Packing for Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned

Back in 2017 when I went to Thailand and Cambodia for the first time, I was committed to packing for two weeks in a backpack. I knew exactly how to pack — I’d done it plenty of times before, and at that time in my life I was working as a traveling consultant, living out of a carry-on suitcase most weeks. So when it was time to start packing for Southeast Asia, I was like “I got this.”

Oh, how hindsight is 20/20.

Not to be overly dramatic, but I did not “got this.” While I used the same principles as usual when it came to packing, my issues were mostly with the clothing choices I made. Fun fact: Southeast Asia’s climate/culture/fashion is totally different from Europe! (Who woulda thought?)

You can benefit from my mistakes! Here are the most important lessons about packing for Southeast Asia that I learned from my trip.

1. Just say NO to jeans

For the love of God, DO NOT PACK JEANS. I’m serious. You know, I thought I was being really minimalistic by only bringing the one pair. “I’ll wear them if I go to a nice dinner or something in the evening,” I told myself.

Here’s what actually happened: it was 90+ degrees Fahrenheit with like 100% humidity every day of my trip, and the idea of jeans actually repulsed me every time I thought about them. So they just took up valuable space in my backpack and I dragged them along with me everywhere I went.

Now, it is true that women especially must be dressed very modestly to go inside temples. You can either buy/rent a really attractive purple robe or cover-up for a small deposit when you buy your admission ticket, or buy a pair of elephant pants like all the other tourists (see tip #5 below).

2. Also say no to leggings, probably*

I sleep in shorts most of the time, but when I stay in hostels I sometimes opt for an old pair of leggings instead. Remember how dang hot it gets in Southeast Asia? After sweating through my first couple of nights, I woke up one morning without pants on. Yep, I subconsciously took off my leggings in the middle of the night because it was so hot. Good thing the dorm beds had privacy curtains.

*I tend to be warm, so if you tend to be cold leggings might be fine for you. But I’m leaving the leggings at home along with my jeans next time.

3. Rain gear isn’t a necessity

This is one that I kind of agonized over at the last minute when I was packing for Southeast Asia, but I followed my instincts and got it halfway right. Despite a couple of torrential downpours in Cambodia, the small, folding umbrella I brought never saw the outside of my backpack. I guess it was good to have just in case, but these downpours never lasted long and there was always somewhere to wait it out.

The mistake I almost made was bringing my raincoat. I only decided against it because it would take up too much space in my bag, and I figured a coat of any kind would make me too hot (I was right about that). Besides, even if you do get rained on, you’ll probably be so sweaty already that it will actually feel good.

4. Only pack the basics

When I’m in my everyday life, I have a very specific routine I follow when I wash and style my hair. When I travel for work or when I’ve traveled to Europe, I simplify the routine just a bit. That’s what I attempted to do on this trip. You want to know another thing I was not adequately prepared for? The humidity. And that meant my hair was a wreck from the minute I got there.

I quickly learned that I could not put effort into following my established “routine” because it would be a waste of time. On day two in Thailand, I activated the “half up” bun and that’s the style my hair stayed in for the next two weeks. It kept my hair out of my face and looked (halfway) decent with extremely dirty hair. And with that, I only washed my hair twice during the entire duration of my trip. I was too busy having fun, getting dirty, sweating, playing with elephants, and riding tuk-tuks to care about my hair care routine.

But it would have been nice if I had predicted that before I packed for my trip — otherwise a mini blow-dryer, foldable diffuser, microfiber towel, satin pillowcase, and several mini toiletry bottles would have been left at home. Things are going to be different next time I’m packing for Southeast Asia… which will hopefully be in Spring 2025!

5. Don’t bring things you can buy there

In Southeast Asia, everyone is selling something. There are markets, night bazaars, and stands on the side of the road. And it’s all really affordable by Western standards — so consider buying the majority of your trip wardrobe once you arrive, rather than bringing it all with you.

This can be a good idea for a few reasons. You’ll have more space in your bag; you’ll probably only buy a few things you really need and re-wear them often. And as we’ve discussed, you’re probably going to be sweaty and dirty a lot of the time, so you won’t have to worry about ruining something nice you brought from home.

I wish I had done that instead of stressing over what clothes to pack, and bringing a fold-up sunhat that I never wore. 🙃

 

Ok, please learn from my mistakes. And chime in if you have any thoughts of your own! What are your best tips for packing for Southeast Asia?

-Cathy

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Originally Published on December 10, 2017.