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Off the Beaten Path... Safely This page was created for a Boston Expat and World Travelers Meetup group for their Travel Buzz night. I hosted the "Off the Beaten Path... Safely" table with Charlie Stevenson. This page will likely continue to evolve over time. Research | Resources | Danger | Safety | Transportation | Links Research (beyond guidebooks) Off the beaten path destinations are often not documented in guidebooks. To find them, it's necessary to use research techniques beyond the guidebooks. Long term travelers Those traveling with few plans and for long periods of time are more likely to have explored beyond the usual tourist haunts. They can help guide you to towns and sites you may not have known about otherwise. Local residents Your richest source of information. People who live in the area are more likely to know those places deemed too insignificant to be included in guidebooks. Don’t just milk them for information. Share information about yourself, ask about their lives, and you never know when you’ll make a friend. Personal interest searches If you have specific interests, search for those in areas you intend to visit. For example, major pictograph areas might be included in your guide book but if you have a personal interest in pictographs, you may find smaller areas listed in web sites devoted to that topic rather than that area. Seasonality of the destination Both low and high season have their advantages. High season by definition has the best weather but off season weather may offer unobstructed views and interesting exchanges with locals who are otherwise too busy or simply fed up with the tourist droves during high season. Resources (in country) Getting off the beaten path may also mean getting away from easy access to the resources of everyday life. Consider being prepared with more personal resources than you might otherwise consider when traveling on the typical tourist track. Time Getting off the beaten path usually requires more time than the typical American one or two week vacation. Prioritize your travels, save up time or take a leave of absence, and take a month or two, or longer. Financial Be prepared to carry enough cash for the duration of your time away from towns with ATM machines and/or banks. Money belts are by far more secure than neck wallets for carrying most of your cash. Carry the bulk in your money belt and just enough for the day in a separate wallet or pocket. Food, clothing, and shelter Not all travelers carry complete backpacking gear. If you do, you have more options for traveling in remote areas where transit options may not exist. Waiting for rides that could take over a day may mean tent, food, water, cold weather clothing, etc. Being willing to hike means knowledge of backcountry travel techniques. Defining “danger” Everyone's perception and tolerance of danger varies. Learning about perceived dangers can put them in perspective and lower your fears. Political instability Unstable political situations may lead to anything from demonstrations to riots, to civil strife, and outright war. All lead to State Department warnings but not all necessarily prevent travelers from exploring the area. Many situations are local, well publicized, and easy to avoid. Unfamiliar locales Most people are leery of the unknown. City people may think the remoteness of the country is dangerous. Country people think the cities are dangerous. And many people from Europe and North America think travel in developing and third world countries is dangerous. Food handling Once off the beaten path, food options often become limited. It’s no longer possible to stick with restaurants well-documented as having safe food-handling techniques. Plus, one of the benefits of remote travel is trying unusual food. The danger comes from food-born pathogens that could lead to a variety of intestinal problems. Narcotic producing areas Some areas of some countries are known for narcotics. Once again, talking with locals and other travelers can help determine how best to handle these areas. For example, in some places it’s as simple as being off the roads at night in remote areas. Natural hazards Everyone has their own comfort level when faced with natural hazards. Do you avoid the entire Ring of Fire, avoid known active volcanoes, or do you go hike on them? Do you avoid the midwest during tornado season? Do you understand that even the cutest wild and feral animals may behave in unexpected ways? Defining “safety” In most cases, the more knowledgeable you are, the safer you are. This is true whether contemplating insect repellent for an area that has malaria or making obvious note of the person sitting behind you on a long-distance bus. Knowledge and education Educating yourself about the local area, culture, and mores can prevent misunderstandings and help engender friendliness when locals realize you honor their customs. State Department The U.S. Department of State has a number of resources of interest to those going off the beaten path. Their Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a useful tool to stay informed about issues that may arise when you are away from the news for a while. Make others aware of your plans While it’s not always possible or appropriate to be in touch with responsible family and friends every day, letting them know of your proposed route and itinerary can provide useful information in the unfortunate instance when you do not report in by a pre-determined time. Situational awareness Anything which can dim your perception of your surroundings can make you are target. While drug and alcohol use may be obvious methods to reduce perception, even listening to music or watching movies on portable electronic devices can affect your awareness of what's around you. Also, avoid showing items which might be of value to others, whether it’s wearing jewelry, taking pictures with a camera that costs more than locals make in a year, or pulling out your laptop. Understand health issues Knowledge of First Aid is good. Knowledge of Wilderness First Aid is better. Even when not going into the wilderness, remote towns are far enough from health clinics and hospitals to warrant the additional knowledge. Also, be aware of local maladies, their symptoms, and for the more common ones such as malaria, the medicines necessary to cure them in the areas where you’ll be traveling. Accept that problems such as food poisoning may happen and know what to do. Transportation Be open to a variety of transportation options beyond the intercity buses and local taxis and tuk-tuks that most tourists use. Payment is often made to the driver’s assistant. Tell them where you are going and they’ll tell you how much. There’s almost never a sign posted with rates. Vans / colectivos / jitneys These are small buses or vans that often ply local roads, often on set routes but not necessarily on any set schedule. They run frequently enough to just wait if you don’t have a set schedule. Chicken buses / repurposed school buses These are often retired U.S. school buses and the like sent to countries with less rigorous laws or less picky people. They are used as public buses, and restrictions on capacity are routinely ignored. Many are works of art and decorated inside and out, painted, and adorned with fringe and religious figures and sayings. Don’t be surprised to find three adults sitting on a seat, children on laps, chicken and rabbits in bags underfoot, and the aisle packed with more people. Songthaews / trucks / pick-ups These vehicles are often open sided with bench seating along the sides and sometimes the middle. You enter from the back. Motorcycles Small motorcycles are the transportation of choice in many areas. Whether you rent one for a day, a week, or just hop on the back of a motorcycle taxi. They can be dangerous though. If possible, get a helmet with your rental. Hitchhiking For places where there is no public transit, hitchhiking may be your only option. Make yourself look neat. Keep your valuables on your person and hidden. Trust your instincts. Learn local techniques and laws. Boats / ferries Some destinations either require or are more interestingly gotten to over water. Ox carts You can walk faster than most ox carts, but sometimes going slower and not carrying all your stuff is a better option. Bicycles Bicycles can be a great way to be self-sufficient and get off the beaten path. Have plenty of patches, spares, an extra spoke or two, and a good knowledge of bicycle repair. Foot A slower way to get away from it all, but it can be a great way to get away from even smaller towns. For hikers, walking from town to town over mountains may be a great way to see an area. Links U.S. Department of State State Department travel section Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) Hitchhiking Hitchwiki Travels and Trails Hitchhiking page Last updated, February 19, 2014.

Tips and Tricks Body considerations Chafing Foot changes - how they grow while on long hikes Swollen hands? Hair care. Long or short? Why do hikers smell so bad? Trail management Cookless backpacking So, you want to find a thruhiking partner... Trail Documentation - how do you carry all the necessary information? Rock Piles? (aka Cairns or Ducks) GORP - Good Ol' Raisins and Peanuts Hitching Bears Snakes Resupply vs. Maildrops Money, Money, Money Dogs on the trail Mailing Laundry soap Winter water management Philosophy Weird Food - or cultural biases in food appreciation Hiking cheap - or how to plan for trail expenses Priorities - or how I made my own "luck" Trail Names Peak Bagging A.T. Approach Trail - to hike it or not to hike it. AMC: Appalachian MOUNTAIN Club or Appalachian MONEY Club? Travel management Travel Documentation Solo Risk Management Getting Off the Beaten Path

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