Packing for 8 Months of Travel in Only a Backpack???

As I prepare for an eight-month adventure, I’m learning to embrace minimalism and simplicity. To be on the road for this long, careful planning is essential to ensure I have everything I need, and nothing more. Whether you’re planning a backpacking trip for a few weeks or several months, this guide will help you figure out what to pack.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

I’m packing primarily for warm climates, especially Southeast Asia. However, I’m starting my journey in Europe in the fall, where I’ll encounter cooler temperatures (50-70°F or 10-20°C). Most of my time will be spent in tropical destinations, where I’ll be living in bathing suits and enjoying the sun and ocean.

Where possible, I’ll share links to the specific items I’ve purchased. A key packing tip is to use packing cubes, which help organize everything in your backpack. I personally use these packing cubes from Amazon

Clothing Essentials

Packing for a long trip can feel overwhelming, especially when you want to dress comfortably and have a variety of outfits for different occasions. Here’s what I’m bringing:

–Bottoms: 2 pairs of linen pants, 1 pair of leggings, 1 pair of yoga pants, 3 biker shorts, 1 pair of jean shorts, 2 pairs of linen shorts, 1 pair of lose fitting athletic shorts, 1 pair of pajama shorts, 1 long skirt, and 2 short skirts. A variety of bottoms is essential, especially in Asia where you’ll need to cover your knees to visit temples or keep warm in the evenings.

– Dresses & Rompers:1 casual athletic dress and 1 athletic yoga one-piece.

– Tops: 8 tank tops, 5 short sleeve shirts, 3 going-out tops (all tank tops), 1 long sleeve, and 1 white linen button-up. Additionally, I’m packing 3 athletic tops/bras for working out. I’ve packed more yoga and athletic wear than usual because I’ll be doing a yoga teacher training during my travels.

– Undergarments: 3 bras (1 regular, 2 cotton), 2 weeks’ worth of underwear, and 6 pairs of socks.

– Swimwear: 2 one-piece swimsuits, 3 bikinis, and a long-sleeve swimsuit top for diving and surfing.

– Other Clothing Items: A rain jacket, a hoodie, and cotton overalls for long travel days.

Footwear

I’m bringing four pairs of shoes:

– Cheap flip-flops (for showers)

– Platform Teva sandals

– Hoka running shoes

– Reebok tennis shoes (I could do without these, but I like having a non-sneaker option for walking or going out).

Toiletries & Makeup

– Basics: Shampoo and conditioner bars, body wash, face wash, face lotion, body lotion, makeup remover, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor.

– Makeup: Mascara, eyelash curler, blush, lip gloss, and chapstick. I pack light when it comes to makeup, as I rarely wear it.

– Other Toiletries: Body sunscreen, face sunscreen, menstrual items (I switched to a reusable flex disc), contacts, contact solution, glasses, extra jewelry, Headband, comb, hair ties, nail file, and tweezers

Medications & Health Items

I carry a range of medications, including prescribed ones like malaria tablets and traveler’s diarrhea tablets, and essentials like Advil, Imodium, Pepto-Bismol, Tums, cold and flu medication, motion sickness medication, UTI/yeast infection probiotics, electrolytes, melatonin, and emergency vitamin packets. Check out my article on the 10 medications I always pack on any trip.

Other health-related items include:

– Tide-to-go pens (for inevitable stains)

– Aquaphor

– Bug spray

– Hand sanitizer

– Body wipes(I love these Summer’s Eve kind)

Towels & Miscellaneous

– A microfiber towel (for showers)

– A large sarong (for the beach)

– A scarf (to cover shoulders or head)

Other random but essential items include earplugs, an eye mask, a running flip belt, sunglasses, a baseball hat, and a travel yoga mat. I also pack extra Ziploc bags for wet items, sunscreen leaks, or keeping things organized.

Bags & Backpacks

I’m traveling with:

– A 50L Osprey Fairview Trek backpack

– A 40L backpack

– A medium-sized crossbody bag

– A small hiking crossbody

– A laundry bag/ tote bag

– A small wallet for going out

All these extra bags fit neatly into the two larger backpacks.

Electronics & Personal Items

I’m carrying quite a bit of camera gear, but tailor this part to what you need.

My essentials include:

– Phone, iPad Mini, Kindle, AirPod Max, wired headphones, and Bluetooth earbuds

– Film camera with extra rolls of film, a small digital camera, and a GoPro with accessories

– All necessary chargers and a universal plug adapter

– A journal, passport, cards, and personal documents

I also have a folder containing copies of all my important documents, such as my passport, international driver’s license, travel insurance, vaccination record, and extra passport photos. I’ve left copies of these documents at home as a backup.

That’s everything I’m packing for eight months of travel through Europe and Asia. Some items are specific to my itinerary, such as camera gear, while others may not fit your personal style. The key is to tailor your packing list to your own trip and needs. 

If you have any questions or need more visual content, head over to my TikTok, where I’ve shared videos of everything I’m packing and how it all looks in my backpack. Feel free to reach out via the “Contact Me” section of my website!