So you’ve made that life-changing decision to go backpacking in Southeast Asia, well, you won’t regret it because it’s going to be one of the best and most memorable times in your life.
But we’ve all been there, our first big trip looming with so many questions, so much anxiety and a good mixture of excitement and nerves. One of the last things you want to worry about is forgetting something essential and packing too much pointless crap.
Well, amigos, that’s where I slide in, because at this point I’m a Southeast Asia veteran with multiple backpacking trips under my belt (and don’t my knees know about it), so when it comes to packing lists, I know my shizzz!
So here’s my ULTIMATE backpacking SE Asia checklist beginners guide! Getting your bag contents right means you can enjoy your Southeast Asia travels that much more!
So trust me, this is the ONLY guide you’ll ever need.
We’ve spent the best part of the last 10 years on the road, most of them around Asia. So we’re well placed to put together this updated Southeast Asia packing list to save you the time, effort and hassle.
Essential Things You Need to Do Before You Start Packing
We know you’ll just want to get right into knowing just how many t-shirts, shorts, and underpants you’re going to need. Or which camera is the best to capture the wonders of Southeast Asia, whilst also wondering which backpack is even going to fit all of this stuff inside?
But before you start ticking off every item on your packing list for Southeast Asia, there are a few essential things you should take care of first.
It goes without saying that you should pack your passport! Be sure to check how long it is valid for, how many blank pages you have and what condition it is in before setting off.
Then Check All Visa Requirements
You should then check each and every country you will be visiting and what the specific visa requirements are for each one. Some require you to apply from your home country, but most in Southeast Asia are very simple.
Also, work out roughly how long you’ll want to spend in each country, as some offer visa-free entry for certain amounts of time, but for longer stays, you’ll have to apply for a visa.
Anyway, we’ve covered all that on our Backpacking FAQ, so let’s get on to this packing list for backpacking in Southeast Asia!
Apply for an International Driver’s Permit
This should be super obvious, but before applying for an International Driver’s Permit (IDP), you must already have a full, valid GB or Northern Ireland driving licence.
Now, applying for an IDP is very straightforward. You’ll just need to follow these few easy steps. (This information is for the UK only; you will need to check the procedure for your own country when applying.)
These will usually be located in Post Offices or Convenience stores. Go to this website and enter your postcode to find your nearest PayPoint location.
All information for each type is on the website above. – But to put it briefly, there are different IDPs, and you’ll need to check which one is valid for each country you plan to visit. It’s likely you’ll need more than one.
Head to the PayPoint location of your choice and make sure to bring your driver’s license and a recent passport-sized photograph, along with £5.50 (you can pay with cash or card).
You must go in person to apply for an IDP; you CAN’T apply online.
You will receive the IDP there and then.
Do NOT apply for an IDP 3 months before you travel.
One other important thing to note
You can’t apply for an IDP if you are in another country. The steps above should make this clear already, but that’s why it’s worth just applying for one, even if you have no intentions of renting a car or motorbike before you leave. Your plans may change, so it’s best not to end up regretting your decision.
Make Copies of Your Documents
When I’m packing for Southeast Asia, I always keep photocopies of our documents and keep them separate from the originals.
Another good idea is to keep digital copies on your laptops (back them up using Dropbox or other cloud software and email them to yourself), also taking a photo of your passport and keeping it on your phone is helpful, as well as backing up your phone to the cloud too. Make sure these places are all secure!
I also have a note on my phone with all my important info, like Passport Numbers/ Contact details for Insurance, etc. We think having access to your important information is one of the essentials for backpacking Asia.
You don’t want to lose your documents in Southeast Asia!
Managing Your Money
Managing your money whilst travelling can seem very stressful. We literally know someone who carried their whole travel fund with them in cash in the top pocket of their shirt! Please don’t do that!
We’ve found the best way is to open a Wise account, which is an app-based bank that doesn’t charge international fees for transactions and ATM withdrawals.
It’s best to keep the majority of your travel money in your main bank account, have a monthly budget in mind and transfer that amount to your Wise account each month.
Travelling requires dealing with many different currencies, sometimes at once! Image: The Roaming Renegades
Some ATMs throughout Southeast Asia tend to have their own withdrawal fees (nothing to do with your card/ account), so it’s best to withdraw a decent amount that’s going to last at least a few days, so that you’re not constantly withdrawing and racking up fees.
Another good tip is to always carry with you at least $100 USD in cash for emergencies. This can really come in handy when crossing some borders in Southeast Asia, or even using it as a bribe for the police in Vietnam or Thailand when riding motorbikes!
Always carry a second emergency backup card.
Transfer Your Money Abroad Or Grab An International Card
In the early days of travel we would get a stack of money out and carry it with us… It wasn’t the best way to avoid a disaster really, but getting constantly stung by ATM fees wasn’t much better,
Now we have Wise and, phew, things have CHANGED!! With our Wise account we can keep money in multiple currencies as well as withdrawing cash and paying by card without paying transaction fees. Plus, if you work online like we do, then it’s a fantastic platform for payments.
Before you arrive in Southeast Asia, we highly recommend that you get all necessary vaccines. Most of these you can arrange with your GP, but there are some that you will need to get from a private clinic, and these can be quite expensive, so it’s definitely worth factoring all of this in before planning any big backpacking trip.
