Travel topic · Transport
Backpacking routes: Europe, Southeast Asia, South America and Australia
Pick one region per trip: Southeast Asia for the cheapest months and easiest overland links, Europe for short hops and high daily costs, South America for long bus distances, Australia for working-holiday stays.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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How to pick a region, how long each route really takes, what a day costs, and the visa, insurance and onward-ticket rules that decide your plan before you book anything.
Key facts
- Cheapest region per day
- Southeast Asia: roughly US$25–45 a day for dorm, local food and buses (2026 estimate)
- Most expensive region per day
- Australia and Western Europe: roughly US$70–120 a day (2026 estimate)
- Typical route length
- 2–4 weeks per country cluster; 6–12 weeks for a full regional loop
- Book aheadcheck
- Long-haul flights and Australian working-holiday visas; buses and hostels usually days ahead
- Entry basicscheck
- Passport valid 6 months, onward or return ticket, proof of funds and accommodation address may be asked
- Insurancecheck
- Medical evacuation cover matters most in South America and remote Australia
- Season trapcheck
- Monsoon in Southeast Asia, European August, South American high season in January
Your checklist
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The short answer
Choose one region per long trip. A route that hops from Bangkok to Lisbon to Lima in eight weeks spends most of its budget in the air and none of its time in any one place. Backpacking works when you move overland, stay three to five nights in each stop and let the route bend around cheap flights and visa limits.
Southeast Asia gives the lowest daily costs and the densest network of buses, trains and cheap guesthouses. Europe gives short distances, fast trains and the highest prices. South America gives the biggest distances and the best value once you are on the ground. Australia gives the highest costs but the easiest legal work, which changes the maths entirely.
| Region | Typical loop | Time needed | Daily cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asia | Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Laos – Vietnam – Cambodia | 6–10 weeks | US$25–45 |
| Europe | Lisbon – Madrid – Barcelona – Rome – Budapest – Berlin | 4–8 weeks | US$70–120 |
| South America | Bogotá – Quito – Lima – Cusco – La Paz – Santiago | 8–14 weeks | US$35–60 |
| Australia | Sydney – Byron Bay – Brisbane – Cairns – Melbourne | 4–12 weeks | US$80–130 |
Costs cover dorm bed, local food, local transport and one paid activity every few days. Flights between regions are extra (check).
Do
- Fix the start and end city first; the middle of the route is the part you change on the road.
- Count travel days, not just destinations: a 12-hour bus is a lost day.
Who this applies to
This suits travellers with 3 weeks to 12 months, a passport from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, and a budget they can stretch by slowing down. It also suits anyone planning a first long trip who wants a route they can actually finish rather than a list of countries.
It does not suit travellers who need fixed dates, who cannot carry a 10–15 kg pack on stairs and night buses, or who want one base with day trips. If you have under three weeks, pick a single country and go deeper.
| If you have | Do this |
|---|---|
| 2–3 weeks | One country, 3–4 stops, no internal flights |
| 4–6 weeks | One region cluster, overland only |
| 2–3 months | One full regional loop plus one short flight |
| 6–12 months | Two regions with a cheap long-haul hop between them |
Show 7 sectionsHideHow to build the route, Costs and time, Rules and exceptions that change the plan, Which region fits you, FAQ, Questions people ask, Related
How to build the route
1. Set the season. Southeast Asia is driest from November to March in most of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, and wettest from May to October. Europe is best from May to June and September to October; July and August are hot, crowded and priced for it. South America runs opposite to the north: Patagonia and Chile are best from November to March, while the Andean north is workable year-round. Australia is best from September to November and March to May outside the tropical north.
Do
- Check the month picker before you fix dates; one month either side changes rain, prices and crowds.
- Book the long-haul flight first, then build the route backwards from the arrival city.
Costs and time
Daily costs are dominated by accommodation and transport. Dorm beds in Southeast Asia run roughly US$5–15, in South America US$10–20, in Europe US$25–45 and in Australia US$30–50 (2026 estimate). Overnight buses and trains save a night's accommodation but cost you a day of energy. Cooking some meals and taking the slow bus are the two levers that change a budget most.
