INDIA PACKING LIST: EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR INDIA TRIP

 Planning a trip to India and not sure what to take? Our complete India packing list covers all you need to take to India, advice on packing and what to leave at home!

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India Packing List – Our Complete Guide

Over our last few trips to India we’ve become very familiar with what we’re likely to need, what we never use (and therefore should leave behind!) and how to pack efficiently for travels around the Indian subcontinent.

For a country as large as India, with different climates, cultures and activities packing for all eventualities remains a challenge at times, and the temptation to overpack can be strong.

And then there’s the matter of shopping. All the colourful fabrics, sarees and souvenirs – what to do? (Fear not, we have tips on that).

This guide to packing for travel in India looks at what luggage we find best for travel in India, what essentials we recommend for everyone, what to leave behind (what you won’t need in India).

Someone once said that the less “stuff” you take with you, the more fun you’ll have on your trip.

Be that as it may, we do recommend that you travel as light as you can for your trip to India. For some people that means carry-on only, or simply a smaller size of checked baggage. Travel in India invariably involves some hauling of baggage on and off transport, possibly down unpaved streets and on/off boats or up steps. So the lighter your bag, the easier it will be to move without feeling too weighed down.

ⓘ TIP: Planning a trip to India? Join our free India Travel Facebook group here!

The Most Important Things to Pack for India

  • Your Passport! With 6 months validity.
  • Travel Insurance – a must! We use and recommend World Nomads. 
  • Your (e)visa, required by most nationalities to visit India. 

We love it for a few reasons:

  • It’s great quality, has been hauled on and off all sorts of transport and four years and many trips later it’s still going strong.
  • It’s front open meaning a) no rummaging around for things in the bottom b) It’s easy to pack/unpack c) It has lockable zips
  • It forces us to pack light! I tend to keep packing until the bag is full, so having a small backpack forces me to be minimalist!
  • Related to the above – the zips are very strong! Even when I have to sit on my bag to close it (don’t judge me) the zips have remained strong and intact.
  • It’s handluggage size meaning you could avoid checking it in with many airlines.

The Farpoint also comes in larger sizes if you are looking for a slightly larger pack.

Check prices for the Osprey Fairmont 40 here

If you’re looking for a suitcase / wheeled luggage then we recommend Samsonite’s Spark Eco Spinner range which is made from recycled PET plastic. Go for a small size / carry on to keep your load light.

Check prices for the Samsonite Spark Eco Spinner Carry on here

For shopping in India, we recommend packing a foldable duffle bag such as this one, which you can then bring home as an extra checked bag – it makes sense to buy your souvenirs towards the end of your trip if you can, do avoid having to carry an extra bag around India already.

Some people swear by packing cubes. We don’t use them personally (we roll our clothes to pack them in tight) they can be handy for separating out your clothes and keeping things tidy.

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Why you shouldn’t overpack!

Packing for India – What to Pack for India Essentials

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