As we speak I am in the plane flying to Jordan. Each trip is different, so each trip requires other packing tips and tricks. But a backpacktrip is a backpacktrip, so less is more. What do you always take with you? I always start with above chaos.

My backpack is a beautiful Nomad bag of 55 litres. More than enough. It is good enough for a month, but for ten months as well. Packing too much is really a crime, just like a backpack which is too large. I am 1.76 and around 67 KG (female revelations) and a simple rule for the use of a backpack is that it should not weigh more than 20% of your body weight. My backpack always weighs around 8-10 KG.

Another tip: buy a backpack in an outdoorshop. The bag should fit perfect on your body, and they can measure and adjust that for you in a shop right away.

It doesn’t matter where and how long I go, I always take clothing for a maximum of a week (and with pieces that could go well together). This time we’re going for 8 days (too many trips this year), but when I go for a month or longer I basically take the same number of garments with me (something like two midi skirt, long skirt, shorts, long pants, harem pants, shirts and a warmer pair of tunic. More than enough!). This time it was a different story: Jordan is an Arab country and women are supposed to wear clothes over the knee and shoulder. It is 40 degrees out there, so it will be a hot trip for me.

What do I take with me this time?
Long leggings, a blue batik dress with long sleeves, a long midiskirt and two long trousers. A tunic (I like to wear white in hot countries, can’t help it), three white shirts with sleeves and a thick black jacket for the cold desert nights. And a bikini. Tip: roll up your clothing in your backpack: it saves space and prevents creases.

A collection of scarfs for my hair, sneakers and slippers, deodorant, sunscreen and mosquito stuff and a bag of our Dutch stroopwafels to hand out.

Electronics. I’m still doubting which camera(s) I will take. I will take the Canon + lenses for sure. I’m going to take a analogue underwater camera to try out, and maybe I’ll take another Canon analogue camera with me. But three cameras for a week might be a bit exaggerated.

Toiletry bag. With bandages, pain relievers, pill, mini shampoo, wash gel and aftersun, a scent, bracelets, rubber bands, toothbrush and toothpaste, BB cream, mascara, eyebrow pencil and a pink lipstick for festive manifestations.

Hand luggage (at very long flights I take a toothbrush, mini deo and my own headphone as well). The Lonely Planet, my passport and tickets. And a notebook. There are a few things not in the picture I see, such as chargers, my hair brush, I almost forgot these things (OH a TOWEL! And my contacts) 

And burglars: we have baby sitters!