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Carry-On Travel Backpacks | Facts & Fiction​​

Ahhh carry-on backpacks. Who needs professional baggage handlers when you can lug all of your stuff in a carry-on bag  across the vast expanse of a massive airport with only the assistance of numerous moving sidewalks? My legs hurt just thinking about it!

Ok, I’m being a touch dramatic…

There is certainly a time and a place when carry-on is the best solution. I did my first 5 month trip around SE Asia with only a 30L shoulder bag filled with a couple of tank tops, t-shirts, a pair of flip flops, and a couple pairs of shorts. That said, aside from a little bit of walking and some diving, I spent the bulk of the time getting acquainted with the local beer of choice and lounging on the beach. Not really too gear intensive of an adventure.

For some reason unbeknownst to me, carry-on has now become a solution that is labelled as one-trip-fits-all. Even worse, angry corners of the internet travel community seem to proclaim anything but carry-on makes you some form of a lesser traveller. They get together to spread alternative facts across the travel blogging world, all while sporting red hats bearing the slogan “make luggage great again”… Riding a populist wave, these groups leave a trail of hatred and malice in their wake, by shunning everything non-carry-on and all clothing not made exclusively from Merino wool…

Ok, maybe I’m being a touch dramatic again.

Let’s just say the carry-on only crowd are a passionate lot and there is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to the idea that you gotta be travelling carry-on. That’s why I’ve put together this list of reasons why the carry-on solution is not the be-all end-all solution to travel backpacks. I confess that some of the time carry-on is the optimal solution. However, it does not constitute the “last luggage solution you’ll ever need”. On a long journey, a carry-on bag can easily be a nuisance in its own right. Here are a few reasons (both comical and serious) to think twice before joining the alt-luggage community and swearing allegiance to the carry-on no matter the circumstance.

It’s selfish.

Many of the blogs and articles advocating a one-bag solution and carry-on only will tell you to wear your bulkiest items on the plane. This allows you to pack everything else in your bag (and fit it in). This is perfect for your fellow passengers who will either get to sit next to a derivative of the Michelin Man or try to move your coat, boots, 5 sweaters etc. from the overhead to make room for their personal item.

loaded up with carry on

You have to do all the work:

On most international flights your carry-on luggage is included free of charge. That’s so nice of the airline to give away another freebie on top of booze, airplane food, and mini pretzels! Not quite. You’ve paid for your checked baggage in the cost of your ticket, but have decided you’d like to try out a career as a baggage handler instead of leaving it to the pros.

Security sucks:

Instead of 1 or 2 bag trays, you get to pick through your bag for all of your liquids and gels and then cause a logjam as you wait for your 8 trays to come rolling through and proceed to practice your best repacking time in front of 100 people.

Carry-On Standards vary country to country:

You know your favourite toenail clippers? The ones that have been passed down through your family from generation to generation. They trimmed your grandma’s cuticles and now they’re trimming yours. In some countries, they might be carry-on approved (Canada allows small knives up to 6cm), but in other countries, you’ll be saying a teary goodbye to your strange family heirloom as the big bad security guy scolds you for your naivety (don’t even think about a small knife in the US).

It’s disrespectful to the memory of Anthony Bourdain.

The late and great Anthony Bourdain was quoted as saying  “I check my luggage. I hate the people struggling to cram their luggage in an overhead bin, so I don’t want to be one of those people.” Enough said right there…

Most of the concern of lost/delayed luggage is fear-mongering.

I’ve taken hundreds of flights over the course of my life and have never lost a bag or even had delayed luggage. According to the Air Travel Consumer Report issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, you face less than a 1% chance that a major airline will misplace your bags. Furthermore, delayed baggage is also quite rare. The best thing? If you have a travel credit card you’ll typically have insurance for delayed luggage – turning an unfortunate situation into a blessing and a new wardrobe!  If you’re still terrified of losing a bag, follow these tips from The Points Guy to help mitigate the 1% risk…

Carry on is not always free. Sometimes it’s even more expensive.

