Planning a Camping, Hiking & Backpacking Trip

When it comes to planning a trip, most of us work with two speeds. If it is us, ourselves, going for it; we don't mind experimenting. Couple of extra clothes, a cap, sleeping tent, toiletries and jacket, and we are done. But if it is for someone else, you always prefer to give them a list because that's the only way to be sure that everything is covered. 

Planning a camping, hiking and a backpacking trip to escape from the stress of big cities:

Tips for camping, hiking and a backpacking trips:

• Hygiene: Whenever on any travel, whether it's camping or flying first class, hygiene and cleanliness are a must. While scouting places for your stay on a backpacking trip, look out for generic cleanliness. The place should be clean, should have access to clean water and should have the provision of preparing the food with hygiene. On a personal level, you can carry hand sanitizer, cotton balls and face towel to make sure that you are covered.
• Medical Kit: While some of you maybe frequent campers and have tough bodies that have learnt to adjust according to your camping or hiking trip, you should still be prepared for the contingencies. An emergency box with small knives, bandages, flashlight, anti allergic tablets et cetera is always helpful.
• Arrive before the sun sets: Reaching a new place after nightfall can be quite daunting even for seasoned backpackers. Arriving at a place when there is still light gives you time and confidence of exploring the surroundings. You can then easily unpack, set your foot and go about enjoying your holiday.
• Experiment with your itinerary: Going to a camp means to be at a place that has been built to experience the wilderness of nature. While some camps have a strict schedule and do not offer freedom to do more, but at Offroad Camps you are more than welcome to make changes in your itinerary. Being at a place which is quite and away from the crowd, we have many eco trails and hiking routes nearby for you to explore. Some ways are easy for even kids to climb and experience the beauty of this place. And then there are trekking and biking trails suitable only for practiced trekkers and bikers.
• Keep the camping site clean: Preserving nature is probably our foremost responsibility towards this beautiful world that we live in. When leaving the place after your camping, hiking or the backpacking trip, make sure that you did not leave any trace behind. Well of course, photographs exception.
• Sunscreen: Camping means a lot of walking in the sun. So irrespective of what time of an year are you visiting a place, never forget to pack a good sunscreen of spf 50.
• Right kind of clothes: Spending time outside means exposure to the weather. 10 degrees of temperature in open is always different than same degrees when you are at home, surrounded by walls and coziness. Always check what range of temperature would you be staying in and carry your clothes accordingly. As a thumb of the rule, when going for a camping trip to mountains, always pack warmer clothes than you will need. It will keep you comfortable.
• Food: Fortunately, there are a lot of packed options available nowadays that give you the freedom to cook easy. A frying pan, few disposable plates, spoons, tea, coffee, mugs and a boiling pan can help you sail through. For extensive camping trips, prepare the whole list including the match boxes well in advance to ensure that you don't run into any trouble while you stomach is empty. 

What are your tips for camping, hiking and a backpacking trip? Do you have any questions? Nothing is dumb or not worth asking. You may go through our Camping Essentials list or share your concern in the comments below and we will answer to the best of our abilities.

Photographs: Rohit Bahl 

Written by: Nitima Sood

Offroad Camp is a small nature camp located at Kasmoli, Uttarakhand which has the distinction of being a 100 % organic village. We are all about adventure in the outdoors, hiking, trekking, biking, eco-tourism, and being one with the nature. We are relatively new but are growing as we meet people along the way. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay updated about latest from our camp and campaigns.