | | most common backpacker nationalities in the |
| the way that many people looked at the | | | | world, in addition to Israelis, New Zealanders and |
| possibilities and opportunities of travel. | | | | numerous other Western European nations such |
| More recently, backpacking has become | | | | as Switzerland or The Netherlands. Backpackers |
| something of a rite of passage in the popular | | | | from Spain are very common in Latin America, |
| culture of some countries, most notably Australia, | | | | where there is little or no language barriers and |
| Israel and New Zealand where after finishing high | | | | the cost of travel and living expenses is often |
| school, university or a period in the army they | | | | very favorable for the Spanish. The same is true |
| take several months to two year's break in | | | | of French in West Africa. Per head of population, |
| Europe (some of whom work in this region), Asia | | | | Australia is thought to have the highest |
| or the Americas. This can be put down to the | | | | representation of backpackers, although there is |
| light population and geographic isolation of these | | | | no data available to demonstrate this empirically. |
| two countries from much of the world's | | | | Backpacker culture is perhaps typified by the |
| population and history, the fact that Australia and | | | | Lonely Planet (Australian) series of guidebooks, |
| New Zealand are both affluent English-speaking | | | | which caters to budget travelers both in its |
| countries where the majority of their citizens can | | | | regular guides as well as, more specifically, the |
| afford overseas travel, and that both countries | | | | "On a Shoestring" regional compilations. The Rough |
| have a tradition of students attending university in | | | | Guide (UK) and Let's Go (USA) series of |
| the home city rather than moving away for | | | | guidebooks are also popular. In France, the |
| college. A substantial amount of young adults | | | | traditional backpacker's guidebook is the Guide du |
| from Israel also undertake long-term backpacking | | | | routard. |
| trips, particularly after they finish their mandatory | | | | Traditionally, backpackers do not travel with |
| military service. Travel of a backpacking nature is | | | | expensive electronic equipment such as laptop |
| also extremely popular with Northern Europeans, | | | | computers and PDAs due to concerns about |
| particularly the Dutch and British and with small | | | | theft, damage, and additional luggage weight. |
| sections of North Americans and Japaneses. | | | | However, the desire to stay connected coupled |
| Low-cost options are popular: such as sharing lifts, | | | | with trends in lightweight electronics have given |
| budget flights, rail/bus passes (or if the | | | | rise to the flashpacking trend. Some backpackers |
| backpacking trip is circumglobal, a relatively cheap | | | | take a high resolution digital camera and/or high |
| round-the-world air ticket which permits numerous | | | | capacity MP3 Player with them on their travels. |
| stops), youth hostels, free hospitality services and | | | | Blogging from various Internet cafes around the |
| buying food at supermarkets abroad instead of | | | | world is also a growing phenomenon, offering a |
| going to restaurants. | | | | more convenient way to relay information to |
| Hostels and other budget accommodations in the | | | | interested friends and family at home. |