Long-haul flights between regions are the single biggest line item. Booking 2–4 months out, flying midweek and accepting one stop usually cuts the fare. Within a region, overland travel is cheap but slow: a 600 km bus leg in South America can take 12 hours or more.
| Item | Southeast Asia | Europe | South America | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorm bed | US$5–15 | US$25–45 | US$10–20 | US$30–50 |
| Local meal | US$2–4 | US$12–20 | US$4–8 | US$15–25 |
| Intercity bus leg | US$10–30 | US$20–60 | US$15–45 | US$30–80 |
| Museum or day tour | US$10–30 | US$15–40 | US$15–40 | US$40–100 |
All figures are 2026 estimates for one person, shared dorm, local transport. Check current prices before you commit.
Rules and exceptions that change the plan
Visa-free entry is the norm for the passports above but the length differs: most of Southeast Asia gives 30–90 days, the Schengen area gives 90 days in any 180, and Australia requires an electronic authorisation before boarding. Some countries ask for an onward ticket, a proof of funds or an address on arrival. Rules change; confirm with the destination's immigration authority and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Watch out
- The 90/180 Schengen rule counts every day in the zone, including transit days; overstaying affects future entries.
- Working in Australia or New Zealand needs a specific visa; a tourist visa does not cover paid work.
SeeTravel topics: visas, money, health, transport and planning
Which region fits you
Match the region to what you want from the trip rather than to a photo. If you want the lowest cost and the easiest first long trip, Southeast Asia wins. If you want short hops, language you already speak and cities you can reach in two hours, Europe wins. If you want mountains, long distances and a route that feels like an expedition, South America wins. If you want to earn while you travel, Australia wins.
| Priority | Best region | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest daily cost | Southeast Asia | Cheap beds, food and buses |
| Easiest first trip | Southeast Asia | Dense backpacker infrastructure |
| Short travel legs | Europe | Trains and cheap flights between cities |
| Big landscapes | South America | Andes, Patagonia, Amazon |
| Work while travelling | Australia | Working-holiday visas for several passports |
| Best weather window | Depends on month | See the month picker |
FAQ
The questions below cover the short answer, who the route suits and what it costs.
Questions people ask
Backpacking routes: what is the short answer?
Pick one region per trip. Southeast Asia is the cheapest and easiest to route overland, Europe is the fastest to move around and the most expensive, South America has the longest distances and good value on the ground, and Australia costs the most but allows legal work on a working-holiday visa.
Who does it apply to?
Travellers with 3 weeks to 12 months and a passport from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, who can carry their own pack and are happy to move every few days. With under three weeks, choose one country instead.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
Roughly US$25–45 a day in Southeast Asia, US$35–60 in South America, US$70–120 in Europe and US$80–130 in Australia (2026 estimates, dorm bed and local food). A full regional loop takes 6–10 weeks in Southeast Asia, 4–8 in Europe, 8–14 in South America and 4–12 in Australia.
Do I need a visa?
Most of the passports above get visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry for 30–90 days in Southeast Asia, 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area, and an electronic authorisation for Australia. Some countries ask for an onward ticket or proof of funds. Confirm with the destination's immigration authority and your government's travel advice before booking.
What should I book before I leave?
The long-haul flight, the first two or three nights of accommodation, travel insurance with medical evacuation cover, and any visa or electronic authorisation. Leave the rest of the route open; buses and hostels are usually bookable a few days ahead.
When is the best time to go?
Southeast Asia is driest from November to March, Europe is best in May–June and September–October, Patagonia and Chile are best from November to March, and Australia is best in September–November and March–May outside the tropical north. Check the month picker for your dates.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check and were last checked Sep 2026
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Sources
- officialUS Department of State – Travel advisories
- officialUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – Travel advice
- officialGovernment of Canada – Travel advice and advisories
- officialSmartraveller (Australian Government)
- officialSafeTravel (New Zealand)
- officialDepartment of Foreign Affairs (Ireland)
- officialEuropean Commission – Schengen visa policy
- officialAustralian Government – Working Holiday Maker visas
- secondaryWikivoyage – Backpacking