It is an annual phenomenon. Every year starting in spring and peaking in summer, hundreds of
active and adventurous people grow huge, brightly-colored humps on their backs. It is backpacking season.
Armed with maps, hiking boots, journals, and a few weeks worth of clothes, they hit the roads in Europe,
North America, and all over the globe with an eye for fun, making friends, learning, and exploring. One of
the best and least expensive means to transport themselves from place to place is the trusty bus, and many
bus touring companies aim their routes and itineraries directly at this market of active adventurers.
There are a whole host of options for the adventurous traveler who doesnt mind sharing bus space with
fellow sweaty tramps. Several small bus touring companies cruise the roads of Europe, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, and South Africa, often with convenient hop-on, hop-off passes that are especially
attractive for budget-minded easygoing travelers. By no means do you have to be in the college or
post-college aged crowd to bus around with one of these companies. But you should have the right
attitude to enjoy such an experience a certain sense of irreverence and adventure, along with an
easygoing manner helps a lot. If you fit into this category of character, you will meet many friendly
kindred spirits during your journeys on and off the bus.
These passes are usually very flexible in terms of allowing travelers to get off and get on the bus
when they please, but the territories they cover are often not very extensive. For the most part, you
can see all of the major cities, tourist attractions, and other popular backpacker destinations. If you
are planning on going a bit off the backpacker path, your bus pass will likely not take you. (If youre
planning on going way, way off the beaten path, for that matter, no public transportation will take you.)
Check out our awesome resources and information on tours with the various backpacker companies...
 | Australia
Oz Experience, Adventure Tours |
| | Canada
Moose Travel, True North Tours |
| | Europe
Contiki, Busabout |
| | Great Britain & Ireland
Contiki, Shamrocker Tours, Haggis, Radical Travel |
| | Mexico
Mex Bus |
| | New Zealand
Kiwi Experience, Magic Buses, Stray |
| | South Africa
Baz Bus |
| | USA
Contiki, Green Tortoise, TrekAmerica |
If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, travel insurance is an absolute must!
If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, travel insurance is an absolute must!
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