6 Backpacking Trips to do in 2021

If given a choice between being a traveller or a backpacker, we would definitely choose the latter. That being said, here are 6 backpacking trips to do in 2021 that we recommend you go to. 

Backpacking trips are the latest fad and these trips are much more fun and adventurous than your conventional travel. You get to see the place in its true essence, take in every bit of culture and scenes that the place has to offer. 

India has some of the best places to go for a backpacking trip in 2021. These destinations would show you the best landscapes of India, taking you from high alpine Himalayan hills, to royal palaces and desert and further towards deep dense forests and waterfalls.

Curious as to what these destinations are? Well, then strap on to your rucksacks and bag because we will take you on an adventurous journey to the 6 backpacking trips to do in 2021.

1. Uttarakhand Backpacking Trip

What would be better to start your backpacking trip in 2021 than to backpack through Uttarakhand, famously known as “God’s land”?

We certainly know that this is one of our favourite places to backpack in India and we will give you some reasons why to take a backpacking trip to Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand is a state located in the northern reaches of India and has some of the pristine views of the snow clad Himalayan peaks, beautiful trekking and hiking trails and rapid river flows for some adrenaline filled adventure activities.

Your backpacking trip to Uttarakhand in 2021 will start from the national capital New Delhi and will take you to Rishikesh, which is also known as the “Yoga Capital of the World”.

Explore Rishikesh and some of its most charming places when you arrive. The iconic Beatles Ashram, named after the famous English music band is not to be missed while here.

The fun multifolds when the white water hits your raft and pumps up your adrenaline. Witness the most beautiful and serene prayer ritual ceremony in the evening, the “Ganga Aarti” which will leave you in a different state of tranquil altogether.

Next up on your backpacking route would be Auli, which can be described as a “Winter Wonderland”.

If you are a lover of snow filled valleys and landscapes, Auli would be the perfect place to enjoy just that. People flock up to Auli in the winter months just to see and enjoy the snow covered alpine views.

While in Auli, you can take the cable-car ride and indulge in some snowboarding sessions from the peaks and slopes. Safe to say, you will have more fun that you would have imagined.

And your final destination in this backpacking trip to do in 2021 would be Kanatal. Haven’t heard of this place? 

Kanatal is the kind of place that you visit to get away from all the worldly distractions and relax in the lap of nature. It is a small village in Uttrakhand surrounded by mountains all over. Kanatal’s elevation is 2590 m or 8500 ft.

Camping in Kanatal is quite famous and it is the second-best camping destination in the country after Rishikesh. But unlike Rishikesh, it does not feature an array of adventure sports.

It is more of a destination for cooling off rather than jumping from mountains and rafting through river tides.

2. Himachal Pradesh Backpacking Trip

Himachal Pradesh is one of those states in India which is hard to forget and remains in one’s thoughts and hearts long after a visit. The state is blessed with snow capped mountains, cobbled streets, deep plunging valleys and waterfalls, treacherous trekking routes, old folklore and legends which makes this state one of a kind.

Imagine what fun it would be to go on a backpacking trip to Himachal Pradesh in 2021?

We believe that you should not imagine, rather experience this refreshing backpacking trip in 2021.

Your backpacking trip will start from “Dilwalon ki Dilli”– New Delhi. We head on to one of India’s favourite holiday destinations, Manali.

Manali is a resort town which lies in the Beas River Valley and it was once an ancient trade route to Ladakh. Manali now has a new image now. It is one of the best holiday destinations to travel in India, whether it be for families, couples or groups of friends.

The place is famous for its cafes in Old Manali, a perfect place for all the backpackers to chill with its hip and happening vibes. Some of the famous cafes to check out are Cafe 1947, whose fish and chips are a must have.

Other cafes include Drifter’s cafe, The Lazy Dog and Cafe Meraki. You can also spend the evening shopping to your heart’s content at Mall Road. You will get authentic and local souvenirs here.

Solang Valley is also known as the “Adventure Capital of India”. While you’re here you can indulge in some thrilling adventure activities such as paragliding, skiing, ATV riding and much more.

The mountainous vistas add a surreal charm to the Solang Valley. The rest of the day can be spent in visiting some local touristic spots in Manali such as Manu Temple, Hadimba Temple, Jogini Falls and much more.

All these things in Manali…huh? Well yes. So let your backpacking trip start off on a fun and adventurous note.

Backpackers!!! Attention!!! Next up is Kasol, also famously known as “Mini Israel of India”.

