Due to the diversity and breadth of our trips, our ultimate packing list should be used as a guide only and is not intended to be a complete packing list to suit every trip.
What you bring will vary according to the trip style you’ve chosen, the countries you’re visiting and the time of year and the weather when you’re travelling. Please check the Essential Trip Information of your chosen trip, which will detail any specific requirements for your trip and is tailored to suit your needs. It will also cover the type and size of luggage that can be taken, as for some trips there may be certain weight (i.e. for trips with included flights) or size (i.e. for trips using safari vehicles) restrictions for your luggage. Some packing guides for some of our most popular destinations are also listed at the bottom of this page.
Travel documents
- Passport
- Visas if required
- Travel insurance policy
- 24 hr emergency travel insurance contact and policy number
- Flight e-tickets
- Your travel itinerary
- Photocopies of important documents
- A print out of your trip’s Essential Trip Information
- Spare passport photos
- Youth/student/seniors cards for travel discounts
- International driving license if needed
- Diving license if needed
- Cash/credit cards
- $500 USD contingency fund in cash
- Money belt or pouch
Luggage
On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage. Most travelers use a small, wheeled suitcase although the type of luggage most suitable will vary depending on your trip and destination. Please refer to the packing section of your Essential Trip Information for any specific luggage requirements. You will also need a daypack/bag to use during the day.
- Main luggage
- Daypack
- Padlocks & keys
Personal items
- First aid kit
- Personal medication/prescriptions
- Glasses & sunglasses
- Contact lenses and solution
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Insect repellent
- Antihistamine/insect bite cream
- Antibacterial gel/wipes
- Motion sickness tablets
- Travel vaccination certificates
- Aspirin and/or paracetamol
- Rehydration powder
- Anti-diarrhea pills
- Toiletries
- Travel hair dryer
- Shaving equipment
- Small travel towel
- Small sewing kit and safety pins
- Consult your doctor for detailed advice on any medications
Travel accessories
- Electrical adapter for the country you are travelling to
- Camera and equipment
- Spare batteries/charger
- Local language phrase book
- Phone
- Portable games/playing cards
- Something to read
- Water bottle
- Pen/paper/diary
- Travel pillow
- Cloth/reusable shopping bags
- Torch/flashlight
- Water purification method
- Photos or postcards of your home country/family/pets to share with locals
- Binoculars
- DVT socks
Clothing
Please check your Essential Trip Information for details on appropriate clothing for your itinerary and destination. On some trips access to laundries may be limited so you may need to plan to hand wash your own clothes while on trip. For longer trips we recommend you choose clothing that is easy to wash and fast drying.
- Sun hat
- Windproof jacket
- Long-/short-sleeved shirts
- Jeans/trousers/shorts/skirts
- Socks/underwear
- Flip-flops
- Sleepwear
Cold weather
- Thermal underwear or base layers
- Warm hat
- Gloves
- Hand warmers
- Waterproof boots
- Warm socks
- Scarf
Swimming
- Swimwear
- Beach towel
- Reef shoes
- Reef-safe sunscreen
Wet weather
- Raincoat/waterproof jacket
- Umbrella
- Waterproof bags for rain protection
- Waterproof trousers
Walking or hiking
- Walking/trekking shoes
- Trekking/leech socks
- Hiking poles/walking sticks
Camping
- Inner sleep sheet
- Travel pillow
- Camping mattress
- Sleeping bag
- Head torch/lamp
