The Ultimate Packing List For Backpacking Southeast Asia

Let me guess: You have made the amazing decision of exploring Southeast Asia, and now you are wondering what you should pack for your backpacking trip? Well, you have come to the right place! This packing list has ALL of the things I have found essential for a great backpacking trip to Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia is one of the most popular destinations for backpacking for many reasons. First of all, it is highly affordable for most (excluding the costs of flights). Just a small amount of money can take you a long way! Also, Southeast Asia is home to a big variety of cultures, religions, nature-types and amazing experiences, that will make you want to return more than once.

My 3 month backpacking trip took me to the wonders of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines. Based on my backpacking experiences, these are the things I would recommend any traveller to bring on their Southeast Asia Backpacking Trip:

Essential Gear For Any Backpacking Trip

A Solid Backpack

An absolute essential for any backpacking trip is of course: a backpack. When you are picking your backpack, there are a ton of different things to consider. In my opinion, some of the most important criteria for a good backpack is that:

1) It has sturdy and supportive shoulder straps and a solid hipbelt to support your body

2) It is comfortable to wear and has breathable surfaces

3) It has a lot of smaller compartments, ziplocks and space for organising and storing your stuff

4) It is not too big (remember: the bigger your backpack is, the more you will fill it up!)

5) It has a water proof cover in case of heavy rain

A Smaller Backpack

Although it may seem unpractical to bring a second, smaller backpack besides you big backpack, you definitely should. First of all, you will need a smaller backpack for day- or multiday trips where your main backpack is stored in a hostel. Also, it is essential to have a smaller bag to bring with you during your days of exploration as well as in busses, planes and trains. And trust me: it doesn’t have to be unpractical!

I recommend bringing a backpack that can fold up small, so you are able to pack it into your main backpack for convenience. Also, it is a great idea if the backpack is waterproof! An example is this Fjallraven backpack, which is my preferred option. It is waterproof, folds up small, is lightweight, and even has a hip belt to support your back!

Other Backpacking Packing List Essentials

• A money bag or bumbag
  If you want to keep you valuables safe in crowded, busy cities in Southeast Asia, I highly recommend bringing a money bag or a bumbag. I personally always travel with a bumbag placed on my front, where I keep all of my valuables including my phone, money and other electronics.

• Packing cubes
  Packing cubes are absolute life-savers when it comes to packing your backpack efficiently! There is nothing worse than having to pull every single item of clothing out of your bag to find a specific item. By packing in packing cubes, you can easily pull out your stuff while keeping it organised and tidy! Also, your clothes tend to take up less space in the bag when carefully fitted into packing cubes.

• A tote bag for showers
  If you plan to stay in hostels or other accomondation with shared bathrooms, bring a tote bag with you. Often, hostel showers won’t have any shelves or benches for you to place your clothes on while taking a shower. However, they do often have a hook, where you can hang a small bag with your towel and change of clothes inside!

• A seperate bag for laundry
  Bringing some sort of bag for your laundry will save you the trouble of attempting to sort between clean and used clothes every time you unpack your bag.

• A toiletbag with a hook
  Bringing a toiletbag with a hook attached to it is one of the best things you can do for your own convenience. You can hang these anywhere in the shared bathrooms while you are getting ready or taking a shower, to avoid placing your toiletbag on unclean surfaces.

• Padlocks for lockers
  If you go backpacking, you should always bring a couple of padlocks, so you can lock up your valuables in hostels. Although some hostels have lockers with codes or keys, most hostels will have storage spaces, where you need to lock it with your own padlock.

What To Wear When backpacking Southeast Asia

If you are planning on backpacking Southeast Asia, you might be wondering what is appropriate and convenient to wear. Your packing list for clothing will differ slightly depending on the countries you visit and the time of year, you decide to visit.

What is appropriate to wear in southeast asia?

Generally, Southeast Asia is highly used to tourism and western clothing including shorts and tanktops. Although this is the case, you will find that many locals cover themselves up more than the typical western tourist, and that you will be required to do so at religious places.

As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to pack a mixture of your regular summer clothes and light, long layers to cover up. In this way, you can wear what feels suitable and acceptable in the different places you choose to visit.

