South-East Asia Packing List: The Only Packing Guide You Need

Southeast Asia is one of the best regions to choose as your travel destination. It consists of countries that simply feel like home from the very beginning. I recently spent 4 months actively traveling in SE Asia. I went on multi-day hikes, got my diving license, and went road-tripping, island-hopping, and jungle trekking.

Before traveling, it is essential to pack well for your trip.
This South-East Asia Packing List is here to help you get well-prepared, considering all aspects.

Use this SE Asia Packing List whether you are traveling to Asia for a few weeks or an extended period. I always used this list on my travels to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka.

This Packing List for Southeast Asia is here to guide you through all the stages of packing. After digging into the necessary preparations before the trip, such as choosing between a suitcase or a backpack, I share with you all the items I never travel without. The main section is the itemized packing checklist for Southeast Asia, including additional items for special activities and packing tips.

Before Travelling to Southeast Asia

Whether you are visiting Thailand, Vietnam, or any other Southeast Asian country, be prepared for a tropical climate. In addition to checking the specific weather forecast for your destination, there are a few things to consider before you start packing.

1. Check the Weather Forecast of your Destination

Planning for hot and humid weather is crucial, but checking the specific weather for your travel month is even more important.

Make sure to look up the monsoon season for your destination and pack for Asia accordingly. Remember, the start and end of the monsoon season can vary widely even within a single country.

For instance, in Thailand, Koh Chang experiences rain as early as the end of May, while Koh Samui stays dry until September.

Additionally, keep in mind that some regions in Southeast Asia, like Northern Thailand, cool down significantly during the winter months.

2. Think about the Activities on your Trip

Before you start packing for Asia, take some time and think about how you’ll be spending your days. Asia is versatile and offers a wide range of activities one can undertake while traveling.

Here are some questions to guide you:

3. Get the Recommended Vaccinations

At least two months before your trip, visit your local travel medical center to check which vaccinations you need. Some vaccinations require multiple doses, so plan ahead.

For example, it took me three appointments over seven weeks to get all the necessary shots last time.

In some countries, like Germany, national health insurance providers may reimburse the cost of vaccinations. Be sure to check if this applies to you.

4. Backpack or Luggage? Choose the Right Travel Gear

Backpacking in Asia gained huge popularity during the last decades.
Opting for a luggage or a backpack will depend on how you plan to spend your time in Southeast Asia.

Opt for a Luggage if:

• You plan to stay in one place for several days.
• You will hire a driver or travel around by taxi.
• You want a relaxed holiday experience.

Opt for a Backpack if:

• You plan to move frequently, changing locations every few days.
• You want to incorporate many adventure activities like jungle trekking and hiking.
• You prefer to travel independently using public transportation, a scooter, or a tuk-tuk.

I always take a 70L combined backpack from Thule. It features a 50L main bag that serves as my luggage and a 20L day pack, which is perfect for day trips and hikes.

Southeast Asia Essentials I NEVER Travel Without

While Southeast Asia is amazing and this trip will make you realize that you need less than you thought before, some items are better taken with you from home. Your favorite everyday products like toiletries won`t be available, as well as some functional and safety items that will help your overall safety and well-being.
Let’s dig into what not to leave at home when packing for Asia.

Toiletries

Unless you are in a big city like Bangkok, you won`t find the toiletries you are used to and chances are, you won`t find anything you like. For Southeast Asia, I always pack the following toiletries with me:

• Shower Gel or Soap: most shower gels and soaps have a whitening substance within them and are therefore not suitable for most of us who want a nice tan. Not to mention, that the whitening substance causes itchy skin. Rather take your own soap or shower gel from home with you.
• Haircare Products: Your hair will be prone to salt water and heavy sun exposure, therefore consider packing some good quality haircare items with you, like a good hair mask or a serum.
• Women`s Hygiene Articles: although women`s hygiene articles can be found in the shops, it`s better to stock up on what you need at home. The products in Southeast Asia are limited and also very pricey.
• Sunscreen and After-Sun Body Lotion: Local people in Asia don`t use sunscreen and the ones you find in the stores are often expired and expensive. Additionally, I always take an after-sun body lotion with me, as most body lotions in Asia are whitening.

Mosquito Net

AirTag

For safety and security reasons, I always have an AirTag in my bag. It is an inexpensive and simple tracking device. You can always see its location in the FindMy App.

How can an AirTag help you on your SE Asia Trip?

• Tracking Luggage Location at the Airport:
  In case your luggage does not make it to your destination, you will know where it is.
• Anti-theft Precautions in the Hotel Room:
  We can´t just simply run around with all of our valuables with us. Therefore, I always have an AirTag inside my backpack. When leaving your luggage/backpack home, hide it in your bag. Hide it somewhere where it is hard to find.
• For Forgetters: if you are an absent-minded person who keeps losing things, you can attach an AirTag to your keys. You will simply get a notification on your iPhone if you leave the AirTag behind.

