Backpacking essentials list

[Pineaurouge]

I'm going backpacking in india for 4 weeks soon (for the first time) and wondered if anyone has advice on what essentials to take. I want to travel as light as possible! Also id appreciate advice on footwear.

So far i have.....
Hand sanitiser
Toiletries
first aid kit
bug repellent
small towel
hand wash for laundry
small backpack
money belt
packing cubes

Pen
Notebook
Photocopies of passport and any other important documents
Waterproof flip flops like Havaianas which you can wear into showers if floors are a bit grim
Kindle
Sarong (endless uses, privacy curtain if you are in bunks, wrap round you to/from shower)

Menstrual cup (if you have periods)
Take a flannel. Then you can just take a really thin but large wrap/microfiber towel big enough to go around you. The flannel will soak up most if not all of the water from you after a shower so the wrap is more for covering up. It'll dry a lit quicker than even a small towel and take up less space.

I took hideous Crocs travelling. they were bloody brilliant. Comfortable for walks, washable, whenever it rained my feet got wet but then air dried as soon as the rain stopped. Hideous but handy.

Ear plugs
Basic first aid- antiseptic cream/wipes, plasters
Silk sleeping bag- packs to fuck all and can be a life saver if you’re travelling to very cheap/basic places
Sunglasses
Sunscream
1 Bikini top and 3 bottoms
1 nice dress
2 shorts
Long skirt and long sleeve blouse. Head scarf or hat. You will most likely have to dress modestly for some temple visits.

power bank

when are you setting off and are you going to go up the hills at all?

When i went to india we travelled around by train and I found a sleeping sheet very useful - its just like a sleeping bag but thin, dark, and you can see through it from the inside (which I liked as I was v on edge on sleeper trains). From Nomad.

Packing squares v handy.
Clothing that is modest. Maxi dresses if you wear that sort of thing.

& try not to overpack. Travelling light makes it so much easier. Hope you enjoy India! It's not the easiest place, unless Goa/Kerala. I spent 8 weeks travelling around India. Having some slightly more luxurious hotel stays along the way made it more enjoyable.

Flip flops for showers, but also take trainers for hiking and comfier flipflops for ambling about in.
In India, I’d definitely go for a big shawl / scarf for covering up, long looseish sleeved tops / shirts and looseish trousers / long skirt as well as shorts.
Powerbar
All your jabs and a good first aid kit including hydration tablets etc

Thanks ladies!! Some things I really hadn’t thought about.

Going early feb. Not sure on hills as we are doing a bit of a tour of north and south. Probably will do a small amount of hiking.

Im trying to think back to my days back packing in india, i mainoy wore trekking sandals, not fashionable but very comfortable.

Similar to this: www.sportsdirect.com/karrimor-antibes-leather-ladies-sandals-188080#colcode=18808004

Would recommend a Mosquito net. You can buy really small ones. The lifesystem net was good and lasted a year without tearing.

And you'll need Suncream and a shawl / scarf thing for visiting religious places (or a linen shirt... I took both and used both).

Enjoy and safe travels!

When I went to flip flops for showers, comfy running shoes and sandals like these www.regatta.ie/lady-santa-cruz-stone-bluelight-steel/?gclsrc=aw.ds&&sv_tax1=google&sv_tax2=shopping&sv_tax3=Shopping+-+Accessories&sv_tax4=438092&sv_campaign_id=1584651518&gclid=CjwKCAiAo7HwBRBKEiwAvC_Q8elRUaq21PcZGARofKUi87QuFJVaKn8Y5zP8GvElTRiRtGOg13Y8ZRoCCmAQAvD_BwE,
dioralite and meds for stomach upsets (never needed them)
A cheap ring to wear as a wedding ring
Earplugs
Tiger balm for mosquitoe bites
Sleeping bag liner in case your hostel bed looks grubby
A shampoo bar instead of liquid shampoo
Personally I find packing cubes a bit of a faff!
Try to find a washbaf with a hook so you can hang it in the shower, I hate putting my toiletries on dirty floors!
A scarf or 2, you'll wear it most days
Travel insurance info
Passport photos for Visa- it said on the website to bring them , but I dont remember being asked for them at immigration...
And enjoy your trip!!

