Destination directory
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Hostel guides for backpacker favourites across three regions. Each one covers the best areas to stay, the vibe, how to get there and when to go.
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia guideThailand
BangkokStreet food, riverside temples and the backpacker hub of Khao San Road
Chiang MaiLanna temples, a moated Old City and mountains on the doorstep
PaiA small mountain town of canyon sunsets, hot springs and a nightly walking street
Chiang RaiNorthern Thailand's temple city, with the White Temple and the Golden Triangle nearby
Koh PhanganFull Moon Party beaches at Haad Rin and quieter coves elsewhere on the island
Koh TaoA small Gulf island known for learning to dive and for its clear seas
Ao NangLimestone cliffs, longtail boats and the easiest base on the Krabi coast
PhuketThailand's biggest island, from Patong nightlife to Old Town shophouses
Koh Phi PhiViewpoints, snorkelling and a lively beach strip on a car-free island
Koh LantaA calm, long-beach island with an old town, mangroves and Ko Rok boat trips
Indonesia
KutaBali's original surf-and-backpacker beach, with Legian and Seminyak up the coast
UluwatuClifftop surf breaks and sunsets on Bali's Bukit Peninsula- Gili TrawanganA car-free island off Lombok with reefs, turtles and a lively strip
YogyakartaJava's cultural capital, with a sultan's palace and Borobudur and Prambanan nearby
Labuan BajoThe harbour town on Flores that opens the way to Komodo National Park
CangguBlack-sand surf beaches, rice fields and café culture on Bali's south-west coast
UbudRice terraces, temples, yoga and art in the cultural heart of Bali
Vietnam
HanoiOld Quarter street food, lakeside walks and the gateway to northern Vietnam
Hoi AnA lantern-lit UNESCO old town, tailors, rice fields and nearby beaches
Ho Chi Minh CityMotorbike-filled streets, wartime history and Vietnam's busiest food scene
Da NangA beach city on the central coast with the Marble Mountains on its doorstep
HuếVietnam's imperial capital on the Perfume River
Hà GiangThe starting point for Vietnam's mountain motorbike loop
Sa PaRice terraces, mountain villages and the foot of Fansipan
Ninh BìnhLimestone karsts, rice paddies and sampan rides around Tam Cốc
Đà LạtA cool highland city of lakes, pine forests and canyoning
Cambodia
Phnom PenhRiverside promenades, royal palace, markets and Cambodia's modern history
KampotA riverside town of pepper farms, old shophouses and Bokor mountain views
Koh RongGulf of Thailand island beaches reached by boat from Sihanoukville
Siem ReapSunrise at Angkor Wat, Pub Street nights and Tonlé Sap floating villages
Philippines
SiargaoSurf breaks, palm-lined roads and island hopping around General Luna
CoronIsland hopping, clear lakes and wartime wrecks in northern Palawan
ManilaA sprawling capital of Spanish-era walls, nightlife and onward flights
MoalboalSardine swims, reef diving and waterfalls on Cebu's south-west coast
BoracayWhite Beach, sunsets and nightlife on a small island off Panay
El NidoLimestone cliffs, hidden lagoons and island hopping in Bacuit Bay, Palawan
Laos
Luang PrabangA UNESCO-listed riverside town of temples, sunrise alms and waterfalls
Vang ViengLimestone karst, the Nam Song river and caves in central Laos
VientianeA relaxed Mekong capital of golden stupas, riverside sunsets and cafés
Don Det (Si Phan Don)Hammocks and Mekong sunsets in the 4000 Islands of southern Laos
Malaysia
Kuala LumpurTwin towers, street-food alleys and a rail hub for the whole of Malaysia
George Town, PenangA UNESCO-listed heritage port known for street art, clan houses and hawker food
LangkawiBeaches, mangroves and a UNESCO Global Geopark off Malaysia's north-west coast
Cameron HighlandsTea plantations, mossy forest and cooler air in Peninsular Malaysia's hills
Melaka (Malacca)A UNESCO-listed trading port of red Dutch buildings, river walks and Peranakan food
Central America
Central America guideGuatemala
FloresA small lake island and the usual base for visiting Tikal
Lanquín (Semuc Champey)Jungle base for the turquoise pools and caves of Semuc Champey
Antigua GuatemalaCobbled colonial streets, volcano views and the overnight Acatenango hike
Lake AtitlánA volcanic crater lake of distinct villages, linked by boat
Costa Rica
La FortunaHot springs, rainforest trails and the cone of Arenal Volcano
Santa TeresaSurf breaks, yoga and Pacific sunsets on the Nicoya Peninsula
San JoséCosta Rica's highland capital: museums, markets and the country's bus hub
Puerto Viejo de TalamancaA laid-back Caribbean beach town with Afro-Caribbean roots and warm surf
MonteverdeCloud forest, hanging bridges and cool mountain air around Santa Elena
TamarindoA Pacific surf town in Guanacaste with a Blue Flag beach and lively evenings
Nicaragua
GranadaColonial streets and Lake Nicaragua views, with volcano and island trips close by
LeónA university city of colonial churches, with volcanoes and Pacific beaches nearby
San Juan del SurA Pacific bay town with surf beaches, sunsets and a lively backpacker scene
Isla de OmetepeTwo volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua, with farms, beaches and jungle trails
South America
South America guideColombia
BogotáColombia's high-altitude capital, from colonial La Candelaria to café-lined Chapinero
Santa MartaA Caribbean port city between the sea, Tayrona and the Sierra Nevada
SalentoA colourful coffee-region town at the gateway to the Cocora Valley
MincaA cooler mountain village in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada
MedellínThe City of Eternal Spring: mild weather, cable cars and a lively hostel scene
CartagenaColonial walls, Caribbean heat and the street art of Getsemaní
Peru
ArequipaA volcano-ringed colonial city and the usual base for Colca Canyon
HuacachinaA small desert oasis ringed by sand dunes, a few minutes from Ica- MáncoraPeru's northern beach town, strung along the Pan-American Highway
CuscoThe former Inca capital and the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley
LimaPeru’s Pacific capital of food, clifftop walks and bohemian Barranco
Brazil
São PauloBrazil's giant city of street art, food halls, live music and late nights
FlorianópolisAn island of beaches, lagoon cafés, surf and hiking trails in southern Brazil
Ilha GrandeA car-free Atlantic forest island of beaches and trails, reached by boat
ParatyA cobbled colonial town between the sea and the Atlantic forest
SalvadorAfro-Brazilian culture, colonial Pelourinho and live music on the Bahia coast
Rio de JaneiroBeaches, mountains and samba: Brazil’s most famous city for backpackers
Chile
SantiagoChile's capital between the Andes and the coast, with a strong café and wine scene
ValparaísoA hillside port city of street art, funiculars and colourful houses
San Pedro de AtacamaAn adobe desert town for salt lakes, geysers, volcanoes and star-filled skies
Puerto NatalesThe waterfront gateway town to Torres del Paine
Argentina
Buenos AiresTango halls, leafy Palermo and late-night dinners on the Río de la Plata
MendozaMalbec vineyards, tree-lined plazas and the Andes on the horizon
San Carlos de BarilocheAlpine-style lake town with ski slopes, forest trails and chocolate shops
El ChalténArgentina's trekking capital, at the foot of Cerro Fitz Roy
SaltaColonial plazas, folk music and the gateway to Argentina's north-west
Puerto IguazúThe Argentine gateway to Iguazú Falls, on the Brazil and Paraguay borders
No destinations match. We cover 103 destinations so far; more are on the way.