Destinations & Attractions
Recession? What recession?! It seems the backpacking crowd aren’t the type to let something as little as a global economic crisis get in the way of their travel plans.
In fact, travellers are more than just out there on the scene – they’re still searching for that new, unique, exciting destination to jet off to next…
2009's backpacking secret is ... Albania
A paraglider flies over the beach of Vlore, Albania.
Cheap, unspoiled and now beginning to rejuvenate after years under a hard-line dictatorship, Albania certainly has the credentials to be this year’s top backpacking “secret” in Europe. A decent travel infrastructure is also developing to complement its attractive beach/culture combination.
Accommodation may still be a bit hard to find in more rural areas, but there’s a decent range of hostels in Tirana which make a good starting point for exploring Albania.
The Observer’s other tip-offs include Namibia, Laos, Malaysia and Bolivia… which have all managed to stay somewhat under the radar on their respective backpacking circuits. Ask someone to give you their list of "paradise" destinations and Albania is probably one of the least likely places to crop up. But as I drop my bags, kick off my flip-flops and dive into a turquoise sea, the "P" word is the only way to describe what I'm seeing.
Visions of Columbia
Visions of Bolivia
Visions of Zambia, Botswana, Namibia
Visions of Malaysia
The Five New Backpacker Must-sees
Syria
"This maligned Middle-Eastern renegade is perfect for backpackers," says Dan Linstead, editor of Wanderlust magazine. "There are friendly people, historic sights - from Krak des Chevaliers to Palmyra - a tantalising desert interior and two wildly atmospheric cities (Damascus and Aleppo) in which to haggle for carpets and smoke hubble-bubbles."
Zambia, Botswana, Namibia
"Backpacker destinations tend to go in cycles," says Lonely Planet writer David Else. "The political troubles in Kenya and Zimbabwe put travellers off the established Kenya-to-South Africa overland route. But then a few years pass, and they begin to work out new routes. Now they are going to Zambia, then Botswana or Namibia, on the way to South Africa."
Malaysia
"With a price war on flights to Malaysia (between Air Asia X and Malaysian Airlines), Kuala Lumpur looks set to rival Bangkok as the backpacker hub of south-east Asia this summer," says Linstead. "Malaysia's islands, including Langkawi and Tioman, are less crowded than Koh Samui and Phuket, and Kuala Lumpur offers access to the Borneo rainforest."
Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos
Backpackers are heading, and they seem to be branching out from Thailand into Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. They offer a superficially similar culture to Thailand's, but a much less developed backpacker trail. For decades off limits to all but the most intrepid tourists, today Southeast Asia's Cambodia is a popular destination for all kinds of travellers: from independent backpackers who roam far off the beaten track to explore the stunning sugar-palm dotted hinterland to luxury tourists who stay in style and see Cambodia's main drawcard of Angkor Wat between massages and exquisite French meals.
Colombia and Bolivia
As well as Vietnam, and Africa, South America is also a 'must-see' destination this summer. Hot spots include Rurrenabaque, a base for wildlife and jungle tours in the Amazon basin in northern Bolivia, and the Parque de Tayrona in Colombia, a breathtaking national park on the Caribbean coast, where you can rent a hammock under the stars.