Traveling Light: What I Pack— and What I Leave Behind
January 2026, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok.
Two young girls are pushing a luggage cart filled with about five suitcases. They almost disappear behind the pile. I watch them struggle and wonder: what could possibly be so essential that it deserves to travel 6,953 km, for over 10 hours, inside a suitcase?
I can’t help but compare the scene to my last life transfer — when I left Romania with two suitcases and a small carry-on backpack to move to Israel for an indefinite amount of time. Everything I truly needed was in there.
Can you guess what it was?
Of course, I wasn’t like that all my life. To be true, I used to think I needed for a travel a great number of things: my skincare products from the serum I use in the morning to the pore control mask, trekking shoes even though I was going to a beach destination, heavy books that I never read, food for the way, and my French language grammar notes, just to name a few. Needless to say, I always felt heavy and frustrated. Travelling was expensive and difficult. Why expensive? In the end, it’s just 30 EUR for a suitcase, you may say. Yes, but then you need to either take a taxi or struggle lifting and dragging this suitcase around the city with you. If you are on a budget, this is a nightmare!
Less is more.
You don’t need much to live.
Backpacking taught me to distinguish between essential, comfortable and accessory. I had to carry on my back everything I needed; then, I had to unpack the whole thing at every place I was staying just to get out something I forgot and put at the bottom. When I was leaving in hostels, I started leaving things behind and gave them for donation. I learnt that a book or a piece of clothing can serve you well in one place, but then you need to let it go. Sometimes, someone else will enjoy it and to me this gives g the object a second life. Many times I came back home with a traditional dress from one specific place. In that place, I was wearing it all the time and it made sense. Once home, I felt awkward and the dress ended up eating dust in a corner of my wardrobe.
So, what is essential?
To me, essential is everything you need to survive in your trip that you cannot get there or it would be too complicated to get, for example your passport, treatment pills and medical insurance.
Also essential are things that if bought new would be too expensive or unreasonable, for example a computer or a camera.
Clothes, jewelry, food, etc. are “comfortable and accessory” items that you can always buy in the new place you’re moving to. Imagine travelling in the south of France and finding some gem books over there. Wouldn’t this reading feel more authentic?
Now, at this point you might ask yourself “What do I need in my carry-on luggage?” or “What travel essentials should I take with me on an international trip?”
Backpacking set up for multi-city and countries trips.
After having changed countries and cities more than 10 times, here is my list of essentials that I always pack no matter the length of my travel:
Passport and Documents (ID, Health insurance, Visa). To be light, I created a backup of documents in the cloud.
Some cash just in case, and bank cards (make sure you remember the PIN to withdraw!)
Bank cards (2 if possible)
Phone + charger
One emergency contact written on paper
Any essential medication + plasters
Eye mask because I can sleep with sounds but not with light
3 Neutral color cotton shirts, one pair of jeans or leggings
3 pairs of socks and underwear
These items can all fit in a carry-on backpack, and in every case, it will be enough to get you through a local store where you can buy anything you need.
Move light, and you will feel lighter!
We live in an age of consumption and continuous call for novelty. I think that traveling teaches you to question this reality; at least, the mindful traveller.
I hope that this article made you question what you really need to pack for your next trip.
Don’t forget - the best way to experience a new place is to eat, dress, and buy things like the locals.
