Your backpacking travel planner

Ray Jardine's Lightweight Backpacking

This is Ray Jardine's new, full-colour, 2009 edition of his best-selling book "Beyond Backpacking". Now full of colour photos and diagrams, this new title reflects a multitude of updated information, detailing Ray Jardine's lightweight backpacking techniques, his gear, and his methods for enjoyable and safe trekking and camping. Sections and chapters include Packweight, Equipment, Food, Water, Trail Biology, Sewing Your Own Gear, Hiker's Well-Being, Wilderness Skills, Insects, Long-Distance Trekking, a chapter specifically for women, and much more. "Trail Life" will be the new standard reference book for the backpacker. If you have ever thought your pack weighed too much on a week long hike, this book shows hikers how to cut the weight out and explodes myths about heavy equipment. This is the most comprehensive long distance trekking guide ever written. A lightweight approach to backpacking is here to stay. "Trail Life" is for all hikers, at all levels of experience, from beginners to the most advanced. It includes 400 pages, over 50 chapters with more than 230 colour photos. The author and his wife have hiked well over 25,000 miles along all the well known trails as well as a myriad of other routes. Their experiences will prove to be an invaluable guide for those who love to hike and those who seek the solitude of the outdoors.

Trail Life: Ray Jardine's Lightweight Backpacking

With over 90,000 copies now sold, this is the most popular Trans-Siberian guidebook. A trip across Siberia on the longest continuous railway track in the world is undoubtedly the journey of a lifetime. It's also a convenient way to reach China, Mongolia, or Japan. Tickets are not expensive or difficult to arrange. Readers can now travel almost anywhere they want in Siberia: we tell them how to organize a trip, where to get tickets, and where to go.

• Trans-Siberian Handbook
• Siberian BAM Guide - Rail, Rivers & Road
• Lonely Planet: Trans-Siberian Railway
• Lonely Planet: Russia

A favorite of weekend warriors to elite mountaineers for over eight years these packs enter their third generation. Great carry, and astounding range of fit and practial, clean features make these backpacks the obvious choice in lightweight, gender specific custom fit. Features hipbelt convertible top pocket/lumbar pack, LightWire alloy peripheral frame, red internal load compression strap, Stow on the Go trekking pole attachment, three horizontal compression straps, J-zipper panel access, stretch woven dual access side pockets, stretch woven front pocket with welded vent, cord loop Add-Ones attachment slots, StraightJacket compression, side gear loops and straps, wide mouth sleeping bag access with divider, two ice axe loops and removable sleeping pad straps.

• Osprey Women's Ariel Series
• See other Osprey Products

If you enjoy backpacking in Europe then one country that you really must see is Spain. When it comes to Europe’s top holiday destinations, Spain certainly has them in abundance, whether you are a holidaymaker looking to travel with your family to some of the country’s many great beaches or a young backpacker looking to explore some of the great cities that Spain has to offer tourists. The country remains the top holiday destination for people travelling from the UK, with literally thousands of Brits flying to Spain each year in search of some summer sunshine. If however like me you prefer to be a little more adventurous than just lying on a busy beach all day, then one of the best ways to get around if you want to explore mainland Spain more feely is to look for cheap car hire Spain online.

You will be pleased to know that there are many rental companies that tend to operate in and around Spain’s major airports - such as those found close to Barcelona and Madrid. Getting car hire Madrid airport for example, is a very quick and easy way to get set to travel and explore the surrounding mountains and countryside. In order to save time, you can book online and then simply pick up the keys on arrival at your holiday destination, then simply drive away and start exploring! I would always advise that booking your car hire services online is highly recommended as it is quite simply the quickest, cheapest and most convenient method of renting a vehicle in Europe.

Nobody knows Africa like Lonely Planet. Our 12th edition takes you on a Serengeti safari, reveals the best spot to view Victoria Falls and tells you where to see surfing hippos. Whether you’re after big-name highlights or lesser-known adventures, this guide has got it all covered.