Not an iPhone User? There are some alternative tracking devices for Android Users too.

Dry Bag

I always fit a dry bag into my backpack on my travels. Years ago, my bag was stolen with all my valuables inside while I went for a 5-minute dip in the ocean (it happened in the Dominican Republic).

If I had a dry bag with me, it couldn`t have happened.

A Dry Bag is a versatile waterproof bag that keeps your valuables safe while:
– swimming in the ocean
– chasing waterfalls
– kayaking or paddle boarding
– fishing trips
– jungle trekking

Belt Bag

Packing Cubes

Electrolytes

In Southeast Asia, the chances of getting sick are quite high. Illness can strike easily from bad food, too much sun exposure, mosquito bites, or from different viruses or bacteria. Personally, I have fallen ill a few times already in Asia. On each occasion, I could thank my speedy recovery to the electrolytes.

Therefore, I always take electrolytes with me to Southeast Asia.

South-East Asia Packing List: Itemized Checklist

1. Packing Gear

2. Travel Essentials

• Documents: Passport, Visa (check visa requirements), Travel Health Insurance
• Money and Bank Cards: Credit/debit cards: it’s better to have more and store them separately
• Cash: I advise you to bring only a few hundred EUR/USD with you, regardless of how long you travel. You can withdraw money and will feel safer.
  Local Currency: No need to have cash in the local currency before arrival. You can always withdraw money at the airport.
• International Driving License: if you plan to rent a scooter/car, make sure you get an International Driving License at home.
• Universal Power Adapter
• Sunglasses

3. Clothing

Clothing Tips:

1. Try to minimize white clothing
   White clothes are not the best idea as they will get dirty before you know it. I know, I love them too. The problem is, if you give your clothing to locals to wash it, chances are your white clothes won`t get returned white anymore.
   Bad washing techniques, sunscreen stains, and general dirt will turn your white clothes yellowish.
   
2. Have long trousers or a long skirt with you
   Asia is full of beautiful religious sites where you will be asked to cover your legs (knees) and shoulders. Therefore make sure you have them with you. Alternatively, you can also wear a sarong.

4. Toiletries and Hygiene

• Oral Health Essentials (Toothbrush, Tooth Paste, Dental Floss)
• Shower Gel or Soap (in remote areas, not all hotels have it)
• Haircare: Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Mask, Hair Serum, Hair Ties and Clips
• Deodorant
• Razor
• Makeup
• Women`s Hygiene Products (Tampons, Menstrual Cup)
• Hand Sanitizer
• Sunscreen, After-Sun Body Lotion
• Microfibre Towel: it dries quickly, protects your hair, lightweight. Perfect as a beach towel as you can easily brush off sand from it.

5. Health

Always have a separate medicine box with you for emergencies.

6. Electronics

• Phone and Chargers
• Headphones
• Camera, Drone, Laptop
• Sandisk Portable SSD Card (to never run out of data)
• Airtag: I always keep an AirTag in my bag. If it gets lost or stolen, you can track it. Make sure you put it somewhere it`s hard to detect it.
• Kindle: for fellow book lovers

Travel Essentials for Special Activities

Tips for Packing for Southeast Asia

1. Leave Extra Room in your Bag

Traveling to Southeast Asia will mean a memory of a lifetime when you finally come back home. You will want to buy souvenirs to remember a certain place during your travels. Therefore, always leave some space in your bag for it. I always buy accessories or even small furniture from local craftsmen.

I aim to leave at least 20% of my luggage space empty.

2. Pack Light

I have this one rule I always stick to: my main backpack should not weigh more than 10 kg-s.
If it’s heavier than that, I’ll dread moving around. Regardless I travel for a week or months, I won´t need more stuff with me than that. And you won`t need more either.

Moreover, you will realize that you won’t wear all the clothes you thought you would.

3. Ask the Locals What To Use against Mosquitos

Most probably you heard the advice to take mosquito spray with high DEET. I read the same and therefore bought an expensive mosquito repellent in Germany.

It was a bad idea: we got itchy and red stains immediately on our skin after using it. Such strong mosquito repellents are loaded with toxic substances. No wonder our skin did not quite like it.

Therefore, my best advice is not to bring any with you.
Instead, upon arrival, ask the locals what they use against mosquitos and buy the same. Locals know best what works and their alternatives are usually much healthier.

If you found my South-East Asia Packing List helpful, let me know! I would love to receive some feedback from you.
Happy Packing 🙂