I love slow travel.
I live off on a backpack and travel indefinitely. Therefore, I believe that to be able to live comfortably and travel the world, all you need is a spacious backpack and the essential possessions that will make you productive and carefree.
I've been doing this and all I can say that I have never felt lighter and richer in my life.
Here's the ultimate packing list for long-term world globetrotting.
We have been conditioned to the idea that bringing a lot of things you've been used to when you travel will make it more comfortable. On the contrary, bringing a lot of baggage is cumbersome not to mention very heavy.
If you want traveling to be easy and enjoyable, you need to get rid of a big chunk of your physical belongings. It’s a lot about the mindset shift as you need to understand that owning too much stuff doesn’t provide you freedom and safety. It ties you up and makes you worry more.
I've learned (the hard way) after a crazy Europe trip in 2013 that filling your backpack with useless and cumbersome stuff will suddenly make you so stressful you’ll throw it out anywhere.
Today I’d like to share my minimal long term travel packing list and the lessons I've learned after living a nomadic lifestyle flying to 18 countries in less than two years.
The Ultimate Packing List
Take less to experience more. There are going to be situations where you’ll have to walk around the town for hours to wait for the time to check-in at your hotel. There are going to be moments when you’ll have only 5 minutes to pack and leave. Having less stuff makes you more flexible so you can experience more.
Trust yourself. Embrace the challenge and be confident about yourself. How many times did you fill up your luggage with unnecessary garbage? It happens to all of us out of fear of being not prepared. Better, put aside a budget for things you need to buy while traveling instead of carrying everything with you.
Give yourself more freedom. You seek adventures, I know. All souls crave experiences. By not preparing for everything in advance you get to live with youthful excitement and anticipation of what’s to come. Allow yourself to be more spontaneous.
Invest in quality. Having a very limited space in your backpack forces you to choose the best. You get to choose only T-Shirts you want to wear every day. If you want something new, get rid of something to make up space for the new item.
Before Leaving
It’s all about peace of mind.
Reach out to everyone you care about and let them know about your adventures. Make sure to check all your liabilities. Pay all the bills, cancel unnecessary services and make sure you don’t have any debt so it won’t pile up until you get back.
To avoid blocked credit cards, reach out and inform your bank (or banks if you use several) and let them know that you will be traveling.
Get an insurance. It’s optional but highly recommended. I am the one who risks a lot, but it’s not very smart to scrimp on insurance.
Most of the credit cards have travel insurance included for up to three months. I chose DNB bank with free worldwide travel insurance. It costs just around $2 USD for monthly administration fees saving me a lot in three months I’d pay for insurance.
After my free 3-month travel coverage insurance is over I get regular travel insurance from one of the Lithuanian companies. I’ve checked some insurance businesses in Lithuania and, in my opinion, IF and Gjensidige are the most competitive ones.
Digital nomads recommend World Nomads Travel Insurance which is quite expensive but has a lot of benefits and great reviews.
I personally used and recommend SafetyWing, a travel medical insurance for nomads.
Plan your itinerary. Being smart and planning ahead save money. Make an approximate route for your trip and research desired destinations. Why it’s important? You will get cheaper flights and accommodation if you book in advance.
Check out Nomad List, Teleport and Numbeo to find great locations for long-term travel.
Research visas. There are many countries you can go without visas depending on your nationality (full list here). However, you will find it frustrating to visit exotic places like India, China, Madagascar or any other country that requires a visa. It costs money and valuable time. If you have an approximate route for your trip, research visa information. You’ll thank me later.
Vaccines. Your health must be your priority. Traveling across Europe may be relatively safe but flying to other continents consider taking the time to research and get needed vaccines. It’s not necessary but if you tend to get into trouble, invest money in vaccines and have a peaceful mind. Personally, I don’t bother getting vaccinated if it’s not mandatory. I’ve talked to my friends traveling in Southeast Asia, and most of them didn’t bother themselves with vaccines either.
Carry-On
I used to be a big advocate of traveling only with a backpack but that changed when I started traveling my girlfriend.
Now I use a lightweight carry-on suitcase for clothes, shoes and all the other stuff and the everywhere bag where I keep my electronics and documents. The carry-on and everywhere bag can be easily attached making it very convenient while traveling.
The Ultimate Packing List Essentials
Make a passport and identity card copies. If you don’t get physical paper copies, at least make a photo of both sides and put them online so you can access them from anywhere. I have all my copies in Dropbox and Apple Notes app.
- Covered documents (passport copy, passport photos, postcards)
- Wallet (driving license, identity card, bank cards, cash, 32GB memory card)
- Covered passport
- Cash
Clothes
Depending on how long and where you are going to consider taking some clothes for radically different weather conditions. I spend most of my time around Southeast Asia, so I don’t have a coat or sweater that take up a lot of space. If you’re going to the cold climate, you may need to put a lot of clothes on yourself when traveling to save up space in your backpack.
