The Ultimate Guide To Minimalist Travel

Have you ever been in an airport waiting for the luggage carousel to hopefully return your checked bags? What about wandering around a city towing heavy suitcases behind you trying to find your hotel? Are you tired of overcrowded tourist destinations and feeling ripped off at the price of tours and local cuisine?

In this guide, you'll learn everything you need to know about minimalist travel. What it is, how to pack, tips and tricks, how to embrace minimalism during travel, sustainable travel, and so much more. This is the ultimate guide to minimalist travel from Autogenic Amusements.

Having spent over a year living, travelling, and working abroad, minimalism and travel made the most sense to me. I often saw the flaws in conventional travel and would opt for different experiences. Due to my relatively nomadic lifestyle, minimalism made sense to adopt all of the time.

Key Takeaways

If you don't read anything else in this article, you must acknowledge these overarching points:

• Minimalism is not just about your belongings. It is also about the way you choose to live your life.
• Going off the beaten path has so many benefits like expense savings, time savings, crowd avoidance, and comes with more authenticity than tourist districts.
• Slow travel is an incredibly powerful way to experience more out of one destination while providing more cost savings, and less emissions compared to jet-setting.
• Experiences over possessions should be prioritized to really call yourself a traveller. Shopping for the same things you can get at home isn't the best reason to visit another country.
• Stick to the essentials. Don't pack out of fear of the unknown. Try living with only your travel gear to help you identify what's truly essential to your existence.

An Introduction To Minimalist Travel

Before we dive into the topic, you should have a general understanding of the who, what, where, when, why and how of minimalist travel. This section will help you understand everything you need to know.

What Is Minimalist Travel?

Minimalist travel means not being burdened by your belongings, gathering more meaningful experiences, experiencing cultures or locations in more depth, and ensuring your travels are more sustainable. Here are some key factors about what minimalist travel is:

• Functionality. Minimalist travellers make the most of their gear by ensuring they bring multi-functional items. For example, smartphones serve as communication devices, books, maps, etc. in one small package.
• Simplicity. Plan your trip to focus on quality over quantity. Give yourself time in your schedule to experience more from one spot and leave time in your schedule for those last-minute changes of plans.
• Packing light. You don't need to pack for all possibilities out of fear of the unknown. Practice using only your travel gear before departure to get acquainted with this streamlined way of living.

Who Is Minimalist Travel For?

Minimalist travel calls certain types of people. Here are some of the types of travellers who already adopt, or could use a bit of minimalist travel in their lives:

• Solo Travellers. Seeing the world on your own terms is an incredible experience. You get to pursue exactly what you want when you want, and how you want to do it.
• Nature Enthusiasts. Minimalist travel lends well to those who wish to experience the natural beauty of the world.
• Digital Nomads. Digital nomads practice a lot of what minimalist travel is about. Only needing a computer for work makes it easy to keep your belongings to a minimum and to move around at will.
• Budget Travellers. One of the main benefits of minimalist travel is the cost savings. You save on luggage fees, accommodation fees, transportation costs, and your choice of activities can be cheaper too!
• Anyone can do it. While the concept of minimalist travel works well with all sorts of different types of travellers, anyone can incorporate even the smallest technique to improve their travels.

Where Do Minimalist Travellers Travel?

Minimalist travel knows no boundaries and can be applied to any destination. Here are some concepts that apply to where minimalists like to travel:

• Go Off The Beaten Path. As a minimalist traveller, you'll find yourself going to places that aren't as crowded or are unique and undisturbed.
• Nature vacations. You will probably find yourself prioritizing experiencing the natural beauty of the location you choose to travel to.
• Affordability. Minimalist travellers will likely want to travel somewhere more affordable since the most expensive locations don't cater to authenticity or culture.
• Stay in one spot. Travelling to a destination that has a lot to offer in one location means you might find yourself staying for a prolonged period.

While there is no "X" that marks the spot where minimalist travellers go, there are a few characteristics of locations that a minimalist traveller would choose to visit. Alternatives to the common way of travelling give minimalists a way to experience better travel.

