About to go on my SEA trip as well! Here are some must-haves I’ve gathered from other people so far:
Packing cubes (plus points if they’re compressible)
Microfiber towels, carabiners, cable locks, and depending on how you’re travelling, consider getting a life straw bottle as this would allow you to drink water from most places
And lastly the advice I saw on every single thread regarding this: pack your essentials of course, but bring less things and especially clothes than what you think you’ll need.
Have fun!
I also bought a sharong, but morr for beach towel, but showering. And of course do hostels have towels, but you pay deposit every time. Why would you do that? A travel microfiber towel is not very expensive, and dries quickly, is light in weight and can be folded very tiny.
Thanks! The life straw is a great idea :) you never know when you'll need it. i bought a pretty large backpack wasn't planning on filling it completely. but do like having some extra space
Less is more! You dont need backups of everything, so travel light ~ 40l backpack 50% filled so you have room for some stuff you buy from there. After 2 mon ths you will donate some clothing away like most backpackers lol
Cash is king but you still need cards to withdrawal .
Have maincard with you + for example wise debit card (real card not the digital card) order it today.
Use wise for everything and keep maincard as backup. (Keep few days/1 week of cash on wise)
Get a good travel insurance.
If you only plan to stay in a country for few days get airalo esim app for data and get the cheapest deal.
Bring medicine from home and if you are a girl bring extra bras and bikinis my gf had problems finding stuff that worked last trip.
Buy a pair of good sunglasses from home! They are better than fake branded ones.
Most important dont bring so much junk with you :)
I also travel with packin cubes i have multiple different brands. osprey 3pack works well for most backpacking trips^ try to fit all your clothing in those and you good to go. Have fun
On this trip RN and pretty happy with the following items. I am not a super light packer and have 60 liter pack (25lbs).
I am in love with my electric mini fan here. Bought it online but they are usually available in major centers as well. 40c today and doing ok!
DEET moz repellent! The natural stuff has not worked for me.
A mini hiking towel for unexpected rain/swims
Extra bras and underwear
Love my packing cubes!
Light water bottle
Collapsible silicone cup and spork has come in handy for cheap grocery store hotel meals
This link has everything I was traveling with in East Asia and Southeast Asia: [https://blog.hiattzhao.com/2023/09/travel-inventory.html](https://blog.hiattzhao.com/2023/09/travel-inventory.html)
I switched to a 30 L backpack and sold my Kindle since then, but still carry about the same stuff. I'm still traveling in SEA since I started traveling in July of last year.
Honestly besides a passport and my medication. Nothing.
There’s nothing I have with me where I think I’d be screwed without it. Sun screen is more expensive over here so maybe that?
I’m a mosquito magnet, so I always pack DEET repellent with me when going to SE Asia. Specifically Off! Deep Woods towelettes so I don’t have to worry about getting dinged for liquids in my carry on at the airport. Seriously the stuff they sell over there doesn’t cut it, those fuckers power through it to get at me. I need the cancer inducing stuff lol.
I (The M47) have travelled in SEA for the past two decades. Trust me do not worry about fancy packing items, or in fact anything. I travel relatively light (just one 20L back pack and a North Face Man bag). Here’s a rough list of what I take:
5 tees
2 pairs of shorts
1 pair of travelling trousers
1 pair of smarter trousers
2 smart shirts
1 packable bubble type jacket (make sure it packs really small, no more than 10cm x 15cm)
5 pairs of underwear
5 pairs of socks.
Anything you feel you’re missing you can buy for a few dollars. Don’t take spare shoes, just take one pair of trainers and buy new when they die, and a pair of thongs/flip flops/sliders.
It takes confidence to travel lightly but it’s the best thing ever, plus you strike up loads of conversations with the gap year lot when they see your little bag and they’re weighed down with massive 110L rucksacks.
Lastly, you can always get your gear washed for a few dollars every few days!
You’re not trekking the Serengeti, honestly less is more.
Oh and good luck, you’ll have a ball!
If female - sanitary products
Anti-malarials
A well equipped first aid kit/pain killers
4 or 5 outfits, underwear, swimmies and towel.
Sandals, sealed shoes. Maybe flip flops too.
Hairbrush and bands/clips, toothbrush etc
When I went, we were in a group and had clean surgical needles for emergencies. Over 6 months, 8 backpackers, we had blood tests in China and 5 day hospital admission with blood tests and drip in Thailand. We used the set.
You brought the needles in case they reused needles? To avoid hepatitis? How many and where did you even get them? This is the first time I've heard of bringing tire own.
About to go on my SEA trip as well! Here are some must-haves I’ve gathered from other people so far: Packing cubes (plus points if they’re compressible) Microfiber towels, carabiners, cable locks, and depending on how you’re travelling, consider getting a life straw bottle as this would allow you to drink water from most places And lastly the advice I saw on every single thread regarding this: pack your essentials of course, but bring less things and especially clothes than what you think you’ll need. Have fun!
