RTW - 6 months - 1 yr...

I'm planning my RTW trip that's been postponed for one year too many...!

The general itinerary at the moment is Utila Island for some scuba diving lessons - I've one deaf ear and wear contacts so I'm a little concerned from the medical point of view, anyone with any views on that?

Then on to the Galapagos; Easter Island, round the globe to NZ, got a sis in Oz so may stop off there, Cambodia, Thailand, (would love to do Egypt with a side trip to Jordan to see Petra, but I suspect it might be a little too 'interesting' for comfort there right now!), Turkey, then some Greek Island hopping.

I've two degrees in Ancient History (not to boast, but just to emphasise that half an hour round Angkor Wat, for example, isn't going to do it!) so my big thing is ruins, the older the better :-). Closely followed by wildlife (I'd love to do an elephant trek in Thailand) and landscape. I'm not so interested in getting to know the local culture - to my mind to do that properly would take months in the one place, and that's time I don't have. I'm also up for adrenalin sports - wouldn't class myself as extreme, but like jet-skiing, white water rafting, off-roading...

Does anyone have any thoughts, advice - visas, things to do, places to see? Best times of the year to visit? (Don't like it roasting hot - prefer mid-70's)

Is there anyone who'd be interested in tagging along or meeting up for part of the trip? I'm looking at leaving around this May (yes, about a month away..argh!!)

And any sugestions on a good travel backpack, approx. 80 litres, for a 5'10" female?! Rohan did a great pack but the largest they did it in was 55litres...

Ooo, and is it worth taking a pair of jeans? I had ruled them out as being too heavy, but then thought in some situations they might help me to blend in a bit...?

Thankyou!

A few comments.

First nice itinerary. Regarding diving, I don't know whether being deaf in one ear would affect your pressure adjustments? I wouldn't have thought the two related but I have no idea. As for the lenses, not a problem, I had lenses when I learned to dive. You may want to be careful that if your mask is on too tight as you pull it off your face it may suction the lens out (happened to me, lost in the Caribbean sea for ever....).

As you're planning on visiting the Galapagos you may as well check out a bit of Ecuador. Similarly, to get to Easter Island you may as well check out Santiago in Chile. Getting to from S. America to NZ via Easter Island most likely means flying Santiago-Easter Island - Tahiti - NZ (possibly via Cook Islands?).

Regarding elephant trek, I"m not going to get into details here but maybe do a bit of research about elephants and tourism, how elephants are trained when young, how some are treated. It's not a simple subject and at the very least you should be very selective on where you go to to ride an elephant.

Regarding Egypt. All you can do is keep an eye on the situation. Jordan's fine.

Visas will depend on where you're from I guess. Most of the places you mention it should be easy enough to sort out.

Regarding luggage, I carry around a bag which is way too big and I fill it. But that's my choice and I'm happy to deal with the consequences of lugging a bag around which is heavier than necessary. You may be the same but you should be weary of getting an 80L bag. There shouldn't really be any need for you to carry such a big bag around and you want to try and pack as light as possible, it'll make your life much easier on the road. As for Jeans, you're initial thinking is correct, it'll add weight. Also it dries more slowly which can be a hassle. Not the best thing to take travelling. You can take other clothes which won't look out of place in Sydney or Bangkok. Of course, at the end of the day if you're on Santa Cruz island checking out Giant tortoises or in Angkor Wat looking at bas-relief, you'll stand out as a tourist no matter what you wear.

Have a great trip.

As Toad says...you can dive with contacts.the ear thing might be a problem though..not sure how it will work for equalisation.I'd try it before you pay for a full course..you might be in great pain.

That bag is FAR too big.I did two years around the world with 35l and 7 kilos in my bag.You will regret trying to haul 20 kilos of stuff around with you ;-) All you need is a few clothes and frequent washing.

