robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I forgot.
A small table top tripod will fit in the gear bag and work for long exposure etc. you just need to find a surface to sit it on. I have one that is 8" x 4" x 1.5" with built in ball head and two of the legs will clamp to a round pole ect. about 2" in diameter or to a board, car window etc. It is made by ProMaster.
And several on line craft sites-many Native American-make walking/hiking staffs that are beautiful and can be equipped with a screw mount on top to take a camera/head and it becomes a monopod. Few tour guides or others will object to a walking staff, especially used by an older person. My carbon fiber ProMaster monopod had a ball head with pistol grips, is light, collapses to about 22" length and is sturdy enough it makes a great walking staff when extended. And a friend who is into martial arts tried it and told me to take either an Oriental Stick Fighting or English Quarter Staff class and it would be a very effective self defense tool.

On thinking about it if I absolutely couldn't haul my full set of gear I could get by just fine with a Sony RX10 IV*, small table top tripod, walking staff/monopod and small flash with a pile of batteries, charger, memory cards and maybe a lightweight laptop with basic file and editing software. All that could fit into a mid size shoulder bag or backpack. If my wife wanted to take pictures/videos she would get by fine with her Canon SX50 or Panasonic Videocam and a pile of batteries and memory cards.

Add a good penlight or slightly larger flashlight with red lens cap for not blinding people. A great help when digging through a gear bag or for seeing controls in the dark.

* I have an older Fuji bridge camera that would work just fine but I would love to add the RX10 IV to my gear for times and places I couldn't haul my other gear.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

But, some photographers are more equal than others ...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

(Yea, they are.....)

CharleM Loc: Cornwall, NY

That is quite a photo from Machu Picchu. Drone? Photoshopped?

Hip Coyote

No drone. It was an hdr shot because there many shadows and highlights. I usually don’t use it. Hand held along a path up to the “Sunshine Gate” as I recall. A wide angle lens. FF equivalent of probably 14mm. Minor Lightroom enhancements such as contrast, saturation, etc. I used new sky mask in LR to bring out the sky a bit more. It was raining like heck so not a lot of people. Clouds went away for a few mins then came back and drenched us again.

I guess the travel tip is to go to the site a few days to get shots because the weather changes so dramatically.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

It really depends on what you are going to do with the pictures. Sharing them on social media - all you need is the RX100 and an underwater housing.

https://www.ikelite.com/products/underwater-housing-for-sony-cyber-shot-rx100-mark-vi-digital-cameras

If you plan to make large prints and want the low light capabilities and low noise performance of a big sensor camera - well you don't have one of those, do you?

Tripod is entirely up to you - if you will be taking long exposures (waterfalls, panos, street photography at night, etc) yes. Otherwise leave it home.

I've been to Ireland a few times. First time, I brought my D810, D800, 24, 45 and 85, and a macro and my 150-600, and a medium weight tripod.

Second and third times I brought a Sony RX10M4 and nothing else. Got great shots on each of my trips.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

The underwater housing for the RX 100 is more than the cost of the TG which is waterproof to 50 feet. And if you need to go deeper a housing for the TG is less than $150. I have the TG6 and it's a very capable camera! I don't like the lack of a viewfinder, but that's about the only drawback I can think of.

george19

Agree with CHG_CANON on almost all recommendations.

Questions: how often do you need 300mm reach at home? What is IQ of 18-200? What size boat in Galapagos, and how long aboard?

Your Galapagos trip should be a good several days (at least 3, ideally at least 7) aboard. Snorkeling is amazing. You will be doing wet landings from inflatables, so water shoes, somewhat water resistant bag, bean bag or piece of pipe insulation foam, seriously consider knee pads. I rarely used my 70-300, sticking with the 24-85.

Globally, you might carry the 10-18 because it’s small.

Otherwise, recommendations hold for pretty much all travel, unless you’re doing serious birding and need a 500mm and tripod (yes…saw a group of at least 10 with their long lenses and tripods in Galapagos…I can’t lug that gear around the corner).

All medical and conditioning advice makes sense.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I have a sling bag for sale on UHH. It is a Think Tank bag.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-719104-1.html

I do photo tours to Cuba and to Iceland. Let me know if you & your wife are interested.

