Backpacking movies, a subgenre of adventure and travel films, offer viewers a thrilling escape into the world of exploration, self-discovery, and the exhilarating challenges of life on the road.
These films feature intrepid travellers who embark on epic journeys with little more than a backpack, venturing into the unknown to discover new landscapes, cultures, and themselves.
I understand that ‘backpacking’ can be a reference to either travelling with a backpack or backpacking in the form of hiking. These movies about backpacking show both sides.
Some are real-life stories and others are fictional.
Disclaimer: I own none of the rights to the pictures here, they are used under fair use terms to discuss the movies.
Best Backpacking Movies
Whether it’s trekking through rugged wilderness, navigating bustling cityscapes, or simply seeking personal growth through adventure, backpacking movies capture the essence of wanderlust and the human spirit’s unquenchable thirst for adventure.
Into The Wild (2007)
Into The Wild is about Christopher McCandless leaves his privileged life behind and gives away all his possessions in order to hitchhike across the US to Alaska.
The movie follows Christopher McCandless, a recent college graduate who is disillusioned with the materialism and conformist lifestyle of society. McCandless donates his savings to charity, abandons his possessions, and adopts the alias “Alexander Supertramp.”
He embarks on a cross-country journey, hitchhiking and travelling with minimal resources.
McCandless eventually makes his way to Alaska, where he dreams of living off the land and finding true freedom in the wilderness. Along the way, he encounters a series of characters who have a profound impact on his journey, including a hippie couple and a retired Army veteran.
As McCandless ventures deeper into the Alaskan wilderness, he faces the harsh realities of survival, including hunger, isolation, and the unforgiving natural environment.
Despite the beauty and serenity of the wilderness, his quest for self-discovery becomes increasingly challenging and dangerous. For those looking for backpacking movies for adventure, then this is the one to watch.
Wild (2014)
Wild follows Cheryl Strayed, a woman who is grappling with personal demons and the aftermath of a series of tragic events, including the death of her mother, the dissolution of her marriage, and a descent into destructive behaviour.
Feeling lost and overwhelmed, Cheryl decides to take drastic action.
With little hiking experience, Cheryl sets out to hike over 1,000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a challenging long-distance hiking trail that spans from the Mexican border to Canada through the western United States.
Cheryl’s journey on the PCT becomes a physical and emotional odyssey as she confronts the hardships of the wilderness, including extreme weather conditions, physical exhaustion, and encounters with wildlife.
As Cheryl hikes the trail, she reflects on her past, confronts her inner demons, and begins to find a sense of healing and self-acceptance. Along the way, she encounters fellow hikers who provide support and camaraderie, and she learns valuable lessons about resilience, self-reliance, and the power of nature.
“Wild” is a story of personal transformation, inner strength, and the healing power of nature. It explores themes of grief, forgiveness, and self-discovery as Cheryl confronts her past and seeks redemption through her journey along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Spiritual and adventurous it’s a must-watch for any avid hiker and is one of the best backpacking movies to see.
It is also based on a true story.
The Way (2010)
The Way is a beautiful movie, both emotionally and for the scenery. It’s about a father who decides to walk the Camino de Santiago from France into Spain after his son dies on it.
The story revolves around Tom Avery, an American ophthalmologist played by Martin Sheen. Tom’s life takes a dramatic turn when he receives news that his son, Daniel, has died while attempting to complete the Camino de Santiago, a historic pilgrimage route in northern Spain.
Daniel had embarked on the journey but died in a storm in the Pyrenees. Overwhelmed by grief and a sense of unfinished business with his son, Tom decides to travel to France to collect Daniel’s remains and bring them back to the United States.
However, upon arriving in France, Tom has a change of heart and decides to honour his son’s memory by completing the Camino pilgrimage himself, carrying Daniel’s ashes with him on the journey.
As Tom embarks on the Camino de Santiago, he encounters a diverse group of fellow pilgrims, each with their own reasons for undertaking the journey. Along the way, he forms bonds with these individuals, sharing their joys, sorrows, and personal stories.
The pilgrimage becomes a transformative experience for Tom as he reflects on his life, his relationship with his son, and his grief.
This is easily one of the best backpacking movies to watch.
What is hiking if not a walking meditation?
Wildlike (2014)
Wildlike is the story of a teenage girl who runs away in Alaska. She is found and helped by a backpacker who tries to get her back.
The film’s protagonist is Mackenzie, a 14-year-old girl. After a traumatic event involving her mother’s death, Mackenzie is sent to live with her uncle in Seattle. However, her uncle’s behaviour becomes increasingly disturbing, leading Mackenzie to flee.
Alone and with nowhere else to turn, Mackenzie meets a hiker named Bart while in Juneau, Alaska. Bart is an older man who is also dealing with his own personal struggles. Bart offers to help Mackenzie find her way back home, and they set out on a journey through the stunning Alaskan wilderness.
As they navigate the challenges of the wilderness, the bond between Mackenzie and Bart deepens. Their journey becomes not only a physical trek through the rugged landscape but also a journey of healing and self-discovery for both of them.
Along the way, they must contend with the natural hazards of the Alaskan wilderness and confront their own inner demons.
This movie won loads of awards and you can see why. It’s not just a backpacking movie with epic scenes of the Alaskan wilderness, it’s also a coming-of-age story.
Walking The Camino (2013)
Walking The Camino is about just that, walking the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain.
The Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimage routes leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It has been a traditional pilgrimage for centuries, with thousands of people from all over the world embarking on the journey each year.
The documentary “Walking the Camino” focuses on the experiences of several pilgrims from various countries who are walking the Camino for different reasons.