And Most Importantly, Get Travel Insurance!
Travel Insurance is always important, but especially so when travelling around Southeast Asia and backpacking. You should be sure to get specific backpacking insurance and read the fine print, such as which activities are covered and whether you can renew while still abroad. Don’t forget this on your Southeast Asia packing list.
We recommend SafetyWing as the best quality, most comprehensive, and trustworthy insurance for backpacking in Asia.
Travel insurance is one of those annoying things that no one likes to think about, let alone pay for, when you’re planning your next trip. It can also be bloody annoying as a backpacker/long-term traveller to find affordable coverage that meets the itinerary-less lifestyle (*cough* World Nomads *cough*).
So instead of getting subpar travel insurance, now we just always go with SafetyWing. It takes like 5-10 minutes to purchase your policy and essentially functions as a monthly subscription plan with near-global coverage!
First things first, a lot of people question whether you should use a backpack or a suitcase for Southeast Asia, and for us, it’s obviously a backpack.
But choosing the right backpack for your first backpacking trip can be overwhelming af! Don’t worry, we’ve been there, endless research and scouring the internet, traipsing up and down every aisle of every outdoor store in town, trying to find the perfect combination of backpacks was such a headache!
Well, worry no more, we have tried and tested numerous backpacks over multiple long-term backpacking trips and have the perfect combination.
When choosing something that you’re essentially going to live out of for the foreseeable future, it needs to be comfortable, spacious, and ergonomically designed to perfection!
That’s why we’ve been using the Osprey Farpoint 70L backpack for close to 10 years now and wouldn’t choose anything else.
This is easily the best backpack for backpacking, as it comes with so many useful features. It has a detachable 15L day pack (which is optional to bring), meaning that the main backpack is 55L. This is ideal as it’s not too cumbersome and stops you from overpacking, whilst still giving you the space to fit in the things from this list easily.
My same Osprey Farpoint in action in my early days in Southeast Asia.
The best feature of this backpack, and why we swear by it, is that it opens up like a suitcase, allowing you to pack and unpack easily. None of this toploader BS where we’ve seen countless other backpackers just stuffing everything in, and then needing to pull everything back out again when they need an item from the bottom!
As I said earlier, these have been our only backpacks for the last 10 years, and we’ve travelled through almost 80 countries with them, so we’ve found them to be super sturdy and hard-wearing and, most importantly, very comfortable.
We’ve used the Osprey Farpoint/ Fairview for all our backpacking adventures over the past 5 years and highly recommend them!
The main area of the pack opens like a suitcase, which is great for using packing cubes to keep everything organised and they even come with a detachable day pack!
So here you have 2 options: you could choose the detachable day pack that comes with the main backpack, which, to be fair, is a great option and would save you some pennies. But we just found it a little on the small side for us. If you’re not going to be bringing a laptop and a full-frame camera with you, and instead you just bring a Kindle or an iPad, then the day pack is more than sufficient.
But if you’re like us and into photography, then we really recommend getting a slightly larger dedicated camera bag.
That’s where the Wandrd PRVKE 21 Camera bag comes in. Unlike the main backpack, we’ve tried so many different front packs that allow us to comfortably carry our laptop and cameras, plus other things.
I’ve had a couple of different versions of the Wandrd PRVKE – This is the smaller one. Image: The Roaming Renegades
It has so many great features too, with the side pocket for easy access to your camera, a large laptop sleeve compartment, and an extra roll top section above to carry other items such as travel adapters, power banks, and a travel journal.
I’d also say even for those who aren’t photographers or carrying larger cameras, the set-up of the bag makes it easier to organise with things like tech bags and packing cubes than a regular bag, which really helps utilise the space you have more efficiently.
It’s mega comfortable when when fully loaded. Has side access so you can grab your camera on the go. The material is weather resistant and there’s even a secret passport stash pocket!
There’s an expandable upper section with a roll top to keep gear separate from your camera.
There is also the option to have both the 15L day pack and the camera bag. Just keep the day pack relatively empty and attach it to the main backpack when travelling. This way, you can still have the camera bag as your front pack, and you’ll have a small day pack with you as an option if and when needed.
A Bum Bag/ Fanny Pack Really Comes in Handy
Having a bum bag/ fanny pack is a really useful addition, especially when you’re commuting on flights or long-distance buses. You can keep all of your important documents and valuables safe and with you at all times.
So, now we’ve covered all of the Asia travel essentials and which backpacks you will need. We now need to know exactly what to pack for Southeast Asia!
Since we’ve been travelling for almost 10 years now, with a good chunk of that time spent in Southeast Asia, we have a pretty good feel for everything you’re gonna need for an epic backpacking trip around this diverse and vibrant region of the world.
In fact, we’ve just finished packing for Thailand, where we will return soon, before spending a few months in the region. So we’ve laid it all out just for you.
Check out the table below for our rundown of what we pack for Southeast Asia, clothing-wise. It might seem simple, but this is where you make or break your pact to pack light. One t-shirt might not seem that heavy, but they all add up. To take the guesswork out of it, we’ve detailed below exactly what we pack.
Trying to figure out what to wear in Southeast Asiacan be a pain. We recommend t-shirts instead of vests/ singlets, as you’ll no doubt want to visit a fair few temples on your travels, so you will need your shoulders to be covered. 5 is also the perfect amount to avoid too many laundry trips whilst also keeping your backpack nice and lightweight.
We include 1 pair of hiking-style shorts that are breathable and also have zipped pockets to help protect against pickpockets when exploring busy markets or tourist areas. Plus 1 pair of lightweight sports-style shorts for if you want to do any kind of training.
Packing a comfortable and lightweight pair of pants/ trousers should definitely be on your list of clothes for Southeast Asia. You might not think you’ll need them as SE Asia is usually always hot and humid, but there will be times when they come in handy, such as riding motorbikes through Vietnam, visiting temples, and the Arctic temps inside the dreaded night buses. Plus, they’re good in places with mosquitoes and bugs.
It’s definitely worth throwing in a couple of baselayers for similar reasons to packing pants, as well as offering protection from the sun. Plus, you’ll hardly notice that you’ve even brought them as they’re so lightweight and pack down really easily.
Again, similar to the trousers and baselayers, you probably won’t get much use out of it, but the few times that you do wear it, you’ll be glad to have it. They’re great to carry with you onto a flight or a night bus when they tend to crank the AC up, or you’ll need to keep wrapped up if you want to climb the epic Mt Kinabalu to watch that breathtaking sunrise.
This is a must-have item of clothing for any Southeast Asia backpacking packing list, as you may well know or may soon find out, Southeast Asia has rainy seasons, and when it rains, boy DOES it rain! So, having a good quality waterproof jacket is essential.
We like to pack around a week’s worth of underwear, as it’s small and packs down well. You can get away with taking a few less pairs of socks if you want, as you’ll no doubt be wearing flip flops/ thongs the majority of the time. You will, however, want to pack a couple of pairs of hiking socks if you do have some hiking on your itinerary.
Whether you’re exploring the vibrant cities or trekking through tropical jungles, you’ll definitely want to add a hat to your Southeast Asia backpacking checklist. It will help protect your eyes and face from the sun.
And last but not least, don’t forget your swimmers! There are too many amazing beaches, waterfalls, and island-hopping adventures throughout Southeast Asia, so make sure to pack your swimming cozzy!
Below represents my packing cube set-ups for clothes and underwear, as well as how I pack my jacket and hoodie down. This way, everything fits neatly and tidily into my backpack and is easy to access.
Footwear
When it comes to what we wear on our feet, we like to keep things pretty simple. These are our top recommendations when it comes to footwear for Southeast Asia.
If you are stuck wondering what shoes to take backpacking, or how many pairs, trust me when I say, JUST BRING ONE PAIR! We’ve seen too many people on our travels wearing a pair of trainers, carrying an overpacked backpack with bulky hiking boots tied to it. All you need is a good pair of comfortable, lightweight trail running shoes; they’re perfect for hiking and wandering around a new city all day.
It’s time to start thinking about building up that lovely thong tan! (Come on, guys, not that one!) You definitely need to tick these off your checklist for backpacking Asia, as you’ll clock up the mileage everywhere you go. Just get some with fabric straps rather than plastic and thick protective soles with grippy bottoms for when it’s wet.
Backpacking Southeast Asia Packing List: Electronics and Tech Accessories
Now that we’ve covered the stuff that’s covering you, get it? Clothes, covering…never mind! We can now get stuck into all of the fun and cool gadgety stuff that’ll keep you entertained throughout your backpacking trip.
With everything on this list, we aim to keep you connected, ready to capture every moment, and charged up, ready to go.
Smart Phone and Case
We know, pretty much everybody has a mobile phone these days, especially those wanting to backpack around Southeast Asia.
But it’s still worth pointing out that it’s probably going to be your best friend along the way, as you’ll most likely be using it to book accommodation, find your next bus, look on Google Maps for the best coffee, or just video call your dog! So it’s definitely worth investing in a good one to last the journey.
We recommend getting an iPhone as they offer a great user experience, plus a great backup camera. Also, make sure to get a good case to keep it protected.
If you’re on a boat, you need pics for the gram, innit! Image: The Roaming Renegades
Laptop and Case
This probably isn’t going to be on everybody’s backpacking essentials list, but as the digital nomad scene is growing fast, especially across Southeast Asia, and you want to get involved, then a laptop should definitely be on your Southeast Asia packing list.
We recommend the MacBook Pro; this thing is a beast when it comes to handling multiple tasks, so whether you’re editing the tons of photos you’ve just taken at Angkor Wat or writing your next blog post about “What to Pack for Southeast Asia”… see what I did there! This laptop has got you covered.
If you want to keep your pack nice and light, consider getting a MacBook Air instead. Either way, life on the road can be tough, so getting a good case to keep it in when travelling is also a must.
If you’re not keen on travelling around with a laptop, or you’ve chosen to only bring the small day pack, then an iPad or tablet is ideal. These are compact and lightweight whilst still having a large enough screen to be able to work from or catch up on your favourite TV shows.
If you love to read but feel like you won’t have the room in your backpack for all your favourite books, then consider getting a Kindle/ E-Reader. They are super compact, and you are literally able to carry a whole library of books with you. They also have E ink displays that make them look like real paper! Their battery life can also last weeks.
Be sure to add some good-quality over-ear noise-cancelling headphones to your Southeast Asia packing list; these will come in handy for those long-distance bus rides, or when you want to re-watch that Friends episode with Ross in the Leather pants!