• Lonely Planet: Africa
• Lonely Planet: East Africa
• Lonely Planet: Southern Africa
• Lonely Planet: West Africa
• Lonely Planet: Africa Phrasebook
• Lonely Planet: Ethiopian Amharic Phrasebook
• Lonely Planet: Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook
• Lonely Planet: Swahili Phrasebook

Lonely Planet Travel Guide Books

• Shoestring Guides & Country Guides
• Discover Guides
• Regional Guides
• City Guides
• Citiescape & City Map
• Encounters Guides
• Activity Guides
• General Travel
• Language Guides
• Spanish Guides
• Kindle Books

Finding places to visit in Prague is rather simple, with over 50 major landmarks within the city, there is bound to be something for the entire family to enjoy. Whether you'd like to visit the Metronome, the Prague Zoo, or the National Museum, you'll need a place that you and your family can call home during your vacation. Surprisingly, traveling in groups is actually cheaper in Prague because you can find affordable three bedroom modern Prague apartments that can accommodate the entire family or a group of backpackers for less per person than a one or two bedroom apartment.

Alpaca duffles offer a plethora of hauling options—carry as a backpack using integrated padding on the main carrying handles or in conventional duffle style. Constructed with super durable waterproof fabric and heavy duty YKK zippers, the Alpaca is sure to provide years of worry free gear hauling.

• Gregory Alpaca Duffle Active Trail Backpack
• Bestsellers in Sports Duffles
• See other Gregory Products

Included in the membership of Backpackers Hostels Canada are several campgrounds. Albion Hills Campground is open from April 26, 2010 to November 1, 2010. Operated by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Albion Hills Campground is set in the hills of Caledon on the banks of the Humber River. Albion Hills offers remarkable scenery, exciting activities and first-rate facilities — only 40 minutes from Toronto! Offering individual serviced and unserviced sites as well as on-site trailer rentals.

Albion Hills is the outdoor enthusiasts dream featuring some of the most impressive mountain biking trails in southern Ontario. Explore the beauty of our trails designed for riders of all ages and skill level.

Facilities include full service washrooms, convenience store and laundry. The unserviced price per night is $27.00 plus applicable taxes. The serviced price per night is $32.50 plus applicable taxes.

Find the Albion Hills Campground at 16500 Highway 50 near Bolton, ON. Please call 905-880-4855 for more information or for further directions.

Hostel of the Week June 23rd to June 28th 2010
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

L’auberge du Château Bahia est située à Pointe-à-la-Garde, dans la Baie des Chaleurs, sur la côte sud de la Gaspésie. Entièrement bâti par Jean, le propriétaire, et son père sur une période de 18 ans, le château Bahia se trouve à 500 mètres de la route 132, dans une des plus belles forêts de la Gaspésie, avec vue spectaculaire sur la baie. Il compte 26 pièces dont une grande salle de banquets, 4 tours et 7 tourelles.

À l’automne, la féerie des couleurs charme tous les visiteurs.

Au petit déjeuner, savourez nos délicieuses crêpes aux fruits sauvages.

Tous les soirs, un dîner aux chandelles est servi. Au menu, une cuisine maison savoureuse, à la québécoise. C’est un plaisir pour nous d’accueillir tous les jours à notre table des visiteurs du monde entier avec lesquels nous échangeons culture, expériences de voyage et bonne humeur.

L’aventure continue avec Hervé qui construit son château. Une fois la construction terminée, le château vous accueillera même en hiver. À l’heure actuelle, le château est ouvert de mai à octobre et la maison (dortoirs) toute l’année.

Hostel of the Week, June 15th to June 23rd 2010
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

Explore the myriad wonders of India with this useful guide in hand. Whether you wish to cruise the backwaters of Kerala on the rooftop of a ferry, explore the Buddhist gompas of Leh, drink Darjeeling's namesake tea, get lost in the dusty bazaars of Hyderabad, or stroll the 16th-century ruins in Hampi, this book will help you get there. Highlights include more than 200 traveler-tested maps, thousands of places to stay and eat for all budgets, excellent health information, all you need to know about transportation options, and a 32-page color section on India's religions.

