Backpacking Essentials | Packing List For Southeast Asia

Backpacking across Southeast Asia is pretty popular amongst the backpacking community!

Why? It’s cheap, perfect for your tiny budget, ideal for partying and meeting friends along the way! You only have to add in a few bonuses such as food, a tropical climate and breathtaking scenery to want to book your flight!

When it comes to packing your backpack for the trip of a lifetime, it can be a mission. Especially if this is your first backpacking trip to Southeast Asia!

I thought I’d help you guys prepare for your big trip by making an easy packing list for Southeast Asia including all the packing essentials for Asia.

What to take backpacking Southeast Asia? In this post, you’ll find different sections that should cover all your Asia travel list essentials.

Medical Supplies & Travel Insurance | Backpacking Southeast Asia

Backpacking Packing List Asia

After being in Bali for so long everybody seems to know what a “Bali Belly” is. We’ve all been there, struggling with a dodgy stomach and running for that toilet that suddenly seems to be super far! Between the toilet marathon and the flu caused by a pretty powerful A/C there is a high chance that you’ll get sick at some point.

You shouldn’t have to tiptoe around what you eat because you have a big adventure planned for the day. Travelan helps you to enjoy all your experiences while traveling – including the food. Travelan is a packing essential, especially while traveling in Southeast Asia, as you can avoid the expected and unexpected stomach issues that come with the territory. You can take one capsule before your meal and let Travelan do the rest.

Make sure you bring a first aid kit that includes tablets for headaches and stomach troubles.

Of course, if you ask me, I’m not always prepared for the worst but it can be quite easy to find a pharmacy with the medical supplies you might need abroad.

If you’re about to board a plane or an overnight bus with a dodgy stomach you might not have the time to run to the pharmacy!

I met many people who hurt themselves while they’re abroad and of course, you could be luckier than them or than me! We can’t prevent everything though!

What if you break your tooth, if you get a naughty bladder infection or if you crash your scooter? It can be quite hard to avoid infections in Asia. A minor cut can become pretty nasty quickly!

To avoid any problems, you should consider getting travel insurance! You can find more information about travel insurance here or check out Safety Wings (perfect for long-term travelers).

Fashionable Travel Clothes | Southeast Asia Packing List

Packing List for Backpacking Southeast Asia

Of course, you don’t have to be fashionable while you’re abroad and you will likely notice a certain trend in Asia!

Do you have comfortable clothes for traveling to Asia? Tank tops, elephant pants, and fluffy clothing seem to be pretty popular amongst backpackers!

Good news – you can always shop for a new travel wardrobe in Southeast Asia knowing that many other people will also buy some of these trendy comfy clothes.

You should also pack comfortable travel clothing prior to your trip! I recently found Shaka Life which is a pretty unique, original and colorful brand. They stand for friendship, peace, compassion and solidarity that suits perfectly for a beach, ocean vibes kind of traveler. If you’re looking for clothes for backpacking Southeast Asia, Shaka Life would be an excellent option!

I love their simple yet fun designs for both women and men!

You should definitely check out their unique collection which is also affordable!

Accessories to Survive the Tropical Weather in Southeast Asia | Essentials for Backpacking Asia

Southeast Asia Checklist

Grab your straw hat (which Shaka Life has), your sarong, your sunnies and put a bit of sunscreen on and you should be ready to hit the best beaches in Southeast Asia!

Let’s talk about what to pack for Southeast Asia. You know you want to bring all the essential backpack supplies for your upcoming trip!

Here’s a quick minimalist list of packing essentials in Asia!

(These links could bring you to Amazon)

Sunglasses
Quick-dry towel
Waterproof bag
Day backpack
Universal charger and adaptors (especially knowing that most countries have different outlets!)
Hat
Flip flops
Hiking shoes
Sunscreen
Aloe vera
Mosquito repellant
Afterbite
Sarong
Puncho
Travel pillow

Camera Gear & Tech | Backpacking Southeast Asia with the Right Gear

Unless your phone takes pretty good pictures already, you might want to consider bringing a camera with you while you’re in Southeast Asia.

I personally always travel with my GoPro and with a few accessories such as a head mount, tripod and underwater case. If a GoPro is a bit out of your budget you could also check out alternatives for underwater cameras.

You should also consider bringing a power bank to charge your phone and other gadgets especially when you’re on a plane or on a long bus ride.

If you work online or if you like to travel with a laptop you can always find cheap and convenient travel laptops that won’t take too much room in your backpack. Read more on how to choose the best laptop. Also, bring travel wifi in Southeast Asia.

Choose the Right Backpack for Southeast Asia (Opt for a Carry-On!)

Backpack Essentials

To make the most of airfares deals (hello AirAsia!), I always travel with a carry-on only. This way I don’t have to pay for extra luggage and I’ll end up paying for the first fare found on Skyscanner.

My backpack is only 33 litres and it was definitely one of the best purchases I made in my life. It’s super practical and can’t get too heavy!

Read about the best waterproof backpacks or the best backpacks with wheels here.

Getting Ready for Your Trip to Southeast Asia

Backpacking Checklist

Here’s a quick Asia checklist of what you need to prepare before going to the next country in Southeast Asia:

Do you need a visa? If so, do you need to apply at the embassy or can you do it online? (If you’re heading to Cambodia or Vietnam, I already wrote about their visas!)
Do you know anything about the popular scams in this country? Better be safe than sorry!
Do you need a flight out of the country as proof of onward travel?

FAQ

Do you need a sleeping bag in Asia?

If you have a very small sleeping bag, you could bring it with you. Sometimes, hostel's blankets can be tiny or dodgy. Having a sleeping bag is a great way to feel more comfortable in your bed. Although, I usually don't travel with a sleeping bag anymore.

Can you travel in Southeast Asia with carry-on only?

Absolutely! I do this all the time. Obviously, you're going to be limited in terms of packing, but you will likely save money on flights. It will also make your life easier when it's time to carry your stuff around.

How many pairs of shoes do you need?

I usually keep it simple. I reckon one pair of flip-flops and one pair of comfy shoes do the job just fine. My shoes are normally perfect for hiking, running or working out as well as just walking around.

Should you take a backpack or a suitcase?

I used to always travel with a backpack. Nowadays, I use a 2-1 bag - which is basically a suitcase with wheels. I recently got a duffel bag that can also work as a backpack, which is super useful too.

Did I forget anything? What’s your #1 essential item for travel in Southeast Asia?

BEFORE YOU GO TO ASIA

☑ Book your flight: If your flight isn’t booked yet – check out the flights on Skyscanner or via Google Flights. My top saving tip is flexibility. If you’re flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight.

☑ Book your accommodation: I always use Airbnb and Booking.com. If you’d rather stay in a hostel, you should take a look at the options on Hostelworld. If you click on the Airbnb link and you don’t have an account yet – you’ll get a $30 discount on your first booking.

☑ Protect your cute face: Oh, you may want to protect your cute face with a travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers. Otherwise, you can also take a look at World Nomads.

☑ Pack the essentials: You can consult this list when it’s time to pack your bag! Do not leave without a universal charger, a power bank and your passport!

☑ Do you need a visa? If you aren’t sure if you need a visa, it would be a smart idea to take a quick look before you go. You can use iVisa – it’s super useful and easy to use.

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Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by Shaka Life. This post may include affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a cute commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

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