Paradise beaches, a warm and friendly culture, the amazing metropolis of Bangkok and Thai food all day every day. Planning a trip to Thailand is like the best thing ever!
Here’s the ultimate Thailand packing list, so you know exactly what to bring to Thailand and also what you can leave safely at home.
Should You Take a Backpack or Suitcase for Travelling Thailand?
This is one of the most asked questions I get.
Having spent a fair amount of time travelling around Southeast Asia and having had both backpacks and suitcases, I would say it highly depends on how many places you are going and what you got planned.
If you are only going for a two-week vacation on one of the Thai islands and staying in the same place, it is definitely okay to just take a wheeled suitcase, like this spinner suitcase from Travelpro.
However, if you are planning a big Thailand itinerary with various stops across the north and the south, I definitely think a backpack is the better choice.
Simply because you can expect the roads to be uneven with holes and patches, sandy paths getting onto boats, narrow flights of stairs and there are usually no sideways to walk on, which makes is challenging and not very enjoyable travelling with a big suitcase.
A backpack in return is an easy way to just strap on and go. You’ll tackle any terrain.
Above all, I highly recommend you evaluate closely what you need and how much you should take. Less is often more. You don’t want to travel with any bag or suitcase over 55L as this will immediately give you the opportunity to over pack.
There is nothing worse than walking around with a super heavy backpack in tropical weather and sweating from every pore of your body!
I love the Osprey Fairpoint 55L Backpack which has a detachable daypack for day adventures and a lockable main compartment.
Additionally, you can store the carrying straps and harness in a back panel with a zipper, so no ripping off the straps when going through the baggage carousel!
What to Wear in Thailand?
Depending on where you are going in Thailand, the clothes you pack may vary, however there are some general rules:
- Thailand in general has a tropical and humid climate during most of the year with some colder periods.
- In the mountainous north, you’ll find cooler temperatures during November to February. Keep in mind that this is also peak tourist season and things will generally be a bit busier and booking ahead is recommended.
- The hot season in Thailand is from March to May, followed by the rain season from June to October. Expect the heaviest and most rainfall during this period, which vary across the country. The northern parts usually don’t see as much rain as the rest of the country.
- In contrast, the south of Thailand has beaches and there are basically two seasons, wet and dry. What’s unique is that each coast also has its own weather.
- Rain and heavy storms occur on the west coast around Phuket from April through to October. The east coast with Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao gets most of its rainfalls between October and January.
What Clothes to Pack for Thailand?
Regardless of the region you’re visiting, if you plan to visit any of the temples, you want to be as conservative as possible.
Even if you’re not planning to enter any temples (which would be a shame), conservative in Thailand is a good way to go!
When planning a trip to Northern Thailand, I always throw in an extra fleece jacket, just in case I rent a scooter and drive in the mountains as the wind can get very chilly, especially in the cooler months and if you want go trekking in the mountains!
It also saves me at highly air-conditioned shopping malls and night bus rides across the country.
Call me crazy, but I also take a scarf. If you are travelling to Northern Thailand during the winter months December, January, you will thank me for this advice. It's not necessary if you are only heading to the souther Thai islands, as it's always hot down there.
I love this travel infinity scarf which has a hidden zipper pocket. Very handy when wearing on flights too, keeps you warm and you can easily slip your iPhone or passport in there.
My ultimate bet is a wind and waterproof jacket which rolls up nice and small and is a great addition to a warmer jacket.
In general, good casual attire would be a t-shirt and shorts while avoiding sleeveless shirts or singlets for the guys and short skirts and summer dresses and tops that don’t show off cleavage, your bum or shoulders too much, like spaghetti strap shirts for the ladies and anything that is too revealing.
Lightweight clothing is my favourite for hot climates. Opt for linen, light cotton blends or silk, as those pieces don’t take up much luggage space. Quick-dry fabrics are also great, as they mostly stay wrinkle-free in my experience.
It’s best to not bring white clothes to Thailand, as they may get dirty from the constant sweat and dust when walking around.
To keep my luggage organised, I use packing cubes, I love these ones here.
Type of Shoes to Take to Thailand
Another part of your Thailand outfit is footwear. What to wear in Thailand in terms of footwear can be boiled down to sandals, easy slip-on shoes and sneakers.
I do wear thin socks in sneakers, however in my TOMS I go barefoot and use a pair of terry insoles instead to keep feet fresh and help them breath. Get a multipack so you can change them over there if needed. Remember, Thai feet are much smaller than Western feet and it may be hard to find the right size insoles in Thailand.
After a trip to Thailand, you can throw the soles out and your shoes are still as good as new inside!
Avoid any kind of high heels and heavy hiking boots, at least as your every day walking shoes for sightseeing, or anything of that nature. Comfortable and easy is the way to go!
For sandals, just know that the pedestrian walkways around Thailand are not as developed as in Western countries. Often times, city grime may ruin your shoes, best not to opt for white or light colours. For this reason, I also shoes that you can easily wash off.
On top of that, wearing anything too bulky will surely capture more heat and cause your feet to cook from the general heat of Thailand.
Flip flops are okay, especially rubber ones like Havaianas that are easy to clean. They are also convenient for temple visits as you can take them off and slip them back on easily.
When planning a trip to visit all the incredible Thai islands and you have sensitive feet, you might want to pack some water sports shoes like these. They are pretty light and fit your luggage easily.
Water resistant shoes are not a bad idea in rain season. Or buy a spray to waterproof your current sneakers.