“Stop paying for a checked bag” the Facebook and Google Ads scream! That does sound nice… but is it true? Yes and no. In the U.S. and Canada, the majority of domestic carriers will charge you for checking, but not for carry-on. For international? The first checked is typically free so no benefit to carry on. What about ultra-discount carriers? This is where it gets a little murkier. In Canada, both Flair and Swoop charge more for carry-on than for checked (for both checked baggage is $5-20 dollars cheaper depending on the time it was purchased). In the US, Frontier charges the same for either ($30-$60 – it’s $5 cheaper for checked if purchased in advance). 

It’s nice to be free of your bag or backpack for a few hours.

When you travel, your bag is like your child. Like most parents, you love it dearly and always wonder if it’s okay. Sometimes though you need a rest, and it’s important to have a bit of “you” time. Checking your bag gives you that time! If you’ve ever walked around the expanses of Heathrow, Hong Kong International, Narita, or Dubai you’ll appreciate the feeling of freedom and Buzz-Aldrin-like weightlessness that checked luggage affords.   

You’re cheating the weigh-in and hoping you don’t get busted.

With a carry-on bag, you’re like a boxer or UFC fighter trying to drop down a class to fight a different opponent. Sure you may look like you meet the guidelines (you can fit your bag in those weird metal bag measurers), but when that smiling baggage attendant asks you to place your bag on the scale, you’re left with a sinking feeling. Then the weigh-in comes and you’ve blown your weight restriction out of the water. You’re left scrambling at the check-in desk to find a plastic bag to haul your in-flight essentials before bidding adieu to your “one-bag” as it journeys down towards the checked baggage hell you so feared.

If you don’t believe how easy this weight barrier is to cross, check out this fun infographic I built of a purely hypothetical, yet realistic, carry-on packing list (I even weighed each item myself :)….). Note that China Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Cathay Pacific (among many other major airlines) restrict carry-on bag weight to 7kg (yes, I’ve been busted before).

Carry-on luggage weight breakdown

It is (often) worse for the environment.

There’s been a huge push by the carry-on travel community to flaunt the idea that carry-on only is the answer to travel’s environmental impact, and maybe even the solution to climate change as a whole…. Who needs the Paris Accord, when you can carry-on!  Yes, I’ll confess that the potential for weight reduction can be beneficial for reducing jet fuel consumption, but this argument completely disregards the numerous incredibly harmful effects of carry-on only. Weight reduction benefits are easily offset by travel-sized containers and the purchasing of inexpensive items abroad on a use and dispose basis. I recently chatted with a traveler who bragged about her 25L bag, only to add the caveat that anything she doesn’t have or can’t carry she buys there and throws away. Environmentally friendly? I think not.   

Now that I’ve finished my transition to pariah of the online travel community by encouraging you to consider checking a bag, I’ll say this as a closing remark, I have no issue with traveling light and I have packed and traveled quite comfortably out of a 25L bag. That said, there are plenty of times and plenty of trips when traveling with a larger bag like our 60L Khmer Explorer Travel Set simply makes more sense (you had the option of stopping reading before the product plug…)!

Happy travels friends!

-MF   

Michael

Michael

Michael manages the gear side of Banana Backpacks and thoroughly enjoys spending his days playing with or dreaming of zippers, fabrics, and buckles. When he's not working on gear, you'll probably find him planning a whirlwind overseas trip or backcountry camping adventure.
Michael

Michael

Michael manages the gear side of Banana Backpacks and thoroughly enjoys spending his days playing with or dreaming of zippers, fabrics, and buckles. When he's not working on gear, you'll probably find him planning a whirlwind overseas trip or backcountry camping adventure.
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Banana Pancake Trail – The Southeast Asia Backpacking Route

Angkor Wat a stop on the Banana Pancake Trail

When the final bell rang at the end of my primary education I wasn’t thinking of college, frat parties, scholarships, or my future career. My mind was occupied with dreams of something else. Maybe it was the years of flipping through National Geographic magazines or being dragged around the world by my globetrotting parents. Whatever the reason, I knew that I wanted to do something different. I wanted to travel. As an 18-year-old thirsty for an adventure, I wondered where I should start my once in a lifetime journey. The Banana Pancake Trail was the perfect place to begin.

