whereas buying a package can be attractive because you pay a tour company to take care of most of the practical details … if you are “travelling” independently that means you end up having to take care of them yourself. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should let yourself get too bogged down in the minute details.

Yes, you need to plan – but you also need to be realistic and remember that plans do change.

Here’s an article I came across that has some use advice:
http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/feeling-overwhelmed/