Please don’t walk barefoot on the streets of Thailand, you simply don’t know what’s on the streets and bringing dirt into shops or your accommodation is not very friendly and often considered offensive. I am sure you don't do that at home either!
Toiletries
Next on the packing list for Thailand are your toiletries. Be smart and bring your favourite brands for shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, etc. in travel containers and use them throughout your travels.
While you can find lots of international brands in Thailand, you may have to look around for them. And you surely don't want to spend your precious vacation time hunting down shampoo, right?
7-Eleven is your best friend for a quick shop on every second corner of literally the entire country, but they usually only sell the basics with many products containing skin-whitening ingredients, which I definitely don’t like.
That being said, if space is far too precious for you, you can choose to skip on packing toiletries and buy them right in Thailand. The best place to find international brands is in Bangkok, which is probably very convenient as most travellers fly in and out of Bangkok too. Generally, you can expect to pay more for those brands than back home.
Below are some of my favourite travel toiletry essentials.
For your Thailand essentials, I recommend taking the following:
- Reef safe sunscreen
- Deodorant
- Hand sanitiser or eco-friendly wet wipes and tissues (not all public toilets have toilet paper)
- Mosquito repellent, this one here is 100% natural DEET-free
- Lip balm, my favourite is from Aesop
- Body wash & shampoo
- Body lotion
- Tampons or DivaCup
- And some zip lock bags to keep toiletries from leaking
Tech Gear
Moving to gadgets and tech, it might be great to hear that grab and runs are not happening often in Thailand. That being said, it doesn’t mean you should bring all your latest equipment with you.
Buying an anti-theft backpack is a smart investment. You can easily use it as your carry-on as well as daypack once you arrive in Thailand.
In terms of actual tech gear, I recommend you bring an international travel adapter so you can charge your gear easily. This one here is an all in one adapter and has 4 USB ports and 1 universal AC socket, so you can essentially charge multiple devices all at once.
A power bank is something I never leave the house without. I also bring my laptop with me, lucky it’s a 13-inch MacBook Pro.
I use a VPN to watch Netflix or get around blocked websites that you usually cannot access in Thailand.
A portable WiFi hotspot, like this one from Skyroam, will help you get online anywhere you go in Thailand and beyond, in case you are travelling more than just one country.
I love my GoPro, always bring a small LED flashlight, a padlock to lock my luggage, and a waterproof case for my phone is a must-take item for any Thailand backpacking list.
What Not To Bring To Thailand
Outside of jeans and clothes that are too revealing, there are a few other things I recommend avoid bringing on your trip tp Thailand.
First, while expensive tech is a fair game, unnecessary valuables and expensive jewellery are not. I promise, most days you will not even wear it as it’s simply too hot and my skin gets sweat rashes when it’s covered with jewellery. Not fun.
The last thing you want is to over pack and fill your luggage with unnecessary things, so if you think you have packed too much, go ahead and half the load and you will be just right. You can always buy anything you forget on the ground in Thailand!
Lastly, with all the rain you might think it’s smart to bring an umbrella, but it might not be necessary as you can find cheap price umbrellas at 7-Eleven, should you really need one.
Travel First Aid Kit
Another thing I would put on your Thailand packing list is a first aid kit.
My first aid kit for Thailand contains antibiotics, Imodium, disinfectant spray, electrolytes, activated charcoal, paracetamol, motion sickness pills and a thermometer.
Last but not least, you definitely want to get travel insurance in case anything goes wrong, you are injured or ill or there is another emergency, which is unforeseeable.
Don’t Go Without Travel Insurance!
I recommend SafetyWing.com, the best travel insurance for nomads, backpackers and long-term travellers. They also cover COVID-19!
- Great value: Starting at only $42 per 4 weeks for worldwide travel medical coverage
- Available for purchase in 180 countries and can be purchased when already travelling with no cap on the duration of travel.
- Extremely flexible: Choose your start date and your insurance automatically extends every 28 days like a subscription until you pick an end-date. No large upfront payments for month or year-long trips!
- Home country visits are covered: For every 90 days, you have medical coverage for 30 days in your home country if something happens while visiting family and friends.
- Young children included: 1 young child per adult, up to 2 per family, age between 14 days and 10 years old, can be included without added cost.
My Ultimate Packing List for 1 week in Thailand
And here’s the exact packing list for my last trip to Thailand:
- 6x light-weight t-shirts
- 2x fancy shirts for the evenings
- 1x warm fleece (or similar) jacket for wearing on the plane, air-con busses and shopping malls
- 7x pair of short socks
- 7x underwear
- 1x pair of long light-weight pants
- 3x pairs of short pants
- 2x flowy dress
- 2 or 3x pair of bikini
- 1x microfiber travel towel
- 1x sarong for the beach and visiting temples
- 1x pairs of sneakers
- 1x slip-on shoes like TOMS
- 1x pair of Havaianas/flip flops
- 1x light rain/windproof jacket that rolls up easily (when visiting Northern Thailand)
No matter if you travel for one or for three weeks to Thailand, I try and not pack any more and rather take advantage of their cheap and efficient laundry services which are offered everywhere in Thailand.
One thing to note though is, that I wouldn’t bring all your new or expensive clothing on your Southeast Asia trip, because as I said, you will sweat a lot, the streets are not as clean as back home and yes, the laundry can also destroy your clothes sometimes (hasn't personally happened to me though!), so better safe then sorry!
Please note, this post may contain affiliate links, which means that – at absolutely no cost to you – we earn a small commission on sales generated through this website. We only recommend sites we actually use and thank you for your support!