• Lonely Planet: India
• Lonely Planet: Goa Beaches Encounter Guide
• Lonely Planet: Goa & Mumbai
• Lonely Planet: Northeast India
• Lonely Planet: Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra
• Lonely Planet: South India
• Lonely Planet: Hindi, Urdu and Bengali Phrasebook
• Lonely Planet: India Phrasebook
• Lonely Planet: Trekking in the Indian Himalaya

Lonely Planet Travel Guide Books

• Shoestring Guides & Country Guides
• Discover Guides
• Regional Guides
• City Guides
• Citiescape & City Map
• Encounters Guides
• Activity Guides
• General Travel
• Language Guides
• Spanish Guides
• Kindle Books

The North Face Longhaul 30" Wheeled Duffel (Spring 2010) - in stock now. FEATURES of the Longhaul 30in. Pack by the North Face Large main compartment with internal compression straps, zippered side pocket, and large zippered mesh pocket Two easy-access external accessory pockets Durable custom wheels and wheel housing Ambidextrous retractable handle Protective skid rails Bottom, top, front, and side handles Business card window Large 1.5in. external webbing compression straps SPECIFICATIONS: Avg Weight: 10 lbs 4 oz (4650 g) Volume: 5370 in3 (88 liters) Dimensions: 30in. x 16in. x 10in. (76 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm) Access: Panel Fabric: 420D nylon dobby, 1200D polyester, phthalate-free TPE fabric laminate This product can only be shipped within the United States. Please don't hate us.

• The North Face Longhaul
• See other The North Face Products

As the top selling women’s pack in its category, and recipient of a 2008 Backpacker Magazine Editors’ Choice award, the Deva 60 is sure to please. With the intuitive Response AFS Suspension System, your pack is guaranteed to fit perfectly. This organized and highly featured pack is the ideal companion for all your adventures on the trail.

• Gregory Women's Deva
• Gregory Backpack

Although as you’ve probably read here on my travel guide blog, I’ve spent a great deal of my time backpacking in many fantastic places in Europe - traveling around by train and visiting the many great city destinations that the continent has to offer - I’ve also spent some great holidays here with friends and family. One great holiday experience in Europe that I would highly recommend to anyone who is looking to relax and put their feet up in order to get away from the stress of the day job is renting a villa somewhere in the beautiful Italian countryside.

Villas in Italy are a great way to unwind and spend time with your closest friends in a superb authentic Italian environment. Taking a holiday in Europe in this way gives you a chance to explore your surrounding area, go for walks, take in some fresh air and enjoy some truly beautiful natural surroundings that we often forget about when stuck in the office. If you rent an Italian villa by the coast you'll also have the benefit of some great sea views and the possibility of unwinding with a bit of fishing. Sometimes I feel its nice to travel to a holiday destination that is a little less intense than many of the great cities I’ve visited in Europe to party such as Krakow and Prague. So if you feel like this is something you would like to get out of your holiday in Europe then why not give it a try.

Soft and Slim: Since your credit cards and other valuables will be safely tucked inside your moneybelt — right? — this 2-compartment 3" x 4½" zippered lambskin wallet is all you need to comfortably carry your day's worth of spending money and receipts.

• Rick Steves Lambskin Wallet
• Bestsellers in Travel Wallets

Tips and Insight for Getting the Most Out of Overseas Travel

Filled with practical and philosophical insight, The New Backpacker's Guidebook is an excellent resource for budding travelers who can't wait to encounter various challenges and experiences as they travel around the world.

This concise book will help you before, during and after your first long-term trip, whether you are planning to study abroad for a semester or taking several months backpacking Europe after you graduate. It will provide you with assistance and assurance, but also leave enough breathing room for you to become more self-reliant. With common sense advice, tips, stories and checklists, this back-to-basics guidebook will encourage and lead you toward a fulfilling sense of freedom, confidence and independence that could only be gained on this kind of adventure! Plus, it barely takes space in your backpack - just toss it in and you're good to go!

