Defining the Backpacker

The backpacker is a specific type of person. We all have a lot in common, but the main qualities are confidence and bravery. It takes real courage to pack all your belongings into a backpack and travel the world. Whether it’s for months or years, whether you’re solo or with company, backpacking is hard, and bravery is essential to becoming a backpacker.

Backpackers come in all shapes, sizes, and ages, but typically they’re between 18 and 35, depending on where you go. In places like Central America, they tend to be a bit older, while in Southeast Asia the age range is usually younger. Another common trait is that most backpackers are female. It’s rare to see male backpackers, and when you do, they’re often in groups rather than travelling solo.

Most backpackers you meet are travelling with a friend, a partner, or alone. People rarely travel in large groups unless they’ve booked through an agency or met others along the way, sort of like “pre-made” travel friends. I actually think there are far more solo travellers than you’d expect; they’re everywhere.

Depending on where you are, backpackers come from all over the world, but most tend to be from Europe. Most people I meet are German, French, Dutch, or English, with the occasional American in the mix. I’m not sure why that is, maybe it’s just a cultural thing.

All this information comes from my own travel experiences, but here are some statistics to support it:

• About 45 million backpacking trips are taken annually
• Two-thirds of backpackers are aged 20–25
• Most backpackers are solo travellers, and over 80% of solo travellers are women
• More young women are interested in backpacking than young men
• One-third of backpackers rely on reviews for hostel bookings
• The most popular reason to go backpacking is to experience new cultures
• Over 80% of backpackers have stayed in hostels
• 21% of backpackers have used Airbnb
• Thailand and Vietnam have the most hostels in the world
• 30% of backpackers are planning to travel off the beaten path next

These statistics are from thebrokebackpacker.com and reflect what most people in the backpacking community already know.

Travel Motivations

Understanding why backpackers travel is pretty simple. We’re curious. We crave learning, wonder about the world, enjoy history and culture, and are fascinated by people.

Although we all have different lives and jobs at home, every backpacker I’ve met shares the same passion — a desire not only to see the world but to understand it. The backpacking community is friendly and social; it’s full of love, laughter, and shared experiences. Some of the best people you meet in life, you meet while travelling.