Having your entire life on your back is both freeing and daunting. Space is limited and you will feel every extra gram you add on your journey. Luckily, there are so many activities you can try out once you have reached your destination for the night that are easy to carry.
Any small, lightweight hobby can be brought backpacking. Download music, films and books onto your devices or put on a head torch and you can write, draw or play games. If you’re brave enough to venture into the cold then enjoy the night sky and take photos of the stars.
The night changes the feel of a place. A whole new set of animals come out to play and as the sunset colours fade you are left with a sparkling sky (weather depending of course!).
There are many hikers who spend all say walking so by the time they have eaten, pitched up and done their other daily chores they find themselves drifting off quickly.
On the other hand, others arrive early or at night owls and need entertainment for the evening. Fear not, below I cover a range of suggestions to keep yourself occupied for any long night.
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What To Do At Night While Backpacking
Whether you are camping or travelling between hostels there will be down time in the evening. The joy of travelling solo is that you can do whatever you feel like!
However, if that feels a bit daunting to you then we have some ideas to get you started and keep boredom at bay.
1. Read books
The debate of whether paper or electronic books are better is real. Bring a book and you can read during breaks in the day or by torch at night. Use a head torch or hang up your hand held one to create a lantern for a hands free approach.
2. Play games
If you meet people then great get them to join in but there are games to play solo. The obvious is learn to play solitaire but solo board games exist too. You can even get waterproof playing cards (Amazon) which will survive whatever the adventure through at you.
Any game which is small (think card based or dice games) wont take up much space in your backpack. If you have a favourite game that’s a bit larger seen if you can find a travel version or simply the game into a new smaller container.
The traditional games such as tiddlywinks (Amazon) can be adapted to be the perfect companion (few discs and your mug on your roll mat) or create your own with what you have or find around. Alternatively you can play games on any device you have brought with you.
3. Go stargazing
Once the sun sets, the sky slowly begins to sparkle. Wrap up warm, make a hot chocolate and get comfy. Allow yourself some time to do this because you need your night vision adjust and the night sky continues to develop across the night.
Keep an eye out for shooting stars or the satellites which fly overhead. If you have a camera pop it on a rock or tripod with a long exposure and get some incredible night time shots.
4. Listen to music, podcasts or an audiobook
Pop on the some earphones and be whisked away into a fairytale romance or Ancient Rome. There are so many audiobooks and podcasts available both factual and fictional to suit any taste.
This is not limited to evening time, many people will hike and listen to music too. Just watch your battery usage, portable chargers only have some many charges (unless you can recharge it).
5. Write in a journal
Pen and paper have so many usages. I am committed to my journal and I will not go anywhere without it, yet, I will admit that the beautiful journals you can buy in the shops can be pretty heavy.
I suggest if you do not already have a journal you are working on to bring a small notepad and a pencil. You can even get waterproof paper notebooks (Amazon) so you do not have to worry about the weather.
You can always document your journey, thoughts and ideas and write them up nicely later or just keep the collection of notebooks! The notepad below is Yop and Tom journal with the dot grid pattern. (Amazon).I have carried it on trips as it is my go to journal notebook and I have brought several of these but it is heavy for a notebook.
6. Play an instrument
Similar to the other hobbies, bring any small instrument. Harmonica is the traditional one but anything up to the size of a ukulele can be worth it if you enjoy playing. Alternatively just use your voice to sing, hum or whistle music and partner this with clapping, clicking your fingers or tapping sticks to create new sounds.
7. Watch a film
Many devices now are a multi-media entertainment system. Phones and tablets are both capable of downloading films or TV series onto them. Simply get cosy, pop up your device somewhere and settle down for the night.
8. Bring your hobbies
The options here are limitless. Almost every craft will have a more travel friendly alternative. Paint, draw or carve wood.
You can even crochet or do macrame (limit your yarn to one colour and a small project). If you fancied it you could even bring air dry clay (bring a small plastic pot and padding to protect it) or a small cross stitch set.
You can make your own kit or for a few pounds you can get complete sets that weigh almost nothing and only a few inches big. Check out charity shops as people regularly give these away.
