Packing List

It is a philosophy what and how much you take with you when you travel. It further depends a lot from the places you are going to visit and the planned activities. I, for example, like to be able to enter spontaneously into adventures and therefore I carry quite a lot to be equipped for almost every possibility. I needed almost everything I took on almost every trip. On the other hand I could have handled most situations with much less.

My packing list results from my experiences in Latin America , it won’t be too much of a help for a Himalaya expedition. The packing list is a reminder which things you could take but not what you have to take. Not even I myself take everything on this packing list on every journey. If you stay closer to big cities or if you are willing to spend a couple of hours or even days to equip you you will need much less. And always remember: "Take double the money and half the clothes." Plastic is such a wonderful invention

Essentials:

• address list and important telephone numbers (e.g. for cancellation of credit cards, embassy, health insurance company …)
• airline ticket
• big back pack
• small back pack (day pack)
• copies of your important documents (airline ticket, passport, credit cards … deposit one copy at home)
• credit cards
• dictionary
• diving license
• diving log book
• Dollar cash reserve
• glasses, backup glasses, contact lenses
• language guide
• neck pouch or money belt
• passport (check if it is valid at least six months longer than the planned duration of your trip)
• sun glasses
• telebanking TANs and whatever you need to access your bank account
• traveller checks
• travel guide book (detailed and recently updated! E.g. Footprint Handbook or Lonely Planet)
• travel health insurance
• vaccination card

Wash Bag / First Aid Kit:

• ACC / Ambroxol (cough medicine)
• antibiotic
• brush or comb
• caffeine-tabletts
• canulas (good for releasing pressure from blebs)
• clinical thermometer
• condoms
• dental floss
• deodorant
• diarrhoea medicine (e.g. Imodium Akut)
• ear protection
• elastic bandage
• fungicide
• gauze bandage
• insect repellent (for jungle regions at least 30% DEET, both for skin and clothes / mosquito net)
• isotonic drink
• lip care
• Malaria prophylaxis
• Melatonin (against jet lag)
• nail care set
• pain killer
• Q-tips
• shampoo
• shaver (foam, if needed)
• skin cream or oil
• soap (in a box)
• sticking plaster
• sun protection
• tape
• toilette paper
• tooth brush
• tooth paste
• tweezers
• wash bag
• water disinfection

Cloths:

• 2 pairs of trousers (shorts, if you like)
• 5 pairs of briefs
• 5 T-shirts
• 10 pairs of socks
• bathing trunks
• belt
• hat, cap or other headgear
• hiking boots
• long johns (? Are you sure you want to go somewhere you need them?)
• long-sleeved shirt (strong enough to protect you from mosquito bites)
• neckerchief
• nightshirt or pyjamas
• rain coat, rain trousers, if needed
• sandals (travel version!)
• sweater

It is important to take cloths which are easy to pack, which dry fast and do not have to be ironed. Most of the travel cloths by the known brands fulfil those needs. If you want to you can also carry on set of "civil cloths" in case you are invited to a dinner.

Miscellaneous

• alarm clock
• binoculars
• book(s)
• camera (lots of film, reserve battery or battery charger)
• chain (can be quite helpful … if you have a padlock)
• clothespins
• compass
• cup
• diving mask, snorkel, fins, anti-fog
• eye mask
• freezer bags (with zip lock)
• garbage bags (useful in case of rain)
• hammock
• handkerchiefs / tissues
• hooks (e.g. for hanging the mosquito net)
• insect coils
• kanga or beach towel
• kitchen roll
• lens cleaning cloth
• lighter
• mini-tripod for camera
• mosquito net
• mosquito net small (to wear over the head)
• note pad
• padlocks (several)
• pen
• pen knife or Leatherman
• pillow case (good to store worn cloths)
• plug adapter
• rain cover for back pack
• rope
• sleeping bag
• sleeping bag inlet (those cloth things you can crawl in if you are not convinced that your bed is clean enough)
• tape (a good one)
• tea candle / candle
• tension belt
• torch (and reserve batteries)
• towel
• transport bag for back pack
• travel cutlery
• universal sink plug
• wash cloth (disposable ones?)
• washing agent