A lot of friends ask me for travel, backpacking, and camping advice. This is a collection of lessons I learned the hard way (and sometimes the easy way) that I think can be useful for anyone.

Before Starting

The Art of Packing (Pack Less)

A wise man once said:

“The lighter your backpack is, the freer you are.”

The first time I went backpacking, I carried an 80L+ backpack packed with everything imaginable. It was miserable. My back hurt, walking stopped being enjoyable, and carrying more than 20kg everywhere was exhausting. Packing and unpacking became such a hassle that I started overthinking every time I needed something.

Trip after trip, my backpack became lighter. Today, I can comfortably travel the world with a simple 20L backpack.

Here are some recommendations from my experience on how to pack lighter:

General recommendations

  • If you hesitate about packing it: If you are wondering whether you need something, you probably don’t. Pack only what is truly necessary.
  • Every gram matters: Small lightweight items add up quickly. On one camping trip, all the “tiny” items together weighed more than 2kg; Heavier than my tent and sleeping bag combined.
  • Buy lightweight gear: A lightweight setup starts with lightweight individual items. Heavy backpacks, clothes, and gear make a huge difference over time.
  • Don’t pack everything from home: If you can easily buy something at your destination, leave it behind and get it on the road.
  • Learn how to fold clothes properly: Volume matters as much as weight. Efficient folding can save a surprising amount of space.
  • Use packing cubes or compression bags: They keep your gear compact, organized, and easier to access.
  • Organize your backpack smartly: Keep heavier items close to your lower back and frequently used items within easy reach.
  • Pack miniature versions of essentials: Small shampoo bottles, mini soap portions, and travel-size toiletries save both weight and space.
  • Wear practical clothes while traveling: Avoid traveling in clothes you won’t use later. Comfortable and functional clothing is always the better option. Don’t wear jeans that you won’t wear afterwards during the trip.

What to Pack

  • Clothes: Choose lightweight, versatile clothes in colors that don’t show dirt easily (olive green, khaki, etc.).
  • Camping gear: Prioritize lightweight, compact gear that fits easily into different backpacks.
  • Food: Dry foods are ideal (nuts, oats, legumes, powdered milk, dried fruit, eggs …). Fresh produce works well for shorter trips.
  • Plastic or fabric bags: Extremely useful for food storage, waste, dirty clothes, and organization.
  • Water: Use lightweight bottles and research water availability beforehand to avoid carrying unnecessary weight.
  • Rope and tape: Both are lightweight, multi-purpose tools with endless uses.
  • Knife or multi-tool: A good multi-tool is one of the most useful things you can carry.
  • Lighters: Bring at least two.
  • Toiletries and emergency supplies: Wet wipes, alcohol spray, painkillers, stomach medicine, vitamins, bandages, and basic medication are all worth carrying.
  • Wet wipes: One of the most underrated travel items. Useful for cleaning yourself, your gear, your hands, or your clothes when water is limited.
  • Electronics: A power bank, headlamp, and a backup phone are essential.
  • Backup phone: Keep a second phone turned off and reserved strictly for emergencies.

Cash

  • Carry emergency cash separately: Never keep all your money in one place. Always hide emergency cash somewhere safe and close to your body. My rule of thumb is, I put aside an emergency amount of money worth a trip back home, and never touch it.

On the Road

When you are traveling, you will often have free time. Here are a few recommendations for the journey itself:

  • Bring something to read: Books make long journeys much more enjoyable.
  • Research your destination beforehand: Use maps and online resources to understand the area before arriving. Wikipedia and research papers are underrated here.
  • Talk to people during the trip: Conversations with fellow travelers often lead to memorable experiences.
  • Bring food to share: Sharing snacks is one of the easiest ways to start conversations.
  • Offer or ask for help: Asking for recommendations or directions is a great way to connect with people.
  • Wear comfortable clothes: For example, hiking boots are not always the best choice for transportation days. Comfortable sandals or lightweight shoes are often better.
  • Ask about transportation in advance: Rural transportation can be unpredictable, so always confirm schedules beforehand.
  • Avoid risky late-day connections: If you must change cities multiple times, avoid doing it late in the evening.
  • Visit smaller places: Small towns and non-touristy areas often offer the best human experiences.
  • Ask locals about prices beforehand: This helps avoid getting overcharged.
  • Don’t fully trust time estimates from locals: Distances and hiking difficulty may feel very different for visitors. Always add extra buffer time.

Accommodation

  • Contact places before arriving: Call hotels or hostels directly to ask about prices, conditions, and local information. You can call random numbers you find in google maps, it works sometimes 😝.
  • Negotiate outside booking platforms: After finding a place online, contacting them directly can often get you a better deal (No platform limits + some options are not listed in the platforms).
  • Learn how to read reviews properly: Focus on recurring patterns rather than isolated comments.
  • Start with red flags: Look for repeated complaints about cleanliness, safety, noise, or rude hosts.
  • Look for repeated strengths: Positive patterns matter too — kind hosts, good atmosphere, quiet rooms, etc.
  • Bet on good hosts: A great host can completely transform your experience, even in a simple property.
  • Target newer properties with high ratings: New places often work extra hard to maintain excellent reviews.
  • Negotiate long stays: Staying longer or paying upfront can often reduce accommodation costs.
  • Ask for extras: Towels, room cleaning, breakfast, or extra sheets are often available if you simply ask.
  • Keep useful toiletries: Hotel soaps and shampoo bottles can be useful later. Just don’t overdo it and carry unnecessary weight.