The New Backpacker's Guidebook

Introducing the Eighth Wonder of travel books, the New York Times bestseller that's been hailed by CBS-TV as one of the best books of the year and praised by Newsweek as the "book that tells you what's beautiful, what's inspiring, what's fun and what's just unforgettable everywhere on earth."

Packed with recommendations of the world's best places to visit, on and off the beaten path, 1,000 Places To See Before You Die is a joyous, passionate gift for travelers, an around-the-world, continent-by-continent listing of beaches, museums, monuments, islands, inns, restaurants, mountains, and more. There's Botswana's Okavango Delta, the covered souks of Aleppo, the Tuscan hills surrounding San Gimignano, Canyon de Chelly, the Hassler hotel in Rome, Ipanema Beach, the backwaters of Kerala, Oaxaca's Saturday market, the Buddhas of Borobudur, Ballybunion golf club-all the places guaranteed to give you the shivers.

• 1,000 Places to See Before You Die
• 1,000 Places to See Before You Die [Kindle Edition]

Based on my personal experiences, the city of Barcelona is clearly one of the best holiday destinations you could ever hope to visit in all of Europe. The capital of the Spanish region of Catalonia, Barcelona is for me one of the best all round cities you can visit, as it offers a little bit of everything for tourists, backpackers, holidaymakers and other visitors alike who may travel to the city. Whether you are interested in art, architecture, sport, beaches, food, or nightlife from your favoured city holiday destination - there is little doubt that Barcelona can proudly offer each of these aspects in one form or another, all wrapped up in to one top holiday destination. Why not check out my travel guide to Barcelona to find out the best places to visit on your backpacking holiday in Barcelona. If you ever get bored of the city itself and wish to travel further affield in the surrounding area, then why not check out the local options for cheap car hire in Spain either from local rental services or by checking the latest prices online.

If you are travelling to the city from overseas, you will know doubt be pleased to hear that the city of Barcelona is easily accessed via several different airports in the region, with frequent and affordable budget flights taking off from the UK often flying to the nearby Reus Tarragona Airport. Although 30 miles from the centre of Barcelona, it is still very easy to reach the city by either public transport such as the frequent bus services or airport taxis, or there is also the alternative of car hire Reus Tarragona Airport if you feel you may want to go on beyond the city of Barcelona and explore the coastal region of Catalonia.

Keep shirts, sweaters and pants compressed and wrinkles to a minimum.

Travel organization Items to organize and consolidate the inside of your luggage

• Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Folder 15 Organizer
• Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Folder 18 Organizer
• Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Folder 20 Organizer
• Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Garment Sleeve Organizer
• Eagle Creek Pack-It Folder

No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic's travel writers, Journeys of a Lifetime spans the globe to highlight the best of the world's most famous and lesser known sojourns. It presents an incredible diversity of possibilities, from ocean cruises around Antarctica to horse treks in the Andes. Every continent and every possible form of transport is covered.

A timely resource for the burgeoning ranks of active travelers who crave adventurous and far-flung trips, Journeys of a Lifetime provides scores of creative ideas: trekking the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania... mountain biking in Transylvania... driving through the scenic highlands of Scotland... or rolling through the outback on Australia's famous Ghan train... and dozens of other intriguing options all over the world.

Journeys of a Lifetime also features 22 fun Top 10 lists in all sorts of categories. What are the world's top 10 elevator rides, bridges to walk across, trolley rides, ancient highways, or underground walking adventures? Readers will love evaluating and debating the selections.

Each chapter showcases stunning photography, full-color maps, evocative text, and expert advice—including how to get there, when to visit, and how to make the most of the journey—all packaged in a luxurious oversize volume to treasure for years to come.

• Journeys of a Lifetime
• Sacred Places of a Lifetime
• Food Journeys of a Lifetime
• Drives of a Lifetime

Located on Saint-Urbain street, in the heart of the "Quartier des spectacles" and less than 5 minutes on foot from "la Place des Arts", the West Lodges is the perfect place for lovers of entertainment and the famous "Festival International de Jazz de Montreal".

