The Ultimate Packing Checklist for 7-15 Day Trips

Packing is the difference between a great trip and a stressful one. Here is the master checklist refined across hundreds of trips – copy it, customize it, never panic-pack again.

Documents (CARRY-ON ONLY)

• Passport + 2 photocopies (international)
• Visa (printed)
• Flight tickets / boarding passes
• Hotel bookings printed
• Travel insurance policy
• Aadhaar / Driving license / PAN
• Travel itinerary with addresses
• Emergency contacts list (paper – don’t depend on phone)
• Photocopy of passport stored in email + cloud

Clothing (7-day trip example)

• 3-4 t-shirts (mix cotton + quick-dry)
• 1 shirt for nicer dinners
• 2 pants (1 jeans + 1 quick-dry travel pant)
• 1 shorts
• 5 underwear, 5 pairs socks
• 1 light jacket (even in summer destinations – flights and ACs are cold)
• 1 swimwear (always pack, even when you don’t think you’ll need it)
• 2 pairs shoes (1 walking + 1 lightweight flat/sandal)
• Sleepwear (1 set)

Rule of thumb: pack for 5-7 days regardless of trip length, do laundry. Most hotels offer next-day service for Rs.300-500.

Electronics

• Phone + charger (cable + adapter)
• Power bank 10,000 mAh or more
• Universal travel adapter (for international)
• Multi-port USB charger (4 ports)
• Camera + charger + extra battery + memory card
• Headphones (noise canceling for long flights)
• E-reader if you read on flights

Toiletries (small bottles for 7 days)

• Toothbrush + travel toothpaste
• Soap or body wash (100ml)
• Shampoo (100ml)
• Deodorant
• Sunscreen SPF 30+ (mandatory for beaches/mountains)
• Moisturizer + lip balm
• Razor + travel-size shaving cream
• Sanitary products (women, even if not expecting period – travel disrupts cycles)
• Wet wipes + tissues
• Hand sanitizer

First Aid Mini Kit

• Paracetamol + Ibuprofen
• Anti-diarrheal (Imodium)
• ORS sachets (2)
• Antibacterial cream (Soframycin)
• Band-aids in various sizes
• Antihistamine (Cetirizine)
• Motion sickness tablets if prone
• Personal medications – 1.5x the trip duration supply + prescription
• Mosquito repellent (DEET-based for tropical destinations)

Region-Specific Add-ons

Beach destinations: Reef-safe sunscreen, sarong, water shoes, dry bag, snorkel gear (if not provided), after-sun lotion

Hill stations / cold: Thermals, warm cap, gloves, wool socks (2 pairs), down jacket, woolen scarf, lip balm with SPF, hand cream

International trips: Universal adapter, foreign currency in small denominations, copies of passport stored separately, Visa printouts

Trekking / active: Hiking boots (broken in), trekking poles, headlamp, energy bars, water bladder, quick-dry towel

The Smart Carry-On (cabin baggage)

Pack assuming your checked bag will be lost or delayed 24 hours. Carry-on must include: change of clothes, all documents, all electronics, all medications, valuables. International flights: any liquids in 100ml bottles inside clear ziplock.

What NOT to Pack

• Hairdryer (every hotel has one)
• Full-size toiletries (use travel-size or buy at destination)
• 3+ pairs of shoes (use 2)
• Too many “just in case” outfits
• Expensive jewelry (wear minimal, theft target)
• Books (use e-reader or phone)
• Bulky guidebooks (download offline maps + PDFs)