Motorcycle tour guide Rob Chandler spends his life on the road taking expats and gap-year students around the backwaters of Cambodia -and here are six of his tips on how to live pout of a backpack for three months.
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He learned what to squeeze in to a backpack from his time travelling around Cambodia and Laos and loved the thrill and sights so much he has set up his own bespoke tour business taking travellers from the capital Phnom Penh or Cambodia’s border crossing with Laos.
Here are Chandler’s top tips for backpacking in the Asia Pacific:
- Back pack – A 40 litre bag with chest and waist straps with pockets at the side and rear and a waterproof cover. A pack this size is easy to carry, has room for everything you need for three months on the road and fits in the overhead locker on an aircraft. This saves a lot of hassle at airports
- Footwear – Sturdy trainers with tread on the soles and a good pair of waterproof hiking boots with ankle support. Follow the lead of the locals with a pair of cheap flip flops. The boots are for out of town. In urban areas the roads are tarmac, but out in the country, the tracks are just dirt and gravel.
Pack a smarter pair of trainers or footwear if you plan to visit a nice restaurant now and again.
- Socks – You don’t really need them because Cambodia is so hot most of the time, but don’t forget inner and top hiking socks to wear with boots
- Shirts – Buy them when you reach Cambodia. They are really cheap. Avoid black as they absorb heat and white because they show the dirt too quickly. For the jungle, pack a long sleeve T-shirt for extra protection
- Shorts and trousers – Swimming shorts with liners are better than shorts and pants because of the heat. Long trousers made out of a light fabric are good for protecting the legs in the jungle. Pack a pair of smart jeans for nights out.
- Tops – The days are really hot and temperatures rarely drop below 30 centigrade, but the clear skies can mean nippy nights, so pack a hoodie or a lightweight waterproof jacket, but something made from a fabric that breathes
“Most towns and villages have launderettes where you can get washing done,” said Chandler. “You pay by the kilo, so it’s not expensive.”
Other tips for living out of a rucksack include pack a sleeping bag liner to avoid bed bugs as some of the cheaper and more off-beat places may not maintain the best cleaning standards.
Contact Rob at Chandlers Travel here using the contact form to book your bespoke Cambodia Motorbike tour
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