The Ultimate Thailand Packing List

This is the only Thailand packing list you will ever need. Whether you are male or female, need a packing list for Thailand in June or December, you’re gone for a week or a month, this list has you covered.

Thailand has so many different climates. From Bangkok to the Thai islands and the northern jungles, this country is a sought after travel destination by backpackers everywhere. Living out of a backpack is a lot easier than you might think, so don’t you worry! Follow these tips and abide by this Thailand packing list. You’ll be on your way to an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Now, you may be asking yourself – What do I need to take to Thailand? Well my friend, here’s your answer. These are ALL things things you need for Thailand. From travel insurance to tooth floss, you will have everything you could possibly need to bring with you.

You might be wondering why this list is so different from the bajillion other Thailand packing lists you can find online. Well let me tell you, I made a lot of mistakes the first time I backpacked Thailand, and you’re about to learn from them. So get some Ariana Grande blasting, pour yourself a glass of wine, and let’s get you prepared for a damn good trip. 

How To Pack For Thailand

When I backpacked Thailand for the first time, I didn’t know how much overpacking would hurt me in the long run. It goes without saying that carrying 50 pounds for several hours each travel day without a break from the Thailand heat is not fun. I was pretty tempted to just dump half of my belongings at one point.

If you take just one thing from this lengthy introduction to my Thailand packing list, it is to pack as light as possible. Thailand has everything you will need in emergencies, whether it’s toiletries, clothing, shoes, or electronics. Bonus: Thailand is a very cheap country!

The great thing is that most of the items on this Thailand packing list are available on Amazon (a lot of them are on Amazon Prime too!), meaning you don’t need to run around and buy everything last minute. I have added some links to the items I love to travel with below for you to check out and take with you on your trip! 

What To Pack For Thailand – 8 Essentials

These are the eight essential items to add to your Thailand packing list. While they aren’t all exactly “packable”, they serve as a great list of things to make sure you have with you. I seriously would not have even thought of needing some of these in a million years until I backpacked Thailand. 

1. A Good Travel Backpack

Okay, this one might have been a little bit obvious. When you are looking at backpacks for traveling Thailand, trust me when I tell you that a 50L backpack is more than enough for anything under 3 months. I made the mistake of filling 75L backpack the first time I went to Thailand, and ended up way overpacking.

Check out my favorite backpack for traveling Thailand!

2. Quality Flip Flops

Many places require you to remove your shoes when you enter them, such as family owned stores, homes, some restaurants, pharmacies, and most certainly temples.

Do yourself a favor and grab the best shoes for Thailand: pair of good quality flip flops. Your feet will thank you.

3. A Day Bag

To carry around your day to day stuff, pick up a small and durable bag like this one. I have brought this to Thailand before, and it is the perfect size to carry all of your belongings while exploring the country. It also works great as a carry on. Double whammy!

Click here to read my full review on this awesome bag, or click here to check it out on Amazon!

4. A Reusable Water Bottle

Bring a reusable water bottle with you when you travel – it is great for airports and when you’re in Thailand you can fill it up for next to nothing.

I love bringing this reusable water bottle along with me, it fits perfectly in the day bag above and has a ton of fun colors to choose from!

Just make sure you are getting it filled using filtered water – you can’t drink the water in Thailand!

5. Mini LED Flashlight

Gone are the days that you will have your iPhone flashlight on you every waking minute. You’re in Thailand! Invest in a small and handy LED flashlight that can attach to a belt loop or live in your pocket.

While you are fumbling around for your hotel key on Koh Tao while the mosquitoes attack, you’ll have a way better time. Not that I am speaking from experience or anything…

6. Waterproof Phone Pack

You will seriously need one of these. They keep your phone, money, wallet, passport, and other valuables safe and sound around your neck. Waterproof phone packs are perfect for the beach, and a lifesaver when Songkran comes around and you’re getting water thrown at you by the bucket full. 

For extra safety (especially if you’re in a tuk tuk), wear it under your shirt so people can’t see what you have in it.

