Southeast Asia, covering more than 4 million square meters (1.7 million square miles) across 11 countries, most of which have their own languages, cultures, and traditions, is probably one of the most diverse areas in the world.
Due to the close proximity of each country by land and yet their diverse nature, Southeast Asia makes for a great place to travel to, and it remains one of the most popular destinations among young travelers.
By traveling to Southeast Asia, you will encounter all kinds of elements, from the beautiful tropical beaches of Thailand and the Philippines to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. One of the most important things to consider when planning a trip to Southeast Asia is what to pack.
With such diverse climates in Southeast Asia, it can be quite intimidating to start thinking about what to pack for the trip, but do not worry. After living and traveling in the region for so many years, I have decided to write up this packing guide to help you pack and prepare for your epic Southeast Asia trip.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to help and prepare you for the once-in-a-lifetime journey with a comprehensive packing list of items for Southeast Asia. Without further ado, let's begin with the most important packing question of all, "What to wear in Southeast Asia?".
- What to Wear in Southeast Asia?
- What Backpack to Bring To Southeast Asia?
- Should I Get a Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia?
- What Other Travel Essentials to Bring To Southeast Asia?
- What Camera Gear to Bring To Southeast Asia?
- What Electronics to Bring To Southeast Asia?
- Toiletries Packing List:
- Further Reading for Southeast Asia
What to Wear in Southeast Asia?
Depending on when and where you are visiting in Southeast Asia, the climate can vary a bit, especially during the months of November to January when the weather in Southeast Asia becomes a little cooler.
That said, the weather in Southeast Asia is pretty predictable throughout the year, with the months of March to November being either extremely hot or extremely rainy. The rest of the year, the weather becomes nice and cool, especially in the high mountains of Southeast Asia.
One thing to consider is that Southeast Asian countries are somewhat conservative, and you are expected to dress modestly when entering religious sites, regardless of whether it is a mosque in Brunei, a Hindu temple in Bali, or a Buddhist temple in Myanmar.
Basically, tank tops and short shorts are not allowed in these places, so be sure to also pack a few long pants and shirts. For women, a scarf that you can carry in your daypack to cover yourself up when you are entering religious sites during your trip to Southeast Asia.
Here is a list of things to wear in Southeast Asia for both men and women. Keep in mind that this is only an example list of things you should pack for Southeast Asia, and I am only listing the essentials. So, be sure to bring what you think is necessary for you as well and use this as a guideline to see what things you might have missed from your packing list.
Breathable Shirts: The weather in Southeast Asia is mostly hot and humid, and when you are out exploring big cities like Bangkok or Jakarta, combining the humidity with all the wind-blocking, heat-absorbing concrete walls, you will most likely be covered in sweat at the end of each day. To make your trip a little more comfortable, be sure to pack some breathable shirts and dresses.
Tank Tops: Southeast Asia is hot, and if you live in a cold climate country like most western visitors do, you are going to find it much easier to be out in the sun with a tank top, so be sure to pack some.
They are also great to wear at the beach, which is something you shouldn't miss when visiting Southeast Asia. We have a ton of beautiful beaches here, from the Philippines to Timor Leste. You can also buy some in Southeast Asia. They are cheap, widely available, and very light to carry around.
Light Scarf: If you are planning to visit a temple or a mosque that day, it's blazing hot outside, and you do not want to wear long shirts, you can wear a tank top and bring a light scarf to cover your shoulders when you are entering these religious sites and take it off when you are done. That way, you do not have to suffer the heat when you are not at a temple.
Shorts: The same goes for shorts. You should pack shorts that you are comfortable wearing when you are moving around in a hot climate place like Southeast Asia. Shorts will likely be what you will wear most of the time in Southeast Asia, so be sure to pack a few.
Long Breathable Pants: Long breathable pants are great for when you plan to enter a religious site that day, as well as for when you want to go hiking somewhere. It can get quite cool up in the mountains in Southeast Asia from November to January, so it is always a good idea to pack a few long pants just in case.
You can also buy the famous elephant pants all over Southeast Asia for as low as 3.5 USD. They are cheap, light, and very breathable, perfect for a hot climate, and great as souvenirs. That is a win-win situation right there.
Travel Shoes: Since you will be walking a lot in cities like Bangkok and Jakarta, which are not very walkable, you will need to pack a comfortable shoe that you don't mind wearing and walking/hiking with for 6 to 8 hours a day.
I highly recommend this Timberland shoe for guys or this walking shoe for women if you are looking to buy a new one on this trip. Make sure to break in your shoes before getting on that plane. You do not want to be stuck with shoes that give you blisters when you are on your trip.
Flip-flops: There will be days when you just want to break out your flip-flops, let your toes out in the open air, and just walk around beaches and islands, so be sure to pack a pair too. You will also likely need them for activities that involve water, like snorkeling or diving, when you are aboard a boat, etc., so packing flip-flops is a no-brainer.
A Lightweight Rain Jacket: Since most of Southeast Asia has a tropical climate, you can expect it to rain a lot in this region even outside the rainy season. Although when it rains, it pours heavily in Southeast Asia, it doesn't rain for very long. Therefore, packing a lightweight rain jacket should be enough for your trip.
You can also get a rain poncho from convenience stores scattered throughout Southeast Asia for less than 2 USD, in case you forget. If you are planning to rent a motorbike, which I highly recommend you do since it is the cheapest way to explore Southeast Asia, do not forget to pack a rain jacket with you, or you will be stuck under a tree by a remote road, as I did way too many times than I can count.
A Fleece Jacket: If you are planning to visit and do some hiking in places like Northern Thailand and Vietnam, or if you are looking to trek to the summit of high mountains like Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia or Mt. Rinjani in Indonesia, be sure to bring a warm fleece jacket with you as the weather can get pretty cold up there.
Swimwear: Southeast Asia is surrounded by an ocean, and there are plenty of lakes, lagoons, and waterfalls you can visit. With such a hot climate, you may feel the urge to jump into any body of water in the proximity without knowing why, so be sure to pack a swimsuit and get ready to jump in the water.
If you go to places like the Komodo Island in Indonesia or Ko Lipe in Thailand, you will also need a swimsuit as snorkeling is one of the highlight activities for these places. Just make sure not to pack your own snorkeling mask and fins. They take up a lot of space, and most of these gears are usually provided by the tour already so no need to carry them around with you.
Hiking Socks: When I travel, I always pack hiking socks instead of regular socks because they are often lightweight, extra soft, and have moisture control, which helps eliminate odor when you spend hours a day walking in them.
What Backpack to Bring To Southeast Asia?
A Large Backpack: If you are planning to visit Southeast Asia for more than a week, I highly recommend carrying at least a 40L backpack to carry all the travel essentials while you are on the move.
I highly recommend Osprey backpacks. They are durable, very light, and have a lifetime guarantee. Get the Osprey Atmos AG Backpack for men and the Osprey Aura AG Backpack for women if you are looking for a high-quality backpack that will last you a lifetime. I have the Osprey Atmos myself and I love it!
A Daypack: You are also going to need a daypack to carry all of your travel essentials for the day, such as a water bottle, camera gear, jackets, etc. Depending on how much you want to carry, I found 25L to be a good capacity for a daypack.
I personally use Herschel Supply's Little America bag as my daypack, and I love it. It is pretty affordable, very comfortable to wear, and stylish as hell. If you are looking for a stylish daypack to go with your trip, get the Herschel Supply Little America backpack.
A Dry Bag: If you are planning to do many activities around water in Southeast Asia, such as kayaking, rafting, and snorkeling, it might be worthwhile to pack a dry bag for your trip as well to keep your belongings safe and dry.
Should I Get a Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia?
Yes! Southeast Asia is a beautiful place to travel to, but it can also get crazy chaotic. If you are planning to rent a motorbike, go hiking, or simply participate in any activities in Southeast Asia, such as going snorkeling, diving, or spending a night on a liveaboard boat, I highly recommend getting travel insurance for your trip here.
