Tips for a good night’s sleep whilst backpacking

A long day backpacking can be exhausting, so it’s important to make sure that you’re getting a good night’s sleep in between each new adventure to keep you feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed throughout your travels.

Because backpackers don’t usually get to stay in 5-star luxury it’s important to be prepared in order to ensure you sleep soundly.

Here are our 5 top tips to a good night’s sleep when backpacking:

1)      Take earplugs

You never know where you’re going to be sleeping next when you’re a backpacker.  You could end up in a dorm with someone who snores, a dripping tap, thin walls and noisy neighbours, or a clanking heater – don’t let annoying noises disrupt your sleep, just slip those earplugs in and drift off.

2)      Pack an eye mask

Eye masks aren’t just for divas, they’re handy if bright light tends to wake you up very early.  The place you’re staying at probably won’t have any kind of black out blind, and maybe not even curtains, so without an eye mask you may end up waking at the crack of dawn, not ideal if you’ve had a late night too.

3)      Drink a hot caffeine-free drink

Sleeping in a new place every night can leave you feeling disorientated and put your natural body clock out of sync.  If you struggle to wind down from the day try sipping a hot caffeine-free drink like herbal tea or hot milk to help you to relax before bed.

4)      Comfortable sleepwear

Think about the place where you’re staying, is it going to be hot or cold in the night? Make sure you’re wearing comfortable, loose pajamas that aren’t going to leave you shivering or sweating during the night.

5)      Take your own pillow

If you’re fussy about your pillow then it may be a good idea to bring your own.  Every hostel that you stay at will have a different pillow, some more comfortable than others, taking your own and having one constant every time you get into bed can be comforting and make it easier to get to sleep.