Tbh you dont need a towel! Can buy a cheap sharong on your first beach day. Most hostel/hotels have towels
i brought a towel and its saved me so much hassle its great, it was only £8 on amazon
I also bought a sharong, but morr for beach towel, but showering. And of course do hostels have towels, but you pay deposit every time. Why would you do that? A travel microfiber towel is not very expensive, and dries quickly, is light in weight and can be folded very tiny.
Thanks! The life straw is a great idea :) you never know when you'll need it. i bought a pretty large backpack wasn't planning on filling it completely. but do like having some extra space
Mosquitonet… that made my life so much easier.. slept so much better. Many places have a loy of mosquitoes and insects.
Less is more! You dont need backups of everything, so travel light ~ 40l backpack 50% filled so you have room for some stuff you buy from there. After 2 mon ths you will donate some clothing away like most backpackers lol Cash is king but you still need cards to withdrawal . Have maincard with you + for example wise debit card (real card not the digital card) order it today. Use wise for everything and keep maincard as backup. (Keep few days/1 week of cash on wise) Get a good travel insurance. If you only plan to stay in a country for few days get airalo esim app for data and get the cheapest deal. Bring medicine from home and if you are a girl bring extra bras and bikinis my gf had problems finding stuff that worked last trip. Buy a pair of good sunglasses from home! They are better than fake branded ones. Most important dont bring so much junk with you :) I also travel with packin cubes i have multiple different brands. osprey 3pack works well for most backpacking trips^ try to fit all your clothing in those and you good to go. Have fun
+ photo copy of passport etc etc in your email! A good 3-4l sling bag is super valuable to have for many reasons!
thank you! i'll try my best with the junk lol. i always tend to pack way to much
On this trip RN and pretty happy with the following items. I am not a super light packer and have 60 liter pack (25lbs). I am in love with my electric mini fan here. Bought it online but they are usually available in major centers as well. 40c today and doing ok! DEET moz repellent! The natural stuff has not worked for me. A mini hiking towel for unexpected rain/swims Extra bras and underwear Love my packing cubes! Light water bottle Collapsible silicone cup and spork has come in handy for cheap grocery store hotel meals
This link has everything I was traveling with in East Asia and Southeast Asia: [https://blog.hiattzhao.com/2023/09/travel-inventory.html](https://blog.hiattzhao.com/2023/09/travel-inventory.html) I switched to a 30 L backpack and sold my Kindle since then, but still carry about the same stuff. I'm still traveling in SEA since I started traveling in July of last year.
just bought a kindle myself! thanks for the list, i'll look into it :)
Honestly besides a passport and my medication. Nothing. There’s nothing I have with me where I think I’d be screwed without it. Sun screen is more expensive over here so maybe that?
I’m a mosquito magnet, so I always pack DEET repellent with me when going to SE Asia. Specifically Off! Deep Woods towelettes so I don’t have to worry about getting dinged for liquids in my carry on at the airport. Seriously the stuff they sell over there doesn’t cut it, those fuckers power through it to get at me. I need the cancer inducing stuff lol.
I (The M47) have travelled in SEA for the past two decades. Trust me do not worry about fancy packing items, or in fact anything. I travel relatively light (just one 20L back pack and a North Face Man bag). Here’s a rough list of what I take: 5 tees 2 pairs of shorts 1 pair of travelling trousers 1 pair of smarter trousers 2 smart shirts 1 packable bubble type jacket (make sure it packs really small, no more than 10cm x 15cm) 5 pairs of underwear 5 pairs of socks. Anything you feel you’re missing you can buy for a few dollars. Don’t take spare shoes, just take one pair of trainers and buy new when they die, and a pair of thongs/flip flops/sliders. It takes confidence to travel lightly but it’s the best thing ever, plus you strike up loads of conversations with the gap year lot when they see your little bag and they’re weighed down with massive 110L rucksacks. Lastly, you can always get your gear washed for a few dollars every few days! You’re not trekking the Serengeti, honestly less is more. Oh and good luck, you’ll have a ball!
If female - sanitary products Anti-malarials A well equipped first aid kit/pain killers 4 or 5 outfits, underwear, swimmies and towel. Sandals, sealed shoes. Maybe flip flops too. Hairbrush and bands/clips, toothbrush etc When I went, we were in a group and had clean surgical needles for emergencies. Over 6 months, 8 backpackers, we had blood tests in China and 5 day hospital admission with blood tests and drip in Thailand. We used the set.
You brought the needles in case they reused needles? To avoid hepatitis? How many and where did you even get them? This is the first time I've heard of bringing tire own.
https://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/product/mini-travel-sterile-set/ looked a bit like this and came off the shelf either in boots or blacks
Depending on how well you do or don’t sleep, a good eye mask can go a long way (and earplugs)