7. Electrolyte Packs

Newsflash, Thailand is a hot country. You will dehydrate FAST. It definitely took me awhile to get used to it. Water won’t do enough to rehydrate you, especially when you’re in the sun!

Grab some electrolyte powder to throw in your reusable water bottle while you explore the country. Your body will thank you.

8. Travel Insurance

Thailand is a huge country, and a lot could go wrong, from getting food poisoning to a bad jellyfish sting while snorkelling. Make sure you’re protected for whatever comes your way.

Get a quote from World Nomads and travel Thailand knowing you’re covered if anything happens to you.I can’t recommend them enough!

Electronics To Bring To Thailand

You’re going to want to remember this trip, so make sure you add these items to your Thailand packing list. If you don’t have them yet, consider grabbing them before you go!

I like to be extra careful by backing up the photos and videos I take each evening before bed. I will usually carry an external hard drive, use my laptop, or throw them into the cloud. When I am out and about exploring Thailand, I like to lock my electronics in my hotel safe so I am not so worried about bringing them!

• Laptop and Laptop Charger
• Headphones – Don’t forget a pair of headphones for the flight! If you have an iPhone 7 like me, grab yourself a good quality pair so you can enjoy some inflight entertainment.
• HDMI Cable – For the nights you want to stay in and binge watch Friends. It happens.
• Tablet – In-flight movies for the win! Remember to download some Netflix movies for your flight. I just travel with an Amazon Fire tablet, it is only $99 and perfect for flying!
• Portable Battery Pack – This will be a lifesaver when you realize you’re not going back to the hotel for hours. This is my favorite one from Anker!
• Cell Phone and Charger – Make sure you unlock your cell phone before you leave so you can pick up a SIM card when you arrive.
• Camera and Camera Cables – When an iPhone photo just won’t cut it, kick things up a notch.
• GoPro, Accessories, Charger – Perfect for underwater snorkelling videos and fun beach videos where you might want to avoid bringing a DSLR camera. 
• International Travel Converter – Many places have European and North American style plugins, but be ready to put this to good use. 
• Amazon Fire TV – This bad boy is super cheap and amazing for those nights you want to watch some good TV. Just hook it up to the hotel WiFi and you’re good to go!

What To Wear In Thailand

Remember that you’re backpacking Thailand, so make sure comfort comes first. You will find yourself traveling often, which means carrying your bag around with you sometimes for a long portion of your day. That being said, let’s make sure you get some good OOTDs for the ‘gram.

Make sure you have these items on your Thailand packing list and remember: DO NOT overpack. I made this mistake once, and carrying a 50lb bag around for hours every couple days is not a fun time. Almost anywhere you go in Thailand will offer laundry services for super cheap, so utilize that!

Men’s Thailand Packing List: Clothing

Keep your colors and patterns as simple as possible so it is easier to mix and match your styles while you are in Thailand! 

• 3-4 T-shirts
• 1 light long sleeve shirt – You will need to have your shoulders covered to enter the temples.
• 2 tank tops
• 1 pair of regular shorts
• 2 pairs of swimming shorts – If you have 2 beach days in a row, you can let one pair dry.
• 1 pair of loose pants or jeans – Again, to enter the temples your knees should be covered. Also, you don’t want to dine somewhere fancy in board shorts.
• 5 pairs of underwear
• 4 pairs of socks – You’ll be in flip flops or sandals most of the time anyways
• 1 hat – The sun in Thailand can be ruthless, I added a couple hats to my Thailand packing list to be safe.
• A travel towel – Perfect for impromptu beach days. Get this travel towel, it’s quick drying and microfibre so you don’t end up lugging a wet one around with you.
• Sunglasses – For some reason, I ALWAYS forget these when I skim over my Thailand packing list. If you do forget sunglasses, they sell them everywhere so you should be fine.
• Light rain jacket – The rain comes and goes within minutes. Bring a packable waterproof jacket with you to be safe, especially during monsoon season.
• Sneakers or hiking shoes – The terrain can be pretty difficult on your feet especially in Northern Thailand. Bring a pair of shoes that your feel will appreciate.