Hostel of the Week, June 10th to June 15th, 2010
Submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

This super lightweight umbrella will keep you protected from rain or sun. Small enough to fit into the smallest of nooks and crannies of your luggage or everyday bag.

• Eagle Creek Nimbus SL Travel Umbrella
• Bestsellers in Travel Umbrella

Return from your travels with the pictures you've always wanted!

In this third edition of Lonely Planet's best-selling Travel Photography, internationally renowned travel photographer Richard I'Anson shows you how to avoid common photography mistakes and to develop your compositional and technical skills as a photographer. It's full of practical exercises and examples to hone the tips and techniques outlined in the text, and stunning travel photographs throughout will inspire you on your journey.

This jargon-free guide is a comprehensive look at all aspects of travel photography, from the gear needed while on the road to the software and hardware required to store and process your images back at home, to the low-down on assessing, displaying and even earning money with your photographs.

• Lonely Planet's Guide To Travel Photography

Lonely Planet Travel Guide Books

• Shoestring Guides & Country Guides
• Discover Guides
• Regional Guides
• City Guides
• Citiescape & City Map
• Encounters Guides
• Activity Guides
• General Travel
• Language Guides
• Spanish Guides
• Kindle Books

• Undercover construction
• Wear over your shoulder or around your neck or waist
• Around you neck or about your waist
• Every buckle, zipper, webbing, and fabric choice is scrutinized based on rigorous lab and field-testing

• Eagle Creek Travel Gear Security Wallet
• Bestsellers in Travel Wallets

The Newman House Hostel is only minutes from Saint John pubs and bars, restaurants, Boardwalk activities and festivals, museums, beach volleyball and walking trails. You can sail up river or through the Reversing Falls into the Harbour from the Boat Club located minutes from the hostel. Jet boat rides available in the rapids of the Falls as well.

If you are lucky you will get to taste Sharon's very popular homemade bread!

The cost for a night's stay? Only $25.00!

Hostel of the Week June 4th to 10th 2010
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

If you are thinking of being a bit different and taking the plunge by looking for a somewhat alternative holiday destination or city location to visit on your backpacking trip in Europe - then please consider taking the time to have a visit to the beautiful city of Helsinki, Finland. The city is surely one of the best city destinations to visit in all of Scandinavia if not Europe itself, and indeed has a host of great places to see.

Amongst the most popular tourist attractions in the city of Helsinki is the National Museum of Finland which is a stunning piece of architecture to behold in itself, with its so called “national romantic” building style giving it a unique and distinguished appearance. The city’s cathedral and maritime attractions are also popular draws for tourists visiting Helsinki, but the city also has the very pretty Esplanade Park in which visitors often like to have a romantic stroll, which is situated in the very heart of the city itself.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Helsinki then you can check out the many “hotelli helsinki” that are dotted across numerous great locations across the length and breadth of the city. One of the best known hotels in Helsinki is the Best Western which is great place for holidaymakers to stay either as a couple or with their family and kids. Wherever you stay, you are sure to find a great holiday experience that few places in Northern Europe can match.

The Scandinavian country of Finland is perhaps not the first place you would necessarily think of when planning on taking a holiday in Europe. When considering such vacations it seems as though many people immediately think of that European holiday destinations with high levels of summer sunshine and hotter temperatures - so it is often the case that locations such as coastal Spain, the Greek Islands or the South of France will immediately spring to mind.

While these are all great places to take a holiday in their own right, one country that is perhaps not immediately considered as a prime European holiday destination is Finland. However, you may be surprised to find that the country has a great deal to offer the visitors, travelers and backpackers alike that make this country a holiday location of choice for a surprising number of people - and indeed Finland currently proudly boasts an ever growing tourism industry.