You can buy diving masks with a prescription lens... any good scuba gear shop should have a range of lenses and will fit it for you.

great advice from others so far. il second that it is possible to dive with contacts, i do that myself. or you can get prescripton scuba masks. you can also dive if you are deaf, but that does depend on other clinical factors too such as the cause of the deafness and if there is damage to any other part of your ear. consult you gp or specialist nurse before you go as they will have access to your clinical notes.

the itinerary is good, (im assuming you are going for a year? if you are not i would cull a few countries off the list) but just to make you aware that out of the way places such as easter island will hike the price of an rtw considerably and you may be better off comparing an rtw ticket price with individual tickets to each destination.

travelling to egypt is still fine, even now.. just stay away from tahrir square (a very small part of a very big city) and keep an eye on the news. i have a huge interest in ancient history too so would seriously recommend a month there, and getting over to petra is so easy and well worth it.

elephant trekking etc is easily accessible in thailand in kanchanaburi or chiang mai for example, just research a good conservation camp before you go!

for the bag, id say that is too big for you. get a pack that fits to your frame otherwise you will struggle to lift it. you will find you dont need to carry all that much.

as for the jeans, id leave them at home. comfy, light cargo pants will let you blend in just fine.

any other questions, please feel free to ask!

You appear to know what you want to do and why. Congratulations, you might be suprised how many people post asking 'where should I go and what should I see/do?' It's as if they have no mind of their own. Anyway, you have a plan that suits you so I see no reason to comment on it other than to say, just be prepared to throw your plan out the window if an opportunity comes up. Don't let your 'plan' put blinders on you to opportunities. Try to pre-book as little as possible to maintain flexibility.

The biggest plus of travel is arguably the freedom to do as we please when we get up each morning. No schedule to keep, no on else to please. Why so many people immediately self-impose a schedule on themselves always amazes me.

Regarding the pack. WOAH UP. That is far bigger than you need. The biggest enemy a backpacker has is weight. There is a saying in wilderness backpacking circles which goes like this. The ultimate backpacker is s/he who travels with the least weight and the most comfort. Why travellers who use a backpack don't seem to realize they can learn from wilderness backpackers (where the term backpacker originated) I don't know.

Here's a tip. If you don't know what each item in your pack weighs, I guarantee you are carrying too much weight. It isn't about giving up some item you feel is necessary for your comfort. Each individual has to decide what is a necessity for them. But what you can do is find the lightest answer to that need that is available. So as the saying says, least weight while still maintaining your comfort.

Here is a thread on picking a pack and another on what to pack, that you can compare your packing list too.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2297311

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2280830

Thanks for the replies, I hand't been expecting such prompt advice!

Ok, a smaller pack it is. I think I'll have a look at Osprey, they seem to have a good reputation for being lightweight and durable...

I'm considering taking my Kindle. I consume books like other people drink coffee and it was a boon on the long flights and bus trips round Peru. But it will add weight... I wasn't going to bother with an Ipad or such device as I'd heard that internet was available in most hostels and cafes these days; is that accurate, or would it be worthwhile investing in an Ipad to get an e-reader and internet access in the one pack?

I'm based in the UK by the way.

Thanks!

My wife and I both have KOBO e-readers but now that my wife has an iPad the e-reader has become redundant for her. She does everything on the iPad. The new mini iPad would seem a logical choice for travel being smaller and lighter than the full size iPad. It's a question of whether you find the screen big enough to suit your needs.

If you go with an iPad I would also suggest you get a stylus/pen at the same time. Touching just the right little spot on the screen with your finger can be tricky and frustrating.

Regarding the pack, remember, the most important thing is fit. Here is a good video on fitting a pack. It refers specifically to a backpack rather than a travel pack but the same applies for either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnLCM_3RjuA

Ancient history-wise, you should also think about checking out Prambanan and Borobudur in Indonesia (on Java, near Jogyakarta). I spent two days at Borobudur, and a full day at Prambanan. Did four days at Angkor, which was almost enough. Almost. In Thailand, you can check out Ayutthaya, which has a number of ruins as well. It's an easy day-trip from Bangkok.

Jordan should be fine to go to! Petra is worth a few days, and if you like Roman ruins, Jerash in the north is a wonderfully preserved site. There are also a number of smaller 'desert castles' that are really cool. If you go into Israel, there are plenty of fascinating places to see (Jericho in the West Bank has a archeological site that's interesting, though not as impressive as some).

I did SEA in June-July, when it was roasting and humid, so you may want to pick a different season to be there. The heat in the middle east isn't humid, so it's not as torturous.

Don't know when you'll be in NZ, but I'll be there around July this year, so feel free to hit me up.

Last piece of advice... bring a smaller backpack. 80 litres is huge. You don't need that much stuff, and it'll be a pain to have the weight and bulk when you're trying to stay mobile. Having my whole pack at my feet on a shady bus makes me feel a lot more safe.

