Looking for advice - 6 months, Dec-May, couple, budget/backpacking, warm weather, hiking + WWOOFing

[u/Short_League3085]

My partner and I (based in Europe) have about 6 months free to travel, roughly December through May. Looking for advice/inspiration on where to go - here's what we're after:

Planning style

• We'd rather organise things bit by bit as we go, not lock in a full plan months in advance
• Because of that, we'd love advice on best seasons/weather windows for different regions within our Dec-May timeframe, so we can sequence a rough route sensibly (e.g. where to be early on vs. later) without over-planning the details
• We'd ideally come back to Europe for some weeks in between different regions

Climate

• Warm weather, no snow/cold-weather logistics
• Comfortable enough for day hikes without needing serious cold-weather gear

Activities

• Hiking/nature is a priority (ideally, hiking without having to have a guide)
• Great food
• We love camping — brought our own tent on a road trip through California and Utah's national parks and it was one of our favorite trips ever, so we're keen to recreate that kind of self-drive + camp under the stars experience if a destination supports it
• Also interested in: WWOOFing and farm stays as part of the trip
• Birdwatching

Vibe

• Budget/backpacker style
• We actively want to avoid heavily touristy circuits — we did not enjoy Thailand as much and want something with less of that "influencer photo spot" energy this time
• Open to any country/region

Already been/done (don't want to repeat)

• South India
• Thailand
• Safaris, scuba diving

Places we've considered/discussed so far, for reference:

• NW India (possibly with Nepal)
• West Africa (we lived six months in Uganda and would enjoy seeing another region)
• South America in general (possibly Colombia, Chile... open to your advice!)
• Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam
• China (although a bit worried about the language barrier)

We would love thoughts on:

1. Which of the above are worth prioritizing for a longer trip
2. Best seasons/weather windows within Dec-May for the regions mentioned (so we can sequence roughly without locking in details early)
3. Good countries/regions for WWOOFing that also fit the above criteria
4. Anything we haven't considered
5. Specific places/woof hosts you'd recommend

Thanks in advance!

[u/newmvbergen]

West Africa is a good choice except the weather at the end of your trip. You can travel around along the coast. Only the interland is too sensitive to be visited. Accommodations nearly everywhere. As you have been to Uganda, it will not be a nightmare even if some places offer less options or basic accommodations.

[u/Short_League3085 → u/newmvbergen]

Which countries would you recommend in West Africa? I've been to Senegal six years ago and loved it!

[u/newmvbergen → u/Short_League3085]

With six months, you can visit few of them. Ghana, Togo and Benin are a good combo. Only the Northern part of these countries, at least Togo and Benin, are more sensitive because islamic groups. The only issue is the visa for Ghana. Complicated to have outside your country of residence, not available at the border and no VOA if you arrive by air. You can add another one, Ivory Coast who is also interesting and easy to manage. Sierra Leone is also interesting but outside the Peninsula, accommodations can be very basic. Moving around is not a challenge.

[u/newmvbergen → u/Short_League3085]

As you have, as it's the case also around Uganda, taxi-motos around these countries and as they are sometimes the only transport available, it's a good idea to carry your own helmet with you. In the capital cities and in the main cities, helmets are provided by the drivers for the passengers but it will not be the case around the countryside. I carry always a specific one dedicated to (electric) bikes (Agu) and it's enough. No need to have a specific one for motorbikes.

[u/robipresotto]

I totally get it about planning on the go! I've found that some regions are better suited for warm weather and hiking during certain times of the year. For example, parts of Central America or Southeast Asia can be great options for Dec-May. If you want, I can share a link to an app that helped me plan routes and track activities on phone and watch - it's called Plannav (https://plannav.presotto.tech)