The last week
The last week before leaving feels different from everything that came before it. For months I’ve been planning in slow, steady rhythms - researching visas, writing lists, downsizing my life piece by piece. But suddenly the days are moving faster than I can keep track of. Every sunrise feels like someone nudged the clock forward.
Most of this week has been spent packing… and then repacking. Trying to make one year of life fit into a backpack is a strange kind of puzzle. I keep holding things up and asking myself: Do I actually need this? Sometimes the answer is yes. Most of the time, it’s no. And so I remove, add, swap, remove again.
There were last-minute errands too - power bank, adapter plug, one more shirt that supposedly “dries fast,” and the final things that only occur to you when time is running out. And because life loves good timing, I also fell for a scam and had to block my credit card. For a moment, I imagined starting my trip without one. Luckily the replacement arrived just in time, I really didn’t need that level of suspense.
In between all of this, I’ve had coffee dates and dinners with friends and family members.
Some were long conversations over empty plates; others were quick hellos that felt more like see-you-laters than goodbyes. These small moments added a softness to the week - a reminder that even though I’m leaving, I’m not losing anything.
Now my backpack is mostly ready.
My documents are in a neat folder.
My chargers and cables are tamed into tiny bags.
And my packing list - the one I’ve been building and editing and fighting with - is finally done.
I’ve been planning this for so long. But now that it’s almost here, the hours feel lighter, faster, slippery. I catch myself pausing and thinking: I’m really doing it. And for the first time, that thought doesn’t feel overwhelming. It feels right.
I packed, unpacked, and repacked more times than I want to admit. It turns out that fitting one year of life into a backpack is part puzzle, part chaos. This is the final version of my packing list - the things I’m actually taking with me with some adjustments along the way - maybe it helps you with your own travels too.
Documents & Money
- Passport (+ copies)
- Visa documents
- Travel insurance
- Debit & credit cards
- Cash (Euro, USD)
- Emergency contacts
- Vaccination record
- National & international driver’s license
- Passport photos (physical & digital)
Clothing
- 1 light rain jacket or rain poncho
- 1 light cardigan
- 1 light fleece sweater
- 5 t-shirts
- 4 tops
- 2 long-sleeve shirts
- 2 long pants (light + durable)
- 1 capri legging
- 3 shorts (denim, sport, linen)
- 4 dresses
- 2 bras & 2 sports bras
- 8 panties
- 6 period panties
- 7 pairs of socks
- 1 bikini
- 1 pyjama
- 1 pair of trekking shoes
- 1 pair of sandals
- 1 pair of flip-flops
- 2 headbands
- 1 light scarf
Toiletries
- Toiletry bag
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Dry shampoo & bodywash
- Lotion
- Sunscreen
- Deo cream
- Cotton buds
- Tweezers
- Razor
- Hair ties
- Hair brush
- Condoms
- Backup liners & tampons
- Wet wipes
- Lens cleaner
Health
- First aid kit (bandaids, gauze)
- Prescription meds
- Basic meds (painkillers, antihistamine)
- Disinfectant spray
- Wound ointment
- Magnesium
- Mosquito spray
- Tiger balm (white)
- Thermometer
Tech
- Phone + charger
- Universal adapter
- Power bank
- Headphones
- Laptop & e-Reader
- Laptop case
- External harddrive
- USB stick
- Microphone
- Cables & storage
Organization
- Travel backpack & daypack & fanny pack
- Rain cover
- Travel wallet
- Waterproof document bag
- Packing cubes
- Reusable water bottle
- Laundry detergent & clothesline
- Ziplock bags
Miscellaneous
- Sunglasses
- Reusable shopping bag
- Light sleeping bag
- Laundry & shoe bag
- Travel yoga mat
- Multipurpose towel
- Lock
- Notebook & pen
Packing for a long trip can look a hundred different ways, and there’s no single “right” version. Everyone travels with different habits, needs, and comfort items. This list is simply what made sense for me, and two months in, it’s been working surprisingly well. Think of it as a starting point - a way to see what you might want to bring, what you can skip, and what matters most to you. Feel free to adjust it to your own style, destination, and rhythm of travel.
If you want to print the list or use it offline, here’s a downloadable version: