r/backpacking

to be clear, completely understand that durston gear is already incredibly reasonably-priced for the engineering and quality you get. i'm fully willing to accept that if i'm balking over the extra $100, i'm not quite at the point in my backpacking journey where it makes sense, as a purchase. i don't already own trekking poles, which is what's tacking on an extra $80 and i probably wooouuullddn't get them if i wasn't getting the X-Mid. but i think i'm looking for someone to talk me into it?

have car-camped with Marmot tents for years and huge fan. have backpacked with the Nimbus 1P and liked it a lot (it did feel a bit flimsy and the 1-door entrance sucks; have also heard mixed reviews re: waterproofing but i'm mostly in non-rainy areas). in short, looking for a 2p backpacking tent that's fairly light ideally under $350, but maybe i'm being wishful?

Is one of the most beautiful valley in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Surrounded by giant peaks, cold deserts, blue lakes, glaciers, and peaceful valleys, Skardu feels like a different world. From Lower kachura lake and Upper Kachura Lake to Deosai Plains and Shigar Valley, Khaplu valley every corner of this region has its own beauty.

Skardu is also known as the gateway to some of the world’s highest mountains, including K2. The peaceful environment, simple local life, Balti culture, and warm hospitality make this place even more special.

Whether you love road trips, camping, hiking, photography, or just want peace away from busy city life, Skardu is truly a dream destination for nature lovers 🏔️💙

Welcome to the land of majestic mountains.

#Skardu

Did this early May. Bottom of the canyon was very hot, but at the top weather was great.

Took a private shuttle from Springdale to the start of the trail.

About 16 miles total. Campsite 6 was beautiful!

Video of the hike: https://youtu.be/PKJqMtrIS-A

This was from June of 2023 when I was living in Idaho. If you’re driving from the Boise area you’ll want to stop in Stanley before you finish the drive up.
This was just above Redfish lakes which is really easy to get to with ample parking.
The views are stunning
We got swarmed by mosquitoes as soon as the sun went down so if I ever go back I’d make sure to camp far away from the lakes

spent a week (6 days to be exact) exploring luwuk banggai in sulawesi and it makes places like bali feel like an amusement park. it is completely wild and empty and i mean in a good way lol

the main spot if you google will be mainly photos of is paisupok lake. it looks photoshopped in person. the water is this bright glowing blue and so clear you see every single fallen tree on the bottom (I am not kidding, just look at the pics). the boats really look like they are hovering in the air!!

we also did the trek out to pulau dua balantak. it had massive green ridges dropping into the ocean that look exactly like komodo island, except we were the only people there. had the whole view to ourselves. also spent an afternoon swimming in the jungle pools at piala waterfall.

a mini warning though, getting there takes some effort. there are no direct flights from bali. you have to fly to makassar first and then catch a second flight to luwuk. once you get to peleng island the roads are pretty broken and public ferries change schedules whenever they feel like it. there is also barely any info online about how to coordinate it.

i didn't want to waste days getting stranded, so i just booked a full luwuk banggai tour through asik travel and they basically handled the whole banggai islands itinerary. they sorted the private boat crossings, the car drivers, and local homestays right by the lake. if you don't speak fluent bahasa (Indonesian?) and want to actually see everything without the logistical headache, using a local crew is a lifesaver.

if you want to see a side of indonesia that hasn't been ruined by overtourism yet, go now.

edit: you can actually do some parts yourself if on budget and can save some. just plan ahead and negotiate hard. your main challenge will be ferries where if you get stuck even for a day it will mess up your whole trip. so if possible plan ahead (add a spare day too) and call homestays and boat rentals way before you even reach there. you can find some contacts on google easily

Lima
Weather was pretty rough when I was there, overcast and windy the whole time. The historic center looks a bit sketchy honestly, but it's packed with colonial architecture and the food scene is genuinely excellent. Larco Museum blew me away, wasn't expecting that. It's a solid base if you're learning Spanish or doing a longer stay. Day trips are limited though Sayan and Lunahuana are the closer options, Obrajillo is further out but you get snow-capped mountain views which makes the altitude adjustment easier. As far as big Latin American cities go, I'd rank it below Mexico City and Buenos Aires, but more interesting than Bogotá or Panama City.

Cusco
The city itself is absolutely worth it. The architecture, the culture, the mix of Inca and colonial, it hit different from anything else I've seen. That said, it's extremely touristy, and Machu Picchu is where I draw the line. God I hated dealing with that place. Tickets sell out weeks in advance, and getting there is either the Inca Trail or an overpriced train — there's no easy way in or out. The site itself is stunning but the whole experience around it is exhausting.

Ica / Paracas / Huacachina / Nazca
Budget about 4 days for this whole stretch. Nazca isn't just the flight. There are a ton of burial sites and ruins worth exploring on the ground. Huacachina is basically just a desert, nothing that special, but the dune buggy rides are an absolute blast. Paracas was my favorite of the bunch of wildlife everywhere, gorgeous coastline, and the beach resort hotels here are way better value than anywhere else in Peru. Genuinely surprised by how much I liked it.

Arequipa
Only spent 3D two in the city, one at Colca Canyon. It's quieter than most places because tourists tend to skip it, and the architecture isn't as polished as Cusco, but the monastery is worth visiting. The area around Andagua has some solid trekking, mountaineering, and hot springs (the hot springs are in Chivay specifically). A lot of people default to Huaraz for the outdoor stuff, but Arequipa is a real alternative. I didn't get to do the proper outdoor itinerary here which I regret.

Puno
The Uros floating reed islands are genuinely unlike anything else, though pretty commercial. The lake itself is stunning: high-altitude lakes have this quality to them that's hard to describe. The town though? Not much there. I think staying overnight on the islands would make it more worthwhile. Taquile and Amantani felt more authentic to me. One thing — I actually saw the snow-capped mountains from the Bolivian side of Titicaca, and if you're comparing scenery, Bolivia wins that one.

Cerro de Pasco
This one's a hidden gem for long-term travelers. Locals come here for short getaways like hot springs, waterfalls you can actually swim under, quiet villages, cheap everything. Nothing jaw-dropping, but if you're in Peru for a while and want to slow down somewhere real, I'd recommend it.

Huánuco & Tingo María
Same vibe as Cerro de Pasco, great for getting off the gringo trail. Lower elevation makes it more comfortable, and 3-4 days feels just right here.

Huaraz
Absolutely loved this place, only gripe is getting there is a pain. But the trekking access to glacial lakes and snow peaks is some of the best I've experienced anywhere. If you couldn't get a camping permit for Torres del Paine, come here instead. Seriously.

Cajamarca
A proper historic city with a lot of Inca history. Two or three days is enough. If you're into pre-Columbian civilization and ruins, this one's for you.

Chachapoyas
Honestly went in with low expectations and got humbled. If you find Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos too touristy, this is your answer. Wildlife isn't as dense, but it feels way more raw and untouched. The Gran Vilaya trail and Kuelap (a fortress literally built into a mountain) were highlights of my whole trip.

Still haven't made it to: Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos, Piura, Moyobamba, Tarapoto, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Oxapampa, Huanchaco, Tarma So this list isn't complete by any means. Happy to answer questions on any of the places I did visit.