The ultimate Travel Packing Checklist

After years of traveling and constantly packing and unpacking my backpack for both world trips and shorter adventures, I’ve learned a lot about efficient packing. I know how heavy a backpack can get, and let me tell you—big luggage is uncomfortable! Pack efficiently for your next adventure with my essential travel packing list and tips. Check off items to ensure you never forget anything again. Let’s start packing!

travel tips & tricks

4 questions to answer before you start packing

Basic packing rules

Pack according to your needs

Always pack according to your destination, local culture, weather, planned activities, and your personal needs (such as gender, preferences, special requirements, travel style and travel vibe). You may therefore find that some items on the packing list do not apply to you; so feel free to ignore them.

I also adjust my packing list based on the type of adventure I’m going on – a month-long trip to Southeast Asia requires different items than a week-long trip to Italy or a hiking expedition in the Himalayas.

Not yet sure where you want to travel?

the 5 days rule & The Carry-on rule

The 5-Day Rule concerns the quantity of clothing you pack for your trip. Aim to bring no more clothes than you would need for five days, depending on your travel destination and the weather. This approach helps prevent overpacking. Choose versatile clothing that can be layered, and remember that you can always do laundry if needed or travel for a longer time.

The Carry-On Rule tells you where to store your valuables: Right! In your carry-on luggage, never in your checked bag. Important items that should always be kept in your carry-on include your passport, credit cards, important documents, mobile phone, and medication. Imagine being stranded at an airport or losing your checked bag; these items are crucial for surviving. If you bring electronics like a camera or laptop, they also go in your carry-on. Please be careful: Power banks are not allowed in your checked luggage!

comfort over style

Similar to a capsule wardrobe, choose pieces that can be easily mixed and matched. Always prioritize comfort over style. While it’s understandable to want to look nice in photos, traveling is about living in the moment and creating memories for yourself, not just for the camera. Experiencing blisters, bloody toes, being freezing cold, or facing uncomfortable stares from strangers because you’re not dressed appropriately can detract from your experience.

Don’t compare yourself to travel bloggers who always appear perfect in their Instagram photos; there’s much more behind the scenes than you might think. They often make a living from this, preparing multiple outfits to carry with them, traveling primarily to take pictures rather than to create memories, using taxis instead of walking in the heat, and utilizing special camera equipment.

There’s nothing wrong with their approach, but when it comes to travel for the experience, try to set aside the pressure of capturing perfect pictures and focus on living in the moment.

less is more

I know it can be tempting to pack all those stylish accessories just to be on the safe side, but when it comes to luggage, less is always more in terms of weight! The longer and more remote your trip, the more you will notice the impact of your packing choices. You can still include a nice accessory while keeping things minimal. For example, consider packing just one pair of earrings instead of five.

You don’t need to be prepared for every situation; most items you won’t even need. If you can buy something within a 10-kilometer radius for under $20, it’s not worth carrying with you, even if you’re traveling on a budget. We often view foreign countries as if they were underdeveloped, assuming we won’t be able to find exactly what we need. However, most places have shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, and hardware stores readily available.

If you’re traveling in remote areas, such as the jungle or desert, you won’t need that extra pair of earrings, but you will be glad you packed that quick-dry shirt.

Pro Tip: Before packing your backpack or suitcase, lay out every single item on your bed and ask yourself if you can live without it for a few weeks. You’ll likely find that you can eliminate about 20% of the items you initially thought you needed (most of the time those are the ‚just in case‘ items). This will lighten your load, making it easier to travel, faster to pack and unpack, simpler to keep your belongings organized, and reduce the risk of damage and wear and tear. Plus, you’ll lower the chances of losing your things.

Less luggage means more time and freedom—it’s that simple!

The essential travel packing checklist

If you prefer doing it the offline way (which I completely understand; I am very much a checklist and notebook person myself) you can download the .pdf version of the checklist.