Before we left I wanted answers – I needed a packing list for longterm travel.
What on EARTH do we need for longterm travel? HOW will we carry it? Is two pairs of socks enough? And do we need a towel?
The whole notion of planning ahead and figuring out how we would best carry our clothing – suitcases or backpacks? – and then beginning to think of a packing list for longterm travel definitely caused me overwhelm and panic created stress before we left.
How does anyone know what you actually need for longterm travel?!
Well now we do know.
We’ve been travelling fulltime around the world for six years, and although our packing list has evolved over time it has been well refined to what we actually use and need!
Our Packing List For Longterm Travel
For as much as I cringed at the warning to relax and make sure we at least had our passports and money, it is kind of true. As long as you don’t forget those two major things and you have some way of communicating (when you find WIFI), you are going to be ok.
You can purchase clothes or shoes that you might need as you go. Or some things can be sent home or given to visiting parents (thank you!) when you work out that you don’t truly need it.
Everyone packs differently and carries or wheels different kinds of bags.
But here are the unedited lists and unpacking of what is actually in each of our bags and what it was that made us do it differently the second time round.
Here is our ultimate Packing List For Longterm Travel.
PACK #1: Gavin (Dad) and Harry
We carry two large backpacks and we each have a smaller daypack.
The large backpacks are the check-in kind, so we each – Gavin and I – share one large backpack with one of the kids.
On top of carrying his and Harry’s clothes, Gavin takes the lion’s share of weighty items. Thanks Gav!
He carries all of our shoes, the two cases of electronics, our bulky rain jackets and less-often used cold weather clothes. Plus he takes the boys Budding Builders Lego Pouches (on travel days) and the dirty laundry bag…
- Pack: 75L Macpac Genesis Aztec
- Weight: 12-13kg checked in
- Clothes: Gavin and Harry’s clothes (2x small eBags; 2x medium eBag packing cells)
Gavin’s Packing List For Longterm Travel
Tops
3x2x Cotton T-Shirts- 2x Macpac Merino T-Shirts
- Macpac Long Sleeve Merino Travel Shirt
- 1x Macpac Ultra-Lite Long Sleeve Shirt
Bottoms
- 1x Macpac Fast Track Travel Shorts
- 1x Swimming Board Shorts
- 1x Kathmandu ‘Flight’ Long Trousers
Outerwear
Underwear
- 7x underwear
- 2x socks
Dad-Specific Toiletries
- Toothbrush
Disposable razorsupgraded to reusable razor for Gap Year II- Electric Razor
Miscellaneous – Other Stuff
Nike sneakersSalomon Hiking Shoes- Birkenstock Eva Sandals
- BUFF Original Neckwear
- Macpac Waterproof Hat
- 1x Macpac Travel Towel Medium
PACK #1: Harry’s (5 – 11) Packing List For Longterm Travel
- 1x Macpac Kids’ Tui Fleece Jacket
- 1x Macpac Kids’ Rockover Convertible Pants
- 1x swimming vest and shorts
- 5x t-shirts
- 1x long sleeve top
- 4x shorts
- 7x underwear
- 2x socks
- 1x light, summer pyjamas
- 1x sneakers
- 1x Birkenstock Eva Sandals
- 1x Macpac Kids’ Pack-It Jacket
PACK #2: Sarah (Mum) and Oscar
In my big pack I have the medical kit and washbag with laundry powder and Scrubba washing bag, instant coffee and any non-perishable foods that we have at the time.
PS. Shhh! My packing list is definitely not quite as refined as Gavin’s!
- Pack: 75L Macpac
- Weight: 10-12kg checked in
- Clothes: Sarah and Oscar’s clothes (2x small eBags; 2x medium eBag packing cells)
When we first set out for our family gap year we were planning for travel in warmer weather.
The light singlet came in handy on an overnight train in Uzbekistan in the summer. And carrying a long-sleeved top paid off whilst staying in a Yurt in alpine temperatures in Kyrgyzstan – although it wasn’t quite warm enough!
I also try to dress modestly – and colourfully and traditionally – when we travel in South Asia. One of my favourite parts of travel in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is the chance to try different Kurta and colourful Dupatta scarves.
- Read where to shop for Indian Kurta and what to wear for travel in India and Pakistan.
PACK #2: Sarah’s Packing List For Longterm Travel
Tops
- 2x Cotton T-Shirts
- 1x Macpac Women’s Merino T-Shirt
- 1x Macpac Long Sleeve Button-Up Shirt
- 1x Icebreaker Ultra-Fine Tank Singlet
- 1x Smitten Merino top
Bottoms
- 2x Lululemon Trousers
- 1x Ultra-Light Travel Skirt
- 1x Kathmandu Travel Shorts
Outerwear
- 1x Light Cardigan
- 1x Macpac Pack-It Jacket
- BUFF Original Neckwear
- Macpac Hiker Cap
Note I did purchase a heavy second-hand sweatshirt and jacket at a roadside clothing stall in Kyrgyzstan after experiencing the freezing (literally) temperatures staying in a yurt at Song Kol Lake.
Until then the light cardigan had been suffice!
Underwear
- 7x underwear
3x2x bras- 2x light ankle socks
- 1x light sports bra
Mum-Specific Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Hygiene Items
- Small Facial Moisturiser
- Mascara
- Small Concealer Foundation
- Hair Ties
Miscellaneous Other Stuff
- 1x scarf for travel days (ok so this turned into 3x scarves by time we got to India!)
- Sarong
- 1x Macpac Travel Towel Medium
- Swimming Togs (swimsuit)
- KeepCup Reuseable Coffee Cup
- Reusable Shopping Bag
- 1x Salomon Sneakers
- 1x Birkenstock Eva Sandals (since upgraded to waterproof for Asia)
- Scrubba Portable Laundry Wash Bag
- Laundry Powder
- 4x Chopsticks (2 adult and 2 kids versions)
- Travel Medical Kit
Clothes packing list: Oscar (4)
- 1x Macpac Kids’ Tui Fleece Jacket
- 1x Macpac Kids’ Rockover Convertible Pants
- 5x t-shirts
- 1x long sleeve top
- 4x shorts
- 1x long sleeve swimming top and shorts
- 1x light, summer pyjamas
- 7x underwear
- 2x socks
- 1x sneakers
- 1x Birkenstock EVA Sandals
- 1x Macpac Kids’ Pack-It Jacket
Our Packing List For Longterm Travel
So there you have it – the official list of what we set out with initially with a few changes made along the way and refined further for Family Gap Year II and beyond!
Overall though not too much did change packing-wise over the first year of our travels.
We did end up buying some warmer clothes for alpine temperatures in Kyrgyzstan. But those were actually purchased second hand from a roadside shop and we left those with the family who ran the hostel we stayed in at Almaty, Kazakhstan.
We did replace a few things along the way (t-shirts for adults and the boys too) – though we tried to stick to the general rule of adding something new to a pack meant that we had to get rid of something else!
Check out our other packing posts to see what else you need to pack for long-term family travel.
Happy travels!
Let us know in the comments if you have any other tips for packing for longterm travel – or any questions!
Read more about packing for travel
- 10 Daypack Essentials.
- Our Travel Medical Kit.
- Our Packing List For Full-Time Travel: 2 Packs, 4 People.
- Packing List For India.
- Kids Daypacks For Travel.
- Electronics Packing List For Travel.
More about travel planning and preparation
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It is easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere online.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Make sure you have insurance before further contemplating further on your packing list for longterm travel!