MrPhotog

Each year, as my gear bag got heavier, and the back got weaker, more and more I found myself using a cheap backpack for holding my gear. I used to use an over the shoulder bag for years, but noticed that on long walks I bent my back at a slight angle, and had to deal with back aches. Those went away when I switched to a backpack, and can walk with better posture. Also, the backpack is big enough to hold a lunch bag, and I clip a water bottle to the outside of it. A little padding in it and it works well as carryon luggage, and leaves my hands free for suitcases.

I now save the over the shoulder bag for small occasions where I don't do much walking.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Looks like a few great trips. Have fun.

You might want to invest in a Nikon 18-300 or Tamron 18-400 for your trip. I used to carry several lenses when traveling. Then I bought the Nikon 18-300 and that is the only lens I need. I take my 18-140 as a backup lens but fortunately have never needed it. I recently bought the Tamron 18-400 zoom and will be using that on our river cruise next month. I will that the 18-300 as a backup.

If you will be taking a lot of night shots you could take a fast prime lens. Again I don’t because I will increase the iso for indoor or night shots.

I mostly handhold and rarely use a tripod or monopod and don’t travel with a tripod.

I have many travel books that I have made through Shutterfly. I can always put together enough good shots for a large book. Generally the shots are good, not amazing or spectacular. They are a beautiful reminder of our trip. I get a few wall hangers but don’t usually hang any

Have a wonderful retirement.

Chuck

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

Any time I have ever traveled abroad, one thing I have always carried is a hard copy receipt of bill of sale that shows date purchased, amount paid & applicable taxes....especially if the camera or lens is a newer model...There are some "not so nice" countries that will claim the lens was purchased in their country & with no bill of sale...taxes are owed.....right into the pocket of the agent....

JBRIII

Hep vaccine was only one recommeded by people I visited in Rio so stronly advised.
Got rabies for Madagascar, but been to all trips, but Antarctica and never had any dog problems, I do not pet them.
Other things:
If you do a multi-day Galapogos you may snorkel several times a day, unbelievable snorkeling, but need wet suit, can rent if you want to buy one.
Last trip, several people got sick in Cusco, it is that high. Macho is ok, unless you hike to sun gate then again hiking from ~8000 to 1100 ft. Bus gets you main area which is pretty level.
Greenland and Iceland can be cold, take spare batteries, otherwise your Canon will be fine.
Anartictica cold, but depending on specifics, i.e., staying there on land for a week, you will be extremely limited to weight and amount of luggage allowed.

Since this seems new to you, start checking weight limits, bag limits, etc. for trips. You might get bags to Iceland for example, but be limited to one for a leg to Faroe Islands, small jet, could not pay for extra bag. Buy the lightest weight luggage you can.

Illnesses, I got both food poisoning and Flu in Egypt (A) and I've been vaccinated for just about everything, so advise being up to date. Biggest problem has been catching colds from others on buses.

rcarol

While Cusco is at 11,000 feet altitude, Machu Picchu is lower at about 8,000 feet.,

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I’ve travelled extensively, to some of the areas you mention and to many others. If your principle interest is photos to be viewed on a screen or to post in places like Flickr, An RX 10 series camera. (I occasionally use my Rx10vi) is all you will need. If, like me, some of your photos will end up as large prints (28”x36” and larger), image stabilization becomes an issue. Tripods are a huge hassle when traveling, and will annoy everyone else traveling with you; I recommend avoiding them in favor of high level image stabilization in both cameras and lenses. Of course larger sensors are helpful too, but except for huge prints they’re not needed. You can do well with just an Rx100 series camera in many locations.
Long lenses are needed only in areas where wildlife photography is a goal. An empty bag - even a large ziploc bag - can be loosely filled with gravel or even dirt in a pinch, and used as a beanbag for stability. They work well except on ships - but then even a tripod is a no-go because of engine vibration except at anchor.

Bye the way, I grew up in and around Cornwall-on-Hudson, and still visit the area at long intervals. The river, Bear mountain, Bannerman’s Island, the Black Forest, West Point, all are wonderful areas to explore and photograph. Wandering up and down the river from New York City to Troy and beyond is something I remember fondly!