Women’s Thailand Packing List: Clothing

Remember to pack for comfort first. Aim to stick to basic colors and patterns so it is easier to style yourself while you are in Thailand. 

• 3 pairs of shorts – Bring some board shorts and some comfortable ones.
• 2 bathing suits – one pieces, mix and match bikinis, you name it. Go wild.
• 1 long sleeve shirt – Same as men, you are expected to cover your shoulders when you enter a temple.
• 2 T-shirts
• 3 tank tops – I thought these ones were so cute for Thailand
• 5 pairs of underwear
• 2 bras, one regular and one sport – You will probably end up hiking.
• A sun hat – Fashionable and functional. Win! 
• 1 light rain jacket – Be ready for the rain, even if it isn’t monsoon season. It comes fast.
• Jeans or comfortable pants – You need to have your knees covered to enter a temple.
• Sunglasses – Always the item I forget, this link comes with 2 pairs to be extra safe.
• Toms or slip ons – Incase you don’t want to stick to flip flops the whole trip. Choose something easy to remove when you enter certain buildings.
• Runners or hiking shoes – Terrain can be tough on your feet, but three pairs of shoes can be annoying to carry around. Choose two pairs of shoes to add to your Thailand packing list. You can always pick up a cheap pair of flip flops in Thailand if you change your mind.

Toiletries To Add To Your Thailand Packing List

I love travel toiletries, they are so cute! If you want to bring your personal ones from home, grab some of these travel bottles from Amazon to fill up and add to your Thailand packing list!

You don’t need to bring large amounts of your toiletries, you will find 7-11 and family marts everywhere in Thailand. They will have just about any essential items you might forget to pack or run out of.

Unisex

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash or soap
• Travel Wet Wipes – These are a necessity. Trust me.
• Lip Balm – Also super important. My lips always dry out in Thailand for some reason!
• Travel toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Tooth floss
• Nail clippers, tweezers
• Medical Kit – Add gravol, Tylenol, Bandages, Gauze, etc.
• Sexual Safety Kit – First of all, don’t judge me on this one. Safety is important. Second, it is cheap but elegant, and has everything you might have not known you needed. Always pack one! 
• Travel Moisturizer and aloe vera – Burns aren’t fun.
• Sunscreen and bug spray – Sunscreen often contains bleaching agents in Southeast Asia, as lighter skin is considered an image of beauty. Bug spray protects against airborne illnesses such as malaria while you are in Thailand. I found that the standard bug spray in North America didn’t work very well in Thailand. Pack this stuff and you will have a way better time. 

Men’s Toiletries

• Razors
• Shaving cream
• Hair gel or pomade
• Cologne

Women’s Toiletries

• Hair products
• Tampons or pads
• Makeup – Foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow, powder, and a damn good setting spray so you don’t sweat everything off.
• Razors
• Shaving cream
• Perfume or body mist

Other Thailand Packing List Items

I have reserved this section for all of those little things you might overlook while getting your stuff together and getting your itinerary figured out. Make sure you have these things good to go before you head to the airport! 

• House keys – Don’t get locked out when you get home from your trip. Keep them in one spot like a specific pocket of your carry on, and don’t move them until you’re back! 
• Print outs of ID and passport – These come in handy when renting a motorbike or scooter, or to have as a backup! 
• Vaccinations – Make sure you have the shots and vaccinations you need before you head to Thailand. Click here to learn more about what vaccinations you need before you go
• Print outs of itinerary – Print it out twice, incase you lose it while you are exploring the country.
• Luggage Tags – Don’t lose your backpack while you are traveling to Thailand. Make sure everyone knows it is your’s! 

If you’re heading to a few countries during your Southeast Asia tour, be sure to check out my friend Nina’s Southeast Asia packing list. She has spent 4 years living there, so I am sure she can be of assistance for the whole region! 

There you have it, the ultimate Thailand packing list.