How to Travel Light When Volunteering Abroad

When volunteering, you’ll often be staying with a host family or in a hostel without much room for necessities, let alone home comforts and mementos from family members. While it might seem impossible to pack light to begin with, knowing a few tips and tricks can reduce your luggage from multiple checked bags to just one carry-on. 

When you only bring one carry-on bag, there’s no chance of the airline losing your luggage. You also won’t have to wait in long lines at baggage claim, and there’s no risk of a sore back or extra fees due to excess weight. Let’s explore how you can achieve the impossible and volunteer abroad without overpacking. 

Buy the Right Bag in Advance

All airlines have different rules when it comes to their carry-on and checked baggage allowances, including weight, height and width restrictions. This is one of the first things you should research once you’ve booked your flights, so you’re not caught out at the airport. Check how many bags you’re allowed, size allowances, and whether there’s a weight limit. Once you’ve done this, buy a bag that fits your needs. 

Having the right bag at home lets you pack as you go to make sure you’re not taking up too much space with non-essentials, instead of having to squeeze everything in at the last minute. Travelling is no fun when your bag is bursting at the seams!

Research, Research, and Research Some More 

When it comes to travelling lightly, the key is knowing what to expect. While some people like to pack for all weathers so they’re prepared for anything, this’ll often leave you with lots of unworn clothing that could’ve stayed at home. Here are the most important things to research before even thinking about packing anything: 

• Season and weather: What time of year are you volunteering? Will it be rainy season, or glorious sunshine? Remember, some parts of the world experience an alternate season pattern, including Africa and Australasia. For example, if you booked to volunteer in Kenya during July, you’ll need to plan for an African winter. 
• Local culture: Some cultures are more conservative when it comes to clothing, so be mindful of where you’re visiting and how to be respectful as a tourist. Research acceptable clothing, along with social and religious norms, to prevent offending locals with your wardrobe. 
• Your chosen placement: The jobs you’ll be doing have a big impact on your chosen attire. For example, teaching and childcare jobs call for more respectful, modest clothing. Construction and community development programs are a little more laid-back, but pack clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. 
• Downtime activities: What are you planning on doing in your downtime? If you want to partake in plenty of hikes and sightseeing, always take a good pair of shoes. Will you want formal clothing for evenings out? This is just as important as what you’ll wear while volunteering. 
• Duration of your stay: A long-term volunteering experience through multiple countries will require more luggage than a week-long excursion, but don’t get bogged down by lots of belongings. You can always buy things on the road and support local communities along the way!

Pack Versatile Clothing That Can Be Layered and Mixed-and-Matched

One of the best ways to travel light is to find staple clothing pieces that all work well together. For example, it’ll be much easier to make outfits from neutral colours than bright and bold pieces. Think blue jeans, black and grey joggers, plain white or black T-shirts, black trainers, and beige shorts. These aren’t boring clothes - they’re capsule wardrobe essentials, and they’ll make travelling much easier on your back and shoulders! 

Similarly, packing layerable clothing is much more effective than packing big, bulky winter items. Would you rather be stuck in a sweltering sweater while working in 70°F heat, or be able to remove layers as and when the temperature changes? Choosing layers lets you pack more of them, so you’ll have more options without thick coats and hoodies getting in the way. 

Create a Detailed Packing List (And Stick to It!)

Now that you’ve done your research, you’ll know roughly what to pack for your chosen destination. A list gives you everything you need all in one place, and you can add or remove from it as you get closer to your departure date. Packing without a list increases the risk of sneaking non-essentials in ‘just in case’, as before you know it, you’ll have three packed suitcases and a very hefty baggage fee. 

Example Packing List for Volunteering Abroad

Here’s an example list of what you might like to take on your volunteering adventure: 

Clothing

Clothes take up the majority of your bag. A good rule of thumb is to take enough clothing for one week, so you don’t have to do laundry multiple times a week. Make sure all of your clothing is suitable for your chosen volunteer project and the projected weather conditions.

• 2 x trousers/pants
• 4 x modest tops
• 1 x dress or skirt that reaches below the knee
• Underwear and socks
• Swimsuit
• A jacket suitable for cooler weather or rain
• 2 x comfortable walking shoes, at least one being closed-toe
• A scarf or sarong
• Towel

Toiletries

Of course, we can’t forget toiletries even when packing lightly! Look for travel-sized bottles wherever possible, and minimize your self-care routine. If possible, you don’t want to take a 10-step skincare routine along for the ride. 

• Medical kit, including: 
  • Painkillers
  • Antihistamines
  • Powdered electrolytes
  • Scissors/tweezers 
  • Bandaids
  • Antiseptic cream for cuts and scrapes
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip balm
  • Insect repellent
  • Personal medication
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush
• Hand sanitizer
• Baby wipes
• Soap

Electronics and Gadgets

When thinking about gadgets to take while volunteering, it can be easy to get distracted by non-essential items. Questions like ‘what will I do in my spare time?’ and ‘what if I get bored?’ may creep in, but trust us, more often than not, there isn’t a moment to be bored! So, try and stick to what you need instead of sneaking a portable games console in. 

• Unlocked phone and relevant SIM
• Camera or GoPro
• Head torch
• Adapters for the country you’re visiting
• Multiple chargers for all devices
• A multi-plug extender
• E-reader (if lightweight and thin)

Do I Need to Bring Anything for My Volunteer Project?

When planning to volunteer overseas as a teacher or sports coach, you might wonder if you should bring anything to help out. While most projects don’t require you to bring anything as they already have the necessary equipment you’ll use, it might be worth talking to your Volunteering Solutions advisor or project manager. They’ll be able to let you know if you can bring anything beneficial from home, such as supplies or treats for those you’ll be working with. 

It might also be worth asking if you can buy these things once you land in the country so you don’t have to worry about packing them. Not only will this give you some extra space in your bag for necessities, but it also means you’ll invest the money you spend back into the local community and economy. 

Ready to Start Planning Your Volunteer Experience? 

Volunteering is a life-changing experience that lets you explore another corner of the world, meet amazing people from all walks of life, and make a meaningful difference that you can be proud of. Packing lightly is only one aspect of preparing for your big trip, and Volunteering Solutions is available to help every step of the way. From help with visa applications to 24/7 in-country support and advice, our goal is to make this an experience you’ll never forget! 

Ready to explore and choose a program to help make a lasting impact on the world? Check out our volunteer abroad programs and take the first step in your journey today.