I bet with a little bit of thought almost every hobby could have some aspect of it which you could bring in your backpack.
9. Do crosswords
Puzzle games can be a great way to spend your time as they require focus. There are a huge range and you can buy books of crosswords, sudoku or even mixed puzzle games (Amazon) or take them along from any magazines or newspaper articles you may already have.
10. Night photography
Modern cameras are so much better in low light conditions. Even most phones will have some manual settings to play around with or automatically give you the correct settings for the night sky.
After, of course enjoying the sunset set your camera to a long exposure. The longer the exposure the more light it will let in and the more likely you are to see more stars or if you’re lucky the Milky Way. Place your camera or phone down on a stable surface or tripod and let it do its thing.
Light painting is also a fun way to spend the evening and does not require a clear sky. Use small torches, glow sticks or sparklers if you have them. Then move the light swiftly in a pattern. This effectively looks like you have painted in mid air! If you are alone, set your camera to either have remote control or put on a timer to allow you to get into position.
11. Make nice food
Dehydrated food or boil in the bag is a really efficient way of cooking if you are camping. It conserves time and your gas supply, however, sometimes it can be nice to have a change. If you have time in the evenings then try making something a little more complicated.
Whether you managed to forage some goodies en route or simply pack a few spices you can create a whole new taste to the food. My personal favourite is to put the boil in the bag food into wraps. You can always add some hard cheese or preserved meats too (always ensure you meet the food hygiene guidelines).
A point to note that if you do bring wraps (or any food that you need to reseal) make sure you bring a second resealable food bag. Your backpack will have its own microbiome and it will make your wraps mouldy. I learnt this the hard way and within 24 hours of me not sealing my wraps correctly, they were green!
12. Meditate
There is no wrong way to do this. Empty your mind or focus intently, become present to the here and now or say positive affirmations. You can include laying down, sitting still or bring movement and stretches into your session.
The whole idea is to bring you relaxation and peace so try a few things out. You can always listen to a guided meditation or mindfulness session to take inspiration of.
13. Do nothing
Our lives are full of to-do lists, people contacting us and non-stop stimulation that actually taking time to disconnect, switch off and do absolutely nothing can be really refreshing.
So if you want to hop straight into bed or sit around daydreaming simply let yourself do it. You do not need to rush around doing tasks that others may find more exciting. This time is for you, do what you wish with it.
14. Look at the days photographs
Digital photography is a life saver. You can take as many photos as you need to get the perfect shot. On the other hand, it normally means you have 20 photographs of the exact same thing with 17 of them blurry.
Save yourself the mammoth task of sorting through these when you get home by deleting the terrible ones. Out of focus? Accidentally of the floor? Your thumb got in the way? Get them gone!
Of course, if signal permits you can select a few good ones and post them on social media or rub your trip in with friends and family.
15. Nighttime walk
Some hikers will literally walk dawn to dusk and beyond so they will only sleep once they pitch up for the night. Personally, I like to set up camp in the daylight. I nearly always miss something in the dark and undoubtedly regret packing up a damp set of socks in the morning!
This does not mean, however, that once you all set up you can’t go for a wonder in the dark. This all depends on where you are and how safe you feel but a short walk at night can be really rewarding.
Everything looks different in the dark. Bats fly overhead, the owls hoot and there is a vast stillness. Not to mention on a clear night you can see the stars overhead.
If you do decide to go for a nighttime walk, make sure you know where you are going and bring a head torch just in case. The night can be bright (the moon really can cast shadows!) but cloud cover or fog can come in quickly and make navigating a lot harder.
16. Learn a new skill
With no distractions, this is the perfect time to learn a new skill. Through books, apps, ID charts or podcasts you can learn everything about anything. Some suggestions I can make are learn to tie knots, identify wildlife, learn a language (try Duolingo, it’s free!) or listen to a podcast about history or marine biology.
Literally anything that takes your fancy. Practical or theoretical. It’s all learning and will all develop you into a more knowledgeable person.
Hopefully some of those will appeal to you and long dark evenings backpacking will not seem as daunting. There are so many ways to entertain yourself after dark and the only limit is your imagination (and perhaps space in your backpack!).