Don’t forget to get some that fold down so that they pack nicely into your front pack.
When you’re trying to select a camera to add to your packing list for backpacking Southeast Asia, it honestly all depends on you and how much or how little you are comfortable carrying. We personally have 4 different cameras, but we travel with a lot of emphasis on photography.
The Sony A7IV is one of the best full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market and offers amazing and professional quality, whilst being lighter and more portable than a DSLR. The range of lenses available is vast, too. We use the 24-105mm f4. This is a little on the larger size, but as a travel lens, it pretty much covers all bases.
It’s time to start thinking about building up that lovely thong tan! (Come on, guys, not that one!) You definitely need to tick these off your checklist for backpacking Asia, as you’ll clock up the mileage everywhere you go. Just get some with fabric straps rather than plastic and thick protective soles with grippy bottoms for when it’s wet.
We also swear by this little beast; it’s awesome for street photography and also nighttime shots, as it’s great in low-light situations. It’s super small but still manages to pack in an APS-C sensor with 26 megapixels. It has a super sharp 28mm equivalent lens that’s perfect for everyday shooting and artistic expression.
Our backpacking Asia checklist always includes our trusty GoPro as well as some additional mounts/ floats and cases.
GoPros are the perfect way to capture your adventures in the water or other extreme environments where you wouldn’t want to take your phone or main camera. With the ability to take super wide-angle shots, even in RAW these days, as well as video and be attached to just about anything and everything, they are a versatile, durable and compact camera everyone should put on their backpacking packing list.
We bring with us a small travel tripod for our photography, as well as a small Joby Pod. These two offer us a compact but diverse way to capture the images we want whilst on the road, and for photographers are a must on any backpacking essentials list.
Use our trusted methods below to keep your pics safe whilst you’re on the road. We’ve got a few different methods, so it’s up to you if you just pick one or go all-in.
Get SmugMug
Even the basic SmugMug account gives you unlimited photo and video uploads, and you are also able to design custom photo galleries to show off your best pictures. It can even be used as a platform to sell your photography.
Dropbox can be used across many different platforms and keeps things synced between different devices. It can also automatically upload from your camera roll or memory cards, so there’s no need to manually move everything yourself.
Working this close to a pool means you need to back up regularly! Image: The Roaming Renegades
Travel Adapters
Southeast Asia has a variety of different plug types, so it’s best to be prepared! When you consider the question “What adapter do I need for Southeast Asia?”, you should consider a multi-country adapter/ cross Southeast Asia travel adapter, as it varies across the region.
We bring with us a multi-country adapter that will fit any plug socket type. We also have another multi-USB plug with changeable plugs, which is useful for charging things like cameras, phones, etc. Both of these are must-buys on our Southeast Asia backpacking list.
Portable power banks are another useful item to pack and are definitely one of the best travel accessories for Asia. We’ve found them absolutely invaluable whilst travelling around the region, both day to day, on transport, overnight if there is a power cut or not enough plugs in a hostel too. So they’re an essential item on any backpacking in Southeast Asia packing list. Just make sure to check you’re within the new rules when flying around Asia, as they have been tightened.
General Travel Accessories for Your Southeast Asia Packing List
It’s not just clothing and tech gear you need for your backpacking trip to Southeast Asia; you’ll need a whole bunch of accessories too. Some of these are arguably more important than how many t-shirts or socks you pack because they’re often harder to get hold of once you set off. So let’s have a closer look.
These should be on everybody’spacking list for Southeast Asia; they’ll keep all of your valuables safe from the elements during the rainy season or on those island-hopping adventures that you’re bound to go on.
If you time the seasons correctly, you’ll hopefully have plenty of sunshine during your backpacking trip in SE Asia, so sunglasses are anessential travel itemto keep your eyes protected.
Keeping hydrated in Southeast Asia is a must, given the hot and humid conditions, but tap water is usually undrinkable, and the only other option is to continue to buy plastic bottles. A great alternative is to buy a reusable water bottle with a built-in filter, meaning you can drink the local water and keep your carbon footprint to a minimum, too.
These will definitely come in handy if you decide to do a motorbike trip through Vietnam. You’ll be glad you packed these when you reach the mountainous regions in the north.
As you may already know, some hostels and even hotels can be quite loud, so packing some earplugs will help you get some much-needed rest. People will also leave their personal reading light on, or even walk into the dorm room at 3 am and switch the main light on, so hopefully an eye mask will prevent you from being disturbed.
If you are planning on doing some trekking, like up Mt Kinabalu, for instance, you will be trekking during the night to catch the sunrise, so having a torch or better still a head torch makes it so much easier. You can also use them for nighttime photography or exploring caves.
We have a small portable sewing kit, which is handy for repairing clothing/loose buttons, etc. It’s a great money saver on new clothing, so be sure to include it on yourSoutheast Asia packing list.
Having a small journal whilst travelling is a great way to reflect on your experiences and keep track of your adventures. It is also a good way to pass the time whilst on long transport or in the hostel at night.
Many hostels won’t provide you with a towel, so having a light, compact and quick-drying towel in your bag is a must on anypacking list for Asia. These are also ideal for hiking and camping or heading out for a swim.