What is the weather like in southeast asia?

As with any other place in the world, the weather in Southeast Asia differs depending on the time of year. Generally, the weather in Southeast Asia won’t be lower than 20 degrees at the coldest, and you will want to pack your summer clothes. In many cases, the weather will be hot and humid, and light layers are preferred! However, if you are planning on hiking any mountains, the temperatures can get a lot colder!

Clothes to pack

• Light, summer layers
  As the weather is typically warm in Southeast Asia, I suggest packing light, versatile summer clothes such as shorts, skirts, t-shirts and tanktops. These take up minimal space in your backpack and will probably be what you wear the most.

• Long, loose pants or skirts
  It is a good idea to pack some long pants or skirts for your backpacking trip too! Preferable in a light material, so you can wear it during warm and humid days. These are especially great for visiting places, where you have to cover up. Also, if you plan on using nightbuses and sleeper trains, it may be more comfortable for you to wear pants than being bare-legged on seats shared with others.

• Warmer layers for evenings, hostels and transportation
  Even if you are backpacking Southeast Asia during the warmest months, you will want to be packing warmer layer for mountain visits, evenings or airconditioned transportation.

• Activewear for hiking and activities
  If you plan to do any kind of hiking or physical activity during your stay, be sure to bring some activewear. Workout clothes hardly take up any space in your backpack, and can of course be used as normal atire too!

• Cover-ups
  When backpacking in Southeast Asia, you will often come across temples and sacred places, where you are not allowed to enter without covering up your shoulders and knees. For this reason, you should always bring something with you to cover up. A sarong is a great solution, as it is lights, packs small and can be used to cover up both your legs or shoulders.

• Swimwear

• Clothes for sleeping in hostels
  If you are planning to stay in hostels, you will want to consider what you are going to sleep in.

• Underwear and socks

Footwear

• Flipflops
  Flipflops are great to bring when staying in hostels, as you can wear them when taking showers in communal bathrooms. Also, they are great for when you are relaxing around the hostels common areas or taking a casual stroll through the town.

• Lightweight hiking shoes or trainers
  If you are planning to do a lot of exploring or hiking, you will need shoes that are great to walk in. No matter what your plans are, I would highly recommend bringing some lightweight trainers at the minimum, as there are some activities you are not allowed to do in bare feet.

• Sandals
  Although trainers and flipflops might be good enough for your trip, I still recommend bringing a pair of sandals that you feel comfortable walking in. Your feet will thank you on the hot days!

How to stay safe when backpacking southeast asia

A packing list for backpacking Southeast Asia is not complete without covering the things you should bring for your own safety. When I went backpacking in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines, I made sure to pack important documents, a first-aid kit and medication:

Important documents

• Visa

• Passport

• Vaccination documents
  In case you run into any issues, where you are sick or hospitalized, you should bring a physical copy of the vaccinations you got before coming to Southeast Asia.

• Travel insurance and contact information
  When I go on backpacking trips, I always keep a physical copy of my travel insurance contact information on me. If anything happens, this will make it easier for me or others to contact them.

• Cash and cards

• Copies of important documents
  When you are backpacking anywhere, it is a great idea to have physical copies of your most important documents (such as your passport). This will save you a lot of trouble if your passport gets stolen or lost.

First aid kit

If you want to be on the safe side when backpacking Southeast Asia, I recommend packing a small first-aid kit with essentials for small accidents. This could include:

• Waterproof bandaids
• Blister plasters
• Disinfection wipes
• Small scissor
• Nail scissor
• A tweezer

Pills and medication

A must-add on your packing list for on any backpacking trip is of course any medication that you take regularly. In addition to this, I chose to bring the following for my backpacking trip in Southeast Asia:

• Pain killers

• Imodium
  When you are backpacking through Southeast Asia, you will likely encounter foods and bacterias that your stomach hasn’t experienced before. These are typically in any water you accidentally drink or on food, that has been washed in bacteria-filled water. For many, this can result in stomach issues at some point, which is why it is a good idea to bring some imodium or similar pills with you to Southeast Asia.

