View comments by: Most Recent - first / last | Most Popular - first / last | Replies - hide / show

Backpacking

Has any body just up sticks and gone backpacking at 60 or older?


Created By on 24/09/2016

Not a member?

You need to be a member to interact with Silversurfers. Joining is free and simple to do. Click the button below to join today!

celtwitch
25th Sep 2016 12:24:31
1
Thanks for voting!
Yes, I have, and although it's exciting it's also very hard work, even though I bought the lightest gear that I could afford. Lightweight tents are small tents, so you need to be quite supple in order to get into and out of the entrance. You also need to give a lot of thought to our sleeping mattress (when I was a teen I backpacked around New Zealand without a sleeping matt, I just slept on the ground)
The older we get, the greater the degree of comfort we require. I solved this problem by using TWO self inflating sleeping matts, (Vango).
My advice would be to do a 'dry run' get someone to drop you off somewhere, then you set off and walk maybe 10-15 miles, find a place to camp, set up your tent, make a meal and then turn in. Next day after breakfast, take down your tent, pack everything away and continue your walk to be met at the other end by your driver.
At least it will tell you if you are up to it and if your gear works.
NB, carrying your home and kitchen on your back is hard on the old joints!
cris1117
10th Jan 2022 13:40:20
0
Thanks for voting!
Have done it quite a lot, please don't be put off by this what I am telling you it is a rarity but does happen so just be aware and you will have a great time, I backpacked through Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesian islands, Australia and the States and later through North Africa and India and had an amazing time doing it.

Don't bother with tents and cooking stuff you will discard them I only ever take one change of clothes and a waterproof poncho (in-case I have to sleep out) the rest I buy at local markets for a few pounds ware what the locals ware, as already said hostels are cheap and relatively safe, you can eat well at the street stalls for a few pounds a day.

Things to be aware of. If travelling by bus as I did most of the time your backpack will go in the boot it will be robbed so anything you are not happy with loosing keep on you, get a small shoulder bag or something, passport and money in a money belt that goes under your shirt always.

If you get an overnight bus and the driver gives you a bottle of water don't drink it, it may be sedated so they can steal your money (happened to me in Indonesia).

If you cross a border by bus what happens is at the border the bus unloads your bag and you will carry it across the checkpoint, before you get to the checkpoint look in your bag anything you don't recognise don't study it just put it in the nearest bin.
It has been known for drugs to be put in passengers luggage before the border and taken out on the other side (you would be an unknowing drug mull).
Cover up at dusk and dawn mosquito dinner times.

As I said don't be put off I would do it all again if I was fit enough, my travels changed the way I think of life and probably the best thing I have ever done.
Have a great time, dot forget to have all necessary shots done and check out visa requirments.
ronnieblaylock1
10th Jan 2022 02:34:22 (Last activity: 10th Jan 2022 08:37:22)
0
Thanks for voting!
Hope to travel in Asia later this year, Backpacking solo and i,m pretty nervous about it but cant wait, would love to hear any advice for backpacking at the age of 61, would like to visit Vietnam , Laos, Thailand
Response from Sally - Silversurfer's Editor made on 10th Jan 2022 08:37:22
Hi ronnieblaylock1,

Welcome and many thanks for your first comment in our Forum.

If you already know your way around, then we will leave you to it.

If you are looking for some lively discussions, head on over to the Forum homepage to see what's trending right now and feel free to join in the discussions, with all our friendly members, perhaps ask a question or even start your own post.

mpetersz
30th Nov 2016 21:55:46
0
Thanks for voting!
Hi, I am a 63 years young man and I am planing a travell to Australia in February. Do you want to come with me?
Frenchbrook
29th Nov 2016 00:14:21
0
Thanks for voting!
Hi,
I am a 67 years young man. I have just returned from a month in Cambodia. I met my son in Siem Reap and we both went to a school volunteering at teaching 4-6 year olds English for 10 days. Both the teaching and living with a family was fun.
He went off to meet friends in Singapore and I went backpacking around Cambodia for just over 2 weeks on my own. Great. Easy. Cheap. Safe. Met lots of people my age doing the same. Men and women. Stayed in hostels which were cheap ($5) a night.!! Food was good and everyone was friendly. Travel was mega cheap.
Looking at doing the same next year for 3 months or so to Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Indonesia.
I am single so are there any females who would be up for some travel adventures. I live in Birmingham.

Community Terms & Conditions

Content standards

These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.

You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.

Contributions must:

be accurate (where they state facts); be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.

Contributions must not:

contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or promote sexually explicit material; or promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or be likely to deceive any person; or be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or promote any illegal activity; or be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.

Nurturing a safe environment

Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.

We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!