We bring along with us a small basic first aid kit with plasters, bandages, blister pads, antihistamines, painkillers, diarrhoea pills, antiseptics, anti-inflammatories, safety pins, tape, gauze and scissors. Because you just never know what might happen, so, this is another essential travel item.
In tropical climates like Southeast Asia, it’s always handy to have some mosquito repellent with a good amount of DEET so you don’t get eaten alive! These are especially important on your backpacking Southeast Asia packing listif you are travelling in areas where Malaria or Dengue fever is present.
Bringing along some travel games, such as Uno, Bananagrams, or even just a pack of playing cards, is great to help keep you entertained on transport, such as the 2-day slow boat from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.
Just some of the accessories I keep in my zippered pockets. Image: The Roaming Renegades
Essential Toiletries for Backpacking
Now you’ve got all your clothes, tech gear and accessories, you’ll need to pack your toiletries bag. This is another area where you need to be disciplined in order to avoid having a heavy and cumbersome bag taking up a whole load of room and weight in your backpack.
Toiletries bag
Whether you go for a normal style or a hanging toiletry bag, you are going to want somewhere to keep all your items organised and clean. When staying in hostels, they are essential for bathroom trips, and the hanging toiletry bags are ideal for showers, which is why they made our ultimate backpacking gear list.
Other personal choice items – Such as makeup/ hair gel.
Travel Security Items to Help Protect Your Belongings
Whilst Southeast Asia is a pretty safe place to travel around, you still need to take steps to keep your gear safe whenever and wherever you’re travelling. These are a few of the products we swear by after 10 years on the road.
We recommend using combination locks on your main pack and keeping it locked whenever and wherever you can, especially in transit. Never keep valuables in your main pack, but still be sure to keep it locked. By using a combination lock, there is no key to potentially lose (just remember to make a note of the number combination).
We also recommend using a security wire. We use this to secure our daypack inside our locker and our luggage whilst transiting. They can be used to attach bags to things like poles or luggage racks, or your daypack to your seat whilst you sleep on a night bus. We think it’s an important addition to any packing list for Southeast Asia.
We use Apple AirTags as we have iPhones, so they easily sync up with our phones. We keep an AirTag in every backpack, so that we are able to locate and track our luggage if it ever goes missing.
A money belt is a great idea for keeping your wallet and passport safe, especially when transiting. You wear them under your clothes, and they are a great way to keep those important documents from getting stolen.
These are a really useful addition to your SE Asia packing list, as they give you a much more stable grip on your phone. This helps prevent phone snatching or dropping your phone when trying to take those classic selfie shots.
For that next level of security, you can invest in a Pacsafe bag. These are bags specifically designed for keeping your stuff safe and include slash-proof material, locking zippers and impenetrable zips. They come at a cost but give you a real piece of mind.
If you don’t fancy shelling out for the Pacsafe bag, and are happy with the backpacks we’ve already suggested above, then another idea for keeping your stuff safe is a Pacsafe backpack cage. These only come in bigger sizes, which is a shame, as they would be great for your smaller bags too. But they are essentially wire cages that can fit around your bag to stop anyone from breaking into it.
Another useful little item, not just for security but for practical uses, are small carabiners. We usually have some on our bags and use them to quickly attach our bags to one another or a fixed item, so no one can run off with them! You can also get locking carabiners for extra peace of mind. They can also be used to quickly lock the zippers on your bag as a deterrent.
Carrying a personal alarm is a great deterrent for any would-be attackers, especially as a woman travelling in this region, so be sure to add it to yourSoutheast Asia packing list.
Packing list for Southeast Asia: Include items to keep your gear safe and dry.
Expert Packing Tips for Travelling Southeast Asia
With so much travel experience under our belts, especially with multiple backpacking trips around Southeast Asia, we’d love to share some of our favourite packing tips and tricks that we’ve picked up along the way.
Use Packing Cubes
These are a game-changer for travellers, and even more so for backpackers. Once you start using these ingenious little things, there’s no going back. Gone will be the days of just stuffing everything randomly into your backpack.
Using packing cubes for backpacks really helps organise your things into separate sections of your bag. If you also get colour-coded ones, you’ll automatically know which one to pull out when you need a t-shirt or if you need to grab your travel adapter, for instance.
When we first set off on our travels, we were overpacked! We had a tent, sleeping bags, roll mats, and too many pairs of shoes, including hiking boots. As soon as we landed in our first destination, our backpacks instantly felt too heavy!
Once we realised that hostel beds cost as little as $4 in Southeast Asia, we ditched the camping equipment straight away. I mean, what were we even thinking anyway!
Just try to keep the number of items to a minimum, as you won’t want to be lugging heavy backpacks through the busy, humid streets of Bangkok!
My backpack with my packing cubes is ready to go at 10kg! Image: The Roaming Renegades
Roll Your Clothes
Another great tip to help save space inside your backpack is to roll up your clothing instead of folding it. By doing it this way, all of your t-shirts and shorts will fit nicely into your packing cubes. Rolling them also prevents a lot of creases on your clothes.
You can also do the same with your hoodie and waterproof jacket.
Buying Stuff Abroad
Even if you think you’ve ticked everything off your checklist for backpacking Southeast Asia, you’ll go to apply some sunscreen or grab your hat before heading out to explore some temples, and then you’ll realise that you left it sitting on your bedside table back home!
