Going travelling has been a dream of mine for a really long time. I’m an avid follower of travel the world Instagram accounts, I have been collecting STA’s continent brochures for years and for my birthday last year my husband even made me a huge world map pin board. So when I suggested a round-the-world “honeymoon” and Fraz agreed I was ecstatic.
When we were younger (context: Frazer and I have been together since secondary school) travelling was never on F’s radar. He once told me that you could see the whole world on Google so wasn’t sure why we needed to spend so much money to go there. I was gutted. A few years later and I managed to talk (wear down) Frazer into agreeing to a month in Indonesia. Combine the travel bug that bit him there with three years of working after university and he agreed that a sabbatical honeymoon would be ideal.
I’ve been roughly planning our trip for a good few months but around also planning our wedding, and working full time we haven’t really had time to create a concrete plan. Which is perfect!
We have 18 months to travel the world with only an outline of the plan, and our backpacks. Which brings me to the point of this post; our backpacks.
What do you pack for 18 months of uncertain locations, climates and eventualities? I read lots of other blogs that talked about ‘capsule wardrobes’ and ‘travel must-haves’ and compiled my own packing list. [Some items are linked as I have found them particularly useful. NB: these are Amazon affiliate links so if you purchase an item we will receive a small percentage of commission.]
I have the Osprey Fairview 70L (55L+15L) and Frazer has the Osprey Farpoint 70L (55L+15L).
Clothing:
- 10 pairs of knickers
- 2 normal bras (1 black, 1 flesh)
- 1 sports bra
- 2 bikinis
- 4 pairs of socks
- 3 pairs of trainer socks
- 4 pairs of hiking socks
- 1 long-legged pyjama set
- 1 shorts pyjama set
- 2 pairs of leggings (gym style)
- 1 pair of black jeans
- 1 pair of hareem gap-ya trousers (mine are orange)
- 3 pairs of shorts
- 1 playsuit
- 5 vests
- 4 t-shirts
- 1 long-sleeved top
- 3 short sleeved hiking / gymwear tops
- 2 long sleeved hiking tops (layers)
- 1 long sleeved fleece hiking top
- Waterproof trouser covers
- Wooly hat
- Cap
- Goggles (some prescription ones donated by my sister-in-law who no longer requires them)
- Thick gloves
- Waterproof lightweight jacket
- Zip-up hoodie
- Hiking boots
- Sliders
- Trainers
- Casual footwear (vans)
Toiletries
- Wetwipes
- Sun cream
- Insect repellant
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Body wash
- Soap sheets (v handy for on the go)
- Contact lenses
- Small perfume
- Deodorant (roll-on)
- Hairbrush
- Hand cream
- After-sun moisturiser
- Tissues
Survival
- Microfibre towel
- Head torch
- Power pack
- Locker padlock (for hostels)
- Waterproof rucksack cover
- First aid kit
- Blister plasters
- Medicine bag
- Security cable (for securing your bag to things on overnight buses or trains)
- Emergency biscuits and hot chocolate sachets 😏
Then, I also have a smaller (15L) day rucksack which contains the following:
- Journal
- Small pencil case
- Sunglasses
- Digital camera
- Go-pro and accessories
- iPad (for blogging, emailing and netflixing)
- Charging wires
- International travel plug
- Hand sanitizer
- More tissues
- Fox’s Mints and Boiled Sweets (if you know, you know)
- Headphones
- Playing cards
- Spanish phrasebook
- Reusable water bottle
We are only 5 days into our trip so I am going to review my packing list as time goes on and I begin to realise what is more or less important on the road! Also, the things I decide are far too heavy and decide to throw out mid-strop. So watch this space…
So for packing our bags and embarking on our big adventure:
[the blog] 