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🥾 Backpacking Itinerary Template
A backpacking itinerary template organized by route leg, transport, and cost per day — the three numbers that decide whether a long trip stays on budget. Print it, download it for Excel or Google Sheets, or reroute it in the builder.
🧳 Packing for it too? Backpacking Packing List
| Days | Route leg | Transport | Hostel / Stay | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1–3 | Bangkok | Fly in — BKK | Mad Monkey Khao San | $35/day | SIM at airport, book night train day 1 |
| Day 4 | Bangkok → Chiang Mai | Night train #13, 6:10 PM | Sleeper berth | $28 | Lower berth worth the extra |
| Day 5–7 | Chiang Mai | Stamps Backpackers | $30/day | Cooking class, Sunday night market | |
| Day 8–10 | Chiang Mai → Pai | Minibus, 3 h — 762 curves | Common Grounds Pai | $25/day | Front seat if carsick |
| Day 11–13 | Pai → Luang Prabang | Bus via Chiang Rai (5 h), then 2-day slow boat | Nights in Huay Xai + Pakbeng | $40 total | Buy cushion + snacks at the pier |
| Day 14–16 | Luang Prabang | Downtown Backpackers | $30/day | Kuang Si Falls day trip — go early | |
| Day 17 | Luang Prabang → Vang Vieng | Laos–China Railway, 1 h | Real Backpackers Hostel | $14 ticket | Trains sell out — book 3 days ahead |
| Day 18–20 | Vang Vieng | $28/day | Blue lagoon loop by scooter, dry bag | ||
| Day 21 | Vang Vieng → Hanoi | Train to Vientiane + sleeper bus, 22 h | $45 | Or fly for ~$90 — no regrets either way |
Free itinerary template — itinerarysheets.com/templates/backpacking/
CSV opens directly in Excel. For Google Sheets, "Copy for Google Sheets" then paste into cell A1 — or import the CSV (File → Import → Upload). The builder lets you edit rows and re-export. Free, no signup.
Backpacking Itinerary FAQ
How do I keep a running budget?
The Cost column is per day for stays and per ticket for transport. Download the CSV, enter plain numbers, multiply the per-day rows by their number of days, and =SUM the column — that total against your bank balance is the number that decides when the trip ends.
Should I book hostels before I go?
Book the first night and anything that sells out — night trains, slow boats, and the Laos–China Railway all do. Outside peak season, leaving the rest open is what makes a backpacking route worth taking.
Does calendar export work with day ranges like “Day 5–7”?
Yes. Each row becomes a one-hour event on the first day of its range, so “Day 5–7” lands on day five. Set the start date in the builder first so day one is your actual arrival date.
Use this template on your site or in a forum post
Free to reuse, embed as a screenshot, or hand out in class — a link back is appreciated but not required.