A Kindle is great, yes it takes up a little space/weight, but hey, a couple of paperbacks takes up a LOT more! Many people do travel with Ipads now (whether that is a good or bad thing is a matter of debate!) and there is a lot of free wifi access almost everywhere, but I certainly would not buy one just for travelling! Save your money for your travels instead! Internet cafe's and access is still widespread!

Whether to buy an iPad before a trip is of course a question of finances. If it is an insignifigant amount in your mind then fine. Or if your laptop is near the end of its lifespan anyway and you will want to replace it in any case, fine. Obviously mikehuxley, the decision has to make sense financially to the OP.

My wife's laptop died a death and rather than replacing it with another laptop, we opted for an iPad which then made her e-reader redundant. She would have travelled with her e-reader and used internet cafes for the odd check on e-mail etc. but going to the iPad means she carries no more than she did with the e-reader but also has wifi access to the internet. So obviously, it is a better choice if it makes finacial sense to go that way.

I still have to carry my KOBO e-reader as we can't both read from her iPad at the same time. I struggle over the decision of whether to take my e-reader or do without. When my laptop bites the dust I will probably buy another laptop. I can't stand the fiddly little keyboard on her iPad and the small screen. There is no one size fits all answer unfortunately.

O0f course if you are in the market for one anyway that is different, but I wouldn't buy one specifically to have whilst backpacking. They aren't in any way essential, but they are expensive and I'd rather spend the money on extending my trip!

I don't think we disagree mike. Generally, I am opposed to taking technology of any kind when travelling but my opinion has started changing with the advent of the iPad (and other tablets).

It replaces a phone, a computer, a camera (including 1080p video), an e-reader, a GPS and various other apps are available that can be of use to a traveller. That adds up to a lot of savings in both money and weight.

If I were in the market for any one of those functions I would consider covering them all with an iPad. Just look at the number of threads that are posted regarding phones. With an iPad, wi-fi access and VOIP you can make all your calls for free or pennies. NO cellphone can match that.

Again, I personally am not a fan of making phone calls home etc. while travelling but I also accept that what I prefer is not what everyone prefers. No one under age 40 these days seems to realize that a phone is not an extension of their arm. LOL

I think the fact that you have internet access on your Ipad is actually a disadvantage, as it makes it way too easy to be surfing the internet all the time. Internet cafes are everywhere and because they don't tend the most entertaining places to be, you are motivated to spend more time outside enjoying the country, rather than checking facebook or reading the news from back home. Also, the Ipad uses up a lot more battery than an e-reader and is more interesting for thieves around the world.

Osprey is definitely a great brand for backpacks, and agree with others that 80L is too much. I'd aim for perhaps 50-55L.

Taking any technology does require a measure of self discipline devino, I'd agree. I don't have a problem with that personally.

One of my major reasons for being against taking a cellphone or laptop has always been just what you mention. People can spend too much time on them. More importantly I think, they can use them as a 'crutch' to isolate themselves from their environment. It's easy to sit in a hostel Skypeing or messaging friends and family instead of getting out and meeting local people. I think it becomes a crutch in the sense that they don't actually 'leave home' so much as take a link to home with them.

As for packs, yes Osprey is a good brand, I'd suggest the Osprey Farpoint 40 or Osprey Porter 46 though as being big enough. Even 55L is more than needed for 3 season travel without camping gear. I manage with a 29L (second link in post #5) including room for an iPad if you want. ;-)

I would definitely take a Kindle! My husband and I both read ALOT and it allows us to take an infinite amount of reading material with us without the weight of lugging around multiple books.

If you decide to go with an e-reader for the trip consider getting some guide books for it ahead of time. We aren't big planners but by having a library of guidebooks at our disposal at all times me we can easily reference and research as we go. We are in the process of gearing up for a big RTW voyage leaving in late Aug '13 and we've also started credating some PDF's of lists of notes we've made that we can pull up on our kindles (like must visit places for different countries and cities almost like our own personal guide books).

In terms of your pack, I'm a 5'11 female and I would never consider anything over 55L. I travelled for 6 months with a 55L pack and this trip I've decided to invest in an even smaller one, I'm considering something in the 30-40L range but haven't gone to try different models yet.

Edited by: idge2006

Idge2006, re your e-reader guidebooks. Are you aware you can buy and download Lonely Planet guidebooks BY THE CHAPTER. So you don't have to buy the whole e-book, you can pick chapters individually which obviously costs less if you only want say 5 chapters on countries in Europe vs. All of Europe.

