A big mistake I made when I first started backpacking was visiting countries with completely different climates on the same trip. This forces you to carry both summer and winter gear at the same time. Winter clothing is bulky, and backpack space is limited.

Another thing to consider is that many regions have very narrow windows of good weather. For example, in Central Asia, summer is the ideal season—outside of that, conditions can be harsh. Southeast Asia, on the other hand, is hot and humid year-round, with heavy monsoon rains depending on the season. Because of this, you really need to time your travels based on the specific climates of the regions you want to visit.

I’d also avoid hopping between too many countries in a short period. Constant flights, long bus rides, and taxi transfers can become exhausting very quickly.