Best countries for backpacking trips

Top countries for backpacking

Editorial score out of 10, with the best months and a sensible trip length.

• Colombia — 10/10 · best in Dec, Jan, Feb · 10–18 days
• Guatemala — 10/10 · best in Nov, Dec, Jan · 8–14 days
• India — 10/10 · best in Nov, Dec, Jan · 12–21 days
• Peru — 10/10 · best in May, Jun, Jul · 10–16 days
• Thailand — 10/10 · best in Nov, Dec, Jan · 10–18 days
• Vietnam — 10/10 · best in Mar, Apr, May · 12–21 days
• Brazil — 9/10 · best in Apr, May, Jun · 12–21 days
• Costa Rica — 9/10 · best in Dec, Jan, Feb · 8–14 days
• Ecuador — 9/10 · best in Jun, Jul, Aug · 10–15 days
• Indonesia — 9/10 · best in May, Jun, Jul · 12–18 days
• Mexico — 9/10 · best in Nov, Dec, Jan · 7–14 days
• Sri Lanka — 9/10 · best in Dec, Jan, Feb · 10–16 days
• Argentina — 8/10 · best in Oct, Nov, Mar · 12–21 days
• Malaysia — 8/10 · best in Jan, Feb, Mar · 10–16 days
• Panama — 8/10 · best in Dec, Jan, Feb · 8–12 days
• Philippines — 8/10 · best in Jan, Feb, Mar · 12–18 days
• Portugal — 8/10 · best in Apr, May, Jun · 7–12 days

About these scores

Travel-style scores are our own editorial calibration of what each country is good for, not an external ranking. They feed the trip finder alongside budget, weather, trip length, accessibility and who is travelling.