What is the Banana Pancake Trail?

When I set out to travel independently for the first time, I found myself (like many before me) with an open-ended ticket to Bangkok, Thailand. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Bangkok lies at the heart of the major Southeast Asia backpacking route often referred to as the Banana Pancake Trail.

Yummmm…. I’m sure you’re feeling hungry/excited already!

Anyways…

The name found its way into the traveler’s lexicon as a way of describing the backpacking superhighway and the network of guesthouses/hostels/restaurants serving up fried banana pancakes and other westernized treats to the throngs of foreigners exploring the heavily backpacked parts of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam (the exact boundaries are open to interpretation/debate and frequently add Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar).

The stops along the Pancake Trail include a series of backpacker haunts including Siem Reap (jumping off point to Angkor Wat), Ko Pha-ngan (full-moon party haven), Khao San Road (Bangkok’s backpacker mecca), Vang Vieng (former centre of wild tubing) and many more. These famous spots provide backpackers with many of the novelties of travel combined with all the comforts of home and unprecedented opportunities for socializing with fellow travellers (you can always try asking what countries the BP trail includes, if you need a conversation opener). You’ll be sampling snake blood or eating bugs one minute, before settling your stomach down with a burger and fries the next. If this juxtaposition doesn’t tickle your fancy, fear not!  Many of these backpacker haunts are often only a bus stop/tuk-tuk (3-wheel taxi)/moto ride away from a more authentic travel experience, allowing you to take a sip of a bit of whatever you fancy.

P.S. After reading this post, use the discount code PANCAKETRAIL to get 20% OFF all Banana Backpacks travel gear.

may bay along the banana pancake trail

Why travel this backpacking route through Southeast Asia?

Why the Banana Pancake Trail is perfect for first time travellers

If you’re looking to travel for the first time, you couldn’t choose a better route. My 4-month journey along this Southeast Asia backpacking route afforded me a wealth of incredible life experiences (many that I’m proud of and a few I’m not (drink Thai whiskey with caution…) and kicked off my ceaseless travel addiction. Here are a few of the reasons it’s one of the best backpacking routes you could choose for your first trip:

No language problems

Scared of arriving in a foreign country with no knowledge of the language? No problem, English is commonly spoken by locals in many areas along the Trail, making communication a breeze. That said, I always recommend learning at least a few basics (think hello, goodbye, thank you). You’ll be surprised at how many doors a little effort will open for you. If you can pick up saying thank you (cảm ơn bạn) in Vietnamese without invoking hysterical laughter, please reach out to me – your tutoring skills may be required…

It’s incredibly easy to get around

Air-conditioned buses roll out every minute and travel agents slap together itineraries including multiple bus rides, speedboats, and pickups in minutes. Sure, you’ll have to be careful of being overcharged, but logistical coordination is a breeze. Simply check a couple of neighbouring travel agents and, voila, you can find the best possible prices with hardly any effort! Not to mention Grab (and formerly Uber) have made negotiating a moto-taxi fare easier than ever (don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of other chances to hone these skills).

It’s (relatively) safe

Sure you’ll hear about the occasional bag-snatch or stolen passport/wallet, but incidents of violent crime against tourists are few and far between.

Is it safe for female travellers?

To avoid any risk of mansplaining here, I’ve had my sister, Anika, weigh in.  She’s spent extensive time traveling solo on the Banana Pancake Trail and lived in Cambodia. Here’s what she said about safety for female travellers on the Banana Pancake Trail: 

“Compared to Europe or South America, you can rest easy knowing you won’t be cat-called, questioned for traveling as a single female, or afraid of walking alone at night in most places. Like anywhere, incidents can still happen (more often with other tourists than locals), so make smart decisions. Generally speaking, this is one of the safer places to get acquainted with travelling.”

DON'T FORGET THIS

On the Banana Pancake Trail you’ll be riding on motorbikes, taking tuk-tuks, and trying adventure activities like scuba diving.  Don’t forget travel insurance! I went years without making a claim on my travel insurance until a suffered a broken collarbone and racked up medical bills in excess of $15, 000. Fortunately, I had the entire bill paid through insurance and got the care I needed. That one incident made years of paying for travel insurance a drop in the bucket! Don’t forget this. 

