Backpacking & Trekking - packing checklist

Knowing what to pack for 4 months of backpacking or a trekking is difficult. Here is a great list to make sure you've thought of everything

Packing checklist

TICKETS, MONEY, PAPERWORK
[ ]- Passport

[ ]- Passport 2x photocopies,(1x as ID for card payment or club entry & 1x as passport copy)
[ ]- Travel insurance details 
[ ]- House contents insurance details (some higher value items are not covered on travel insurance)

[ ]- Airline tickets (Return flight photocopies to show at immigration)

[ ]- USD cash and travellers cheques (buy Argentinian pesos at the blue rate with dollars)

[ ]- Credit or debit cards (ideally multiple of different brands, 1x Visa, 1x Mastercard, 1x Debit as not all cards work in all machines)

[ ]- Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
[ ]- Travel purse/clip
[ ]- Spare wallet to split money (hide in another section of bag)

GENERAL
[ ]- Reading/writing material- Journal or note book

[ ]- Cover for backpacks (if not included)

[ ]- Pocketknife.
[ ]- Ear plugs (critical for noisy hostels or travelling)
[ ]- Eye mask (critical for people turning lights on in hostels or travelling)
[ ]- Large compact towel (can also be used as a blanket on cold bus rides & as a curtain on bunk)
[ ]- Padlocks x2-3 (for locking sections of your bag, hostel lockers)

ELECTRONICS

[ ]- Camera

[ ]- Spare memory card
[ ]- Hard drive or Laptop - to back up photos
[ ]- Laptop or phone - for skype & Facebook messaging whilst away
[ ]- Torch or head torch
[ ]- Plug adaptors (multiple)
[ ]- Kindle or similar (if avoiding carrying 5 travel guide books)
 

CLOTHES
[ ]- Windproof/waterproof jacket

[ ]- 2x Swim wear

[ ]- 4 shirts/t-shirts (if female - Tankinis recommended for hot countries)

[ ]- Sun hat / cap

[ ]- 1 pair of shorts

[ ]- 2 pairs of long trousers (for hiking or trekking)

[ ]- 1 pair hiking pants/track pants

[ ]- Hiking boots/ sturdy walking shoes

[ ]- Flip flops or Sport sandals

[ ]- Trainers
[ ]- Jumper or Fleece top
[ ]- Socks
[ ]- Underwear

OTHER
[ ]- Sunglasses

[ ]- Suncream factor 30+
[ ]- Insect repellent

[ ]- Toiletries

[ ]- Watch or alarm clock

[ ]- Water bottle

[ ]- Money belt

[ ]- First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhoea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
[ ]- Waterproof bag, plastic bags (for separating clothes in bag), individual storage bags
[ ]- Contact lenses & contact lens cleaning liquids (can be difficult to find abroad)
[ ]- Small discreet handbag or bumbag (to fit camera, phrasebook, map when going out)

INCA TRAIL packing list

[ ]- Inner sheet (for sleeping bag)

[ ]- Wool hat, mitts or gloves (preferably waterproof)

[ ]- Rain poncho

[ ]- Waterproof dry bag or Strong plastic bags (to help keep gear dry)

[ ]- Sleeping bag (this can also be hired locally for approximately $10 USD)

[ ]- Mattress (a foam mattress is included as part of the hike; self inflating type mattresses are available for hire)

[ ]- Anti-inflammatory tablets (e.g. Ibuprofen)

[ ]- Thermal underwear
[ ]- Purification tablets or filter

OPTIONAL (depending on locations visiting)

[ ]- Mosquito net
[ ]- Marker pen - for naming stuff in hostel kitchens/fridges
[ ]- Spice kit (for cooking in hostels)
[ ]- Bottle opener
[ ]- Tupperware (for food cooked in hostel)
[ ]- Individually wrapped tea bags or coffee sachets
[ ]- Folding shopping bag / tote bag (for supermarket shopping & going to the beach)
[ ]- Labels (with your contact details to give to friends & blank for naming your stuff in hostels)
[ ]- Travel cookbook (simple cooking ideas to save you money whilst away)
[ ]- Binoculars