When To Travel As A Minimalist

Much like how there is no set destination, travelling as a minimalist doesn't have a set time frame. What it does mean, however, is travelling when it best suits your goals. Here are some of the key points:

• Off-season travel. Choosing to explore a new place during its off-season has several benefits. Cheaper experiences, cheaper accommodations, and cheaper flights are some ways to save money. Another benefit is smaller crowds and lines.
• Early in life. Synonymous with the "gap year backpacker", minimalist travellers might choose to travel in their younger years. This is a great time as you likely won't have large commitments in life like a career or children.
• Spontaneity. Having a light bag and a flexible schedule means you can say yes when someone invites you along to an unexpected sight or destination. You aren't constrained by locked-in hotel bookings or tours.

Travel during the off-season can mean a quieter trip without needing to deal with other travellers and tourists, and being able to change plans quickly keeps you chasing what your heart truly desires.

Why Minimalis Travel - The Pros And Cons

There are plenty of reasons why you should adopt minimalist travel. However, there are also some reasons to avoid it. Let me explain:

Pros

• Save money.
• Save time.
• Better experiences.
• Added security.

Cons

• Challenging limitations.
• Loneliness.
• Challenge adopting the lifestyle.

If you want to focus on a cheaper, more entertaining, and better experience overall, minimalist travel is for you. If you find the ideas and concepts challenging, if you're worried about being lonely, or if you just don't want to change your ways, perhaps it's something to avoid.

How To Travel As A Minimalist

Now that we understand the who, what, where, when and why, let's take a look at how you can travel as a minimalist. Here are some key concepts to adopt:

• Downsizing. Get your travel gear down to the essentials. Be unsentimental about souvenirs. If you need it and don't have it in your pack, chances are you can find it wherever you travel.
• Slow Travel. Take the time to explore and appreciate an area in more depth. Don't rush through countries to increase your country count, instead, savour each location and get a deeper sense of what it has to offer.
• Experiences over possessions. Similar to quality over quantity, focusing on what truly matters allows you to acquire meaningful experiences instead of things to fill your home or bag.

These concepts, when put into practice, allow you to travel and experience the freedom that comes with minimalism.

Now, let's dig into more about how you can embrace the minimalist mindset during travel.

Embracing The Minimalist Mindset During Travel

By embracing minimalist principles, you can streamline your travel experiences, focus on what truly matters, and create space for meaningful connections and unforgettable moments.

There are two main aspects of embracing minimalism in your travel. What you pack, and what you do can both be altered to be done in a minimalistic way.

What You Pack

Ask yourself the following questions when packing before you travel:

• Is this item essential to my existence?
• Does this item provide value to my life?
• Does this item serve more than one purpose?

If you answer with anything other than a positive, you likely don't actually need the item.

What You Do

There are some common ways that you can embrace minimalism while travelling. Similar to the above, let's take a look at what you can do:

• Slow Travel.
• Embrace Spontaneity.
• Experiences over possessions.

Embracing minimalism means focusing on what truly matters to you. This can be applied to the items you decide to take along, and the experiences you choose to pursue.

The Minimalist Way Of Thinking

The minimalist way of thinking involves the shift from focusing on materialism and expectations towards a mindset of simplicity and a more intentional and meaningful life. Here are some ways that minimalists tend to approach their everyday life:

• Thorough planning for your travels. Your time is your most valuable resource. Spend it wisely.
• Buy-it-for-life. You'll want to make sure what few possessions you do own are of the highest quality.

Be Mindful

Staying mindful is another way you can embrace minimalism while travelling. When you incorporate mindfulness into your daily activities, you can take in more of what's around you. Here are 3 ways in which you can deliberately practice mindfulness while on the road:

• Get rid of what you don't use. Fewer possessions mean you're less worried about what you own.
• Engage your senses. By purposefully engaging all 5 senses to allow yourself to take in an environment in all of the ways imaginable.
• Disconnect from technology. This will allow you to focus on the world around you and not on what's happening online. You might be surprised by what you miss when you don't pay attention.

Become A Minimalist Right Now

Of course, practice makes perfect. You may want to ensure your skills are up to par before setting out on a trip. Here are some actions you can take immediately:

• Wait on online orders. Leave something in the checkout box for at least 7 days. If you still need it a week later, then it might not be an impulse.
• Get rid of spares. It takes up valuable space to keep spares in case you might need a new one. Apart from items like medications and the perfect shoe that is discontinued, it's not worth it to hold on to extras.
• Digitize as much as possible. Having boxes of books and physical documents lying around is not a good use of space. Getting as much as possible into digital format saves space for other more important belongings.
• Stick to only the essentials. Determine which items pass the question tests from above, and keep only those.
• The 15-minute rule. Set aside 15 minutes to go over a specific category (clothing, documents, shoes, books, etc.) that you'd like to downsize or declutter. Relentlessly get rid of what isn't needed (donate, sell, trash).