Check out World Nomads* for a quote.  Coverage includes options for medical, luggage & gear (including theft!) and trip cancellation.  Hopefully you never need to make a claim, but if you do you’ll be beyond happy you were prepared!

*We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

It’s easy to meet people

All of the guest houses, hostels, partying, and inexpensive activities make meeting new friends along the Pancake Trail a breeze. The one key tip  – take a moment away from tik-tok and always mind your surroundings, as there may be a new friend in your midst.

You can step off the beaten path (if you want)

Sure the abundance of fellow travellers, comforts of home, and good wifi connections may make you feel relaxed, but personal growth comes from discomfort. While the Trail is a major backpacking artery, it’s easy to step off the beaten path and every country on the trail offers ample opportunities to find the non-Westernized areas.  

Are Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam good for experienced travellers?

Okay, so maybe you’re not new to travelling. Don’t rule out a trip through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Use the main backpacker haunts as jumping off points for off-the-beaten-path-exploration. The minute you step outside of these heavily visited places, you’ll soon realize just how easy it is to get off the beaten path. All it takes is the willingness to look. Don’t rule out Siem Reap because Angkor Wat is packed, just dig a little deeper and you may find hidden temples you have virtually to yourself. Sure, Sapa can be touristed, so if that’s not your thing, rent a bike and take the trip up to Ha Giang where children chase you down, fascinated to see a foreigner exploring their hometowns surrounded by plunging gorges and jaw-dropping mountains.

relaxing at ko phi phi on the banana pancake trail

Should you bring a backpack or a suitcase?

A travel backpack is the best choice for the Banana Pancake Trail. A suitcase just doesn’t work when you’re riding on the back of motorbikes or walking long distances on uneven terrain in search of your hostel. Pick a backpack that’s weatherproof, easy to keep organized (not top-loading), and extremely durable. The Khmer Explorer Travel Set is the best backpack for this trip and was designed specifically for traveling on the Banana Pancake Trail!

How much does the Banana Pancake Trail cost?

When I set out on my Banana Trail adventure it cost me $4000 CAD for ~4 months of travel. I spared limited expense. I did skimp on accommodation from time to time and would go for week long stints eating a strictly street food diet. That said, I also took a full week’s worth of diving classes on Koh Tao, ate at many nice restaurants, and enjoyed the occasional private room with A/C. Sure, times have changed in the decade since I completed my first solo adventure, but as I’ve experienced in recent visits, this Southeast Asian backpacking route is still dirt cheap. Here’s a 2018 budget to give you an idea:  

Frugal traveller budget

$20-50 per day

You’re happy to have found a way to travel, or maybe you’re trying to maximize your travel time by minimizing money spent per day. Whatever your reason, if you’re watching your dollars, this is the budget for you.

Meals

$1-2 dollars. Lots of pho in Vietnam and tons of pad thai in Thailand. Expect to eat a lot of street food and enjoy convenience store beer or bia hoi (Vietnam’s answer to the micro brew ;)). You’ll be able to venture for more premium meals out on occasion, but it doesn’t take long for $10 dollar meals to blow the daily budget.

Cheap Rooms

$5-10. You welcome bunkmates in dorms and may find the occasional fan cooled private room. For an example of what you can expect, here’s a fantastic hostel that fits this budget bill, that I’ve been treated to in recent years in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Activities

You’ll be able to splurge on activities like a one day pass ($37 USD) to the Angkor Archeological Park, and the occasional budget cooking class and tour, but you’ll have to watch that you’re not doing too many of these activities in a given week. You’ll also have to watch that you don’t have too many excessive party nights (cocktails can be pricey).

Transport

Buses, motos, occasional cheap local flight.

Flashpacker budget

$50-100 a day

You appreciate the finer things in life, but aren’t ready to tuck yourself into a 5-star hotel just yet and still consider yourself a backpacker. You want to make the most of your trip. Maybe you’ll learn to scuba dive, drink premium cocktails, or go on a few private tours. If this is your style this is the budget for you.  

