| to visit and bring out the adventurer in you. For many Indian tourists, travelling simply means shopping and taking postcard pictures of conventional tourist spots. But the backpacker belongs to a different breed. The backpacker wants to pack in more than just the touristy factors – adding new experiences tops his list of priorities.
Somehow though, backpacking seems to have become entangled with the idea of living in rickety motels with growing insect populations and moving around with a low crowd. And don’t even talk about the unpalatable meals that are likely to be doled out to the budget-ruled backpacker.
But bad food and dingy hotels do not dog today’s backpackers. In fact, you can easily head to dream destinations like Europe, Australia and the US aided by a shoestring budget. These days, there are a number of tour operators that offer packages for independent travellers. So you can get some fantastic deals while travelling and check out the Eiffel Tower, Buckinham Palace and the gondolas of Italy, all on a shoe-string budget.
And for the traveller who is troubled by the thought of a solitary trip, sign up with a tour operator and head off to exotic locales with like-minded travellers for company. It’s safe without cutting down on the adventure quotient.
India’s first travel resource for independent travellers, The Backpacker Company, assists travellers in settling on a budget, planning their travel itinerary, booking places to stay and train and flight tickets. And tour organisers like Contiki holidays arrange trips for groups of backpackers.
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