Embracing a minimalist mindset during travel enhances your experiences by packing more simply, being less burdened by your possessions, and focusing on higher-quality experiences.

Check out this video of lessons from a 10-year minimalist:

Minimalist Travel Tips And Tricks

Whether you want to pack for a weekend, 1 week, 10 days, 1 month, or 1 year, minimalist packing makes it easy to adapt to any trip. Adopting a minimalist mindset during your travels also lets you enjoy more. Here are some tips and tricks:

• Bring only a carry-On. Otherwise known as one bagging, if you can fit everything you need in a carry-on, you will be able to reap all the rewards of minimalist travel.
• Capsule Wardrobe. Building a wardrobe so that all items of clothing work together is key to saving space.
• Choose the right footwear. Travelling often involves a lot of walking. Bringing the right footwear is crucial to your comfort. Ideally, you bring only one pair that works for all occasions.
• Purchase items at your destination. Items like sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, and towels, take up a lot of space. If you're able to purchase what you need at your destination, you can travel lighter and faster.
• Wash your clothing. The revelation that you can do laundry while travelling decreases how much clothing you need to pack for your trip. You probably don't need more than 5 days worth of clothing for a month or more if you do laundry regularly.
• Use travel organizers. While they do add weight, the organization they provide is important. Keep things together like electronics, clothes, and toiletries in easily accessible bags.
• Take zero days. A concept adopted from thru-hiking, zero days are when you do no travel-related activities for an entire day. This allows you to refresh, rest, and recharge so you can keep up with the demands of travel.

Minimalist travel is for those who wish to travel with less, and for those who wish to get more out of their adventures. With these minimalist travel tips, you can set off being able to travel lighter and enjoy more.

Minimalist Packing And Gear Guide

What you bring along travelling has a large impact on the quality of your tip. Let's take a look at some of the best gear, how to pack, what to consider, and more.

For a deeper dive into what to pack, take a look at this article on a minimalist packing list for long-term travel.

Minimalist Travel Backpack

The right bag is of critical importance when travelling. If you want to be an extreme minimalist traveller, only using one bag is the most ideal situation. Since it's so important, you'll want to make sure it's the best-suited bag for your need. Here are the main things you'll need to consider.

• Size. Layout all the items you'll need to travel with to determine how much storage you'll need in your bag. You'll also want to make sure the backpack is carry-on size compliant.
• Identify the features you'll need or desire. Laptop compartment? Roll-top? Large external water bottle sleeves? There are a plethora of bags available no matter what your requirements are.
• Comfort. You'll want to ensure the bag you choose is comfortable since it will be on your back for long periods. A great harness and suspension system is key to ensuring long-term comfort.
• What activities do you need it for? While its primary function will be to carry items on a plane, a versatile bag will also work for everyday carry scenarios once you ditch the extra gear at the hotel. It should also work as a hiking bag when you go out walking in urban or outdoorsy environments.

For some ideas of what makes a great bag, check out my review of the Topo Designs Mountain Pack 28L. It's the bag I took travelling for two months abroad.

Websites like Packhacker and Reddit r/onebag are a wealth of information on the best backpacks in the industry.

Minimalist Travel Clothing

Take a look at the travel clothing list!

The clothing you choose to wear travelling has a big impact on the quality of your travels. There are certain things to take into consideration when packing your clothing. Here are the main points:

• What environment will you be in? The most significant factor of the clothing you choose to bring will be dictated by the environment you'll be in. In tropical locations, you likely only need one sweater. In colder climates, perhaps bring more pants than shorts.
• What style do you like? Style is another important factor. You want to feel good in what you wear. Try and avoid bringing items only for the purpose of style, but bring items that are both stylish and functional.
• The capsule wardrobe. A great technique for minimalist travel clothing is having a capsule wardrobe. This is accomplished when all the items you bring can be mixed and matched while being appropriate for any occasion.
• What activities will you do? Keep in mind the activities you'll be doing. If you plan to walk a lot, maybe packing more socks is a priority. If you are hiking outdoors, good synthetic, quick-drying fabrics will be important. If you're travelling on a Michelin star food tour, a versatile button-up might be most appropriate.
• Shoes. Try and minimize the amount of footwear you're bringing. Limiting yourself to a form of sneakers and a sandal for beaches and showers is ideal. The perfect pair of travel shoes should be supportive, versatile, and smart looking.