It is a tiny hamlet settled along the Parvati river in the Parvati Valley. The place is popular for numerous hikes such as Kheerganga, Grahan, Chalal, Rasol and for longer treks as well such as Pin Parvati Pass, Sar Pass, etc.

Apart from this, it is also known for vibrant cafes situated here. Other nearby attractions include Malana village, Kalga, Pulga, Manikaran, and a few waterfalls like Rudranag.

Last but not the least, our backpacking trip to Himachal Pradesh heads to Jibhi. 

Jibhi is a small village in Kullu hidden from the outside world and has an aura that would charm the backpackers on their backpacking trip to Himachal Pradesh in 2021.

Jibhi was unknown to the tourist dictionaries until a few foreign travelers started coming here in this unexplored valley again and again. The Jibhi valley became famous among travelers but is still a low-key destination for many who are still unaware of its existence.

Jibhi is famous for its serene landscape and hidden beauty while that’s not just all. There are various places to visit in Jibhi like the whole Tirthan valley, Chaeni Fort, Jalori pass and a breathtaking trek of Serolsar Lake.

So backpackers, what do you make of our backpacking trip to Himachal Pradesh in 2021? 

3. Rajasthan Backpacking Trip

If you ever want to backpack to a place in 2021 that has rich history, beautiful castles and forts, thought provoking legends and stories, beautiful streets full of color and happiness, humble people and exotic food, look no further than Rajasthan Backpacking , which is also known as “Land of Kings”.

You will get to experience a different aura and culture than what you are used to while travelling here in Rajasthan. 

The cities we are covering on this backpacking trip to Rajasthan in 2021, all have their own different significance and add up to the pride of Rajasthan. We start off from Udaipur, which is famous for its lakes and is known as the ‘City of Lakes’ or ‘Venice of East’.

Jaisalmer is famous for its forts and desert festival. Jaipur, which is the capital of Rajasthan is also known as ‘The Pink City’, is one of the main attractions of Rajasthan. 

Some of the famous places to visit in Jaipur are the Hawa Mahal and Jal Mahal.

Hawa Mahal is a beautiful palace which is made up of red and pink sandstone. Jal Mahal on the other hand is a palace in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. It is a brilliant example of Rajput Style of architecture.

Jantar Mantar is a collection of nineteen astronomical instruments in the shape of architecture. It has the world’s largest sundial and is also a UNESCO world heritage site.

Months from October to February are considered one of the best times to visit these places, as it won’t be extremely hot and the weather would be pleasant. This Rajasthan backpacking trip is apt for couples, family or group of friends planning to travel during a long weekend.

4. Arunachal Pradesh Backpacking Trip

The remotest of the state and one of the farthest in the NorthEast region of India, backpacking trip to Arunachal Pradesh will take you to some of the best landscapes India has to offer. 

Arunachal Pradesh is far flung from the rest of India and is one of the least visited states of the country. You don’t have hordes of tourists and crowds in this state, so you can expect to have an amazing travel experience here. Arunachal Pradesh is also known as “The land of dawn lit mountains”.

A challenging and skill testing backpacking trip, travelling through Arunachal Pradesh is no joke. Rough terrains, curvy roads at mind boggling heights are something that you would encounter throughout this Arunachal Pradesh backpacking trip in 2021.

We will be heading to Dirang, a village in Arunachal Pradesh which lies in the West Kameng district. It is situated on the banks of Jia Bharali river at an altitude of 4900 fts. While in Dirang, you can take a walk through the peaceful village and take in the beautiful and serene environment.

There are a few states in India which boasts of high altitude alpine lakes and Arunachal Pradesh is one of them. On your backpacking trip to Arunachal Pradesh in 2021, witness Sangestar Tso Lake. It also goes by the name of Madhuri Lake or PTSO Lake, located at an altitude of 15,200ft above sea level.

Next destination on our backpacking trip is Tawang, which lies at an elevation of 10,000fts. Tawang has unmatched natural beauty which will leave you awestruck and amazed.

Some of the iconic places to visit in Tawang are Tawang Monastery, which is the largest monastery in India and enroute to Bomdila by visiting Kiwi Garden.

Bomdila is a small town of Arunachal Pradesh in the West Kameng district. It is famous for Bomdila monastery which is one of the most beautiful monasteries of Arunachal Pradesh. The monastery also provides a bird’s eye view of Bomdila Town.