I've found the dock and bay towels amazing and you can sometimes pick them up in tkmax.

I would take solid shampoo and conditioner and soap rather than liquids. A mesh bag to take to showers to keep stuff off the floor while you shower.

Absolutely agree that interspersing some luxury hotels is a bit of a game changer. The beauty of a two hour soak and room service after some more basic weeks is bliss!

Glucose tablets or Kendal mint cake.

Travel insurance.

Immodium and dioralite in your first aid kit

Email yourself/friends photos of your important documents (passport/flight details/insurance details) - that way you have a copy you can access anywhere even though if you loose all your luggage.

Pepto Bismol chewable tablets.

Two different cards, packed in separate places:
One of the prepaid travel cards, like Caxton or FairFX, and a credit card with no cash withdrawal fee, like the Halifax Clarity card.

And email copies of them to yourself (back and front, so you have the emergency phone no) as suggested by TrophyCat above.

If you only take one water bottle with you, take a lifestraw bottle. You'll need to drink lots of water to keep hydrated and can't always trust even bottled water in India.

Which part of India are you going to? India is massive and the weather can vary from t-shirt weather to needing a coat on a night depending on where you are. Don't panic too much if you pack the wrong clothes though - there are more clothes shops and tailors in India than anywhere else I've ever been. You will need to dress more modestly in hot weather than you might be used to, and a light scarf is extremely useful. Bear in mind your feet will probably get very dirty walking around so you'll have to decide whether you are going to opt for washable footwear like crocs or flip flops or whether you are going to trash something nicer over the duration of the trip. There are plenty of places with hills and steps to see so I would take hiking sandals myself and accept I'm going to need to rinse them every now and then.

Everyone else has mentioned anything I would consider useful.

Second the maxi dress suggestions above - good in the heat, and easier to manage with squat toilets etc. And Teva sandals.

Lots of great suggestions. I’ve ordered myself some walking sandals from decathlon and I’m going to increase my first aid kit to include the medications mentioned.

We are staying in nicer hotels rather than hostels as there are a group of us travelling so splitting the cost makes it cheap!

My husband thinks I should take a shewee

Also love the shampoo bar idea. I’ve not started my clothes packing but will do on Monday and see what I’ve got. I’m not much of a dress wearer but I have a couple of pairs of floaty light trousers I think I will take.

I have a couple of light cover ups that are slightly see through. Do you think these will be ok for covering my shoulders?

@backinthebox we are going to Varkala, New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai

A lot of toiletries are also cheaper...i got colgate toothpaste for about 20p..same for stomach remedies....get them out there as uk stuff is not strong enough for foreign bugs.

You can purchase most items there but, casting my mind back:
Padlock as additional security lock on door / safety deposit box
Nailbrush - your feet will get filthy
Plug for sink (often missing)
Sunscreen as it’s often poor quality if purchased there
Take a surge protection strip plug and then you will only need one adaptor.
Electronic copies of passport/visa/travel documents
Enjoy your travels!

If you are staying in hotels you should be ok. Just make copies of documents and leave at home - keeping an exopy with you.
Hand sanitiser does not kill all germs (just to be aware).
Shampoo bar/soap.
Comfy shoes
Long thin trousers for if you go on any treks. Tuck them in your boots and you may avoid bites.
A large thin towel - one of the fibre ones
Sarong
Hairbrush and ties

I would take some antibiotics with you, I had some problems in India...and my g.p. allowed me to take some when I made another trip.

Some duct tape. It’s really useful for little repairs to things like sunglasses or shoes and can be used instead of plasters.
Took some trekking in Nepal and it was really handy. Also a bit of string is really useful.