Travel insurance is not expensive, and if things go wrong, which is often the case when you travel, at least you will have the insurance to cover the costs that may arise. If you are looking for travel insurance providers, consider browsing through HeyMondo for regular trips or World Nomads for adventure trips and find the right travel insurance that fits the trip you are planning.
Disclaimer: World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
What Other Travel Essentials to Bring To Southeast Asia?
Packing Cubes: Packing cubes are a lifesaver for backpackers and light travelers out there. I used to travel without one, and it was often a mess in my backpack. I would frequently find something I was looking for months later, after I returned from a trip.
With packing cubes, that is no longer a problem, as everything is nicely organized into its own cubes, and I can take things in and out of my backpack without messing up other things in it. I highly recommend you buy 4 packing cubes for your trip.
Microfiber Towel: It is easy to dry, lightweight, and small enough to pack in your daypack. Since you will probably be swimming in waterfalls and the ocean a lot in Southeast Asia, you will likely have the towel with you most of the time.
Water Bottle: As we established early on, the weather in Southeast Asia can be unbearably hot, and it is important to keep yourself hydrated when you are out and about. You would do the environment a great favor if you bring your own water bottle instead of buying a plastic water bottle every time you are thirsty.
I highly recommend the Lifestraw Filter Bottle, which will also help filter the water for you to ensure it is safe to drink. You never know what the water has to go through to reach you when you are traveling in places like Southeast Asia, so it is better to be safe than sorry.
Padlock: If you are planning to stay in hostels in Southeast Asia, you will be sharing a space with other travelers, and you are going to need a padlock to secure your belongings in a locker at a hostel when you are out and about. Most of the time, the hostel will provide a locker for free if you have your own padlock, so it is best to pack one just in case. I highly recommend the Master Lock Padlock.
Insect Repellent: This is extremely essential if you plan to go anywhere outside when you are in Southeast Asia. I wouldn't leave my hotel without covering my entire body with an insect repellent before stepping foot outside. I highly recommend getting the Repel 100 insect repellent or you can get the local one called Soffel, which you can often find in convenience stores in Southeast Asia.
What Camera Gear to Bring To Southeast Asia?
Sony a6600: This camera is what I carry for most of my trips around the world. The Sony a6600 is very compact and light, while the capabilities are more than enough to take excellent photos and videos for my travels. Combine it with the lenses I use below, and you have one hell of a capable yet lightweight camera gear that you can carry anywhere with you.
Sony 16-55mm F2.8 Lens: This lens stays on my Sony a6600 camera 90% of the time. The focal length of 16mm and 55mm allows me to capture wide shots for landscapes as well as up-close street shots of local people, respectively. If you are looking for one lens to rule them all, this is it.
Sony 10-18mm F4 Lens: This is also another lens I often carry on my trips. The 10mm minimum focal length gives me an ultra-wide field of view, allowing me to take some really nice photos of large temples and mosques in Southeast Asia. If you want nice pictures of architecture around Southeast Asia, this lens is the one to get.
Sigma 56mm F1.4 Lens: When I travel, I often like to do street photography and take photos of the locals, and one of my favorite lenses to use for travel portraits is the Sigma 56mm F1.4 lens. It comes with a wide aperture of F1.4, allowing me to shoot some really beautiful people with stunning bokeh. I love this lens, and I highly recommend you get it if you like taking photos of people.
DJI Mavic Mini 2: For a travel drone that is lightweight and highly capable, you just can't beat the DJI Mavic Mini 2. It weighs only 249 grams and is smaller than an iPhone when collapsed. If you are looking for a travel drone to carry with you in Southeast Asia, you will love the DJI Mavic Mini 2.
GoPro Hero 9 Black: Since you will likely be participating in activities around water in Southeast Asia, such as snorkeling, kayaking, and waterfall-hopping, you will find yourself using your action camera, like the GoPro Hero 9, more than when you are visiting other countries. So, be sure to pack that with you.
Trust me, you are going to regret not having an action camera when you are kayaking through beautiful places like Khao Sok Lake in Thailand or swimming with manta rays in the Philippines.
What Electronics to Bring To Southeast Asia?