Now what? Well. Never fear, because Southeast Asia is actually far from the undeveloped, remote location some travellers might imagine. They do actually have shops here, and good ones at that, especially in Bangkok.
So if you’ve forgotten anything or realised you might actually want a mosquito net, or need to replace your shoes after the monsoon season wiped them out. Then you can!
This being said, we obviously wouldn’t recommend setting off with an empty backpack. But we encourage you to pack the essentials we’ve listed and then pick up extras and/or replacements along the way if you feel the need.
You can get a poncho when you arrive if you want to be this stylish!
Doing Your Laundry When Backpacking
We’ve witnessed some crazy sights on our travels, one of them being backpackers doing their laundry in the hostel bathrooms and then hanging it all out to dry around the dorm room. Now this is bad hostel behaviour! Nobody wants to come back to their room to see somebody else’s undies dangling from their bunk!
All this being said, laundry is super super cheap throughout SE Asia (like $1 per kg), plus your accommodation will usually sort this for you and have it washed, dried, and pressed the same day. So there’s no need to go to all that effort whilst also creating bad vibes in the hostel.
So, when you’re putting together your Southeast Asia packing list, don’t worry about washing your gear here, it’s mega easy.
If you need a quick and easy way to remind you what you need to pack for your Southeast Asia backpacking trip, then we’ve put together this tick sheet for you. Feel free to download this Southeast Asia packing list or find a higher resolution version here.
Final Thoughts on Our Southeast Asia Packing List
We’ve reached the end! So hopefully by now you’ve got a good idea of what you need and what you don’t need in order to put together your own Southeast Asia packing list from our guide. We’ve tried to keep it light whilst also packing in all those items that, after 10 years on the road, we’ve actually used!
Your first backpacking trip can be a mixture of emotions, and overall, despite how excited you’ll be, it can feel quite daunting. Sure, listening to our creaking knees and tales of “when I first visited train street, it was literally just a street!” it might seem like we don’t remember! But trust me, that panic I felt packing a backpack to live out of for the first time stayed with me!
But after many miles carrying those backpacks around the world, this is a list we’ve carefully crafted, honed and adjusted… so you don’t have to.
Have fun out there, kids!
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For 2 week trips, I would pack enough for 1 week and then do laundry mid-way through the trip if you want to keep things lightweight.
I generally pack underwear and t-shirts for every day, 1 pair of shorts, swim gear, a hat, flip flops, trail shoes, and any tech you’d like such as cameras, chargers, and battery packs.
It depends on where you will be going and when, but if you’re going to be hiking at elevation or heading up to Northern Vietnam, or riding a motorbike, then I would recommend a lightweight jacket.
I would always recommend a waterproof jacket for any trip, especially Southeast Asia as the rain here can be wild!
I would use a bank card such as Wise or Starling where you have minimal fees. However, in terms of cash, US Dollars is the most universally accepted across the region.
Yes, you’ll often see locals wearing jeans but personally, I wouldn’t wear them unless I was riding a motorbike in a cooler climate.
For generally everyday use, they are way too hot and not flexible enough for me a foreigner who isn’t used to the heat and humidity of the region.
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Yo, I’m Nic (they/them), one-half of The Roaming Renegades.
I’m an adventure (and halloumi) obsessed traveller with a passion for hiking mountains, exploring cities, watching Arsenal win, moshing out to Rammstein in random European fields and getting hopelessly lost on a motorbike somewhere in Asia! I am also a proud member of the LGBT+ community.
I’ve explored 80 countries, lived in Australia and New Zealand, and spent months wandering Southeast Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, all while trying to avoid growing up!
Did it work? I dunno, but my back hurts, and I still collect Pokémon cards! Who wants in?!
I’ve never been backpacking but if I do I’ll know where to look for all the gear I would need. This list is very complete and I think I would be fully prepare just by using this 🙂
Thanks. It’s a different way of travelling for sure as you have to account for so much time but at the same time, I don’t think I would pack very much differently for a shorter trip now I am used to doing it this way!
I agree having a dry pack and back pack rain cover is essential. I have had a couple of trips where it has poured and the rain cover saved my camera equipment.
Wow, what a detailed checklist. The Packing Cubes look like the go. I love to stay organised, so they tick my packing boxes. The Moon Cup is a great idea as well. That would save so much hassle on the road. I love the sound of the Starling App. If I ever went backpacking, I’d want that for our own security.
Great list! After your trip did you think about what you took too much? In the meantime, we already have a lot less with us when we are on the road. But it is still too much.
Thanks. Yeah when we first went backpacking we had a tent, sleeping bags, all sorts of stuff!! Over time we’ve come to realise what we really need and what we can go without. It always still a learning curve and there is always something you forget and something you realise you didn’t need and also things you bring that are luxuries!! But yeah, I wish we could reduce it even more but its getting the balance between being prepared and overpacking. My biggest problem is my laptop and cameras!! They are my heaviest things!
While I’m not a backpacker, I must admit I have full curiosity and the utmost admiration for backpackers. How do you guys get so much in what seems like such a small space (and is compared to a suitcase) AND carry it EVERYWHERE? It’s very impressive. I carry most things you listed, but I really focused on your money strategy. I love it! I’m saving that to unpack bit by bit as I’ve wanted to changeup my strategy a bit. This Starling app is going to get some serious attention from me. That is SO cool!!
