On a long tour you check in and out of hotels every couple of days, and the coach is usually waiting. A lighter bag makes every one of those mornings easier. Our tour leaders pack the same way every time, and it works.
Start with the rules
Check your airline’s allowance before you pack: the weight limit for checked bags, the size and weight of cabin bags, and any limits on domestic flights within the tour, which can be stricter than on the international legs.
Pack in layers, not outfits
Choose a small set of pieces that work together in one or two colours. Layers handle changing weather better than heavy single items: a T-shirt, a long-sleeved top, a fleece or knit, and a light waterproof jacket cover most of what a tour can throw at you.
If you are not sure you will wear it, leave it at home.
What our tour leaders bring
- Two pairs of comfortable shoes, one already worn in
- Clothes for about a week, and a small bag of travel detergent
- A light down jacket that packs into its own pocket
- A small day bag for the coach and walking days
- A universal adaptor and a power bank
- Medication in its original packaging, with enough for the whole trip
- A reusable water bottle and a small first-aid pouch
Keep these in your hand luggage
- Passport, tickets and insurance details
- Medication and a change of clothes
- Valuables, chargers and anything fragile
Leave room to come home
Pack your suitcase about three-quarters full. You will buy something along the way, and a little space saves an anxious repack on the last night.
Ready for the trip itself?
See our current group tours, or tell us where you would like to go and we’ll plan it with you.
