Planning a Southeast Asia trip but don’t know what to take with you? In this article, I share our complete packing list guide to Southeast Asia, based on years of personal experience traveling the continent.
For those who don’t know, I am crazy about traveling Southeast Asia. Collectively, both my partner and I have traveled to almost every place in the region. Between the awesome amount of outdoor activities, cheap accommodations, and food (oh, don’t get me even started on the food!) it’s a place that we keep going back to.
When it comes to figuring out what to pack, less is more! Trust me on this. From experience, there is nothing worse than trudging along with a heavy backpack in tow while trying to find a place to stay.
With that in mind, we compiled this super awesome packing list for Southeast Asia to make sure you don’t forget anything during your trip.
What to Pack for Southeast Asia?
Compared to other destinations, Southeast Asia is a breeze to travel through because you generally don’t need to bring a lot of items. I once had a friend who brought nothing but 1 set of clothes during a trip to Bangkok. Instead of lugging around a bunch of clothes, he opted to save space and do all his shopping there instead.
After spending almost 4 years traveling around most of Southeast Asia, trust me when I say, you don’t need much! Plus, packing lots of stuff can often incur an extra cost.
I highly recommend investing and bringing a good pair of basic items that you can mix and match. If you ever find yourself not having what you need, simply pop out to the nearest night market where you will find anything you will ever need.
Step 1: Choosing the Best Travel Bag
On any trip, the biggest factor for me is having a good travel bag. This can make or break your trip so I suggest you choose the brand, size, and quality with care.
Since Southeast Asia is made up of multiple islands and rugged terrain, we recommend choosing backpacks over wheeled luggage. Alternatively, you can also choose to get convertible backpacks which convert as a backpack or a wheeled suitcase.
To help you choose the right travel bag, here are some of our top recommendations based on bags that we’ve tried and tested! For the record- we love the brand Osprey and have been using their gear for years now.
Details of Our Recommended Travel Backpacks
Osprey Farpoint 40
This sturdy travel backpack has been traveling around Asia with us for the last few years. For us, it is just the right size, helping you downsize all those unnecessary weights. This is especially true if you tend to use a pack that has too much room. If you do need more space, you can also look at the Osprey Farpoint 55.
Osprey Farpoint 55 Osprey Fairview
Similar to the Osprey Farpoint, this women’s backpack is top-rated for a reason. It opens just like a suitcase, which makes packing super easy and it has a lot of valuable space. However, over packing is a bad idea.
The right bag can be your saving grace as you travel on overnight trains and early morning flights. Plus, traveling with hand luggage only is way easier. If you only have something that’s the size of a day bag, you could be exploring temples in no time. But remember, there is usually a dress code and you should respect that.
Nomatic Travel Pack
If you usually travel with a lot of gadgets (cameras, iPads, etc), the Nomatic Travel Pack is for you. It’s one of the best day packs we’ve ever used due to the multiple compartments and durable materials.
Looking for more options? Check out our full article on the best travel backpacks.
Step 2: Choosing Your Travel Clothes
For the most part, you don’t really need a lot of clothes when it comes to Southeast Asia. There are always laundry services around that will do your washing for less than a dollar so pack sparingly! The items listed below are only suggestions as they will vary greatly depending on your travel style.
If you like big cities, you might want to pack a comfortable pair of jeans for nights out. Similarly, if you intend to do more treks, bring more outdoor clothes. That sort of stuff is definitely worth packing if you’re super active.
The most important thing when choosing the clothing that you will bring is the type of material. If you’re planning on visiting during the summer months, avoid bringing thick hard-to-dry clothing.
Instead, go for clothing made of quick drying material like lightweight T-shirts and zip-off pants. Trust me, it will make all the difference as you’ll wear them on more than one occasion. Even if there is air conditioning, it gets very hot in Asia.
