Southeast Asia. Known for its hot, humid climate. The land of flip-flops and hippie pants.
Sounds like a pretty easy part of the world to pack for, right?
Well, yes and no. It's true that packing for my 7-week trip was not as difficult as the dual-climate trip I had to pack for around the same time last year, but it also wasn't as easy a throwing some tank tops and flip flops in a bag, either.
Here's why this trip was still tricky:
- I was going to London and Hong Kong (and northern Vietnam) before heading to the hot, steamy part of Asia — meaning I still needed things like pants, a heavier jacket, and shoes other than flip-flops.
- Southeast Asia, hot as it is, is home to more conservative cultures — meaning short shorts and tank tops are actually inappropriate in many cases. I therefore had to make sure I had longer, knee-length pieces in my bag, as well as t-shirts I could layer for visiting temples and other religious sites (because many times throwing a scarf around your shoulders won't cut it).
- I was spending a week volunteering at an elephant park in Thailand — meaning I needed clothes that could get ruined, as well as sturdy, closed-toed shoes.
- I knew that once I got to the hotter destinations, I would be sweating A LOT — meaning I needed to bring a few extra things so I didn't have to worry about doing laundry every 2 or 3 days.
Here's how I dealt with these challenges:
- I found some soft, thin pants that would work in all sorts of weather conditions, and packed a pair of TOMs for the plane and London.
- I purchased a down jacket at home for London and Hong Kong, which compressed into a small pouch for the rest of the trip.
- I bought a pair of Keen Whisper sandals, which have a closed-toe, but also work as walking sandals. This way I didn't have to bring a pair of sneakers just for the elephant park.
- I also bought 2 extra pairs of shorts and 2 tank tops at a market right before going to the elephant park, which I wore for the dirtier tasks throughout the week, and then donated to the park afterwards.
In the end, here's a look at what exactly went into my Kelty Redwing 44-liter backpack:
Clothing:
- 5 T-shirts
- 4 tank tops
- 2 dresses (one knee-length, one maxi)
- 2 skirts (one knee-length, one maxi)
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 2 pairs of thin pants
- 1 pair of leggings
- 1 layering shirt
- 1 cropped sweater
- 1 dressier shirt
- 1 zip-up hoodie
- 1 rain jacket
- 1 compressible down coat
- 2 pairs of socks
- 10 underwear (including my favorite ExOfficio quick-dry bikini briefs)
- 3 bras
- 2 swim suits (one 1-piece, one 2-piece)
Shoes:
- 1 pair of Keen Whisper hiking sandals
- 2 pairs of flip flops (one Old Navy pair, one sturdier Nike pair)
- 1 pair of TOMs
Other:
- 1 microfiber towel
- 1 silk sleep sheet
- Shampoo and other toiletries (including tampons, which are almost impossible to find in this part of the world)
- First aid kit (with band-aids, OFF! mosquito repellant wipes, and After Bite)
- Travel hair dryer (this dual-voltage one is great!)
This may seem like a lot to fit into a 44L bag, but I assure you that my Kelty is quite spacious and has lots of useful pockets! (Check out the bag here!) A backpack is ideal for Southeast Asia since it's much easier to carry around than rolling luggage in this part of the world.
In my Pacsafe Slingsafe
I took my trusty Pacsafe backpack for this trip, since it's already quite dirty and couldn't get any worse on buses or tuk-tuks in Asia. It's also slash-proof and can be locked around bike baskets and chairs, making me feel safer traveling with it. This bag, along with my purse, is with me at all times on travel days.
Inside:
- My 11-inch Macbook Air
- Kindle Paperwhite
- Electronics chargers, extra batteries/SD cards, etc.
- Belkin power strip/surge protector
- Skross travel adapter
- A small make-up bag (with things like my toothbrush, jewelry, etc.)
- My glasses and extra contacts
- A travel umbrella
- Inflatable neck pillow
- A scarf (which can double as a blanket)
- A back-up camera (because I have had my main camera die on my before on a big trip!)
In my purse
I bought a new purse for this trip — an Overland Equipment Donner bag. It's roomy, yet has a lot of pockets and space for a water bottle or two on the sides. It's super practical and useful for a traveler like me. (This sadly isn't sold anymore, but if you're looking for a similar one, this Travelon Bucket Bag is good!)
In my purse (on travel days):
- Wallet
- Passport
- My Olympus PEN camera and extra lens
- Extra camera battery and lens cleaner
- GoPro video camera
- Small zippered pouch with Dramamine, chapstick, Advil, etc.