Below is my current clothing list.
- Nike Free Rn Flyknit Running Shoes (comfortable for running and walking)
- Hawker Carbon Black Sunglasses
- Underwear x 9
- Pairs of socks x 5
- Slippers
- Shorts x 4
- Jeans & belt
- Long sleeve T-shirt
- T-shirts x 7
- Sleep mask & earplugs
Technology
The most important piece of gear I have is 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro. It’s more than enough for me to run an online business, write a blog, edit photos and watch movies. It’s lightweight and robust what makes it a perfect laptop for minimal travelers. I recently invested in wireless noise-canceling headphones for better work and travel experience in noisy areas like cafes, restaurants, and airports.
Before you leave, load your smartphone with your favorite podcasts and books. It’s a great way to relax, concentrate and educate yourself. I use Scribd to read books on my iPhone, check out my reading list.
- Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch)
- Apple Magic Mouse 2
- Apple iPhone X (64GB)
- Apple AirPods
Money
Always have your money spread across different bank cards. In the case of loss or theft, you’ll have a backup plan. Don’t keep them in one place.
I recently started using You Need A Budget app for tracking my personal finances and noticed that I spend way too much in bank fees. That’s why I closed my accounts at Swedbank, SEB and Danske Bank. Instead, I got Revolut which saves a lot of money in fees and allows you to withdraw up to €650/month anywhere in the world as well as book and pay for flights and hotels.
- Citadele – A Latvian bank that recently announced Citadele MasterCard for €1/month that allows free cash withdrawals around the world.
- Revolut – Revolut is the only account you need to send and spend money securely. It’s my primary card now I use for online and offline purchases.
- PayPal – PayPal is a widely used online bank for sending and receiving money. I use it a lot for business.
- Cash – Never exchange money at home or you will lose a lot on the poor exchange rate.
Bank alternatives. I already use Revolut which is a great solution for travelers. There are other cool startups out there that may fit your needs depending on your location.
- Simple – Simple is a revolutionary US mobile bank without hidden fees and charges.
- Monese – Open a UK current account on your mobile, without a UK address or credit history for £4.95 per month.
- N26 – Open an account in under 8 minutes, withdraw from any ATM and get real-time notifications. Currently, you can sign up for an N26 account if you are a resident of one of the following countries: Germany, Austria, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Slovakia.
Medicine
Always have some medicine for critical moments. Whether it’s a terrible headache, diarrhea or bleeding. Below is a list of my essentials.
- Nurofen (Ibuprofenum for pain relief)
- NO-SPA Forte 80mg (in case I eat something my belly doesn’t like)
- Baneocin (antibiotic powder I use for scratches and wounds)
- Bephanten Plus (prevents infections, used on skin)
- Medical patches
- Lip care stick
Hygiene
Personal hygiene will prevent diseases and ensure healthy self-esteem. I don’t need to tell you why taking a shower every day is a must.
Most of the time I get all the toiletries like shampoo, shower gel, sunscreen, ear picks and toothpaste once I arrive. It’s more or less the same price as anywhere else but saves you a lot of space. If I have leftovers, and they’re under 100 ml, I take them.
- Travel toiletry bag
- TePe Toothbrush
- Oral-B essential floss
- Perfume
- Old Spice Deodorant
- Nail clipper and file
- Disposable Gillette razors x 3
- Jordan one tooth toothbrush
Food
Food is vital when traveling for longer than 3 hours. Once I was on a bus to Prague and haven’t bought anything to eat. The bus stopped only after 5 hours. I thought that I’d die from hunger.
Make sure to take water to stay hydrated, especially when flying. Buy quickly digestible foods: fruits, vegetables, sandwiches. Avoid heavy and fat food as it’ll make your trip more stressful and frustrating giving your stomach a hard time. Avoid smelly foods as the entire bus or aircraft will get smelly and other people may start feeling sick about it.
Below is my list of light food I take when traveling for longer than three hours.
- Water
- Sandwich
- Bananas
- Juice
- Yogurt
- Salad
- Peanuts
- Dried fruits
Apps
Last year I shared a complete list of the best travel apps and apps I use to learn, work and play anywhere in the world. Below is a full list of apps I use on my iPhone to get from airport to hotel, find accommodation, capture and edit photos, read, meditate and more.
- Google Maps
- Airbnb (Get free $33)
- Uber (Get free $10)
- Revolut
- Google Translate
- You Need A Budget
- Scribd
- Skype
- PayPal
This is my long term travel packing list that has evolved a lot from the very first time I left home. It’s a constant learning process, but there is one truth I know for sure. The less you pack, the better.
I’ve got rid of many things and never regretted.