Power Bank: In this day and age, you will most likely be relying on your phone a lot more than you think when you travel, from navigation to booking accommodations. You are going to need to keep your phone and other electronics juiced up with a power bank. I highly recommend the Anker PowerCore 20,000 mAh power bank for your trip. It should be enough to keep all your electronics charged throughout the day.
Travel Adapter: No matter where you are from, you are going to need a travel adapter that will allow you to adapt your electronics to the many varieties of power outlets in Southeast Asia. Each country has different power sockets, so you will need the one that can adapt to many types of power sockets. I highly recommend the Unidapt 61W Universal Travel Adapter, which should cover most types of power outlets out there.
Macbook Air: If you are looking for a laptop to travel with that is lightweight but highly capable, I highly recommend getting the new Macbook Air with the powerful M1 chip. It is not too expensive, extremely compact and light, and you can do everything from browsing the web to photo editing all on one machine.
iPhone 12 Pro Max: If you do not want to carry a camera around while you travel and are looking for a phone that has the best camera you can get, buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The phone is extremely powerful, and you can do everything on it, from navigation to taking excellent photos with its 3-camera setup. You just can't beat the iPhone when it comes to phone cameras.
Toiletries Packing List:
Do not forget to pack all the toiletries you need for your trip. Most of the time, you can buy them in convenience stores in Southeast Asia for cheap, but things like sunblocks can be quite pricey here, so you will probably be saving more by buying them beforehand.
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Sunblock
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Hand Sanitizer (very important during this COVID time)
- Wet Wipes
- Nail Cutter
- Travel Medical Kit (pain killers, band airs, etc.)
- For Men: Shaver
- For Women: Make-up, menstrual cup, and other lotion if you need.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Southeast Asia
Looking for more information for your trip to Southeast Asia? Here are a selection of articles that might help you with your trip planning:
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Southeast Asia? Check out: 3 Month Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Vietnam is a great place to start your journey to Southeast Asia. If you are looking for more details about Vietnam, check out my complete Vietnam itinerary here: 2 Weeks Itinerary for Vietnam.
- Cambodia is home to one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, the Angkor Wat. If you are wondering what it's like there, here is my experience traveling around Angkor Wat and Siem Reap.
- Want to travel to Siem Reap and see the Angkor Wat with your own eyes? Here is a complete travel guide and 3-day itinerary for Siem Reap.
- Bagan is one of my favorite places in the world. With over 2,000 pagodas waiting for you to explore, you will need a travel guide. Here's a complete travel guide to Bagan temples and more.
- Want to spend one month backpacking around Thailand? Check out: One Month Itinerary for Thailand.
- Have 2 weeks in Thailand? Check out this itinerary: 2 Weeks Backpacking Thailand Itinerary.
- Have only 10 days in Thailand? This itinerary might be more suited for you: 10 Days Itinerary for Thailand.
- Malaysia is a country often overlooked by most travelers, and that is a mistake you shouldn't make. Here is a complete 10-day itinerary for Malaysia.
- The Philippines is an archipelago full of volcanoes and remote beaches waiting for you to explore. Here is a 3-week itinerary for the Philippines.
- Want to visit the Philippines and not sure where to start? Here are the 8 Most Beautiful Places in the Philippines to Visit.
- Indonesia is not a country you can simply travel to once and say you've seen it all. It's a country so diverse, it requires at least one month to really get the feel of it. Here is a complete one-month itinerary for Indonesia.
- Borneo is another place in Malaysia that is often overlooked, which is the perfect place for us to visit and go off the main Southeast Asia path that most backpackers take. If you are going that way, be sure to check out our 2-week itinerary for Borneo and Brunei.
- Looking to go off the beaten path in Southeast Asia? How about visiting Timor Leste, the newest country on the block? Check out: 10 Days Itinerary for Timor Leste.
- Not convinced by my words about Southeast Asia? Here are 64 photos that will inspire you to visit Southeast Asia now.
- You can also watch my travel video about Southeast Asia here: Watch "Asia Alive" travel video.
- You can see all of my Southeast Asia related articles on my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.