- Tiny hair brush with attached mirror
- Tissues (essential for using any public toilets in Asia)
- Small bottle of hand sanitizer
So how did I do?
As a blogger, there's some stuff that I just can't leave at home — like my computer, camera gear, etc.
On this trip, however, I will admit that I could have survived with less clothing than I took. I could have left a skirt and a pair of pants at home. I could have just brought 1 swim suit, as I only ended up spending a week at the beach. And I could have cut the number of shirts I took in half. If not for the time in London and Hong Kong, I wouldn't have needed the down jacket, the TOMs, an umbrella, or my hair dryer, either.
I could have brought the bare minimum and just gone shopping at markets along the way. In this part of the world, it's incredibly easy to accumulate things. Clothing is cheap at every market, and since it's cheap you can get rid of it along the way when you get tired of it.
And speaking of cheap clothing at markets… I added multiple tank tops and t-shirts to my bag in Cambodia, along with a pair of “hippie” pants and 2 tailored dresses in Vietnam… not to mention other gifts/souvenirs I bought! I ended up buying a larger secondary backpack in Bangkok, as my main bag was mostly full when I left home, and my Pacsafe isn't very roomy, either. Next time: less shopping!
What was I glad to have?
In the end, I'm REALLY glad I brought those thin pants, zip-up hoodie, and socks. It got quite chilly in northern Vietnam and downright cold in northern Thailand at night.
I was also really happy that I brought a silk sleep sheet. I only used it once — on an overnight train in Vietnam — but it was an instance where everyone else in my train car was jealous of me. If I had stayed in more hostels, I'm sure I would have gotten even more use out of it. It also takes up virtually no room, so it's a no brainer to leave on my packing list.
I also really loved my Kelty Redwing 44-liter backpack – this was the first time I used this smaller backpack, and it honestly was perfect for traveling in this part of the world. In Southeast Asia, you're often lugging your bag in and out of all sorts of vehicles, from buses to vans to songthaews to tuk-tuks. Having something small and compact is ideal, and this is one part of the world I would almost always recommend taking a backpack as opposed to rolling luggage.
And, even though it’s not a tangible item, I also always recommend packing a good travel insurance policy! That way everything from lost luggage to a bad accident is covered – because you just never know! I recommend World Nomads for basic (and really affordable) travel insurance.
(And, if you're concerned about keeping tech and valuables safe while on a trip like this, check out the Pacsafe portable safe – I love this thing!)
What would your must-packs for Southeast Asia include (or not include)?
*Note: There are affiliate links in this post, meaning that if you click on an Amazon link and buy anything, I get a small percentage. It doesn't cost you any more, but contributes a little bit to my travel fund!
LET'S PIN IT!
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Hiya Amanda, do you have any sustainable inspired backpack/vegan leather choices to suggest?
Thank you so much for what you are doing.
Dana.
Ooo good question! I don’t know of any vegan leather options off the top of my head, but Pacsafe (which I recommend all the time) has a whole line of bags made from recycled material, which is pretty cool.
Hi Amanda!
I really enjoy your recommendations of the types of bags you use, but do you have any suggestions for more economic bags? less than $100? Or general good brands to look for? I am looking for a 40L backpack to use on my trip to Thailand this summer, and for general hiking/camping adventures.
Thanks!
Hey Bree! With backpacking bags, generally you do get what you pay for, so if it’s something you plan to use for a long time, it’s worth investing a little more! I personally love my Osprey bags, and also liked the Kelty Redwing backpack I used to backpack around Southeast Asia and Europe several years ago. It looks like the newer Kelty Women’s Redwing 40 is only about $75 on Amazon.
Wow thank you! I am going through a dilemma at the moment trying to buy a bag for my next trip.
I once backpacked for just 40 days with a 75lt bag practically bringing a change of clothes for each day (just in case) worst idea of my life! It was huge, bulky and so heavy since I over packed…don’t get me wrong its an amazing bag it has now been to 7 festivals with me carrying all the camping gear..just way to big for a person wanting to traveling in comfort.
Now I will be traveling Asia for 6 months I want to have the exact right amount of things, the only issue being how big does my bag need to be to fit the bare essentials into. If its too small I will have nothing..but I don’t want one too big either. Its so much easier seeing just how much you fit into you bag – LOADS so it makes me really confident going out and purchasing a 40lt bag now.