Accomodation

$20-60 depending on the city/country place/time/luxury level. You’ll usually get yourself a private room with A/C for this price (a notable exception is southern Thailand which can easily go higher). Here’s an example  of a $35/night for a private room with A/C at Lub’d in Siem Reap.

Meals
Large restaurant lunches and big dinners. Lunch will often set you back around $5. Dinner can climb into the $10-15 range (more if you enjoy cocktails over beer, water, soda or juice) and usually means going all out. Gluttony at its finest!
Activities

The flashpacker budget allows you to enjoy occasional big splurge activities like taking a scuba diving course in Ko Tao or trying canyoning or rock climbing.

Transportation

More frequent flights $40-100, premium buses, 1st class train coaches.  

tuk tuk

How long should you travel for in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam?

To accomplish a multiple country journey along the Banana Pancake Trail I strongly encourage a minimum of 6 weeks. This minimum will allow you to be flexible with your time, linger in the places you love, and not fret the ones you don’t. Don’t have 6 weeks? Less is more. Pick 1 or 2 countries and do them properly. If you have 2 weeks and are planning on hitting Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, maybe cut your trip down based on what is most important to you. If you’re dying to see the temples of Angkor or hit a Full Moon party, do it! Just don’t waste your limited time on border crossings and bus rides (or the sometimes awful combination of the two). Just start planning your second trip.

ha-long-bay

Banana Pancake Trail itinerary example

banana pancake trail map

These cover the majority of key stops along the Banana Pancake Trail in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia.  Stay as long or as short as you want in each and don’t be afraid to get off the well-trodden path.

Bangkok → Enter the heart of the Banana Pancake Trail, Khao San Road.

Koh Tao → Learn how to scuba dive by getting PADI certified with every other Banana Pancake Traveller.

Ko Pha-Ngan → The epicenter of the world famous Full Moon Party.

Krabi→ Climbing and beautiful beach chillin’.

Ko Phi Phi →  The world famous “Beach” at Maya Bay (temporarily closed due to overtourism so check before you go… and carefully consider your choice as a responsible traveller).

Siem Reap → The mystical temples of Angkor.

Phnom Penh → Get acquainted with Cambodia’s dark and recent past and witness its promising future.

Sihanoukville to access Koh Rong → Restart your beach and party engine.

Ho Chi Minh City → Wander the chaos of Ben Thanh Market and glimpse the horrors of war at the War Remnants Museum.

Da Lat → Not as “pancakey” as the other spots. Enjoy Vietnam’s coffee at its finest and experience an easy rider motorbike trip

Nha Trang → Pit stop at Vietnam’s largest beach resort.

Hoi An → Beautiful and incredibly touristed. Home to all forms of custom textiles/tailoring.

Hanoi → Experience the wonder of the capital, sit and sip Bia Hoi along a street corner and pay homage to the embalmed Ho Chi Minh himself.

Ha Long Bay → Take the iconic boat ride through thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes.

Sapa → Train north from Hanoi to the mountains of Sapa to experience trekking and the coldest temperature you’ve felt in months.

Luang Prabang → Experience the ancient capital with its many Buddhist temples.

Vang Vieng→ The infamous tubing (re-opened after cleaning up its act).

Vientiane → Experience Laos’s most important religious monument, the large golden Stupa.

Chiang Mai → Cultural mecca and swarms of digitally nomadic people.

Pai → Mountain/valley exploration.

Things to do in Phnom Penh

Should you book things in advance or just wing it?

In my opinion, the best way to travel the Banana Pancake Trail is a bit of both.  Book accommodation for the first couple nights you arrive from abroad. You’ll be tired from travelling, and the last thing you want is to be stumbling hostel-to-hostel in a jet lagged stupor! If you’re flying into Bangkok, book for 2-3 nights at one of the following spots:

    • If you came to Bangkok for a party Mad Monkey is your place. That’s all I need to say.
    • Quiet, clean, friendly Baan Kachitpan is a new and charming place that takes the cake for quality in the budget category. It’s also walking distance to Khao San Road and the Grand Palace area.
    • If you’d prefer to stay away from Khao San Road in the more upmarket Siam Square area, Lub d Bangkok is your spot. It’s a modern, renovated hostel with all the fixings.