Also do not feel like you need to bring loads to do. Enjoy some well earned rest and remember there are essential tasks that need to be completed first.
How Much Time Do You Have After Dark When Backpacking
The time you have after dark when backpacking will vary massively. It all depends upon when you arrive at your destination, whether or not you have eaten dinner already and how long it takes you to do ‘the chores’.
Firstly, you have how long it will take to reach your location. I regularly plan hikes (although it could be by bike or train) and there are ways to estimate this.
One approach is to work out the distance on your map, assume it will take you 15 minutes to walk a kilometre on flat and add an extra minute for every contour crossed on the map (I am assuming a 10m raise per contour though it better to allow more time than you think you need than less). You can then work out roughly how long the route will take you.
Of course, more experienced hikers will know their pace and may not need such a direct plan. Just remember to factor in how fast you personally walk comfortable and allow extra time for the kit you are carrying and for the terrain. This approach will allow you to give yourself a ETA from the time you set off.
For the following list I will assume you are camping to some degree although many are applicable to staying in a hostel too. There are a few somewhat chores involved in backpacking which you will need to fit into both your evening and morning routine before heading onwards. The tasks are the following:
1. Pitch Up Your Tent
If you’re at a campsite, this will be the first thing I would do. Get up your tent and get your kit inside. This gives me piece of mind that if the weather takes a sudden turn that everything will stay dry. If it’s already raining I will be drying off immediately!
A simple tip is the try and keep all wet and dirty kit to a localised point. A porch is a good place to store boots and your waterproofs especially if they are wet.
If you have a smaller tent which is very logical if you’re carrying it then limit the mud and dampness to near the door so you have a clean dry space to sleep.
Also ensure that throughout the evening all your food is in the main compartment of your tent with you and sealed. You do not want to encourage wildlife to eat your food. At best you loose food, and at worst the wildlife is extremely dangerous.
2. Work Out Where You Are Going To Go Bathroom
Campsite toilets can be a trek to get to and if you’re wild camping you may need to find a suitable place. There are rules to where you can go to the loo!
Firstly, you do not want it too close to your tent and secondly you cannot contaminate water supplies so near streams is a no go. For numbers twos, keep your toilet paper and trowel accessible.
Last thing you want is to wake up in the middle of the night desperate for a pee and not sure where to go. Although they may be more of a female issue!
3. Find A Water Source
Water is heavy and if you are carrying your whole trips supply of water in your backpack I will be amazed.
Use the campsites facilities to top up your bottles. If you are wild-camping, see if you can find a suitable stream and use a filter and water sterilisation tablets to ensure it is safe to drink.
Many people do not drink enough during the day. Obviously try and make the effort to stay hydrated but if you are like me, the evening is the perfect place to rehydrate.
4. Cook Dinner
A warm meal is a lifesaver. The calories keep you warm (and cool!), give you energy and keeps at bay the dreaded ‘hanger’. Even if you are tired make the effort to get a warm meal in you. This can be fairly quick depending upon what your dinner option is and how fast you choose to eat it.
5. Wash Up
You will be carrying everything except the kitchen sink! This can complicate washing up but it is as simple or difficult as your dinner choices make it. Boil in the bag type food leaves no mess apart from your cutlery and wrapper. If you cooked in a pan then you will need to do your best to wash it up.
Use biodegradable wipes and/or water to get rid of any food residue and give it a final clean with a wet wipe to kill any germs. Water is a limited resource when backpacking and washing up liquid is extra weight so usually is impractical.
If you are staying at a campsite they may have washing up facilities you can use and bringing a small tub will be helpful or see if you can borrow some!
6. Keep Up With Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene whilst backpacking is essential. Being in the great outdoors, things including you get dirty fast and showers are not regularly available. So every evening and morning make sure you clean your teeth properly, brush your hair and shave if you want to.
I would also make the effort to have a flannel wash once a day. There are two ways to have a ‘shower’ without a shower. You can choose to use biogradable wet wipes which you need to carry until you find a bin or have a cloth wash.
