A backpacking trip around Southeast Asia is hands down one of the most exciting trips you can ever take. Nothing quite compares to the exhilaration of exploring a destination so different and foreign from your home or the rush of freedom that comes from traveling the world with nothing but a backpack.
We constantly reminisce about our adventures in Southeast Asia – the food, culture, and the amazing, life changing experiences. We can’t wait to return one day!
Aside from selecting which countries to visit, planning your route, and coordinating the various logistics of your trip you’ll also need to figure out what to pack. It seems like a fairly simple task compared to the rest of the preparation process, but in actuality it takes way more effort than you’d guess.
Where should you even start? How can you fit everything you need in one tiny backpack? What kind of clothing should you bring? Do you actually need that secret hidden-valuables pouch?
We’re here to help you pack for your trip to Southeast Asia!
We’ve put together a list of everything we brought along for our own four month backpacking trip as well as the items that we desperately wish we brought, but left behind. Although this is our list for a long-term trip, it also applies to a 1-2 week Southeast Asia itinerary as well.
How to Pack for a Backpacking Trip to Southeast Asia
Pack, Repack, & then Pack Again
As with any trip, its a known fact that you will definitely over pack. We definitely did. But unlike a weekend trip, you’ve got to haul whatever you bring with you around for weeks or months at a time – so the stakes are a lot higher. No one wants to lug around a 50 pound backpack in 100+ degree heat – the extra stuff just isn’t worth it!
To combat over-packing & ensure you have everything you (actually) need, we highly recommend starting to organize your things a few weeks before your departure date. Start by making a pile of everything you want to bring – then carefully evaluate each item & try to cut your pile down by half. You honestly don’t need to bring that much stuff.
Once you’ve halved your packing pile, start to organize & pack your backpack with the determined essentials. Odds are that not everything will fit on your first attempt. Continue to remove more items and reorganize until your backpack is at a comfortable weight and has some room to spare for souvenirs!
This whole packing and repacking process could take a few hours or even days – but the time investment is totally worth it!
Table of Contents
- Backpack
- Clothing
- Toiletries & Hygiene
- Electronics
- Security
- Personal Items
- Navigation + Travel Planning
- Miscellaneous
The Best Backpacks for Traveling Southeast Asia
First things first, if you’re going on an international backpacking trip – you’re going to need a good and reliable backpack. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the backpack, the better for a trip abroad. A 40 – 50 liter backpack should have plenty of space for everything you will need for a few weeks or even a months-long adventure.
Generally, the larger your backpack is the more (pointless) stuff you will bring and the more (pointless) stuff you bring, the heavier your pack will be. If you start out with less space, you will be way less likely to carry things you don’t need (again – you really don’t need that much).
Stephanie’s Backpack: Deuter ACT Lite 45+10
“I loved this backpack for its back support, universal size, and the ability to expand an additional 10 liters. I filled the first 45 liters before we left for Southeast Asia & then had the extra ten liters for purchases during our travels – which I definitely filled.”
Travis’s Backpack: Osprey Kestrel 48
“I selected this backpack because of its perfect fit & breath-ability in addition to the perfect amount of extras it had with the featured interior compartments & exterior pockets for organized storage.”
If you need to purchase a backpack before your trip, we highly recommend visiting your nearest REI store to spend an hour or two with an employee getting properly fitted & testing out different brands, models, and styles of backpacks to find the one that fits you best.
If you’re nearest REI is a few hours away – make a day trip out of it! We literally spent 3 hours testing out & trying on backpacks before we finally committed to purchasing them (which may have been a little excessive).
In order to find the best backpack for your trip to Southeast Asia, you’ll need to put in some time and research. However, we promise the extra effort will be worth it!
The Best Clothing to Pack for Backpacking Southeast Asia
In all honesty, you really don’t need to bring very many clothes on a backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. You’ll adapt to wearing the same items over & over again and may even prefer re-wearing clothes to avoid wasting time doing laundry while on the move. Seriously – we only did laundry a total of 6 times in 4 months!
Prioritize Packing High Quality Clothing
In order to master the re-wear wardrobe, you’ll need to focus on bringing clothing items designed for athletic wear that are made out of synthetic-blend, dry-wick materials. This style of clothing is typically lightweight and dries quickly without holding onto any moisture or odor.
Wearing athletic materials will keep you comfortable in the hot and humid Asian weather and since they don’t hold on to moisture or odor, you can also easily re-wear your clothing for multiple days before having to wash them. I’m sure that sounds gross now – but you’ll understand once you start your trip!
Given the limited amount of space in your (hopefully small) backpack, you should pack clothing items that can be worn for a variety of activities like trekking, going out, lounging around, and exploring to really maximize your travel wardrobe. Focus on packing neutral colors and universal designs while skipping on anything made of jean or cotton!
Southeast Asia Clothing Checklist
We both packed a similar amount of clothing items, each with slight modifications based on our needs/preferences. Here is a breakdown of what we brought:
- 7 Shirts
- 3 Short Sleeve Dry-Wick Shirts
- 2 Long-Sleeve Dry-Wick Shirts
- 2 Tanks Tops
- 1 Lightweight Sweatshirt (for traveling in the mountains)
- 5 Bottoms
- 2 Shorts
- 3 Leggings/Pants
- 1 Lightweight Sundress (Stephanie only!)
- 1 Swimsuit
- 7 pairs of underwear
- 3 pair of merino wool socks
- 1 Brimmed Hat
- 1 Rain Jacket
- 2 Pair of Shoes
- Chaco Adventure Sandals
- Chacos are literally the best shoes ever. We wore them all day every day for miles of walking and our feet literally never hurt. If we had to recommend one thing that everyone needs to bring on a trip to Southeast Asia – its Chacos.
- Running Shoes or Hiking Boots
- To save on space & weight, only bring hiking boots if you plan to do a lot of extensive hiking or trekking trips. In most cases, traditional running shoes should be just fine.
- Chaco Adventure Sandals
A Note on Purchasing Clothing in Southeast Asia
Clothing in Southeast Asia is super cheap, so if you forget anything or need to buy new clothing along the way it will only cost you a few dollars. However, a note of caution to anyone doesn’t have a “traditional” body type: the clothing in Southeast Asia probably won’t fit you correctly.
If you’re exceptionally tall, heavier set, or have some sort of uncommon body shape or feature there likely won’t be a wide selection of clothing for you to choose from, if at all. If you fall into this category (which is totally normal!) you shouldn’t rely on buying clothes abroad other than a basic tank top or t-shirt.
Speaking from experience, chestier women fall into this category and may also have difficulty finding appropriate clothing in Southeast Asia as well. Unfortunately those cheap, flowy sundresses and rompers that you’ll see everywhere just aren’t made to support the well-endowed. In order to ensure properly fitting clothing and to maintain appropriate levels of modesty, plan to bring your own clothing.
Toiletries and Hygiene in Southeast Asia
Toiletry items and quantities will vary person by person based on hygienic preference and requirements. The below list consists of everything Stephanie brought, because Travis had far fewer items to bring (and primarily just mooched!)
The great news about long term travel & toiletries, is that you can usually find small bottles of whatever items you need at most drug or convenience stores around Southeast Asia. We never had to search very hard for anything – except feminine products (see note below).
If you need or prefer to use very specific brands or products, definitely bring enough of that specific item for the duration of your trip. Stephanie purchased Go Toobs for her preferred face wash and moisturizer for her sensitive skin.
- Toiletry Bag
- Microfiber Body Towel
- Microfiber Face Towel
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Soap Bar
- Face Wash
- Facial Moisturizer
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Light Makeup
- First Aid Kit
- Tweezers
- Ibuprofen
- Hand Sanitizer/Disinfecting Wipes
- Sunscreen (expensive & low quality in Asia!)
- Bug Spray (80% DEET)
- Condoms
- Birth Control
- Feminine Products
Purchasing Feminine Products in Southeast Asia
Feminine products were not always easy to find in some more remote or underdeveloped parts of Southeast Asia (particularly Laos & Cambodia). I didn’t bring any sanitary products from the US (huge mistake) and almost found myself in a strange and embarrassing predicament on more than one occasion.
I highly recommend bringing at least a few tampons/pads with you or at least stocking up when you are able to find them in more touristy areas. Most tampons do not have applicators like they do in the Western world – if that’s a no go for you, bring your own!
Another option for feminine hygiene in Southeast Asia is a menstrual cup. If you’re comfortable using one, it’s probably the best and easiest option.
Electronics to bring to Southeast Asia
Tech items are another area where you can expect packing variance for your trip to Southeast Asia. Depending on your preferences for documenting your experiences abroad, you may travel with a larger or smaller quantity of items or have a variety of different tech gear with you. Below is what we brought:
- Camera
- Extra Battery
- SD Cards (4)
- Tripod
- Cell Phone
- Kindle (or other tablet/e-reader)
- GoPro
- Assorted charging cables
- External Battery Pack
- Headlamp/Flashlight (for early morning or late night bag rummaging in hostels!)
- Outlet Adapter
- Power Converter (we actually didn’t use one for this trip)
Safety and Security in Southeast Asia
Theft happens. It’s a fact of life & travel. Thankfully it only takes a little extra effort to deter most thieves in Southeast Asia. Stay alert wherever you go, lock up your things at the hostel, & don’t leave your valuables unattended or out in the open.
- Combination Padlock (for hostel lockers)
- Money Belt (for holding passports and cash during overnight bus rides)
- PackSafe Security Web
- We used the PackSafe metal mesh net to lock up our valuables when we left our bags unattended at the hostel front desk for a few hours or days while exploring town or leaving for a trekking trip. It definitely wasn’t necessary to have, but it did provide a tremendous peace of mind.
Personal Items
The essential, can’t-travel-without items that every traveler literally needs to go on a trip.
- Passport
- Prescription Medications
- Debit Cards/Emergency Cash (USD)
- Proof of Travel Insurance
- Copies of passport & other documentation
- Check out our document organization strategy in our SEA planning essentials post!
On-The-Go Navigation and Trip Planning in Southeast Asia
If you’re planning an extended trip in Southeast Asia, you likely won’t be able to plan every trip detail before your departure so you’ll need to research & plan your next moves while you’re on the road (long bus rides are perfect for planning!).
We carried a physical Lonely Planet guide as well as a Kindle with an Kindle Unlimited subscription to use as planning resources when we didn’t have access to wifi. We loved having a Kindle to be able to have access to an infinite amount of books & travel guides without all the extra weight. The items you bring for planning and research are completely up to you and your travel style. Below is what we brought and used.
- Southeast Asia On a Shoestring Lonely Planet Guide
- This guide covers all of the counties in Southeast Asia on a high and useful level. It’s not as in-depth as the country-specific guides, but it is still very helpful at providing details about the highlights in each major destination!
- Kindle Unlimited Membership
- Almost all the Lonely Planet guide books are included in the $10 monthly fee – totally worth it!
- Maps.Me
- A great offline map alternative that allows you to download regional maps to explore and navigate. (We prefer this to Google Maps when it comes to offline features!)
Miscellaneous Packing Essentials for Southeast Asia
We found the following items to be super helpful (or even essential) to have during our backpacking trip & highly recommend bringing all of these items!
- Day Pack
- A day bag is necessary for carrying items like your wallet, water bottle, camera, and anything else you need for daily excursions. We used & loved the REI Flash day packs. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and extremely durable. (We still use our same backpacks years later and could literally rave for hours about how much we love them!)
- Packing Cubes
- Packing cubes help keep your backpack organized while also maximizing space so you can fit more things in your bag! We opted for the smaller size to have more packing flexibility.
- Rain Cover for Backpack
- It rains a lot in Southeast Asia. A rain cover will protect your things from getting soaked in an unexpected downpour while also doubling as a security mechanism to help prevent pickpockets from accessing your backpack while walking through a crowd. (How’s that for dual purpose?!)
- High Quality Dry Bag (for electronics, paper documents, or hanging food)
- We each bought a high quality Sea to Summit dry bag before leaving the US and it was one of the best purchases we made for this trip. We carried it everywhere we went and when it randomly started raining (which happens more than you’d expect) we could easily put our cameras and phones inside and not have to worry.
- High Quality Sunglasses:
- We didn’t bring sunglasses and instantly regretted it! We found a ton of cheap, fashionable sunglasses at various markets, but they did not have the same UV protections as real, high-quality shades from the US. Our eyes constantly burned from the sun and at some points we thought we might have permanent eye damage (thankfully we didn’t!) We now always travel with proper eye protection – lesson learned!
- Buff
- If you’ve watched Survivor, you know that a Buff has an infinite amount of uses. However, in SEA its greatest use would be as a mask for all the dust in the dry season! We didn’t bring one on this trip and really wish that we had!
- Personal Utensil Set to help reduce personal plastic consumption while dining on the streets or at night markets.
- Nalgene Water Bottle to reuse and refill with water to help reduce the amount of plastic water bottles you purchase.
- Neck/Travel Pillow to use for bus rides, boat rides, flights, and other transportation. You will literally always be uncomfortable while in transit and a neck pillow is a heavenly item to have while en-route to your next destination!
- Notebook/Pen for keeping a daily journal or writing down sporadic thoughts or memories throughout your trip.
- Small Swiss Army Knife for absolutely everything. It’s a great, useful tool for just about everything. It’s great to have on hand but make sure you’re not carrying it when/where you shouldn’t be like on planes or strict border crossings.
Conclusion
And that’s a wrap! This post should have covered all the basics you need for a backpacking trip to Southeast Asia! If you plan on doing different activities make sure you evaluate and customize your packing list to accommodate those as well.
Check out our other Southeast Asia itineraries and guides to help you get ready for your big adventure!
Do you have a must-bring item that we missed? Or any questions about what we packed? Comment below!
Oh my gosh I LOVE how thorough this is!! I literally just said yesterday “all I want to do is backpack Asia,” so when I finally get to do that I’ll be using this guide. Well done!
Thanks Danielle – I’m glad you liked the post & found it helpful! 🙂 Also – so exciting that you’re thinking of a trip to SEA!! As you get further along in your planning process, definitely don’t hesitate to reach out with more questions!