• Substitutes to strengthen the stomach
  If you want to be extra prepared, you can choose to take a substitute with lactic acid bacterias and vitamins, which will strengthen your immune system and the normal functions of your stomach. I took a substitute called Lactocare when I backpacked Southeast Asia. I cannot say for sure if it made a difference or not. But I didn’t encounter any stomach problems during my 3 month backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, so it might be worth the try!

• Malaria Tablets
  If you are planning a backpacking trip to Southeast Asia, be sure to research any precautions you need to take for the specific countries you visit. For example, Southeast Asia is the area with the second highest malaria burden. For specific countries, it might be recommended to take malaria tablets.

Other essential Packing List Items for backpacking southeast asia

weather-related essentials

Southeast Asia is known for its rainy seasons with overwhelming downpours of rain. So being prepared for this through your packing list is a must! On the other hand, you will likely be met with lots of sunshine and strong UV-rays even in the rainy season. For this reason, you should pack your backpack to be prepared for both weathers, including packing:

• A waterproof cover for your backpack

• Dry bags
  Bringing a couple of drybags will be a lifesaver for your backpacking trip to Southeast Asia! Not only will you be able to store your electronics and valuables in a dry space, but they are also great to bring on any water activity! If you are going on a boat, kayaking or paddleboarding, you can store your phone in a drybag to keep it safe!

• Lightweight, rain poncho

• Water- and windproof jacket
  Bringing a good rain jacket for your backpacking trip to Southeast Asia is not a must. However, if you plan on doing a lot of hiking or trekking during the rainy season, you will be glad you brought one!

• A hat or cap to shield from the sun

• Sunglasses

Toiletries

The toiletries you need to add to your packing list for your backpacking trip to Southeast Asia will be highly individual. You can use my list as inspiration for what is essential for you:

• Microfiber towel
  Microfiber towels are a great way to save some space and weight in your backpack. They also dry very quickly compared to regular towels, which will come in handy when you are constantly moving from place to place!

• Strong mosquito repellant
  Bringing a great mosquito repellant to Southeast Asia will be your lifesaver.

• Sunscreen and aftersun

• Hand disinfection and wipes

• Shampoo and conditioner
  If you want to save some space and weight in your backpack, you can try a solid shampoo and conditinor bar. One of these bars will last you months and can be really practical to have!

• Deodorant

• Toothbrush and toothpaste

• Hair brush

• Hairbands and more
  If you have long hair, you will definitely need hairbands to tie your hair during activities and humid weather! Also, they can be used for a ton of other things, such as closing food packages.

• Shaver

• Skincare

electronics

• An adaptor
  Depending on the countries you visit in Southeast Asia, their power outlets might differ. I always bring an adaptor that fits all outlets in the world, which is so handy!

• Phone charger

• Powerbank and charger
  One of the most important things for any packing list is a powerbank. And when you are backpacking a place like Southeast Asia, a powerbank is an even bigger must! You might be on 12 hour buses without any outlets to charge your phone, or stuck in unknown places where you don’t want to run out of battery. Trust me on this one – it is one of the most important things you can bring.

• Head lamp or small torch

• Your choice of camera (I suggest a go-pro!)
  If you have planned a backpacking trip to beautiful countries in Southeast Asia, you should definitely catch it on photos! Although phones are great for this purpose, I highly recommend bringing a go-pro. This will make it possible for you to capture the experiences you have in and around water-related activities, which there are alot of in Southeast Asia!

essential sleeping gear for hostels and transport

When you are backpacking Southeast Asia, you will likely end up in many situations, where you are desperately trying to get some sleep in non-optimal conditions. Think hostels with loud noises, buses, planes and more. For this reason, I always bring the following essentials on a backpacking trip:

• Eye mask

• Travel pillow

• Ear plugs

• Sleeping sheet (optional)
  A sleeping sheet can be good to bring if you are worried about sleeping in unclean beds and areas used by others. You will be in many situations during your backpacking trip, where you are handed a blanket you have NO idea whether has been washed or not. You can choose to not think about it – and you can tuck yourself into a sleeping sheet!

In this packing list, I have covered the most essential things I would bring on a backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. If you are planning an adventure to SEA, I am so excited for you! And I hope my packing list has helped you on your way.