Yes! By the chapter is the way to go! Plus watch for sales & stock up, there's often coupon codes and special discounts

Thanklyou all, great advice!

So; for a pack I'm looking at an Osprey Sojourn 60L with an Osprey 33L day pack (I want a decent day pack that I can go for a day's walking with -I don't have to fill it)

I am tempted with the idea of an I-pad. I like the thought of having Skype, e-reader, e-mails and internet access all in the one device; the draw-back being I'm then tied into Apple e-books etc if I recall correctly? Which means I can't use any of the e-books I've already got on my Kindle...

Does anyone have any thoughts on these portable solar powered charging devices?

I'm planning on taking 3 cameras; one compact for slinging in handbags and pockets for nights out etc, one decent bridge camera for the amazing stuff (the combination worked well for me in China and Peru) and one waterproof one for scuba diving and snorkelling.

I've been to the travel clinic; they're suggesting immunisations againt rabies and Japanese B encephalitis...?

And being female ;-) .. I have a quandary about shoes! I'm thinking of following the rule of 3; one pair of Goretex 'soft' walking boots that are smart enough for casual about town but good enough for some decent hiking; one pair of deck shoes for general running around in and a pair of Merrell waterproof sandals. Can't stand the toe-posts in flipflops... I'm wondering if I might need anything smart-ish?
Problem is I have difficulty buying shoes to fit in the UK as it is, so I don't want to rely on having to buy something abroad. Same goes for clothes...

And last but not least; I'd love to do a stint on a tall ship somewhere... any thoughts / suggestions?

Thankyou!

Yes, you can read all of your Kindle books on an iPad (and iPhone). Just download the Kindle app, sign in and Bob's your uncle... all your Kindle purchases are there!

The Osprey Sojourn 60L has WHEELS. Groan, this is not the best way to go unless you have back problems. Wheels add weight, the number one enemy of a backpacker.

First, FIT is the primary criteria. So without suggesting any particular make, what matters is that you try various makes and models looking for the best fit for you. Using Osprey as an example only, then I would suggest looking at the Farpoint 55 or the Waypoint 65 at most.

Adding a separete Osprey 33 to go with a Sojourn 60 just adds more WEIGHT again. Here are the weights to look at.

Osprey Sojourn 60: 3.53 kg. PLUS Osprey 33 at even .6 kg. for the superlight Hornet 32 gives you 4.13 kg. total.
Waypoint 65: 2.5 kg. including the 15L attached day pack.
Farpoint 55: 1.70 kg. including the 15L day pack.

That is a difference from the heaviest to lightest of 2.43 kg./5.36 lbs. !!!!! Taking 5 pounds off your back is very noticeable in terms of increased comfort. And that is just the pack weight itself, before you put one item in the pack!

Then I have to ask where will this day pack BE when not in use? In your Sojourn pack? Taking up space? That just forces you again into a larger pack which weighs more.

I strongly urge you to resist these weight adding thoughts. You are talking about a 33L day pack and I use a 29L 'daypack' for all my needs. Most experienced backpackers find that each time they undertake an extensive trip they move to a smaller and smaller pack. They learn the hard way that saving just a few pounds makes life so much easier. Many find they get down to a 30-35 L pack for all their needs with no difficulty. I'm not suggesting you start at that point, but something in the 50-60L range is more than enough including your day pack needs.

Everyone has to decide for themselves what they consider a need. The ultimate backpacker is 's/he who carries the least weight with the most comforts.' To that you can add 'andsafety'. So the idea is not to do without anything you feel you need, that would go against comfort and safety but to do so by finding the item that gives you the comfort and safety you need with the lowest weight possible.

So you can decide you want to read for example and the answer is to find the lightest way to do that. An e-reader or iPad is the obvious answer to that. Someone who can go without books to read has an advantage but it is not about giving up YOUR comforts, so you find the lightest answer.

Footwear is necessary. Which specific item is up to you. If you feel you need good walking shoes/boots and also a pair of sandals then that's fine. Now find the lightest of each that you can. Footwear is actually very important not just in terms of how much does a pair weigh if you put them in your pack, but how much do they weight on your feet.

There is a well known saying in wilderness backpacking circles that says, 'a pound on your feet equals 5 pounds on your back.' You can find studies that have been done that bear out this saying. What it means is that the amount of energy (measured in calories) used to lift and move one pound on your feet is equal to the amount of energy it takes to carry 5 pounds on your back. What this means to you the backpacker is that if you reduce the weight of the shoes on your feet by 1 pounds it will increase your comfort as much as taking 5 pounds out of the pack on your back. That is huge!