After getting settled and meeting a few people, you’ll develop an idea of where you want to go next. From there, you can make a booking a couple days before heading out or just show up and wing it.  Historically, I’ve  had far worse experiences being stuck in a place I pre-booked and hated, than I have trying to find a place without without a booking.

You should be able to roll with this methodology throughout your trip. In the pre-Covid world, it was also a good idea to book accommodation well in advance for things like Ko Pha-Ngan Full Moon party, but with Thailand tourist statistics still well below their historical numbers this too is probably not required at the moment.

What do you need to bring and prepare for the Banana Pancake Trail?

Here are a few pointers/must packs for your Southeast Asia trip:  

Travel Insurance

.Hopefully you never need to make a claim, but if you do the decision you made to remember to buy travel insurance is likely to be one you thank yourself for making for the rest of your days. Check out World Nomads for a quote. 

Shots & medication

Determine if you require any vaccines before traveling to your destination. If you haven’t traveled to an equatorial region before, it’s highly likely you’ll need at least a few.

Vaccination can be a comprehensive process, so it’s a good idea to look into this a few months before departure.

Get an International Drivers Permit

If you’re planning on renting or driving a motorbike in Southeast Asia, you need to get your International Driving Permit.  Not every country will recognize your home country’s drivers license as valid. While most rentals will not ask for an international permit, the police check for it frequently in many countries and a foreigner on a scooters is often low-hanging fruit. If you’re thinking about renting a scooter or motorbike at anytime get your International Drivers Permit before your trip, just in case.

Use a VPN to stay safe online

On the Banana Pancake Trail your smartphone is often your map, translator, camera, and travel guide. It is only natural that you’ll find yourself connecting to the nearest public WIFI network to check something quickly when you’re on the road.   Stay safe on public wifi networks with a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN hides your identity online and prevents whoever runs the WiFi network from seeing what websites you’re checking out.  I use NordVPN constantly when I’m travelling and highly recommend you download and install it now before you forget! It typically doesn’t cost more that a couple dollars a month and as an added bonus, you can use it to mask your location and watch your favourite Netflix show on your long bus ride that might not otherwise be available in Thailand. 🙂  Check out this discount on NordVPN.

A quality travel backpack

Variable terrain and lots of walking make a travel backpack the perfect luggage choice. Leave the roller suitcase at home (you’ll thank me later). Check our our post on the best backpack for Thailand for more insight on what to look for.  

A everyday backpack or bag

For adventurous trips a great everyday backpack is essential. It’s your airplane carry-on, your laptop bag, hiking pack and beach bag. The customizable Kiri collection was built to be the ultimate day pack for trips like banana pancake trail. 

Unlock your cell phone

Call your network provider to ensure your phone is unlocked. This way you’re all set up to grab a new SIM card upon landing and avoid the pains of massive roaming charges and the sometimes questionable wi-fi (data is often way better and crazy cheap). All the countries along the Banana Pancake Trail tend to have dirt cheap SIMs readily available (although they often do not work when moving from one country to the next (ie. Vietnam SIMs won’t work in Cambodia).

Notify your bank

Many banks no longer require you to directly notify them of international travel to prevent an unwanted account freeze, that said, best to check the policy to be sure. Thousands of miles from home with no access to money is not a fun way to start.

Bring a bit of cash

A first stop after disembarking the plane is usually the cash machine. That said, the last thing you want to deal with when you land is a broken ATM and no money (been there). So take $100 USD in cash (small denomination is usually best). In a pinch you usually find a money exchange at the airport with poor rates (a necessary evil at times).

Bring a water bottle with water purification tabs or a Steripen

It’s hot. You’ll sweat. A lot. I wouldn’t recommend drinking the tap water in many places. Thinking of buying bottled? Please don’t. Traveller water bottle garbage is a HUGE problem for plastic pollution in the ocean. Bring your own bottle and use a Steripen (check price at Amazon / REI / MEC ) or purification tablets (view at REI / MEC) to purify the water if you can’t find any that is safe to drink (many hostels have water coolers you can fill up from).

