If you're planning on heading to Southeast Asia for the first time, it can be hard to know what to pack. Unfortunately, the thousands of packing lists available online don't make it any easier and often offer conflicting advice - should you take jeans or not? Do you need a laptop? What about a first aid kit? Should you bring a backpack or a suitcase? Do you need hiking boots? And, importantly, which insect repellent should you be taking with you?
Whether you're planning on lounging on the beaches of Southern Thailand, searching for orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo, exploring the temples of Angkor or partying on a cruise around Halong Bay, we have the perfect recommendations for you.
Choosing a Backpack
First things first, suitcases are incredibly impractical for Southeast Asia and you shouldn't even consider taking one. The streets are frequently unpaved, full of potholes and many of the islands in Thailand, for example, don't even have roads.
You'll need to bring a backpack, and the smaller the better. You should aim for a size between 40 and 60 litres and definitely no larger. While it may seem that bigger is better, remember that you'll need to carry it on your back, sometimes for an hour or more, in an extremely hot and humid climate.
As for which type of backpack you need? A front-loading backpack will save on packing time and is easier to keep organized, a lockable backpack will help deter thieves, and it would be great if you could find one that's waterproof -- especially if you're going to be travelling in the rainy season.
Clothing
There are a few places in Southeast Asia that are cold (Hanoi/Sapa in winter immediately springs to mind), but there aren't many of them, so you'll want the majority of your backpack to contain lightweight clothes, preferably made of cotton. Try to choose neutral colours so that you can mix and match in order to maximize your number of outfits. You don't need jeans in Southeast Asia (they're heavy, bulky and take hours to dry), but pack some lightweight pants for any chilly evenings or temple visits. If you're female, you'll need to pack a sarong to cover your shoulders as well. For footwear, you can get by with just flip-flops or sandals most of the time, but pack some light hiking shoes if you plan on doing a lot of walking.
Consider getting a microfiber towel as these can be huge space savers and are very quick to dry. Here is just one example of a perfect, compact towel for your travelling needs.
Medicine
Most medicines can be bought over the counter in Southeast Asia - including antibiotics and birth control pills, so you don't need to worry about bringing an enormous first aid kit. Pack some Tylenol, Imodium, and Dramamine (and a general purpose antibiotic if your doctor will give you one) to start with and replace them as they run out. You can pick up almost anything you need from any pharmacy in the region as you travel.
You should also pack some insect repellent and sunscreen for your first few days, and you can then stock them up while you travel around. We have an entire range of travel sized mosquito repellents available. Check out our NEW range of Mosquito Repellent products.
These have all been manufactured in the UK and tested to be highly effective against many biting insects not just Mosquito’s. They are natural powerful plant-based formulations that show in testing to be as effective as synthetic chemicals but without the risk of side effects. They are moisturising to the skin DEET & Alcohol-free and suitable for children as young as 6 months.
Toiletries
It's worth investing in a small toiletries bag for your trip. It helps keep everything together and the rest of your luggage dry. If you're in a rush when checking out, throwing damp shower gel bottles straight into your backpack is going to lead to smelly clothes and a gross backpack.
For travellers, we’d highly recommend picking up solid versions of toiletries: they're inexpensive, they're lighter, they take up less space, and they last much longer. Practically every toiletry product you can think of has a solid counterpart, whether it's shampoo, conditioner, shower gel or deodorant!
In addition, we’d recommend packing a small bar of soap instead of shower gel, a hairbrush if you have long hair, your toothbrush and some toothpaste, a razor, tweezers and nail scissors.
Technology
Laptop: Internet cafes in Southeast Asia are in rapid decline so if you plan on keeping in touch with friends and family, you'll need to bring a laptop or phone. If you're going for a laptop, look for one that's as small and light as you can get away with, especially if you'll only be using it for email, social media, and to watch movies. Try to get a laptop that has good battery life as well as an SD card slot for uploading photos.
Camera: Consider using a Micro 4/3 camera, such as the Olympus OM-D E-M10, which gives you SLR quality photos from a camera the size of a compact. If you're not sure about carrying a camera around with you and would be happy with the quality of photos on your phone, then don't feel the need to bring a camera with you.
Tablet: A tablet is a great option if you don't want to carry around a laptop, but still want to get online and watch TV shows on long travel days.
Phone: If you're going to be travelling in Southeast Asia, we'd suggest getting an unlocked phone and picking up local prepaid SIM cards as you travel. These SIM cards are the cheapest option for calls, texts, and data, and are available in most grocery stores. If you don't have an unlocked phone, then opt for making phone calls using Skype over Wi-Fi.