Why Backpackingbongos?
Well the aim of this blog is to write about my backpacking trips. So what is backpacking?
Usually it involves filling a rucksack with tent, sleeping bag, stove and food and heading into the hills for a few days. Nights are spent wild camping or in bothies if they are available.
Wild camping in Snowdonia
To me it can also mean filling your rucksack with a few clothes and a passport and heading overseas for a few months / years. Just as much fun and the weather is usually a bit better!
Dodgy boat across the Mekong in Laos
And the Bongo bit? Well last year we bought ourselves a Mazda Bongo campervan. Strange name but a cool vehicle. If I am heading for the hills and fancy a bit of luxury camping I will take the van, great for those long winter nights when a small backpacking tent is not always inviting! I am now always on the lookout for potential sites that would make good wild camp spots for the van – remote picnic sites, mountain passes and the end of the road!
The bongo on a campsite in the Rhinogs – Snowdonia
Enjoyed very much browsing around your site; some great trip reports and photos.
I also wondered if you could offer some advice?
I have been thinking about a campervan for a while, mainly for the winter months. Your Bongo seems nice and tidy and looks like it would suit my needs. Is the Mazda something you would recommend and do you have any advice regards where to buy and what sort of prices I should be paying. Thanks Paul.
By: Paul on August 4, 2009
at 9:53 am
Hi Paul, Cheers for your comment.
I would highly recommend the Bongo if you are thinking about getting a campervan. We looked at all sorts such as VW’s before finally settling on the Bongo. What made us choose it? Firstly it would be our only vehicle and we live in the city, so we wanted something compact and easy to park. I had never driven a van before and the bongo is very easy to drive, as easy if not easier than a car as it is automatic. I also wanted something that had power to get up steep mountain roads and was quick on the motorway – with a 2.5l turbo it certainly fits that bill. Finally pricewise we felt we were getting more for our money with a Bongo than say a VW – we paid £4,600 18 months ago for an unconverted one with pop up roof and 70,000 miles on the clock.
Cost wise it depends if you want one that has been converted or not – you can easily pay £10,000 and more then. If you go for a non converted one with pop up roof then we paid a good price at the time – however they may be cheaper now with the recession and all that. Tin tops when we got ours were going for around £3k
A good resource is Bongofury – check it out on my ‘other links’.
Any questions give me a shout.
By: backpackingbongos on August 4, 2009
at 5:11 pm
Hi,
I stumbled across your site through the Google Blog Search.
You have quite an intriguing blog here. I’ve always thought of backpacking myself and you’ve got me closer to pursuing it.
Anyways, I digress. I’m interested in offering you a guestblog on cheapoair.wordpress.com.
We’d love to share your experiences with our ever-growing audience.
Thanks for your time,
Aldo
By: aldo on August 12, 2009
at 3:54 pm
Hi Aldo
What sort of material would you be looking for?
James
By: backpackingbongos on August 13, 2009
at 7:18 pm
I would love it if you could write a piece about backpacking in Ireland…
Please let me know if you’re interested.
By: aldo on August 13, 2009
at 7:53 pm
Aldo, although I have travelled around Ireland in a campervan I could not really define it as backpacking. I could do something on ‘wild camping’ in the uk?
By: backpackingbongos on August 17, 2009
at 6:44 pm
That would be fine with me, please email me at asinger@cheapoair.com for further details.
By: aldo on August 17, 2009
at 6:47 pm
I can not believe this I have a twin. I am a Bongo driving light weight cycle touring woodstove burning longdistance traveling bloke. I knew it all feels right.
By: warren sanders on December 12, 2009
at 9:48 pm
Hi Warren, its good to hear that I have got a twin out there! You drive the best vehicle there is alongside having the best combination of interests!
By: backpackingbongos on December 13, 2009
at 8:42 pm