Traveling light is my superpower. The only time I ever check a bag is when I move to a new country (or if someone requests an obscure whisky). No matter how long I travel for, I don't bring more than a carry-on suitcase and a purse. The longest I’ve ever traveled without checking a bag was four months.

But I’ll be honest with you, traveling with only a carry-on is not for everyone. If you want a new outfit for every day of the trip, this won’t work for you. If you don’t like doing laundry while traveling, this is not for you either. If you’ve got a complex beauty routine that involves more than three steps, traveling with carry-on only might be too restrictive. 

If on the other hand, you aren’t worried about outfit repeating, handwashing clothes in the sink/using laundry services, or simplifying your beauty routine, then traveling with only a carry-on can make travel so much less stressful. 

In this post I’m sharing my tried and true packing list. The one I’ve used for over a decade to travel to every single continent in the world (yes, even Antarctica). The one I have used to pack for hostels, luxury hotels, cruises, and couch surfing. I can’t imagine traveling any other way, and I hope this helps open up the possibility of carry-on only travel for you too.

The secret to enjoying traveling light: being present

Before I share my packing list, let’s start with a little mindset shift. Traveling light is about being present. As with all things in life, it’s difficult to be present when we are constantly worried about how the outside world perceives us. I’m not just talking about clothes, hair, and makeup, I’m also talking about what we think people think of us, specifically on social media. 

Over the years I’ve seen a steep increase in people doing the influencer thing. Yes, this is people’s livelihood and I can appreciate the art (and pressure) of curating an image for social media, whether you get paid or not. But I have experienced firsthand how trying to get the perfect pose, at each of the sights on your checklist, with as few people in the background as possible, can drain all the joy out of a day, and even a trip. This is why I now hardly ever share pictures or videos of myself traveling, it takes the pressure off the moment.

I share this because, for many of us, social media has turned travel into a performance rather than an experience. When we travel with only the essentials, we naturally shift our focus from self-consciousness to genuine curiosity about the world around us. We begin to prioritize experiences over appearances, connections over impressions. We stop worrying about outfit changes and start noticing the way light filters through ancient architecture or how we start being able to identify the smell of different fruits, foods, and other things unique to the locations we visit.

There's something liberating about paring down to just what you need. You'll spend less time managing your possessions and more time absorbing the world around you. The lightness isn't just in your luggage, it extends to your mind. Traveling light means being selective about what comfort truly means to you. Is it having five pairs of shoes, or is it the freedom to spontaneously change plans without worrying about logistics? Is it having a full makeup kit, or is it the ease of moving through crowded streets and train stations without being weighed down?

Have there been times I wished I packed something I didn’t, sure, but I was able to go without. And when I really couldn’t, I was able to buy it. Unless you’re going off into the wilderness, chances are you’ll be more than okay. The times I have overpacked (even in a carry-on) have far outweighed the times that I’ve forgotten something.

In order to travel with just the essentials we must shift our focus from thinking about what we might be going without to what we are gaining by being present.

The packing list

Packing for travel is a great way to practice living like a minimalist. It really shows you how little you really need to enjoy life and be present. Let’s get into specifics.

The #1 priority when packing is getting clear on what’s appropriate for where you’re going. Consider:

• The climate - Hot/cold/wet/dry. If you’re not sure, layers are your best friend!
• The culture - Respecting the culture is the best way to have a good time. Do some research before you pack. If you’re not sure, err on the side of modesty.
• The activities - Have a good idea of what activities you’ll be doing. If you’re not sure, always have at least one comfy option (for sporty stuff) and one dressy option (for dining out).

Base clothing

When it comes to clothing, I pack a capsule wardrobe. The number of things I bring is based on how often I will be doing laundry (which is usually once a week, every 7 days, just like at home)⁠. I also share this formula in my Forever Capsule Wardrobe Workbook.

7-8 Tops - (1 per day + 1 for unexpected delays) Tops are anything used to cover the upper body. Dresses are part of this too. The key is that these items don’t need to be worn with anything layered under or over them to feel appropriate to you. 

7-8 Pairs of underwear - (1 per day + 1 for unexpected delays) Underwear includes socks and bras (though for bras I’ll divide the number by two)⁠

3-4 Bottoms - (1 every 2-3 days) Bottoms are anything used to cover the lower body. Think jeans, shorts, trousers, skirts. The key here is also that they don’t need to be worn with anything layered under or over to feel appropriate to you. 

2-3 Outer layers - I consider outer layers anything I personally wouldn’t wear on its own without something layered underneath it, e.g. open cardigans, very sheer items, coats, and blazers.⁠ Wear the bulkiest when traveling.

2-3 Pairs of shoes - I make sure to always have two pairs of shoes available to me. If one pair gets wet or damaged, I still have the other pair to be out and about with. ⁠Wear the bulkiest when traveling.

1-2 Bags - I’ll usually carry a purse and pack something flat but with more capacity, like a tote bag. And of course this will all be packed into my suitcase (but I don’t count that as a bag).

1 Pair of PJs - Pretty straightforward, an oversized t-shirt and bike shorts are my go-to.

Note: This list includes the items I wear on travel/transit days.

Specialty clothing

This one really depends on what I’ll be doing. The number of items in the base clothes packing list above leaves enough wiggleroom in my carry-on to pack specialty items.  