So, WEIGH the footwear you are thinking of taking and look for lighter alternatives that will meet your needs. A leather pair of hiking boots for example vs. a lightweight nylone/suede hiking boot can have up to 2 lbs. of difference in weight. Even a pair of sandals (Teva, Chaco, Merrell, etc.) can vary in weight. Find the lightest ones that you like.

I keep trying to explain to people that if you do not know what every item in your pack weighs, I guarantee you are carrying more weight than you have to.

Cameras are a quandry for many travellers. If you are really into it then it is for you a necessity. But obviously it is an area that can add tremendously to the weight of your pack. People agonize over 'should I take a tripod and should I take 4 different lenses, etc.' You are talking about 3 cameras. A point and shoot, a 'bridge' camera (which is neither fish nor fowl) and a waterproof camera.

Just like technology makes looking at taking an iPad to cover several individual needs with one item, the same is true today of cameras. So I would scrap all 3 of those and go for one camera that is newish to the market but rapidly becoming the camera of choice for travellers. http://gopro.com/hd-hero3-cameras

If you watch tv programs you will see this camera being used all the time. Not only to take great pictures but also to shoot great video and not used just by 'amateurs' but by serious professionals. Check this video shot using a GoPro. http://gopro.com/ Nor is this camera priced outside of the reach of someone who would consider buying a 'bridge' camera.

Then look at the accessories available for it. Underwater, normal, strapped to your chest, on your head, attached to your snowmobile, how about on your surfboard, what other camera does that as normal?

Like the iPad (which can substitute itself for a point and shoot camera) it covers multiple uses in one product. What does it weigh, you so rightly ask, well if you go for the top of the line Black Edition it comes in at a hefty 2.6 oz. Yes, OUNCES. Add a few mounting accessories if you like and you still won't get to half a pound. Compare that to your THREE cameras.

Hi all,

Thanks for taking the time to respond! That's useful information about the Ipad and Kindle files, thankyou.

Yes, the Sojourn has wheels. I've tried the 80L and the fit was good (they've got a fully adjustable back harness, one of my critieria). I used a wheeled duffel bag in Peru and there were times when it had it's advantages - trudging around airports, for example. I was going for Osprey as I understand they are one of the lightest makes...

I've tried doing daytrips with a 25L rucksack and found it just wasn't large enough - by the time you've got waterproofs (even packamacs), picnic, camera and water in there, if you get hot and peel a layer off it was overstuffed...and the daypacks I've seen that attach to travel packs are rubbish, no decent hipstraps etc. The Sojourn has the facility to strap other Osprey packs to it, so I'd strap the day pack to the Sojourn...

The boots I'm thinking of taking are Ecco Goretex - suede and fabric combo; nice and light! :-)

Yes, the Gopro Hero3 is the camera I was eyeing up for the waterproof one. Problem is the Hero3 has had some terrible reviews and lots of problems - looks like they released it too soon - so I may look into the Hero2. And it has no zoom! :-O Being into ruins and architecture a good zoom is one of my requirements for a camera; the compact I have has a 24mm - 480mm zoom and the bridge I'm considering has 24mm - 800mm :-) (Canon and Nikon both have larger zooms out on a bridge, but the top end of those zooms have come in for some slating - I'm looking at the Panasonic with a Leica lens...). I'm not going for a DSLR as it's too much kit to lug about...

Thank you!

check out scuba diving seasons by time of year & aquatic life cheers.

Just on the note of Osprey Sojourn - we (family of four) 2 adults and 2 kids did an 11 month rtw trip (read homeschooling, various seasons etc) and we had one 80 litre and one 60 litre sojourn for all of us.

I love them - yes they have have wheels (thank god) as there was only a handful of times we needed to change it to the backpack whereas wheeling was a breeze - (done the backpack thing when single and that was fine but after having the Osprey and being that bit older I couldn't imagine going back to lugging things on my back anymore - ugh)
If it was just me (no kids, no schooling needs etc) then a 60 litre would have been more than ample - probably I agree possibly still too big for just one person. However as we travelled they were just perfect - they took some battering on buses/trains/planes/boats and never missed a beat and still look in good nic. Love my Osprey Sojourn!