I love reading other people’s packing lists! So much similar stuff to what I take! So much technology….! I love the tips on how you safeguard your money. I am going to look in to the Starling app and see if it is a good fit for me… probably. Always want to have money access safeguarded. Great list – makes me want to get packing ASAP!
Great article, this is an excellent post detailing out the necessities. The packing cubes are extremely helpful, saves up quite a bit of space too. On the same page about the Tiger Balm, it’s a modern day miracle. I guess you guys mention all the things needed, the only thing I can think of adding are a few good books for the long bus rides. Thanks for sharing 🙂
What an incredibly extensive post on the mechanics of backpacking in Asia. I truly admire how little you take with you. I do like a front zipping backpack, though I don’t use one regularly. Packing cubes have completely changed packing for me too.
You did an amazing job fitting all that in. I can’t imagine fitting everything for such a long travel in just a backpack. That said, I’ve never used packing cubes before! They look like a great idea. I travel with a pacsafe purse and just love it! I’ve never tried their backpacks though.
Wow what a list! I think this post is the only one I’ve found that actually covers every single thing you could need which backpacking SEA! So concise and helpful.
Thanks, We’ve backpacked through the region twice and spent over a year in the region in total so we feel we’ve got a good amount of experience to say what you really need and what you don’t!!
Nice list here guys. We got the packing 411 on SE Asia after the first 2 years of our trip, all of which we spent in SE Asia. Mainly Thailand and Bali, but we also hit Cambodia and Vietnam, along with a short Malaysia trip too.
I have a Sony RX100 as well. It is such an impressive camera for its small size, much better than a iPhone for blowing up pictures. How covered does a women need to be to go into a religious site?
They are great little cameras, for a while it was our only camera before we got a bit more serious but there are often times when I will only take that one out because it’s so compact but great quality. It depends hugely on the country for example Myanmar are very conservative but in Thailand especially touristy places, they’re quite relaxed. As a general rule I’ve found a t-shirt is fine and usually either shorts that come to the knee or I carry some lightweight backpacker pants to slip over the top. The main thing is to take your shoes off. In most mosques that are open for non muslim visitors there are coverings available like a headscarves and Abaya at the entrance to lend. Other temples around also sometimes have pants and coverings to borrow too.
That is a very exhaustive and detailed guide for backpackers. One can see the importance of being organized and staying equipped while on the road. Your checklist is so handy. I need a Day Backpack now.
I never thought that we need a lot of stuff to bring. But I am so agree with the first few ones about travel documents. Sometimes we forgot to check our passport that it’s almost expire in 2-3 months. I also like to make copies of them and spread them in different places like you recommended. This list is also good for non-backpackers, IMO.
Well, not all Women wear dresses!! As a principal we tend to stay away from gender stereotypes, especially as we ourselves don’t tend to conform to them! I wrote the post including what we ourselves pack, which doesn’t and will never include dresses! But I also assume that people will taylor a list like this to their personal tastes.
This is a great list. When I was backpacking in the early 90s I had a lot less to carry (no mobile phones, but some fairly heavy camera equipment). The genius packing item I discovered – from a very experienced French traveller who travelled with only a shoulder bag – was a 100W screw lightbulb, as most of the rooms and huts in SEA had only 25W bulbs and were always very dingy. I presume that piece of advice is outdated now? I concur about eye masks, ear plugs, string, etc, and I found the spools of dental floss useful for repairs and even as makeshift washing lines.
Cheers Mark. Wow yeah, I’ve never thought of that but I know what you mean, maybe in some places that would still be pretty handy actually but some maybe not so much. Depends on where abouts you are travelling! That’s also great advice with the dental floss! It’s interesting to see how travel changes in some ways but some things stay the same!
Great list! This is super helpful for anyone planning a trip to Southeast Asia. Thanks for sharing your tips. Can you also share the backpacking tips on the Schengen countries? I love to travel
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![Southeast Asia Packing List: The BEST Backpacking Gear List! [UPDATED FOR 2026]](https://theroamingrenegades.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ultimate-backpacking-gear-list-our-southeast-asia-packing-list-for-beginners-368x552.jpg)
I’ve never been backpacking but if I do I’ll know where to look for all the gear I would need. This list is very complete and I think I would be fully prepare just by using this 🙂
Thanks. It’s a different way of travelling for sure as you have to account for so much time but at the same time, I don’t think I would pack very much differently for a shorter trip now I am used to doing it this way!
I agree having a dry pack and back pack rain cover is essential. I have had a couple of trips where it has poured and the rain cover saved my camera equipment.
Yeah, we never go anywhere without them. We only knew about them through climbing, caving, outdoor stuff but took them travelling too.
Wow, what a detailed checklist. The Packing Cubes look like the go. I love to stay organised, so they tick my packing boxes. The Moon Cup is a great idea as well. That would save so much hassle on the road. I love the sound of the Starling App. If I ever went backpacking, I’d want that for our own security.
Great list! After your trip did you think about what you took too much? In the meantime, we already have a lot less with us when we are on the road. But it is still too much.
Thanks. Yeah when we first went backpacking we had a tent, sleeping bags, all sorts of stuff!! Over time we’ve come to realise what we really need and what we can go without. It always still a learning curve and there is always something you forget and something you realise you didn’t need and also things you bring that are luxuries!! But yeah, I wish we could reduce it even more but its getting the balance between being prepared and overpacking. My biggest problem is my laptop and cameras!! They are my heaviest things!
While I’m not a backpacker, I must admit I have full curiosity and the utmost admiration for backpackers. How do you guys get so much in what seems like such a small space (and is compared to a suitcase) AND carry it EVERYWHERE? It’s very impressive. I carry most things you listed, but I really focused on your money strategy. I love it! I’m saving that to unpack bit by bit as I’ve wanted to changeup my strategy a bit. This Starling app is going to get some serious attention from me. That is SO cool!!
I love reading other people’s packing lists! So much similar stuff to what I take! So much technology….! I love the tips on how you safeguard your money. I am going to look in to the Starling app and see if it is a good fit for me… probably. Always want to have money access safeguarded. Great list – makes me want to get packing ASAP!
Great article, this is an excellent post detailing out the necessities. The packing cubes are extremely helpful, saves up quite a bit of space too. On the same page about the Tiger Balm, it’s a modern day miracle. I guess you guys mention all the things needed, the only thing I can think of adding are a few good books for the long bus rides. Thanks for sharing 🙂
What an incredibly extensive post on the mechanics of backpacking in Asia. I truly admire how little you take with you. I do like a front zipping backpack, though I don’t use one regularly. Packing cubes have completely changed packing for me too.
This is a really useful list for anyone planning a trip to Southeast Asia. Sorry you ended up in the hospital during yours 🙁
You did an amazing job fitting all that in. I can’t imagine fitting everything for such a long travel in just a backpack. That said, I’ve never used packing cubes before! They look like a great idea. I travel with a pacsafe purse and just love it! I’ve never tried their backpacks though.
Wow what a list! I think this post is the only one I’ve found that actually covers every single thing you could need which backpacking SEA! So concise and helpful.
Thanks, We’ve backpacked through the region twice and spent over a year in the region in total so we feel we’ve got a good amount of experience to say what you really need and what you don’t!!
Nice list here guys. We got the packing 411 on SE Asia after the first 2 years of our trip, all of which we spent in SE Asia. Mainly Thailand and Bali, but we also hit Cambodia and Vietnam, along with a short Malaysia trip too.
I have a Sony RX100 as well. It is such an impressive camera for its small size, much better than a iPhone for blowing up pictures. How covered does a women need to be to go into a religious site?
They are great little cameras, for a while it was our only camera before we got a bit more serious but there are often times when I will only take that one out because it’s so compact but great quality. It depends hugely on the country for example Myanmar are very conservative but in Thailand especially touristy places, they’re quite relaxed. As a general rule I’ve found a t-shirt is fine and usually either shorts that come to the knee or I carry some lightweight backpacker pants to slip over the top. The main thing is to take your shoes off. In most mosques that are open for non muslim visitors there are coverings available like a headscarves and Abaya at the entrance to lend. Other temples around also sometimes have pants and coverings to borrow too.
That is a very exhaustive and detailed guide for backpackers. One can see the importance of being organized and staying equipped while on the road. Your checklist is so handy. I need a Day Backpack now.
Thanks, over the past few years we’ve picked up a lot of ideas and refined the list! Yeah having a good day pack makes a big difference!
very nice thanks so much for sharing
I never thought that we need a lot of stuff to bring. But I am so agree with the first few ones about travel documents. Sometimes we forgot to check our passport that it’s almost expire in 2-3 months. I also like to make copies of them and spread them in different places like you recommended. This list is also good for non-backpackers, IMO.
What??? No dresses for women? THANK YOU! (I hate them and do feel pretty in them at all.) I have saved your list.
Well, not all Women wear dresses!! As a principal we tend to stay away from gender stereotypes, especially as we ourselves don’t tend to conform to them! I wrote the post including what we ourselves pack, which doesn’t and will never include dresses! But I also assume that people will taylor a list like this to their personal tastes.
I just read your blog this is amazing. I feel this is very helpful thankyou for sharing this with us….
This is a great list. When I was backpacking in the early 90s I had a lot less to carry (no mobile phones, but some fairly heavy camera equipment). The genius packing item I discovered – from a very experienced French traveller who travelled with only a shoulder bag – was a 100W screw lightbulb, as most of the rooms and huts in SEA had only 25W bulbs and were always very dingy. I presume that piece of advice is outdated now? I concur about eye masks, ear plugs, string, etc, and I found the spools of dental floss useful for repairs and even as makeshift washing lines.
Cheers Mark. Wow yeah, I’ve never thought of that but I know what you mean, maybe in some places that would still be pretty handy actually but some maybe not so much. Depends on where abouts you are travelling! That’s also great advice with the dental floss! It’s interesting to see how travel changes in some ways but some things stay the same!
Great post! Really enjoyed reading it. Your insights are spot-on and your writing style is engaging. Looking forward to more content like this!
Great list! This is super helpful for anyone planning a trip to Southeast Asia. Thanks for sharing your tips. Can you also share the backpacking tips on the Schengen countries? I love to travel
This list is gold! Heading to Thailand soon and this just saved me hours of planning—thanks a ton!
Awesome, thanks. Have a great time.