Beach things - If I’ll be swimming a lot, I bring 1-2 bathing suits so they can dry between wears. A quick dry towel, flip flops, coverup, and sun shirt might also be part of this, depending on the accommodation.

Snow things - Most of my snow things are merino wool which dries fast and retains heat even when wet, so I generally don’t have duplicate hats or liner gloves. For extreme snow activities like being outside in -25C weather for prolonged periods of time I rent specialty gear.

Occasion wear - I’ve been to my fair share of destination weddings so I’ve had to bring outfits and accessories for those. I also often travel to celebrate Christmas and New Years so I’ve collected some tops and accessories that can easily turn any outfit a little more festive.  

Sportswear - I’m not really someone who works out on vacation. If I do, it’s usually more of a pilates/yoga/walking situation. So I don’t bring things like running shoes. If I’m going on a trip in which being active is the main event (hiking, running, other outdoorsy stuff) that will be reflected in the “base” clothing packing list rather than adding separate items.

Toiletries

In a clear toiletries bag I pack my everyday beauty products:

• Fragrance free bar soap (for short trips I use leftover slivers of soap from home)
• Fragrance free face moisturizer
• Fragrance free face SPF
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste, toothbrush, floss
• Pressed powder, eyeliner, mascara
• Microfiber makeup remover pad (just add water)
• Shower comb (curly hair means I only detangle my hair in the shower)
• Shampoo, conditioner, curl cream, curl gel (I wash my hair 2-3x a week)
• Quick dry hair towel (less frizz)
• Menstrual cup (on long travel days (+14hrs) I’ll use pads)
• Tweezers, nailclippers
• Extra: hairties, hairclips, stud earrings, paracetamol, bandaids

For sun vacations, I buy a full sized bottle of SPF on location. And if I stay somewhere close to a month, I’ll buy full-sized haircare products.  

Medication

For anyone taking medication: make sure to bring enough of any prescription medication you may need. With appropriate documentation you can also bring larger bottles of liquid medication in your carry-on. Also, for any medication, always check if the place you’re traveling to (or through) allows the ingredients. Just because something is legal in your country doesn’t mean it’s legal everywhere else. Always leave medication in its original packaging for easy identification.

Comfort 

I usually bring a journal and a pen to reflect at the end of the day. I’m also at a point where I can’t go anywhere without my black silk pillowcase. I've been using them for close to ten years and I notice a difference in my skin and hair when I don’t use one. Why black?

1. I can clearly see if I’m forgetting it before leaving my accommodation.
2. Hotel housekeeping won’t accidentally cover or remove it.
3. Most of my clothes are a darker color so it can easily be thrown in with the wash when I get home.

Long haul flight pouch

If I’m going on a flight that’s longer than 5 hours I’ll bring a pouch that holds some items that make long flights a little more comfortable.

• Eye mask
• Earplugs
• Dramamine
• Tissues
• Vaseline
• Listerine mint strips
• Pad
• Face mask

Tech

The tech is pretty straightforward.

• Chargers
• Phone (+ esim if necessary)
• Laptop
• Ereader 
• Noise cancelling headphones
• Apple watch (still deciding whether I want to wean myself off this one)

Paper & plastic

Finally, and most importantly, payment and identification methods.

• Passport/ID/Visas
• Emergency contact details on paper (bank, embassies, loved ones)
• 2x credit/debit cards (I use my phone for payments whenever possible)
• Cash

A note on security

When it comes to traveling, it’s always important to have backups (tech/payment/ID). I used to not really travel with backups and have been lucky, but it’s just not something that’s worth risking anymore. It only takes one snatched phone to leave you stranded, but having a bad situation be worse can easily be avoided:

My strategy to prevent disaster while traveling is to always have a device, a form of payment, and a form of ID on me and leave another “set” wherever I’m staying. This way if I lose a set (through theft or something else) I still have a backup to get my things in order. 

Example: I’ll carry my phone, driver license, a credit card, and cash, and leave my laptop, passport, and a different credit card in the hotel. 

If I’m carrying everything at the same time, like during transit, I’ll make sure to divide the sets over my person. 

Example: I put my passport, some cash, and a credit card in my bra, my phone on a lanyard around my body and put the rest in an interior pocket of my bag. 

It’s not foolproof but you don’t want to be in a situation where your bag gets stolen and you lose everything. The risks also very much depend on where you will be traveling and how, so do your research (Reddit has been a great source to help assess the risk and things to look out for specifically when traveling).

I also recommend making digital copies of your important documents and keeping them in secure but easy to access locations, this way you can identify yourself more easily if needed. I also recommend backing up the contents of your phone/laptop/tablet before leaving home and using this guide to get your phone as secure as possible: CLICK HERE. This might feel a bit fussy, but you’ll have peace of mind on your travels even if things go bad.

Final Thoughts

Everything I’ve listed above fits into a small carry-on suitcase and my purse, usually with space to spare. Traveling light is about prioritizing experiences over possessions. By focusing on what truly matters, you'll find that the less you carry, the more freedom you have to go for spontaneous adventures and meaningful connections. 

To end this on the simplest of notes: Make sure you pack your money, phone, documents, and prescriptions. Almost anything else you can probably go without or buy on location.