The ideal time for a backpacking trip to Arunachal Pradesh would be during summers i.e. April to June. The valley comes alive with wildflowers and greenery and weather is pleasant.

If you want to experience Arunachal Pradesh during winters, October to February is the best time to experience snow covered landscapes and mountains.

5. Sikkim Backpacking Trip

Sikkim is a state in northeastern India, which is one of the states amongst the seven sister states in the northeast, and dare we say, the most beautiful amongst them.

It’s raw and rough terrains, clean landscapes, lush green forests and mighty Himalayan mountains and wild flowing river is sure to make you spellbound by it.

Sikkim Backpacking Trip in 2021 will take you on a journey through some of the most amazing landscapes that India has to offer.

We will kick off our backpacking trip to Sikkim from Gangtok. Gangtok is a little city which has modern facilities available and also stirs up memories of old times amidst peaceful surroundings and nature.

Gangtok lies in the eastern Himalayan Range at an elevation of 5,410fts. You can go for a stroll at M.G. Road which is a clean open air-mall where there are good hangout spots.

There are places to shop and eat your heart out with many shops, cafes and restaurants located there, a favorite place of many backpackers.

Up next is Rumtek Monastery which is known for its calm and serene atmosphere and also for the Buddha statue inside the monastery.

Ban Jhakri waterfalls provide an escape from the city life of Gangtok to a waterfall which is located amidst the forests.

Namgyal institute of Tibetology is a beautiful museum which is dedicated to Tibetan culture and Vajrayana Buddhism. There are many souvenirs and books which you can find in the monastery. Tashi View point provides a panoramic view of beautiful mountain vistas of Sikkim.

There would be no shortage of places to visit while you are on your backpacking trip to Sikkim in 2021.

Yuksom is a historical town which is located in the western parts of Sikkim. Yuksom means “meeting place of three lamas” and it is considered as one of the best pilgrimage spots in Sikkim.

Yuksom is a starting point for two most famous high altitude treks namely, Dzongri Trail and Singalila Ridge.

Next up, backpackers would be heading on towards Khecheopalri lake. It is a lake situated in the West Sikkim district, near Khecheopalri village.

This lake is sacred for both Hindus and Buddhists, and is known to be a wish fulfilling lake. Localites call this lake as Sho Dzo Sho, which means “Oh Lady, Sit Here”.

From an elevation, the lake appears to be in the shape of a foot and according to Hindu beliefs, Lord Shiva meditated here. Myth is that when a leaf falls on the placid clear water surface, it is picked by a bird and thus the water surface is always free of leaves.

Namchi is located in South Sikkim and the name Namchi means “Sky High” is Sikkimese language. It is located at an elevation of 1,315mts.

One of the most famous places to visit in this backpacking trip to Sikkim is Siddheshwar Dham. It is also known as Char Dham. It is located at Solophok Hill which is located 5kms from the town of Namchi.

It is one of the most well known and auspicious places for Hindus. There is also a 108ft tall statue of Lord Shiva which draws visitors from all around. This place is great for learning more about Hindu religion and culture.

6. Meghalaya Backpacking Trip

Continuing with our theme of Northeastern backpacking trip in 2021, we have Meghalaya up next.

Meghalaya is one of the most famous and beautiful states of India amongst all the Northeastern states. The name means “abode of clouds” in Sanskrit, and it lives up to its expectations.

Think mist descending upon the hills, mystical waterfalls, deep caves, lush green and dense forests that will take you to so many places unexplored.

Backpacking trip to Meghalaya in 2021 will kick off from Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya.

Shillong is also known as the “Rock Capital of India” with many musicians having western and local inspirations from the place.

The night life and cafes of Shillong are not to miss out, as it has a unique vibe to it. Backpackers will definitely have a fun time here.

The adventure sport is also one of the reasons people go to backpacking trip to Meghalaya. Meghalaya offers trekking, camping, mountaineering, rock-climbing and as well as water sports.

The peace and quiet of the place mixed with options for unleashing the adventure junkie in you make it one of the perfect destinations to visit in India.

The best time to do a backpacking trip to Meghalaya in 2021 is between the months of October to April. The weather in Meghalaya is pleasant and one can enjoy the full experience of visiting Meghalaya during these months.

So backpackers, what do you make of our 6 backpacking trips to do in 2021? Would you go up north, or take the uncharted route to the rugged and adventurous NorthEast? Let us know down in the comments.

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