Pack a portable power bank

Comes in handy when you need to charge your phone/tablet in a bind. I love this one by Zendure, it’s tiny and I get over 2 full charges on my Iphone 13 out of it. 

Choose clothes you feel comfortable in

I’m not going to tell you to bring 2 t-shirts, 1x, and 1y, because everyone is different. Some of you may view it worthwhile to pack a pair of jeans for a fancy night out in Bangkok or HCMC, others may find that proposition crazy. Some of you may want to bring your favourite tapered sweatpants, that’s fine too I guess… Before I hit the Banana Pancake Trail, I loaded up on breathable gear for a hot climate (thanks Dad…). I ended up wearing none of it, giving away a lot of it, and carrying the rest around for the duration of my trip…

The weather in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand is tropical and hot. There are generally two distinct seasons: rainy (several hours of intense rain) and dry.  Higher elevations (such as parts of Northern Vietnam) may be chilly at night. So pack items you’re comfortable in based on this. No need to redo your wardrobe…

One clothing item I wish I packed

One item that I wish I had brought, was an ultra-light sun hoodie! I learnt about these things from thru-hikers doing the PCT trail and they are an absolute game-changer for travel!  They let you get away without having to put sunscreen on/reapply on city days and help keep you protected on any post-burn days which inevitably happen after getting a little too tan-happy (been there!). They’re also surprisingly breathable and cool. The Sahara Sun Hoodie (check price at REI men’s/women’s) has served me well and you can’t beat the price. 

A sheet sleeping bag liner

I helped a good pal of mine pack for his first big trip and I told him to get a sheet sleeping bag liner. He wondered why he was lugging this little thing around until one night he was forced to crash in a place with questionable cleanliness. Suddenly, he wasn’t wondering why I insisted he brought this. Check out this one from Sea to Summit (check price Amazon / REI) that was built specifically for travel. 

Off the Beaten Path Laos

Final Thoughts

The Banana Pancake Trail has developed fame (and notoriety) as the definitive Southeast Asia backpacking route. It’s a great place to start out traveling for the first time or to use a as a jumping off point for more off-the-beaten-path adventures. Over a decade after my first journey here came to an end, I continue to feel immense gratitude for the life experience my first adventure through Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand brought me (I’m tearing up here!). I, the man speaking to you from behind the computer, highly recommends this experience to new and experienced travellers alike whether you’re into banana pancakes or not! 🙂

Happy travels friends!

Have you tasted a banana pancake? What did you think? Maybe you have questions about the Banana Pancake Trail or personal experiences? Maybe you’re a grumpy travel troll who would like to lambaste me for writing on this subject. Any of these categories are welcome in the comments below, although I’m not enthralled with the last option.

P.S. Don’t forget to use the discount code PANCAKETRAIL to get an incredible secret discount on Banana Backpacks travel gear.

Disclaimer:

*Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. If you click one of the links and make a purchase we’ll earn a small commission at no cost to you. We’re very particular about any products or services we suggest and we test and use them ourselves before making any recommendations or endorsements. *

Banana Backpacks Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

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Michael

Michael

Michael manages the gear side of Banana Backpacks and thoroughly enjoys spending his days playing with or dreaming of zippers, fabrics, and buckles. When he's not working on gear, you'll probably find him planning a whirlwind overseas trip or backcountry camping adventure.
Michael

Michael

Michael manages the gear side of Banana Backpacks and thoroughly enjoys spending his days playing with or dreaming of zippers, fabrics, and buckles. When he's not working on gear, you'll probably find him planning a whirlwind overseas trip or backcountry camping adventure.
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Searching for Human Connection on Instagram’s Most Famous Train Ride

I felt the rumbling of the tracks as the ground beneath me began to shake ever so slightly. Suddenly the rumbling gave way to a roaring and screaming crescendo. I looked up just in time to see the iconic baby blue train rolling into Hatton train station. This was one of the moments I’d been looking forward to on my Sri Lankan adventure, the epic train ride to Ella. Cited as one of the world’s most beautiful train rides, this journey passes through lush hills, waterfalls, and alongside tea plantations before finally crossing the breathtaking Nine Arch Bridge and pulling into the charming Ella station.

