Tokyo in cherry blossom season — without paying peak-season prices.
When to go, where to pause and how a little timing changes the entire experience.
Read the guide →A lifetime of independent travel
The world is better first-hand.
I’ve spent decades exploring the world, learning what makes a journey memorable and finding simpler ways to travel farther. This is where I’m finally gathering those stories.
From my travelsBarbados
100+countries I’ve visited
6continents I’ve explored
Decadesof my notes and stories
“I’ve learned that the best trip rarely follows the plan exactly.”
Why I’m sharing this
This isn’t another travel blog.
This is my growing collection of places I’ve seen, mistakes I’ve made, shortcuts I’ve learned and moments I still remember. Everything here comes from experience — not a checklist assembled from behind a desk.
Some pieces may help you plan a better trip. Others are simply stories I want to preserve. Together, they are a record of a life made richer by curiosity.
From my travels
Three good places to begin.
What I’ve learned along the way
Travel better.
Keep the wonder.
I believe useful advice should make the mechanics easier, leaving you free to pay more attention to the place itself.
Start hereA few pins on my map
Places that stayed with me.
The traveller behind the backpack
I’m John Chapman.
I’m 80, still curious and still going. Over the years I’ve collected hundreds of practical tips, decades of writing and a lifetime of stories from around the world. The Lonely Backpack is where I’ll share them, one journey at a time.
Read my story →