Southeast Asia Packing List: Women
1. Active Shorts | 2. Denim shorts | 3. Boardshorts | 4. Maxi Dress | 5. Short Dress | 6. Tank Tops | 7. T-Shirt| 8. Dri-Fit Shirt | 9. Beach Cover Up | 10. Long Sleeve Base Layer| 11. Yoga Leggings | 12. Hippie Pants (buy them in Asia) | 13. Travel Underwear | 14. Sports Bra | 15. Travel Bra | 16. Bikinis (P.S. How cute are these ones from Cupshe Fashion?) | 17. Hat | 18. Travel Scarf | 19. Socks (one pair for trekking) | 20. Lightweight Rain Jacket | 21. Trekking Shoes (lightweight and low cut) | 22. Travel Sandals | 23. Flip flops (don’t bring expensive ones as they are bound to get lost) | 24. A small purse
Southeast Asia Packing List: Men
1. Boardshorts | 2. Travel Shorts| 3. Long Trousers| 4. Tank Tops | 5. T-Shirts | 6. Dri-Fit | 7. Long Sleeve Base Layer | 8. Travel Underwear | 9. Socks (a pair for trekking) | 10. Light Travel Scarf | 11. Cap | 12. Lightweight Rain Jacket | 13. Hiking Shoes (lightweight) | 14. Flip Flops | 15. Closed Shoes
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Step 3: Packing Other Travel Essentials
What you bring on your travels will have to boil down to what your travel style is. As a digital nomad, I tend to pack more gadgets than the typical backpacker would.
Listed below are a few more essential accessories that I recommend you take with you which would vary depending on the length of your trip. I always use packing cubes when traveling and swear by them! They make packing so much easier.
Step 4: Choosing What Electronics to Bring
As mentioned, we travel with a lot of electronics as we work while we’re on the road. I know some people who try to keep things to the bare minimum when it comes to traveling.
Whatever your travel style is, remember to make sure you always keep an eye on your valuables and carry them with you. Do not leave the valuables unattended!
If you’re looking for a compact yet budget-friendly travel camera, check out our full article featuring our top recommendations.
Step 5: Toiletries Packing List
At the end of the day, you will be able to buy most of the toiletries you need. However, if you are accustomed to a certain type of product, it’s best you bring it along with you. Sunblock is rather expensive so if you burn easily you might want to buy some before your trip.
Women
Men
Travel and Safety in Southeast Asia
Traveling around Southeast Asia is generally pretty safe, but accidents do happen.
Transport & Accommodation Tips Around Asia
When it comes to traveling around Southeast Asia, things are pretty straightforward. Flying naturally saves the most time, but if you’re trying to keep on a budget, we recommend looking at buses and trains.
Transportation: You can use Bookaway or the 12Go website to view bus, boat, and train schedules ahead of time. We’ve used these websites all over Asia and it saves us the hassle of lining up in travel agencies or bus stations.
If you’re traveling during peak season, you may want to book tickets in advance. And remember, peak season doesn’t only mean the best weather, it means festivals and local holidays that bring people home, too!
Finding Places to Stay in Southeast Asia
Finding places to stay around Southeast Asia is incredibly easy and extremely inexpensive. We usually use websites like Booking.com to find the best deals, and typically luck out when it comes to finding somewhere swanky to stay for an unbeatable price.
For more tips and recommendations, check out our in-depth guides:
Last Piece of Advice for Southeast Asia:
“Whatever you do… Remember to pack light!”
When I first left to travel, I had a 55L, then I downsized to a 45L. Now, I’m down to a carry-on bag. While it looks impossible to keep it light, with the help of restraint, careful planning, and of course, Jedi packing skills, it is possible.
Remember, if there is one thing you can count on… South East Asia will be hot! It may be rainy, but even if it is, it will still be hot!
At the end of the day, travel light, pack smart, and don’t worry. Southeast Asia is a completely different place and while traveling parts of it can come as a complete culture shock (what do you mean I have to eat this fried tarantula?), it is also a life-changing experience that you’re bound to enjoy.
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