Light on luggage but heavy on savoir-faire, flashpacker journeys are making backpackers rethink their traveling style! Ditch the couch surfing and instant coffee, and embark on a one-bag wander coupled with pre-planned tours, local delicacies and snazzy accommodations.
1. Wing it, or hire a pro to show you around ANGKOR WAT in SIEM REAP, Cambodia
★ Star attraction – Angkor Wat: buy a one-day or three-day pass to explore every intricacy of the oldest religious monument in the world.
Best places for sightseeing and flashpacker-friendly shopping: Old French Quarter, Angkor National Museum, Angkor Night Market
Tours and workshops: Chong Khneas Floating Village on Tonlé Sap lake, Angkor Silk Farm
Food & drink: grab a coffee Khmer and some fish amok with Siem Reap Food Tours.
Check In to a boutique hotel or charming guest house near Angkor Wat
Step Out to the Old French Quarter
2. Spend a day in the foothills of the Himalayas at SHIMLA in HIMACHAL PRADESH, India
★ Star attraction – Shimla: once considered the summer capital of the British, this colonial hill station features inspiring views of the Himalayas and historic architecture.
Best places for sightseeing and flashpacker-friendly shopping: The Ridge, Jakhu Temple, Lakkar Bazar and Lower Bazar
Tours and workshops: Shimla Walks, Kalka Shimla Railway Heritage Workshop, Indian Institute of Advanced Study
Food & drink: try Himachali dham and a healing glass of chulli on Cart Road near Mall Road.
Check In to a guest house or resort in Shimla
Step Out to Mall Road
3. Have a larger-than-life time in India’s smallest state at OLD GOA in GOA, India
★ Star attraction – Old Goa: tourists dote on this former capital city for its bustling beaches, Portuguese architecture and festive nightlife.
Best places for sightseeing and flashpacker-friendly shopping: Arambol Beach, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Deltin Royale Casino Ship, Mall De Goa
Tours and workshops: Rita’s Gourmet Goa and Art Escape
Food & drink: try fish curry for dinner and bebinca for dessert at Arpora Bazar and Fabs Bebinca.
Check In to a hotel or guest house in Goa
Step Out to Deltin Royale Casino Ship
4. Go spelunking in LABUAN BAJO before posing with beastly reptiles on KOMODO ISLAND
★ Star attraction – Komodo Island National Park: track iconic reptiles in this UNESCO World Heritage Site that also is listed as a New 7 World Wonders of Nature.
Best places for sightseeing and flashpacker-friendly shopping: Pink Beach, Rinca Island, Batu Cermin caves, Pasar Labuan Bajo
Tours and workshops: Komodo National Park, Wunderpus Liveaboard
Food & drink: try beef rendang at Warung Mama and fresh seafood dishes at Labuan Bajo Fish Market.
Check In to a cool guest house or bungalow in Labuan Bajo
Step Out to Komodo Island
5. Go diving in pristine waters, or explore a national park in the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, Ecuador
★ Star attraction – Galapagos National Park: fall in love with marine life, wildlife and exotic plant life in Ecuador’s first national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Best places for sightseeing and flashpacker-friendly shopping: Peace Haven on Floreana Island, Charles Darwin Research Station, El Chato – Giant Tortoise Reserve, Mercado Artesanal (Puerto Ayora)
Tours and workshops: Alcedo Volcano, San Cristóbal Island to Española Island Cruise
Food & drink: try tangy ceviche with a hot canelazo (contains alcohol) at Kiosko de Renato on Puerto Ayora.
Check In to a trendy guest house or inn at Galapagos
Step Out to Galapagos Islands
6. Tour an ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site and a sultan’s palace in YOGYAKARTA
★ Star attraction – Borobudur Temple: stomp around a Buddhist temple ground and UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries.
Best places for sightseeing and flashpacker-friendly shopping: The Palace of Yogyakarta (Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat), Tugu Monument, Benteng Vredeburg, Malioboro Street and Pasar Klithikan Pakuncen
Tours and workshops: Museum Batik Yogyakarta, Kasongan Pottery Village
Food & drink: wash down a plate of gudeg with es kelapa muda at Traditional Market Beringharjo
Check In to a hostel or guest house in Yogyakarta
Step Out to The Palace of Yogyakarta
7. Watch a colorful parade of monks at sunrise, and take a cruise down the Mekong River in the TOWN OF LUANG PRABANG, Laos
★ Star attraction – Town of Luang Prabang: wander through a UNESCO World Heritage site to admire colonial landmarks and the laid-back life of locals.
Best places for sightseeing and flashpacker-friendly shopping: Royal Palace (Haw Kham), Mount Phousi, Kuang Si Falls, Phosi Market
Tours and workshops: Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden, Sa Sa Sunset Cruise and Bar, The Living Land Company rice farm tours
Food & drink: mix and match your favorites for a scrumptious baguette and fresh fruit smoothie in the Night Market Food District.
Check In to one of the 10 best hotels in Luang Prabang
Step Out to Town of Luang Prabang
