A backpacking tour is sought most commonly by young travelers who are just passing by, who want to travel a whole country, or at least part of it and therefore only spend a few nights in one place. That is already why the name backpacking tour includes the term backpacker because the typical traveler carries a backpack and not a suitcase. A backpacking tour does not involve the typical sleeping place for a family who spends their vacation at the beach. Backpacker hostels on a backpacking tour are used by people who travel on a budget.
Hostels on a backpacking tour provide sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms on a backpacking tour can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available. Hostels on a backpacking tour may include a hot meal in the price. Backpacker hostels on a backpacking tour are generally cheaper for both the operator and the occupants. The first backpacker hostel was established in Germany, by Richard Schirrmann, although it was a youth hostel. There is less privacy on a backpacking tour while in a hostel than in a hotel as the guest often shares a room with other people.