India – just saying the word for me conjured up bright colours, loud noises, excessive heat and dust. I was certainly 4 for 4 in accuracy with that idea. Not only is India a very hot and often ‘dirty’ place, it’s also a very conservative place. As the ever-respectful traveler I am, I did a lot of reading to figure out what I could wear which was a) appropriate for the culture and b) appropriate for the heat. I read some great blogs, including one of my faves: Hippie in Heels. As great as this packing list is - it was not appropriate for those traveling on a more luxurious trip, for those traveling with a suitcase instead of a backpack.
When I visited India, I did NOT do a backpacking trip. I actually did the furthest from it – it was an incredible, high-end, luxury fam trip courtesy of Young Travel Professionals and Peirce & Leslie travel. Think 5 star hotels, rooms with butlers (and a view of the Taj Mahal). It was unbelievable and something I didn’t actually plan for. I had envisioned a completely different experience, since I typically travel a bit (slash much) more down-to-earth that (although, I am not complaining). I packed as if I was backpacking, and that was a serious mistake. I did NOT bring enough fancy clothes, and we were eating in some incredible places and staying in places like the Oberoi Amarvillas (Prince William & Kate showed up for a visit there 2 days later…yeah…). I felt uncomfortable and underdressed, one of my least favourite clothing faux-pas.
Here are some more ideas of what women should pack for a more luxurious trip to India.
Clothing & Accessories
A big purse rather than a backpack. I already looked out of place, and a backpack didn’t help. A big purse carries the daily essentials (a blog post to come about this) and is a bit more functional
T-Shirts (ensure they cover your cleavage and ideally your shoulders as well, and if they are longer – even better)
Longer pants, capris or culottes. I especially LOVE culottes because they are the perfect length, but also nice and breezy!
Light leggings for under longer dresses
Light sweaters to throw on top of anything that has no sleeves or for entering any temples or religious places of worship
A great floppy hat & sunglasses
A couple of beautiful scarves to drape over top of your dresses or any shirts that are less conservative
Pack several dresses – I love maxi dresses that are flowy and respectful
If dresses aren’t your thing, longer skirts would work too
Of course, bras, underwear & socks
Shoes: running shoes, comfortable walking shoes, sandals, and flip flops for the pools/beach or in your hotel room
Don’t forget jewelry! I absolutely loved wearing more accessories in India – it’s one of the only places I’ve travelled where I brought more than normal since it’s customary to wear lots of jewelry!
Toiletries
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Deodorant (much needed, let me tell you)
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Face Wipes (I prefer these when I travel because they are so much easier than lugging around face wash, toner and moisturizer)
Antibacterial Hand-wash
Limited make-up but I packed a CC cream with SPF, waterproof mascara, eyeliner and lip gloss
Lip chap – it gets very dry in both air conditioned hotel rooms, bus rides and out in the heat
Razor & shave cream
Hand wipes (these are my fave to clean off dirty feet after walking in the dusty streets)
No need for shower stuff since the nicer hotels have you covered
Don’t forget to bring any things you need for that time of the month (you do not want to be buying tampons or pads in a foreign country, trust me)
Medicine Cabinet
Tylenol/Advil
Aleve (I need these for PMS cramps)
Tums
Immodium (my life’s savior)
Hydralite tablets. Buy these. Thank me later. Don't know what they are?
Mini-first aid kit.
Ask your travel doctor for the recommended medications. I took with me malaria pills and antibiotics for any stomach issues, and I got my last Hep A & Typhoid fever shot (got the first dose when I travelled to Thailand).
Any other necessary medications.
Other Key Travel Items
Ear Plugs
Eye Mask (I love these for sleeping on planes and buses)
Tablet – load it full of music, books and movies for long bus rides or the airplane rides.
Phone & Charger
Camera (Learn from me – I wish I had a better camera with me!)
Ziplocs – pack everything in these. I should buy stock in Ziplocs, seriously.
What NOT to bring**
Leave your yoga pants and short shorts at home. Legs are considered a very sexy part of the body in India, and seeing them will be sure to get many stares.
Avoid rompers, or short dresses. Same idea. There are lots of maxi dresses that will do the trick.
Your plain boring clothes – India is COLOURFUL, exciting and vibrant. This is the place to wear colour, patterns and something a bit more sensational than you normally would. This makes me sad (85% of my wardrobe is black) but it is beautiful to see.
**People will tell you that India is less conservative than you think, which may be true – but after pushing the limits only very slightly, I felt uncomfortable and was receiving a lot of unwanted attention. I’m one of those travelers though that prefers to fly under the radar and blend in more than stick out.
Overall, pack light because you can shop and buy amazing clothes and fabrics for reasonable prices. Just be prepared to bargain!
What else do you think you should bring for a high-end trip to India? Comment below.