When trying to remember of everything you need to take away with you when you go travelling, it can sometimes get a little overwhelming ensuring you don’t forget anything! Has that happened to you? It’s definitely happened to us… Alas, help is here! We’ve got you covered with our top 50 travel essentials to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible…
Clothes
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Clothes That Are Easy To Dry
You may not have the luxury of a washing machine and a dryer, or even an airer for that matter. Make your washing easier by bringing clothes made with thin material so they dry with ease. -
Long Sleeved Tops and Trousers to Avoid Mosquitoes
Although it may be scorching hot (depending on where you are and the time of year) you can wear thin materials like linen to stay cool and avoid getting bitten. -
Waterproofs
Ever heard of rainy season? You may just get caught up in it so make sure you’re prepared with your waterproof clothing, and we recommend including a waterproof cover for your backpack too! -
Swimwear
Whether you’re diving with marine life, or simply want to take a dip in the water, your swimwear is a must have when travelling.
Documents
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Passport
Again, this may seem obvious, but just remember you will certainly struggle to travel without it! -
Ticket
Nothing would be worse than getting to the airport to discover you've forgotten your your ticket. Especially as many airlines will charge for the re-issue of a ticket. -
Health Insurance
While nobody likes to think they will ever need it, travelling to a new exotic destination can come with certain risks, so make sure you have insurance to hand to avoid some scary medical bills. -
Travel Insurance
Just in case any emergencies arise such as lost or stolen property, make sure you are in the best position possible to deal with it by having a comprehensive travel insurance policy to hand. You may be able to combine this with health insurance and if you travel with The Great Projects we can certainly help with this! -
Visa
Some countries require specific types of Visa to allow you to enter, and without the correct visa you will be prohibited from entering the country. -
Emergency Contact Documents
God – forbid, but just in case of emergency and a need to inform loved ones at home, make sure you can do this without any fuss by having those details to hand. -
Medical ID
Similarly, if you run into trouble and you are unable to inform medical professionals of any health issues you may have, make sure you carry around your medical ID which clearly states any pre-existing conditions you have. Don't have a medical ID? You can purchase them here. -
Itinerary
Ensure you don’t forget what you have planned by keeping this with you! -
Onward Travel Tickets
Some countries require proof that you will be leaving the country again before they let you travel onward. It is best to avoid any aggravation by having copies of these documents. -
Copies of EVERYTHING
You never know what could happen. It is always useful to keep copies of absolutely everything, even your passport photos.
Medical
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Prescription Medication
You don’t want to be unwell on your travels so make sure all your prescription medication is packed before you jet off! -
Multivitamins
A change in environment can often upset the balance of our bodies so make sure you’re feeling right as rain with some multivitamins! -
Pain Killers
A headache, back ache from working so hard to save those animals… sometimes you just need a little assistance to help you get through the day… -
First Aid Kit
For those unexpected hiccups (not literally, a first aid kit won't help you with those...) along the way! -
Insect Bite Cream
Sometimes those darn critters just get you! Relieve the itch with a little bite cream… -
Antibacterial Wipes/Gel
Depending on where you’re going, some of the places you encounter may not be as clean as you’d like, especially when you’re cleaning up after animals all day!
Hygiene
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Toiletries
It is not unreasonable to want to be clean while you are away I suppose… -
Towels
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up with what you need for when you’re getting wet having a wash, that you forget that you need to get dry again… -
Toilet Roll
Different cultures have different ways of doing this bit… Avoid any unwanted surprises by packing this to keep you going. -
Hair Brush/Comb
You may be in the wilderness, but you don’t necessarily want to look like you’ve been dragged through a bush backwards!
Basics
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Sun cream
Love your skin and protect it! -
After sun
For those times when the sun cream wasn’t a high enough factor! -
Insect Repellent
Do your best to save yourself from maddening scratching and coat yourself in some of this stuff… -
Sunglasses
Avoid those eye burning sun rays and enjoy the view… -
Hat
Everyone knows you need to wear a hat in the sun, avoid getting sun stroke by popping this in! -
Backpack
You need to put your stuff in something, right? -
Handbag/carrier
For those days where you leave your accommodation and need to take a few things with you, but you don’t want to have to take your big backpack out. -
Water bottle
Make sure you always have one of these to hand so you can top up as and when you need to. Stay hydrated people! -
Neck Pillow
Long flights, long drives to the conservation areas… give your neck a rest while you’re doing this! -
Sleeping bag
Just in case you get a bit chilly. Some volunteering projects for example also host a camp out night so this will be perfect for that! -
Debit/credit card
Just in case you run into any financial emergencies on your travels. -
Eye Mask and Ear Plugs
In the wild, animals and bright morning sunshine don’t tend to have a lot of consideration for sleeping humans. Stay rested by chucking these in your travel bag! -
Beauty products
Whether it’s makeup essentials or your nightly moisturiser, keep up your beauty regime! (You may also want to include a compact mirror)
Technology
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Phone/iPod/iPad/Tablet
You may want to stay in contact with home or have some evening entertainment so be sure to include these in your travel essentials. -
Headphones
For those times where you want to watch that funny Facebook video with sound but you’re in a room full of people… -
Camera
Create memories that will last a life time on your trip and make sure you can keep them forever… -
Chargers for Appliances
What good will it be bringing your technology if it runs out of battery and you can’t use it?! -
Plug Adapter
You also need to be able to plug these chargers in, so make sure you’ve got those adapters! -
Watch
You may not have your phone or other device to let you know what the time is, so bring a watch along (preferably a waterproof one) so you are on time, all the time.
Extras
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Journal
You may want to keep a detailed account of your experience so you never forget any part of it! -
Pen
You will most definitely need something to write it down with though… -
Sewing Kit
You never know when you’ll need one of these, but you don’t want to be in a position where you need one and you don’t have one, so you may as well pop it in! -
Binoculars
On those drives to your conservation area, don’t be surprised if you come across wild animals along the way! Get a closer look by making sure you have your binoculars! -
Snacks From Home
Particularly useful for those fussy eaters out there, you don’t really want to starve for the duration of your trip! Although remember that not all foods are suitable for travelling... -
Torch
For night time activities, make sure you are aware of your surroundings, even in the dark! -
Mosquito Net
You may be going to an area where the mosquitoes love to pay a visit. Make sure you can keep them out by packing one of these.
With these Top 50 travel essentials, you can now make sure your trip, and packing for it is as stress-free as possible. Now that you don't have to worry that you have forgotten something when packing, why don't you take a look at our volunteer projects? Then you get packing straight away!
