When backpacking you will find yourself having to travel for long distances. Although this is what you came to do, sometimes a long journey can get a little boring. However there are plenty of ways to entertain yourself, whether you’re on a plane, train or bus. Here are ten of my ideas of how to keep entertained on a long journey:
1. Catch Up On Films/TV Shows
Although this is only really possible if you have WiFi, long journeys are a great place to catch up on films or TV. Many plane companies have in flight entertainment, the budget airlines don’t. Alternatively you could download what you want to watch before your journey, then you don’t have to worry about the WiFi!
2. Read
Whether you do this the old fashioned way, or on a kindle, reading is a great way to pass the time. Just make sure it’s a good book that you don’t want to put down (but not so good that you miss your stop)!
If you take a book, make sure you pack it correctly, so that it doesn’t get damaged!
If you’re not really into reading, why not download an audiobook? Stories are a great way to escape and let your imagination roam.
3. Plan Your Trip
If you’re anything like me you’ll have been nosing through the guidebooks in the weeks before travelling anyway. But the journey to the destination is a great time to really pin down want you don’t want to miss when you’re there. You can even look further ahead and plan the next leg of your adventure.
4. Make New Friends
This is especially good to do when on a bus tour, where you’ll be with the same group for a while, such as Haka. You might as well get to know your group! But whether you’re on a tour or not, you could still make friends with the person next to you. Most people are the same, they like to talk but are nervous others won’t want to. Ask where they’re from, where their going etc. If you have a deck of cards or a travel game you could even ask them to play!
5. Puzzle Or Colouring Books
There are plenty of adult puzzle and colouring books out there, why not try one? Colouring is really relaxing and you can do what you want with it i.e. don’t stay in the lines if you don’t want to! Puzzle books are a great way to keep your mind active and if you get stuck, a great conversation starter!
6. Play Solitaire
That deck of cards you brought along and didn’t know why comes in handy here! Albeit, you can only play solitaire if you have a table to play at! That deck of cards is also a way to start a conversation.
7. Write
Ok, not always possible on a bumpy road, but worth a try. Why not write those postcards you bought three weeks ago for your friends and family that you’re always too busy to write? Well, now you’re not busy! I’m sure they’d love to hear from you, just remember to post them when you get to your destination! Or you could start (or catch up) on a diary. You may even feel really creative and write your own stories or poems. You’ve got nothing else to do and no one will criticise, so why not get creative?
8. Listen To Music
A really obvious one here. But pretty much everyone has the ability to listen to their own music nowadays. Why not create a new playlist on your journey?
9. Let Your Mind Wander
I love staring out the window (mainly on bus journeys) and absorbing the scenery. It gives you time to think/zone out/day dream whatever you want to do. Remember what you’ve done on your travels and think about what you’ve got planned.
Get Absorbed In The Scenery
10. Sleep
Believe it or not, travelling can be exhausting! Use long journeys to catch up on that much needed sleep so that you’re refreshed and ready to go when you get to your destination!
A long journey can be one of the worst parts of travelling, however with a few ideas the time will fly. However, you’ll have at least one long journey, as they are a vital and can even be an enjoyable part of backpacking as long as you know how to keep yourself entertained on them!