The trip would be one to remember, but first we had to get onboard…

Train travel is one of the best ways to get around in Sri Lanka and at a price of 200 Rs (~ $1.25 USD) it definitely checks the box as a value play. The downside (or upside from an experience perspective) is that seating is seldom reserved and quite literally, rushed. When the train pulls into the station, you scan the cars quickly to find your designated class, and you push past the people coming off and boarding to try your darndest to claim a seat.

My girlfriend, Kasey, and I were determined to get a seat. Having failed during our last attempts, we figured we’d tweaked our strategy enough to ensure we’d be able to ground our curry-laden bottoms on vinyl comfort for the duration of the 4 ½ hour trip from Hatton to Ella.

The train groaned to a stop and it was go time. Kasey went one way, I went the other. Divide and conquer. Take no prisoners. I moved quickly for the open seats in the middle of the compartment only to be blocked out by a dreadlocked traveller hauling a massive hiking backpack. All my hope now lay in Kasey’s hands. I saw her move quickly from the other side, bobbing and weaving toward the open seats. Unfortunately, an elephant pant-clad female pushed her way past and settled comfortably onto the soft vinyl upholstery.

Oh well. Standing in the aisle would provide further opportunity to strengthen our legs after having pushed through the 5500 steps at Adam’s Peak only hours before…

train to ella instagram photo

Getting settled into our standing aisle position we slowly became comfortable with the gentle movement of our bodies with the train. Swaying back and forth our rhythm was interrupted only by the food vendors yelling their offerings loudly as they pushed past us with trays laden with local snacks and naturally, Coca-Cola. As the train ride progressed, I couldn’t help but notice the demographics in our 2nd class compartment were highly skewed. Sure there were Germans, French, Americans, Russians, Spanish, and a variety of other nationalities, but the train was devoid of any locals, save for the two Sri Lankan ladies sitting near us. I guess 2nd class wasn’t exactly designed as a “travel” experience. In fact, it seemed to function more as a tourist trap on rails.

Putting this thought aside, we continued to bump along the countryside as the scenery became ever more magnificent. After several more hours had passed, I began to notice something else. No one was talking to or interacting with anyone outside of the groups they had boarded with. Individuals kept to themselves and focused on getting their iconic #traingram photo, a phenomenon that seems to have become a right of passage of the millennial travel experience in Sri Lanka. To the unindoctrinated, the #traingram involves hanging out the side of the iconic blue trains and having a friend snap a pic through the window (see the photo below for reference). Those not obsessed with ‘gram capturing, scanned the blue location dot on Google Maps, hoping to get the best estimate of the time remaining to Ella. The few locals onboard demonstrated their expertise at coping with foreign invaders (Sri Lanka once served as an English, Dutch and Portuguese colony) and appeared unfazed by the tourist activity around them.

Feeling somewhat disenchanted by this dystopian scene, I craned my head down to look out the window and observe the incredible scenery passing by outside. It was at that moment, that everything changed.

I looked over at Kasey and could tell she was fading fast…The 5550 steps, limited food, and two hours of sleep that comprised our hike up Adam’s Peak had begun to take their toll. She seemed on the verge of collapse in the middle of the aisle!

Without a moment’s hesitation, the Sri Lankan lady sitting in the seat adjacent to the aisle, shoved her friend over and motioned for Kasey to join her. Kasey looked back at her and with a huge smile, willingly obliged.   

seat on the train to ella

What transpired next was truly magical. Inspired by the action of these charming Lankans, many travellers shoved over to make room for the weary aisle occupant beside them and the entire mood of the train carriage changed, if only just a bit. In a single moment, perhaps when I needed it most, everything I love about travel had been reaffirmed. Even in the busiest and most touristed of places, genuine human connection has a way of shining through.

As the train completed its crossing of the iconic Nine Arch Bridge and lumbered into the charming Ella train station, I was no longer fussed by the throngs of tourists pushing to get out to the awaiting tuk-tuks. I smiled to myself, thinking of the impact one person’s simple gesture had in changing the actions of so many.