I personally prefer using a facecloth and will heat up some water (usually the left over from making a brew) and put it in a container (my camping stove is a jet boil so I normally use the plastic cover at the bottom, although you can also use a spare waterproof bag). I add some body wash and then dip in my cloth and give myself a wash.
I use two face cloths, one for my face and one for EVERYWHERE else. Remember it’s the nooks and crannies that get the most sweaty. Make sure you are properly dry especially your feet as prolonged wetness can cause problems.
I will normally add some talc to my feet also to keep them dry. Judge this on the weather of your backpacking trip as a lot of talc can make your feet feel cold.
7. Try And Dry Wet Kit
This is quite difficult to do when camping because if you’re wet chances are everything else is too. Some campsites will have a full laundrette but this is a luxury. So you have to be creative.
For wet clothing, shake and ring out the clothes. Get all the excess water off it. If the weather and location allows try and hang these items up. A good breeze can do wonders. Alternatively, try and lie them flat inside your tent. It is unlikely they will dry by morning this way but they have a better chance than being screwed up into a ball in some dry bag.
Nothing is worse than wet socks, except wet boots. If you are a regular backpacker get yourself a pair of waterproof socks. Slip these on over a dry pair of socks while you are doing your evening routine and the heat from your feet will help dry out your boots while your feet stay dry.
I would not recommend walking in them though as it will make your feet extra sweaty but you can judge that and change if necessary.
Another few tips I have found useful is to take out the insole. I find my insole holds water in the boot and more airflow can dry it faster outside the boot. I also find adding talc to the boot can help. I am not sure if it actually dries faster but it definitely feels dryer to my feet when I put them back on!
8. Check The Weather Forecast
Check both the upcoming nights and tomorrow’s weather even if you are not camping. Heavy rainfall during the night may lead to some hiking routes being flooded, or fords too dangerous to cross even if there is sunshine the following morning . If you are camping, rain may flood your tent so you need to consider your positioning ensuring you’re not in a ditch or stream bed.
Strong winds can lift tents, do you need to reinforce your attachments or relocate to a more sheltered spot on the forecasted wind direction. A weather front coming in the following day may also force you to change route to lower grounds. Having back up plans not only makes the backpacking trip less stressful but also is essential for safety.
9. Plan Your Route
Even if you have already got an idea in mind it never hurts to double check your route. Once you are closer to the area you can make more accurate assessments on weather, terrain and how fatigued you are feeling and adjust your route accordingly.
You can also double check your location and direction so you know exactly where you are heading the following morning. This is particularly helping if you arrive in daylight but plan to leave before dawn.
Furthermore, you may see places of interest that you missed before or another backpacker has recommended checking out. Open up your map the night before so you can shoot off easily in the morning.
10. Organise Your Kit
Unless you are an extremely disciplined backpacker chances are you just chuck stuff back into your backpack on the move. Snacks, rubbish, spare layers all dumped into a side pouch can soon add up. The evening is the perfect chance to dispose of rubbish (if there is a bin) and ensure all your kit continues to be waterproofed and accounted for.
Before you go to bed, it’s good practice to ensure that everything is inside your backpack except your sleeping arrangement to keep it neat, tidy and as dry as possible from condensation. In the morning, back everything up ready to go, with the items you are most likely going to need at the top or in side pouches (for example; warm layers, waterproofs and the days food).
As you can see there are plenty of tasks that need to be completed at the end of the day. Fortunately, once you have got your tent up many of these tasks can be completed quickly, especially after a few days of practice.
For me, I normally can eat and set up camp and eat in about an hour without feeling like I am rushing. Then you have the whole evening to enjoy doing whatever you feel like or simply going to bed.
Conclusion
The night of a solo backpacking trip should not be daunting. The downtime in the evening will actually start going really fast! Fresh air and exercise will make you fall asleep easier and there are so many activities you could be doing to keep occupied. Or simply make the most of the peace and quiet. Once back home you will wish you still had it!
If you still do find yourself with too much time on your hands at your destination, consider spending longer out walking. Not everyone finds long hikes fun but I have a few tips on how to make walking more enjoyable here!
I hope you found this article helpful and look forward to giving a few ideas a go whether you are camping or travelling with a backpack another way. Happy Backpacking!
