UPDATE 2016: you can see my complete packing list, feedback, how to adapt the luggage to changing weather conditions and tips in this updated post (written at the end of 11 months of travel).
One thing was clear from the beginning: I wanted to travel light. I did not wish to carry a backpack bigger and heavier than me, I was ready to live with only the minimum. And one day I discovered Never Ending Voyage, the blog of a couple who travel with only carry on luggage. That’s it! I would do the same. Inspired by them and adapting their list to my own needs, this is the result:
- Backpack: 35L, 9kg approx
- Small bag, 1,5kg approx
My minimalist packing list
Luggage
- 35 litre backpack + raincover
- small bag to go around the city
- 15 litre pliable bag for day trips
- money belt
- wallet
- lock
- cable lock
Documents
- passport + photocopy
- driving license
- international vaccination card
- some dollars (to pay visas) and euros (for emergencies)
- 2 debit cards
- identity photos
Electronics
- computer + charger
- camera + charger + small tripod
- smartphone, ebook reader + 1 charger for both
- portable back up emergency power (to charge camera or phone)
- USB key
- headphones
Clothes & shoes
- 4 t-shirts (3 short sleeves, 1 long sleeves)
- 2 trousers (1 thin, 1 hiking style with zip pockets)
- 1 leggings
- 1 shorts
- 7 underclothes + 2 bras
- 5 pairs of socks
- 1 pair of leg warmers
- bikini
- waterproff hiking shoes
- hiking sandles
- flip flops
- polar fleece
- thin waterproof jacket
- sun hat
- foulard
- sunglasses
- salwar and leggings (bought in India)
Toilettries & health
- Shower soap, shampoo and soap for laundry (all solid bars)
- once a day sunscreen, after sun
- tooth brush and paste
- comb
- deoderant
- lip balm with sun protection
- tweezers, nail clippers
- tampons (difficult to find in some countries in Asia)
- mosquito repellent
- hand sanitiser
- depilatory cream + cold depilatory wax
- hair band, hair pins
- emergency kit (antiseptic wipes, plasters…)
- medicines (antibiotic, for stomach sickness, to make the water drinkable…)
Others
- towel
- sarong
- sheet sleeping bag
- notebook and pens
- mosquito net
- thread and tape (to fix the mosquito net)
- head lamp
- earplugs and eye mask
- small sewing kit
- zip plastic bags
- whistle
- door block
- inflatable travel pillow
In fact, my objective was to travel with less than 10kg, but I did not manage. I still feel I am carrying a lot of things, but I do not know what else I can leave behind (I had some doubts about the mosquito net, but at the end I took it). So I decided to start the trip with all this, and let time and experience tell if I should add/remove some stuff. So far, two weeks after the start of the adventure, I am quite happy with it. I just hope it will be ok to take it as carry on luggage in the planes.
What do you think, did I miss anything important? Is there something I could leave behind?
UPDATE Feb 2015: I have taken three flights so far and had no problems to take my bags as hand luggage. In Siem Reap airport, though, my tiny round-shaped scissors did not pass the controls. These are the companies/flights I have taken:
- Emirates (Barcelona > Tivandrum, India), Nov 2014
- Thai Airways (Bangalore > Bangkok), Dec 2014
- Air Asia (Siem Reap > Kuala Lumpur), Feb 2015
UPDATE 2016: you can see my complete packing list, feedback, how to adapt the luggage to changing weather conditions and tips in this updated post (written at the end of 11 months of travel).
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Hi Laia!
Luca is going to Japan next week, and he has been looking for a universal travel adapter due to the different electrical plug there… You haven’t mentioned anything like this in your list… Have you checked the kind of plug of the different countries that you will visit or do you have some universal adapter with you?
Lot of kisses!!! I’m looking forward to your next post!
Hi Alba!
I don’t have a universal adaptor yet (did not think about it). The charger for the phone and ebook has different plugs that can be exchanged, but I will need an adaptor for the computer when I reach a place that has different plug. I will buy it then 🙂
Thanks for the idea!
That’s commendable, you really are travelling light.
I think you pretty much have everything covered.
Happy travels!
I think you’re pretty hardcore to travel for such a long time with that amount of stuff! I also try to pack very light wherever we go, but I’ve never embarked on such a long journey as you have! We moved to China a few months ago with a 50 lb. suitcase and a carryon each and I thought that was pretty minimal!
Impressive! I hope the light luggage works out, it looks like you have everything you need!