Those travelling to Finland are often seeking a somewhat more upmarket and unique holiday experience from the package holidays so widely available in the Mediterranean region of Europe - and the country sports an extensive array of simply stunning natural scenery. The Finish capital Helsinki is also a brilliant tourist city to visit at any time of year with a host of cool visitor attractions and some great “hotellit” as the locals call them (or hotels in English) such as the Halvat Hotellit in which you can spend your nights in Helsinki.

This is a Universal Travel Adapter by Sunpak. This travel adapter provides world-wide compatibilityUniversal travel adapter with surge protection for worldwide use. Whether you are taking your laptop on a business trip to Asia, a vacation with your HD video camera to South America, or traveling to just about any other major region in the world, then here is one universal wall adapter that will make your life much easier. With its all in one design, you simply plug your electrical device into this unit and then retract the connector for the region you are in and instantly you can plug your device into the wall socket. Its as simple as that!

• Universal World-wide Travel Adapter
• Travel Adapter

• Elgin's travel alarm clock is handy and easily transportable, measuring 5 by 5 by 4 inches, and weighing 6.1 ounces
• It has a 7/10-inch LCD with an indiglo feature that makes it easy to tell time in the dark
• Runs by highly accurate quartz movement and requires one AAA battery
• Protective cover keeps the clock safe from the elements and rigors of travel
• On the road, one may not want to rely only on wake-up calls or whatever alarm clock happens to be in the room

• ELGIN TRAVEL ALARM CLOCK
• Bestsellers in Travel Clocks

The city of Pescara is undoubtedly one of the finest holiday destinations to visit if you are travelling in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Many people who are backpacking in Italy will look to reach the city by train, but there is also access via the Pescara airport if you are just looking to take a holiday here. Located on the east coast of the country, Pescara is a quaint port city that lines up against the beautiful clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. The city has a fine beach which is well worth a look if you fancy a bit of sunbathing or maybe a quick dip, and has all the usual sun beds and umbrellas for hire to tourists visiting the city.


If you fancy a drive to the nearby Majella national park to enjoy the stunning natural scenery, then you can easily get car hire Pescara airport. Similarly to many other European countries you may visit, cheap car hire Italy is widely available to book online if you are visiting Pescara. The park is also a great place to go walking, hiking or climbing as it sports some impressive mountains, the largest of which is Mount Amaro which stands at 2793 meters tall. It also has some interesting caves to explore if that’s your thing - but always be safe and go with some experienced local guides if possible.

• Arabic Dictionary
• Collins School Thesaurus
• Dictionary and Thesaurus
• English Dictionary
• French Dictionary
• French Grammar
• French School Dictionary
• French Verbs
• German Dictionary
• German School Dictionary
• Greek Dictionary
• Irish Dictionary
• Irish School Dictionary
• Italian Dictionary
• Japanese Dictionary
• Korean Dictionary
• Latin Dictionary
• Mandarin Chinese Dictionary
• Portuguese Dictionary
• Russian Dictionary
• Spanish Dictionary
• School Dictionary and Thesaurus
• School Dictionary
• Spanish Grammar
• Thai Dictionary
• Thesaurus A-Z
• Turkish Dictionary
• Welsh Dictionary
• Vietnamese Dictionary

2010 Backpackers Hostels Canada Booklet Party

Every year an incredibly chaotic and intense but equally friendly and fun event occurs in Thunder Bay--namely the hostel booklet packing party. This year again, on Tuesday May 18th, we were fortunate to have volunteers of different ages and nationalities come to the booklet-packing headquarters to help pack the envelopes and boxes sent to each of the hostels across Canada.

We appreciate each and every person who participated as each person worked diligently in their duties. In the end we supplied 169 hostels with 2010 BHC Hostel Booklets (as shown in the above-right of this page), which you can now find at any of our member locations across Canada.

Thanks to Fada, Emily, Neil, Julius, Willa, Lloyd, Ralph, Brad, Eugene, Marina, Brendon, Daniel, Tina, Martin (and I was there too, Ken) for making the event so productive and for such great company.

Feature of the Week, June 2nd to 11th 2010
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada