The Ultimate Packing List for Backpacking Southeast Asia 2023

Last Updated on 7 Nov, 2025

Planning a trip to Southeast Asia? Not sure what to pack? Look no further!

Some incredibly exciting news… I’m backpacking for one year around Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South America! I’ve been saving for this trip for years. I’m currently six weeks into my travels so I’ve had some time to reflect on what works and what doesn’t in regards to everything I’ve packed (at the moment that’s a very wet rainy season in SE Asia!). I’m a BIG list-maker so I wanted to share with you my entire packing list for backpacking Southeast Asia in the hopes that it will be useful for you.

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🎒 Backpack(s)

Before I get into the list of individual items, the first thing you need to get sorted is a backpack. You could take a suitcase, but it depends on how and where you’re travelling. If you’re doing any amount of walking with your bags, I’d really really recommend a good quality backpack.

The only time I think a suitcase would be okay is if you’re paying for private transfers everywhere you go and you’ll be taken door to door. A lot of countries in South East Asia have realllly bad pavements – and sometimes there aren’t any at all, or motorbikes are parked on the paths so you have to walk on the road, and pulling a suitcase with wheels would be a nightmare.

I also can’t imagine doing something like the 2 day slow boat in Laos with a suitcase, and it’s worth noting that taxis / tuk tuks / minibuses etc. won’t necessarily drop you off outside your hotel, so there are many times I’ve had to walk for 5-20 minutes with all my stuff. Anyway – onwards to the bag info!

Whether you’re taking everything in just one backpack (or two), this is your most important thing to get right. The longer you’re travelling, the more important it is. When me and my boyfriend, Richard, set off for our year long trip around South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South America, we took two bags:

• Osprey 40L Fairview (for me) and 40L Farpoint (for him)
• Osprey 20L Daylite Plus (We LOVE this bag! It holds my tech such as my laptop and camera and doubles as a daypack / hiking bag)

I say 2 bags, but I also have a small bumbag that I wear across my chest to keep my money, phone, hand sanitisier, tissues and lip balm in. This is just for convenience, to keep my money and phone safe, and because so few of my clothes actually have pockets (this always annoys me!).

What size bag?

The reason we chose 40L bags, and not any larger (which can be tempting) is that it’s the largest size that still fits in carry on when flying. Having a slightly smaller backpack also prevents you from overpacking, and I really didn’t want to have a super heavy bag with me for an entire year.

Note that my list here is for me (Dani), and it’s pretty female-oriented, but I can do a separate list of what Richard has packed if you’d like. Let me know in the comments if that would be helpful.

Prefer to watch a video where I show you everything I’ve packed, including every outfit? Watch here on the Plants and Good Vibes Youtube channel!

✈️ Travel Essentials

✔️	Item	Quantity	Notes + Links
	Passport	1	Make sure you have at least 6 months left on it before it expires.
	Waterproof rain cover for backpack	1 for each backpack	I really recommend this brand – I’ve used it loads in rainy season in SE Asia, and the covers have clips to secure around your bag, so they don’t fly off in the wind/slip off when chucking bags around.
	Water bottle with filter or UV	1	Most tap water in SE Asia is not suitable for drinking. To prevent having to be constantly buying plastic water bottles, which is obviously not environmentally-friendly, you need a reusable water bottle. A filtered one is a good option, but I like my self-cleaning and insulated LARQ bottle (keeps water cold, which is nice in hot weather). Richard also has one. It has UV water cleaning, and I haven’t gotten sick yet, so it’s definitely working!!
	LifeStraw	1	Mainly for emergency situations, but it’s so small and clips onto my bag so I’m glad I have it. I carry this small LifeStraw.
	Waterproof cross body bag	1	This is great to have when visiting waterfalls or having a dip in the sea without worrying about leaving your valuables unattended on the beach because you don’t want them to get wet. Instead, pop them in a small waterproof bag. I have this waterproof bag which has been perfect.
	Reusable cutlery	1	I’ve used these more than I thought I would, especially when getting take-away food or deliveries to my hotel room. I bought an amazing lightweight titanium set from Amazon before leaving, but sadly I had to throw my knife away to go on the train in Laos. Otherwise, they’ve been so, so good.
	Padlock(s)	1-2 (one for each bag)	Lightweight and flexible, these are my favourite padlocks. You also get 2 in a pack for a decent price.
	Carabiners	3-6	A must-have! I didn’t realise how useful these would be until I started travelling. I clip my hat onto my bumbag when I’m out and about, clip things into different areas of my backpack so it stays organised etc. These carabiners are sturdy but any ones will do, and it’s nice to have ones of different sizes.
	Earplugs	1-2	I use earplugs for clubbing/loud music and also for sleeping. You don’t want to use foam ones to listen to music because it’ll be so muffled, so I bought Senner MusicPro earplugs that have 2 pairs – one for music, and one for sleep! They also come in a little carry case.
	Eyemask	1	An absolute necessity for me! I never sleep without one.
	First Aid Kit	1	Choose one that’s small but can also contain everything you need when you’re out and about for the day. I chose this first aid kit, which is a great size, but also added a few things to bulk it out (mainly more plasters).
	Travel Pillow	1	You could go without one, but if travelling for a long time (more than 4 weeks), they’re really, really nice to have. I originally didn’t have one and bought one in Laos, around 2 or 3 weeks into travelling, and I’m so glad I did. If I were to buy one before leaving the UK, it would be this memory foam one that packs down small.
	Microfibre travel towel	1	I’m mostly staying in hotels, so having a towel for showering isn’t an issue, but I use my towel at the beach. I have the Dock & Bay large beach towel, which packs down small. They have so many fun designs and I wanted a larger one so I could fully lie down on it.
	Hand sanitiser	1	Public toilets don’t always have soap, so you need this on you all of the time.
	Pocket tissues	Depends on time travelling	Public toilets don’t always have toilet paper either, so I really recommend taking some packs of pocket tissues with you. I don’t need them every time I use a public toilet, but I think I’ve been getting through 1 pack every 4-6 weeks.
	Collapsible cup	1	This was a spontaneous purchase but we’re SO glad we have them. We use STOJO collapsible cups, and they’ve been useful so many times. Obviously they’re great for hot drinks on the go (or cold drinks), but also for storing food as a mini lunchbox, too. Well worth having, and the fact they’re collapsible means you can save space in your bag.

Also see: Backpacking in Thailand as a Vegan – Get Ready for AMAZING Food!

👚 Clothes & accessories

Part of the fun for me when travelling is buying new clothes when I’m out there! Like in Vietnam – did you know that in Hoi An you can get custom clothes made for a really decent price? Anyway, I digress – here are some important essentials to have:

✔️	Clothes	Quantity	Notes + Links
	Underwear	8-10	I packed 8 and wished I had a few more. This is because your number of underwear dictates how often you do laundry. Re-wearing clothes is fine, but we don’t rewear our underwear, so we have to get laundry done every 8 days.
	Period underwear	2	I have 2 pairs that I use at the end of my period. Combined with my menstrual cup, these are the basics of how I survive my period each month while travelling. I use, and really recommend, Modibodi period underwear.
	Trainer socks	4 pairs	I mostly wear sandals but on travel days and on long bus journeys/flights I like to wear my trainers instead. 4 pairs is the sweet spot for me, but you probably could get away with less if you prefer.
	T-shirts, shirts and vests	4-5	The quantity of each depends on your preferences, but I have 1 cropped t-shirt, 2 linen shirts (one long-sleeved which can be used as a cover-up at the beach, both covering my shoulders), 2 vest tops (one of which I sleep in) and then also a bandeau top. It’s nice to have one top as a ‘going out’ top so I also have a lacey bralette.
	Shorts	2-3	You only really need 2 pairs, but I have 3 pairs so I have some fashion choices! I have black cycling shorts, cream linen shorts and black cotton shorts (shorter length than cycling shorts).
	Trousers	1-3	The quantity varies on where you’re going, when you’re going (aka rainy season), what you’re planning to do (aka the beach or multi-day treks) and how long you’re going. I think 2-3 is the sweet spot in rainy season, and 1-2 in dry season or if you’re at the beach a lot. Having at least 1 pair of long trousers is good though for evenings to avoid mosquito bites and for travel days when you’re in cold aircon for hours.
	Dresses / skirts	1	When I left for travelling, I didn’t take any dresses or skirts with me (I got some made in Hoi An, Vietnam!). But if I had taken some, I’d have maybe taken out a t-shirt and pair of trousers and substituted with a maxi dress and/or a maxi skirt. Alternatively, you could bring a flowy jumpsuit that’s good for hot weather.
	Waterproof Jacket	1	I spent ages researching the best waterproof jacket to take. I wanted one that was lightweight, packable and actually waterproof. Thankfully, I found one – the Patagonia Women’s 3L Torrentshell, and the men’s version is the Patagonia Men’s 3L Torrentshell.
	Swimwear	2	Having more than one set means you can wear one while the other one dries, but I personally wouldn’t take more than 2 or 3 to save space. I have 2 bikinis with me.
	Sarong	1	Really useful for female-presenting people when going into somewhere sacred/religious such as a temple and you need to cover your knees or shoulders. Also useful at the beach, or as a scarf at the top of a mountain. This is the one I use from Amazon that I originally bought to use in Ibiza.
	Jumper/sweatshirt	1	I only recommend 1 because they’re bulky, but definitely bring a jumper! Aircon can be cold, especially on a sleeper bus. I like my North Face jumper.
	Sunglasses	1	Protect your eyes – make sure you get some good quality ones because you’ll be using them a lot.
	Spare glasses (and/or contact lenses)	1	If you’re a glasses wearer obvs!
	Sandals	1	Or flip-flops (or ‘thongs’). I chose to go for Tevas because I wanted shoes I could wear in water without them floating away, such as at a waterfall where there might be rocks under the water.
	Trainers	1	Aka sneakers. I swear by my Adidas Ultraboost. They are SO comfy and cute.
	Hiking shoes	1	I was really unsure about whether to take a third pair of shoes after my sandals and trainers, but it’s proven so useful to have decent shoes that I can trek through mud in and not worry about them getting ruined. If you’re travelling for less than 6 months then maybe just sandals and trainers would be fine, but as I’m gone for a year, these 3 pairs work well for me. I use and love the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Hiking Shoes.
	Hiking socks	2 pairs	I’ve found 2 pairs have been ideal to allow one pair to dry while wearing the other pair (3 pairs would be too bulky). These are the ones I use, which are great because they’re breathable and come in fun colours!
	Jewellery	Minimal	Just take some earrings (maybe 2 pairs) and a necklace or two. Don’t bring anything too expensive or that you would worry about losing. Waterproof jewellery is ideal. I have 2 necklaces and 2 pairs of earrings, and I bought an extra necklace in Thailand as a souvenir.
	Hat	1	Wear in both rain or shine!

I’d also really, really recommend taking packing cubes for your clothes. They make packing clothes SO much easier. Honestly, a life changer. These are the ones I use, which include compression to make the cubes even smaller.

🪥 Personal Care

✔️	Item	Quantity	Notes + Links
	Travel electric toothbrush + heads	1 Toothbrush Enough toothbrush heads to change every 2-3 months	I swear by using an electric toothbrush at home, and I didn’t want to go back to a manual one while travelling. So I bought the really small and lightweight Philips One toothbrush, which has been great. It would have been even better to have a rechargeable one rather than battery, but otherwise it’s perfect. Also don’t forget the toothbrush heads!
	Floss	Enough for time spent travelling	I have a favourite type of floss, so I have 5 packs with me. Slightly OTT, but works for me!!
	Deodorant	1	Originally I used spray but I’ve switched to roll on, as aerosols weren’t allowed on the train in Laos.
	Menstrual cup	1	If you get periods, and you’re travelling for a long time around South East Asia, then you’re really going to struggle packing enough tampons for the entire time you’re there. This is the reason I’ve switched to a menstrual cup, and I use the Intimina Lily Cup One. It’s small and collapsible.
	Menstrual cup wash	1	To go alongside my menstrual cup, I use the DivaCup wash. I use this every time I change my cup to clean it alongside water I pour out of my LARQ bottle. I love this wash and really recommend it. I know it’s not going to last the entire year though so I’m going to need to figure out a way to get more at some point!!
	Suncream	1-2	Depending on the size of the suncream, and how long you’re travelling for, I’d recommend bringing at least 1-2 bottles. You can buy suncream in SE Asia but it’s expensive. Make sure you choose a reef-friendly and cruelty-free vegan suncream, like Sun Bum.
	Lipbalm with SPF	1	SPF 30+ is best. This is something I haven’t really found sold out here, so I’d recommend bringing some.
	Make up	Minimal	Just take your must-haves and leave the rest at home, especially if you’re travelling for a long time. Make up can add a lot of weight, which is better used for travel essentials, clothes and souvenirs.
	Medications	Varies	Obviously bring prescribed medication with you, and I’ve packed paracetamol, ibuprofen, Dioralyte, Rennies (indigestion tablets) and decongestants (for flights). Anti-sickness medication can also be good, as well as Imodium.
	Mosquito spray	1	You can skip this and buy it in Asia, but not if you want a high DEET content. The highest I’ve found is about 15%. If you want 50%, you’ll need to bring it from home.
	Mini hairbrush	1	I like using those little foldable ones with a mirror included.
	Nail scissors / nail clippers	1	Or treat yourself to cheap manicures. Scissors are also just useful to have.
	Nail file	1	As above.
	Disposable razors	6	I know 6 sounds OTT, but I’m used to triple blade razors and it’s SO hard to find them in SE Asia. I’d prefer a more environmentally sustainable solution, so if anyone has any ideas please let me know in the comments! For now, I’m having to use disposable ones.
	Tweezers	1	Prevent the monobrow.
	Condoms	1-3 (You can buy Durex in SE Asia if you need more)	Self-explanatory.

📷 Electronics

✔️	Item	Quantity	Notes + Links
	Phone	1	It’s unlikely you’d forget this, but don’t forget a charging lead too!
	Worldwide Travel Adapter	1	I wanted one which had USB-A and USB-C ports, and chose MyTravelPal because it’s earthed. It can be used for laptops and I can confirm it’s been great while charging my laptop, iPhone, and Apple Watch all at the same time! It’s also fairly lightweight.
	Head torch	1	This is another item which has been more useful than I thought it would. I have a cheap one that’s battery-powered, but Richard recommends this amazing rechargeable head torch that’s super bright. Whenever we go out at night and take one with us, we’ll always take his rather than mine because it’s so good.
	Electronics Organiser	1	Such a good thing to use if you have lots of charging cables like I do. I like this perfectly-sized one from Amazon.
	Camera	1	Could be left at home but it’s a must-have if you’re into photography. I recently bought a Fujifilm X-S20 and I loveee it. I’d only recommend bringing 1 lens with you if you want to travel light, so get something lightweight and versatile. Don’t forget a sim card or two!
	Power bank	1	Very helpful for when you’re away from plug sockets for an extended period of time such as on treks or long bus journeys. Especially important if you have a phone with a bad battery life! I like ones which have more than 1 input, such as the really slim INIU power bank. Make sure you check what max power is allowed in carry on for flying on your airline – 20000mAh and less is usually fine.
	Headphones	1	I always have my trusty pair of Apple Airpods Pro. The noise cancellation is perfect for long bus or train journeys (of which there are many, especially in Vietnam!)
	Kindle	1	The Kindle Paperwhite is my fave as it’s lightweight and waterproof. Pro-tip – buy the Kindle Paperwhite Kids version instead of the normal version. It’s cheaper, ad-free, comes with a case, and you get a 2-year warranty. It’s exactly the same as the normal version, with all those added benefits, and you can buy a more ‘adult’ case for it if you prefer.

📱 Phone Data

Make sure you sort out an eSim before you go – most new phones can now handle eSims, which make it so easy and convenient to have mobile data. These are virtual sim cards which mean you can use the internet while you travel without needing to find WiFi. It’s still cheaper to buy actual physical sim cards in the country you’re travelling in, but I think it’s a lot more convenient to have internet access literally as soon as your plane hits the ground.

I use Nomad, who I would recommend. They cover all the countries I want to go to in SE Asia including Laos, which is a country that isn’t covered by every eSim company. I’ve never struggled for signal and it’s usually fast (often faster than hotel WiFi!). You can use the discount code DANI55QN to get $3 off your plan (every little helps!).

TOP TIP: For the vast majority of eSim plans, you cannot use your eSim to make calls. It’s data only, so you can only use it for the internet. You can therefore make calls and texts using Whatsapp, but I really recommend downloading the Skype app and adding some credit to your account in case you have to make a phone call (e.g. to your travel insurance company).

🏥 Travel Insurance

I spent days comparing all of the different travel insurance companies and plans, and in the end I chose True Traveller. They offer backpacker specific insurance with loads of great add-ons. It costs a lot of money, but it’s definitely worth it. We chose the Worldwide cover excluding the USA & Canada because it makes it cheaper, and we don’t have gadget insurance because we can’t find one on the market that is actually decent. Especially because, to make a claim, the insurance company always want you to send the gadget to them for repair, and that’s a lot of hassle while travelling for a year.

Buy when there!

Don’t worry about these things until you arrive in Southeast Asia:

• Aftersun if you get burnt (hopefully you won’t, but you’ll be able to buy it from a pharmacy)
• Tiger balm – especially in Thailand, where you can find it everywhere. If you don’t know what Tiger Balm is, it’s my absolute go-to any time I get a mosquito bite. It comes in a small pot, and you just rub it on the bite to immediately stop the itching. It’s also useful for muscle ache.
• Umbrella – not necessary if you’re not travelling in rainy season, but if you are, it can be very necessary! Make the judgement call when you arrive.

Realistically almost everything can be bought in Southeast Asia if you forget it – some stuff will be cheaper, and some things will be more expensive. But the things you definitely need to bring, which would otherwise be tricky to obtain are: anything you need on your period (e.g. menstrual cup), a decent backpack, spare glasses (if necessary), anything you need a prescription for, and a reusable filtered/UV water bottle.

From speaking to other people travelling, it also seems really hard to buy rolls of 35mm film in SE Asia, so bring a big haul if you’re into film photography.

I really hope this blog post has be helpful – please ask away in the comments if you have any questions. What do you think about this list – do you think you’d be able to survive backpacking for a year with everything here?

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