Following is a framework I made up to help me choose a good accommodation for my trip:

  1. Define the target: Filter your target hosts, primarily by convenience(whether it matches your vibe for the trip), type (Riad, Hotel, Hostel), rating, price, and proximity to your destination. Create a shortlist of the best options.
  2. Look for red flags: Sort the reviews by rating from worst to best, and start looking for non-negotiable red flags, for example, cleanliness, safety, noise levels, or host attitude. This will depend on your personal preferences, the type of trip you are taking, and your mood. Watch out for patterns (e.g., review creation dates or the number of occurrences of the same remark). Once done, eliminate those properties and narrow down your list.
  3. Find the best points: Sort the reviews by rating again, but this time in descending order. Look for positive points that are mentioned multiple times. Pick the property that has the features you value most (e.g., a welcoming host, good ambiance, or a quiet environment).
  4. You can optionally call the property to have a conversations with the host and decide.

Eating

  • Cook for yourself when possible: It is healthier, cheaper, and often creates opportunities to meet people. If no kitchen is available where you are staying you can buy fruits and vegetables and canned food and make salads, and sandwiches.
  • Buy your kitchen: Don’t be afraid of buying plates and utensils, and leave them if the property or donate them to someone.
  • Don’t rely only on online reviews: Locals usually know the best places to eat.
  • Avoid empty restaurants: Busy places generally mean fresher food and better quality.
  • Be careful with raw food: Poorly prepared raw food can be dangerous. Cooked food is usually safer.
  • Be cautious with touristy restaurants: Places designed for one-time visitors often prioritize convenience over quality.
  • Avoid restaurants that sell everything: Huge menus usually mean lower quality and less fresh ingredients.

Living

  • Talk to random people: Sharing food, giving gifts, asking for help, and other small gestures can easily start conversations. Good conversations are the best memories I keep from my travels.
  • Gifts: Buy small gifts, especially for children in rural areas. Gifts can include sweets, toys, flowers, or chocolate. One of the most special gifts I always like to give to children is a football. We Moroccans are crazy about football.
  • You can do simple stuff while traveling: Traveling is not just about touring and sightseeing. You can do the other simple things you are used to doing at home. You can enjoy popular coffee shops, buy fruits from the market to eat, buy a fish and take it to the neighborhood Farran (oven), play sports, watch sports, etc.
  • Public administrations are underrated: Whenever I am in a new city, I always pay a visit to a cultural center, youth center, tourism office, or any other state-owned center. They are often surprised by my visits, but they are almost always welcoming and give me so much information about the city. An easy go-to is the “Independence and Old Liberation Army Members” museums, as they exist in almost every city and village.
  • Small, beautiful experiences: Get some tea and put it in your thermos, pack some dry fruits and seeds, or pack some fresh fruit, then go chill in a public park and enjoy the sunset from a viewpoint.
  • Rent a bike and go: Bikes are incredibly useful, especially if you are in a small city. You can go to every corner of the city in one day if you have a bike.
  • Book a faux-guide: Official guides are good, but I prefer faux-guides. When you are in a city, talk to people to find someone who seems kind and knowledgeable enough, and ask them to give you a tour of the city from the perspective of a local. You get to know the local souks, where kids used to play, the hidden corners, and so on.

Camping

  • Camp in late! Camp out early: This makes you less visible and reduces unwanted attention.
  • Respect nature and local people: Avoid loud music, excessive noise, and disruptive behavior. This can make you visit and attract hazards.
  • Be careful with strangers: Don’t share too many details about your route, campsite, or belongings.
  • Inspect the campsite carefully: Avoid camping near water streams(Sudden floods, water attracts wildlife), animal paths, human roads, insect/reptile nests, or unstable terrain.
  • Store food away from your tent: Hanging or sealing food reduces the chance of attracting animals or insects.
  • Keep waste away from camp: Food waste and human waste attract wildlife.
  • Use insect repellents: They can make a huge difference in comfort and safety. Tar is an example of a good repellent.
  • Remember that humans can be the biggest danger: Stay aware and trust your instincts.
  • Respect wildlife: Leave nature cleaner than you found it.
  • Be extremely careful with fire: Avoid risky areas, fully extinguish fires, and always leave the place safe after you leave.
  • Poop science: pooping in nature may be one of the trickiest part about camping especially for newcomers. Make your own toilet by digging a whole and cleaning the surroundings, a pro tip is to pee first then poop 😅😅.