While it doesn't suit everyone, black clothing is highly versatile for travelling. A shirt like the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirt in black makes a perfect shirt for travelling.

The 5-4-3-2-1 Method

This packing method is a technique for how many items to take in certain categories. It means packing 5 sets of socks and underwear, 4 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 pairs of shoes, and 1 hat.

While not a rule, it is a good guideline to keep yourself in check. This technique is ideal if you can include your formal wear, as well as your outerwear like jackets.

Minimalist Travel Toiletries

Take a look at the toiletry kit list!

The toiletries you take can add up to a large portion of the weight in your bag. Making the right choices on what toiletries to bring is an important factor in minimalism and travelling light. Here are some tips:

• Avoid liquids. Since liquid toiletries are heavy and are limited when going through TSA, anything you can acquire in solid form will help. Cologne, multi-use soap, shampoo and conditioner, and even toothpaste tabs can all come in a solid form.
• Reuse containers. A greener way to pack your toiletries is to use recycled containers. Since so much of what we buy comes in single-use containers, try reusing their original containers when possible. Lush offers great little containers for their samples, and pill bottles can be used for sunscreen or other gels.
• Buy what you need at your destination. Items like shampoo, conditioner, liquid soaps, and sunscreen, all take up a lot of space and add a lot of weight. Why not try and purchase these types of items at your destination? Alternatively, lots of accommodations come with them already.

There are plenty of alternative options for your travel toiletries like reusing old containers or opting for a solid version of a liquid. With the implementation of these tips, you'll be able to travel lighter and faster.

Minimalist Travel Electronics

Check out the travel electronics list.

In today's times, electronics are nearly crucial to our existence. Working abroad makes this much more important. The electronics you choose to bring along have a big impact on the weight of your bag and your overall travel experience. Here's what to think about:

• Digitize. Some people opt to use electronic books instead of paper versions. You may choose to bring an e-reader, but an extreme minimalist can accomplish this with the use of their mobile phone.
• Do you really need it? With so many options for technology nowadays, it's not uncommon for people to own e-readers, tablets, laptops, and phones. Nowadays, there exist high-end portable gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch and the Steamdeck. Try and condense these as much as possible.
• When possible, use digital documents like medical records and boarding passes. Keeping them in their electronic version safeguards you from losing them as they can be available in the cloud. Just don't lose your phone.

Try and limit your electronics as much as possible. Their weight often isn't worth their utility when so much can be done with our mobile phones. Implementing these strategies will grant a lighter pack while being more mindful of your surroundings.

Here's how an extreme minimalist traveller packs and lives out of one bag:

Sustainable Minimalist Travel

The final aspect of minimalist travel is sustainability. With careful planning, thinking, and being mindful of what you do, you can make your minimalist travels sustainable. Here is what you need to know:

• Ecology, socio-culture, and socio-economy. These 3 aspects, when respected properly, ensure tourism can continue in a way that doesn't negatively impact its environment or culture.
• The main negative impacts of travel are loss of culture, lack of authenticity, environmental impacts, offshore company profits, and over-tourism.
• On top of the aforementioned minimalist practices like slow travel, going off the beaten path, travelling during the off-season, and sticking to the essentials, we can also choose to opt for alternative means of transportation to lessen our impact.
• Promoting sustainable travel is an important factor in making change. This can be done through supporting the right businesses, getting educated, and volunteering.
• Packing can be done sustainably by choosing companies that offer green/ fairtrade items, buying zero-waste products, and travelling lighter.

When taking these sustainable actions, you can lessen your impact and keep travelling the world in a way that works best for the environment and its cultures.

Conclusion

This guide unveils the transformative essence of minimalist travel. Beyond light packing, it embodies a philosophy embracing authenticity, sustainability, and immersive experiences. From shedding excess baggage to savouring cultural depth, the guide empowers you to redefine your journey.

Minimalist travel isn't merely a trend; it's a mindful way of life that transcends materialism. As you embark on this path, remember that every choice shapes not only your adventure but the world around you.

I'd love to hear from you!

Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Feel free to share more tips and resources to help everyone in their minimalism journey!