The film offers a glimpse into the physical and spiritual challenges faced by these pilgrims as they navigate the rugged terrain, endure blisters and fatigue, and confront their own personal reasons for undertaking the pilgrimage.
Each pilgrim has their unique story and motivation, whether it’s seeking spiritual enlightenment, coping with grief, or simply embarking on a physical adventure.
As the pilgrims walk the Camino, the documentary captures their interactions with fellow travellers, their encounters with the local culture and hospitality, and the moments of introspection and self-discovery that occur along the way.
The film also explores the history and cultural significance of the Camino de Santiago. The Camino has long been a dream of mine to hike so this was especially interesting to watch.
This is one of the best backpacking movies to watch if you have an interest in the Camino de Santiago trail.
The Beach (2000)
Ah, The Beach. This is a love/hate with this movie about backpacking. I read the book in 1998 before my first backpacking trip to Thailand and loved it. Sadly the movie, like so many cases, doesn’t match up to the book and even excludes my favourite character from the book.
The story follows Richard, a young backpacker from the United States, who arrives in Bangkok, Thailand, seeking adventure and new experiences. In a guesthouse, he encounters a mysterious man named Daffy, who tells him about a hidden paradise known as “the beach.” Daffy also gives Richard a hand-drawn map of this remote and idyllic beach.
Intrigued by the idea of a hidden paradise, Richard convinces a French couple, Françoise and Étienne, to join him on a journey to find the elusive beach. After some perilous adventures, they eventually discover the hidden paradise and its community of fellow travellers.
Initially, life on the beach seems perfect, with its pristine environment and seemingly carefree inhabitants.
However, as time passes, tensions arise within the group, and it becomes clear that their self-sustaining community is not as idyllic as it appears. Paranoia, jealousy, and conflicts begin to surface, ultimately leading to a descent into darkness and violence.
Still, it’s fun to watch with a decent enough overview of some of the more partying backpacker-style travellers you will see in Thailand, along with the quieter types.
A Walk In The Woods (2015)
A Walk In The Woods is based on the book by Bill Bryson, who is one of my favourite travel writers and it’s a true story.
The story revolves around Bill Bryson, a travel writer who, after living in the United Kingdom for many years, returns to the United States. Feeling the need for a new adventure, Bryson decides to hike the Appalachian Trail, one of the longest continuous footpaths in the world.
However, he soon realizes that taking on this challenging journey alone might be too daunting and dangerous. Bryson reconnects with an old friend from his past, Stephen Katz, who agrees to accompany him on the hike.
Katz is a somewhat eccentric and out-of-shape character, which leads to some humorous situations throughout their journey. The two men embark on their adventure, starting in Georgia with the goal of reaching the trail’s endpoint in Maine.
As Bryson and Katz hike through the beautiful but demanding wilderness of the Appalachian Trail, they encounter a variety of challenges, from harsh weather conditions to encounters with fellow hikers.
Their journey also allows them to reflect on their pasts, their friendship, and the natural world around them and is one of my favourite backpacking movies, although the book it’s based on is better.
Read the best books about the Appalachian Trail.
The Ritual (2017)
Scary stuff. The Ritual starts as a typical backpacking adventure into the woods, in this case, a forest in Sweden, until they stumble upon some scary and ancient secret.
The Ritual begins with four friends who decide to embark on a hiking trip in the Scandinavian wilderness. Their journey is meant to be a way of honouring their friend Rob, who died tragically during a robbery.
As they venture deeper into the forest, they encounter strange and unsettling phenomena, including a bizarre effigy hanging from the trees.
When they attempt to take a shortcut through the woods, they become lost and disoriented. Tensions rise among the group, and they begin to feel that they are being watched and pursued by an unseen presence.
Soon, it becomes clear that they are not alone in the woods. They come face to face with a malevolent force, and their survival skills are put to the test as they try to escape the supernatural threat and make their way out of the forest.
You can watch it on Netflix.
Backcountry (2014)
Wow! Backcountry is a true look at survival in the wilderness when things start to go wrong. It’s based loosely on a true story.
The story follows a couple, Alex and Jenn, who decide to go on a camping trip in the remote wilderness of the Adirondack Mountains in New York. Alex, an experienced outdoorsman, is confident in their ability to navigate the wilderness, while Jenn, a city girl, is more apprehensive.
As they venture deeper into the woods, they encounter various challenges, including getting lost and encountering a mysterious and aggressive stranger.
Their situation takes a turn for the worse when they realize they are being stalked by a relentless and territorial black bear. Trapped in the wilderness with limited supplies, Alex and Jenn must rely on their wits and survival skills to make it out alive.
“Backcountry” is known for its tense and suspenseful atmosphere, as well as its realistic portrayal of a wilderness survival ordeal.
180° South (2010)
180° South is a documentary movie where Jeff Johnson, an adventurer, follows in the footsteps of his heroes. It’s a homage to the 1968 journey of Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins, founders of the outdoor clothing companies Patagonia and The North Face, respectively.
Chouinard and Tompkins travelled from California to Patagonia in South America in a VW bus to climb mountains and surf along the way.
“180° South” follows Jeff Johnson, a young adventurer, as he retraces Chouinard and Tompkins’ journey, inspired by their original trip and their environmental activism.
The film combines elements of adventure, environmentalism, and exploration, showcasing the beauty of the natural world and the importance of protecting it. It features stunning cinematography and a strong message about conservation and sustainable living.
I found the movie to be a little slow in parts but the overall feel of the travel is great and is one of the best backpacking movies.
Best Backpacking Movies
So hopefully you have found one of these backpacking movies to your liking or discovered a few new ones you didn’t know about.
Happy backpacking wherever you may go!
For some hiking inspiration take a look at the 10 best hiking books to read.
For more movies in the wild take a look at the best survival movies.
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