Holy Moly that is traveling light! Are you having to do lots of hand washing in bathroom sinks? At least you have a weeks worth of underwear 😉
Haha yes, I’m washing every day or two in the sink. It’s good that in this tropical weather it dries fast 🙂
I’m impressed! I try to travel with a carry on whenever possible, but I’m not sure I could do it for a round the world trip.
I’m very impressed Laia I’m not sure I could do travel as light but it will help you so much as you don’t wish to be lugging heavy bags around! 🙂
It is actually my first time travelling that light, and I’m so happy with it! So far I don’t miss anything and I can walk around with my luggage easily 🙂
I always try to travel as light as possible, but I’m always in awe of people who are able to do it for long term rtw trips with all the different weather patterns and situations that could happen. Super impressed.
Yes, weather changes is the most difficult to handle… for the moment I have clothes for tropical weather and just a jacket and warmers in case it is a bit cold. When I reach a place where it is really cold I might need to buy something warmer, we’ll see 🙂
Thanks for sharing your travel blog, I’ve enjoyed it a lot 🙂
I am coming on Feb-April to India and it is of great help.
I wonder if you could tell us what is your experience about your luggage, one month later. is there something you left behind during this month? is there something you wish you had? something you can buy in place (such as the salwar and leggings)? some clothing idea for this hot weather?
no mountain gloves (too hot i guess)? no umbrella (instead of waterproof jacket for such a wet weather)?
did you use the mosquito repellent? is it possible to buy it in India?
did you use your ebook reader?
I guess you are using a reflex camera, judging from your colorful photos (they are also spectacular, congrats!). would you bring a smaller, compact camera instead?
you didn’t need a knife? eg, to peal a fruit? or you were always having lunch/dinner at restaurants/homestays?
there was no problem to carry nail clippers (and a knife?) in hand luggage in a flight?
you are carrying two pieces of hand luggage (a 35l backpack and a small bag); i thought flights only allowed one piece of hand luggage. no problem with your two pieces?
what about working a bit on place, such as woofing for a couple of weeks? there are some projects listed at workaway.info, but they lack objective reviews; I wonder if some traveller gave you positive reviews of specific woofing or similar project/place?
thanks for sharing, and happy travelling! 🙂
Thank you! I’m happy you like my blog 🙂
About the luggage:
– The only thing I have not used and it takes space is the mosquito net. Wherever there are mosquitos most rooms have one. I still carry it, though, just in case (and because it was expensive)
– In India and Thailand I did not miss anything. In northern Laos I’ve missed a jacket, but I survived wearing all my clothes. I did not buy it here since the next months I’ll be in tropical weather again and do not want to carry it around, I will buy it when I reach South America since it will be winter there. So far I have not needed gloves. Clothes adapted to the local weather can always be found in place.
– Most toiletries can also be found in place, as toothpaste, soap, deo, liquid shampoo, kleenex, toilet paper. I did not see solid shampoo, but they have solid shower soap, and it is sometimes provided with the room.
– Umbrella: so far I have not been in rainy conditions, just a bit in Kerala but an umbrella was not necessary.
– Mosquito repellent: I did use it in India and Thailand. In India the one I bought in France worked fine, but I got completely bitten in Bangkok. There I was told it is better to buy in place since it is more adapted. In Thailand it is good and cheap. In India they have it in spray and in cream (small tube), I guess it is easy to find but I did not search for it.
– ebook reader: yes, I use it a lot!
– camera: I do not have a reflex (too heavy and it attracts more attention). I have a good compact camera, with manual mode, RAW recording and good sensor (SONY cybershot DSC-RX100 – very happy with it!). My photos are slightly edited (light and contrast) though.
– Knife: I do not have a knife, I buy fruit I can eat without (banana, clementine) or that you get ready to eat (as coconut)
– Nail clipper: I had no problems at the airport controls (maybe they did not see it).
– Hand luggage: so far I have only taken two flights, with Emirates and Thai airways, and I had no problems having two pieces (the small one is really small). It might be a problem with low cost, we’ll see.
– Working/ woofing: some people mentioned they had done it, but I do not know where/ in which kind of projects.
Hope that helps, happy travels!
Thanks for the tips! 🙂
Some great tips, nice and simple. It’s amazing how little can take you so far! Doing a budget airline RTW trip with just carry on in November so I’ll be stealing some of your ideas 😀
I’d add one of those small keychain torchlights, never know when it’ll come in handy!
Thanks! Yes, a torch light is always a good idea, I’ve used my head lamp plenty of times. My luggage has evolved a bit as I’ve been changing countries (and weather). When I left the tropics I sent a few things home and I bought a few warmer items. Have a great trip!!