🙂
Glad that I could help! The good thing about traveling in Asia is that it’s usually pretty warm – and summer clothes take up way less room in a bag than winter clothes do!
This was a great post to compare my own packing list to! I was wondering where you spent your week volunteering with elephants? I’ve been thinking about doing the same when I go to Thailand in a few weeks and would love to hear some suggestions from others!
I volunteered at Elephant Nature Park, which I can highly recommend. I wrote about the experience here: https://www.dangerous-business.com/2014/05/volunteering-elephant-nature-park-whats-like/
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Hi Amanda, I found your post useful and just wanted to let you know that. Thanks very much!
So glad you found it helpful, Kelsey!
Hi! Great post. I am travelling to southeast asia, Bali to be specific in July and was wondering, did you check your larger backpack, and then take a smaller one and a purse as carry on? I am wondering which is the best to do for my own trip!
Yup, I checked my larger backpack and then had a very small backpack and purse as carry-ons. It’s the easiest option, unless you can pack in a small enough bag to carry everything on.
Were you able to use your 44 liter backpack as a carry-on onto the plane or did you have to check it? Thanks!
It was quite full, and so I’m pretty sure it was too big to be a carry-on. Plus, I usually have a smaller backpack with my laptop and camera and such, too, so I always check my main backpack.
Hi Amanda,
Do you have any special advice for packing electronics (tablet, camera, etc)? Would you recommend anythi more than a standard case or perhaps does the humidity prompt extra protection ?
Thanks,
Joe
No extra protection necessary – just be very aware of cameras, especially if you’re going from the outdoors into air-conditioned buildings frequently. Keeping them in a case or bag should be fine – I didn’t have any trouble with my electronics in Asia!
Hi there, I am travelling Southeast Asia next year for 3 months and was just wondering what you think for bedding for the whole trip? I see you took a silk liner, would that be enough if you wore staying in dorms and hostels? Would you need a sleeping bag?
I am also wanting to take a GoPro and the fact it could either get lost or stolen how do you recommended saving your photos along the way?
Thanks 🙂
Hey Becky! You probably won’t need a sleeping bag. Most hostels are fine and will provide you with bedding. But the silk liner might come in handy a few times! I wouldn’t suggest taking any more than that, though.
As for backing up your photos, that’s a tough one! As a blogger, I always travel with a computer. Meaning I take an external hard drive with me and back up my photos onto it periodically. If you won’t have a computer… maybe take multiple memory cards? Swap them out every couple of weeks, and keep the used ones separate from your GoPro, just in case?
Hi! Great post. I’m just wondering how you managed having the two packs on a daily basis (one large and one small)? How did you carry both at once/did the large one usually stay at the hostels during the day?
You do what’s called a “double turtle” – wear the big pack on your back, and the smaller daypack on your front (basically wearing it backwards). But yes, my larger pack always stays at my hostel/hotel when I’m in one place. I only have to carry everything on travel days!
Hey, I’m loving your packing ideas! Everything looks so organised. I’ve seen a lot of posts about backpacks… Most say the smaller the better. Yours was 44litre. Twice I’ve been advised on a 60litre pack, but it seems way too big. In your opinion, for a trips for a few weeks, would 35litre be sufficient?
Thanks.
It all depends on your and your personal preferences, Carina! I have a 60L backpack, too, and that was just fine for trips of a couple month. But I like my smaller one, too, since it’s usually much lighter. You could probably get away with taking a 35L pack on a plane as a carry-on, which would be handy.
Hi I am heading to South East Asia in June. Love your packing ideas and you went a lot longer than what I am planning (2 weeks) Just wondering what your bags weighed? We have an in country limit of 33 pounds. What was your carry on The Backpack & Purse? Did you feel safe with holding your purse and Donner bag?
Thanks!
My big backpack (which I would check on flights) weighed somewhere between 12 and 15 kg, depending on how full it was. That translates to 26-30 pounds. And that was enough for 6+ weeks, so you shouldn’t have a problem! (And I’ve actually used that same backpack for 3 months in Europe at a similar weight.)
As for carry-on bags, it depended on the airline. On some, you can only have one carry-on, so I would have to stuff my purse into my smaller backpack. But yes, my purse and small backpack were usually my carry-ons. And yes, I always felt safe with all my stuff on.
When it comes to purses especially, I always suggest something made of study material with a cross-body strap. I’ve never had any issues traveling with a bag like this!