5 Times I Backpacked France🇫🇷Without Even Visiting France!😂🇬🇫🇬🇵🇷🇪🇾🇹🇸🇽

Is it possible to backpack a country without visiting it? Well yes, the global excrement entities of Untied Nations and the European Union try to believe it is possible!!!

They do this by swallowing faraway lands and including them in a country they are not in, and in some cases in a continent they are not! France was particularly aggressive at colonising the world. From Laos to Bora Bora to Seychelles to French Guyana to Cameroon – the country spread themselves far and wide. Thankfully, in the 1900s, indpendence became a thing and real countries got their real countries back. But not all of them got it officially. These are 5 real countries I backpacked and got passport arrival stamps in.

1.French Guyana🇬🇫

Where is it? – South America, bordering Brazil and Suriname.
When I backpacked it – 2014
Arrival – got a wooden boat from Oiapoque to St. Georges De L’Oyapock
Passport Stamp – Yes!
Best DSL post on Frenchy G – How to Get From Brazil To French Guyana

I backpacked French Guyana in 2014, arrived by boat from Brazil and left by boat to Suriname. Some buck eejits class it as mainland France! Laughable when it borders Brazil. The craziest thing is that the official European Union Space Launch Station is here! That’s right – the EU at South America away!

2.Mayotte🇾🇹

Where is it? – Africasian Ocean, off the coast of Africa, 2 hours flight from Comoros
When I backpacked it – 2025
Arrival – flew from Moroni in Comoros to Dzaoudzi, Pamandzi
Passport Stamp – Yes!
Best DSL post on Mayotte – Immigration Procedure In Dzaoudzi

I backpacked Mayotte in 2025, arriving by flight from Comoros. Comoros claims Mayotte as its fourth island. France pinched it and are recognised bu UN and EU as owning Mayotte. For me, it’s Mayotte loyal only.

3.Reunion Island🇷🇪

Where is it? – Africasian Ocean, off the coast of Africa, 2 hours flight from Mayotte
When I backpacked it – 2023, 2025
Arrival – flew in thrice – once from Paris, once from Mauritius and once from Dzaoudzi
Passport Stamp – Yes!
Best DSL post on Frenchy G – Backpacking in St. Giles

Reunion is connected by direct flight to Paris, Mauritius and Mayotte. I actually flew in to Reunion from 3 different airports! Roland Garros is the main airport.

4.Saint Martin🇲🇫

Where is it? – The Caribbean, it is an island jointly owned by The Netherlands and France.
When I backpacked it – 2021
Arrival – arrived by flight from Guadeloupe into Sint Maarten, but walked across the border into Saint Martin!
Passport Stamp – Yes!
Best DSL post on Saint M – Aeroplanes in my head

This nuts country is on an island of two countries. The French speaking part is Saint Martin and the Dutch speaking part is Sint Maarten. This was an amazing experience due to the famous Maho Beach where aeroplanes fly over yer head constantly, two superb bars serve up delicious cocktails and beers, and mega Romanian girls get their huge waps out!

5.Guadeloupe🇬🇵

Where is it? – The Caribbean, it is an island owned by France.
When I backpacked it – 2021
Arrival – arrived by flight from Dominika
Passport Stamp – Yes!
Best DSL post on Saint M – Butterfly Hostel Review, Saint-François

On my 2021 Caribbean odyssey, I ended up in Guadeloupe. I was also supposed to backpack Martinque but the ferry was cancelled and there was a PCR test deadline problem too. Still, at least I got in and out of Guadeloupe, another Caribbean paradise.

Martinique🇲🇶❌

In 2021, I was also supposed to visit Martinique🇲🇶 but it was during COVID times and the ferry from Saint Lucia wasn’t running everyday. Due to the hassle of having to get multiple PCR tests, I had to skip Martinique❌.

These examples are not the only places where you can backpack France without visiting France. There is also French Polynesia🇵🇫 and a number of other French overseas territories you can visit!

Au Revoir!