I’m guessing that you’ve finished booking your plane tickets and accommodations for your upcoming trip to Thailand, and now comes the question: What should I pack? You start researching the climate, weather conditions, and dress codes in spiritual places, and you find yourself overwhelmed with all the information scattered on the internet.
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. This is the only Thailand packing list you’re going to need. And if you’re wondering why this is the best article for you, well, you need to know that this Thailand packing list is based on my own experience. I learned from my packing mistakes when I went to Thailand, and now I know all the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts,’ and you will learn as well.
Whether you are a solo traveler, part of a couple, with family, or exploring Thailand with friends, this packing list has you covered. It’s suitable no matter how many weeks you plan to stay or what activities you’ll be doing while exploring Thailand. Whether you’re going on hikes, sunbathing at the beach, or exploring cities on foot, my Thailand packing list will help you have everything you need without feeling overwhelmed by luggage.
Just to let you know… This post (probably) contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associates links, and I may receive a small commission when you click on the links. This is at no extra cost to you and allows me to keep running this website. How cool is that?! I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own.
The importance of a well-prepared Thailand packing list
I don’t intend to make this introduction too long, because I know that you came to this article to receive a trusty Thailand packing list, but I want to point out in a few words why it’s so important to have a well-prepared list.
First of all, when you are traveling abroad and planning a long holiday, it’s very easy to overpack. I feel that overpacking is like an invisible enemy that will reveal itself when it’s too late, and you already have several huge and heavy suitcases the night before your flight. So, a well-prepared Thailand packing list will help you avoid that headache.
Second, when you are too overwhelmed with the fear of not forgetting something very important (like copies for visa, or worse your ID or passport), chances are you are going to do exactly that. But, having a dedicated Thailand packing list will help you visualize better your items and also it will give you peace of mind. It’s easier to start packing if you have a list with everything on hand. Keep reading and you will also find out my top hacks to a more organized luggage.
Now, it’s time to get to your well-prepared Thailand packing list!
Choosing the right luggage and backpack
The number one item on your Thailand packing list, should be a good, trusty suitcase and a cool backpack.
I feel that before you start to put items in your luggage, you need to have a luggage first, right?! So before you point fingers, know that I understand that this is common sense, but choosing the right luggage and backpack is essential for you to have a more friendly approach to packing in general, not only for Thailand.
This is why my number one item from this Thailand packing list is choosing the right luggage and backpack. In my opinion, you will need both if you are planning to explore Thailand in a more traditional way, like staying in accommodations across the country, or booking private tours and so on.
If you are going for a combination of suitcase and a backpack, then you should look out for a suitcase that is big enough, easy to carry and durable during flights, especially when you have connected flights. My favorite brand of suitcase is Samsonite and I invite you to check them out. They are durable, stylish and a long-term investment.
As for the backpack, I highly recommend you pick one that has compartments and it’s easy to access and carry around. In Thailand you are going to explore a lot of places by foot and no matter if you are strolling the streets of Bangkok or if you are hiking in the Northern jungle, you are going to need water bottles, spare batteries, camera, sunglasses, snacks and maybe a spare T-shirt or a hat. Having a backpack will keep your hands free to take photos and eat on the go. Check out some amazing backpacks, here.
Essential Clothing
Now that we got the luggage out of the way, it’s time to start writing out the detailed Thailand packing list. First thing, let’s plan the outfits.
If you are wondering what to put on your Thailand packing list, and before you are finding yourself trying to fit your whole wardrobe in your suitcase, please follow these tips:
- Wear lightweight and breathable fabrics: Thailand is a very hot and humid country, so don’t plan for sophisticated and complicated outfits, instead go for easy to wear items;
- Don’t pack to many clothes: Thailand is a cheap country and you can buy a lot of clothes from their huge street markets;
- Pack only comfortable shoes: you are going to walk a lot and it’s very important to wear shoes that are lightweight and also easy to take off. Keep in mind that in most temples, especially in Northern Thailand it is required for you to take your shoes off before entering.
The following Thailand packing list contains the clothes necessary for an one-two week itinerary. Feel free to adjust it to your needs and preferences.
Women’s Thailand packing list: Clothes edition
- 3-4 dresses: Thailand is the land of instagram-worthy pictures, so you will need those beautiful, colorful dresses (if this is your thing, of course);
- 3-4 T-shirts;
- 3 Shorts;
- 2-3 tank tops;
- 1-2 long-sleeve shirts: you will need to cover yourself when you visit temples;
- 1-2 long and breathable pants or jeans: for those cold evenings, for hiking and for entering temples;
- 2 bathing suits (if you visit multiple beaches in one day, it’s useful to have two);
- 1 rain jacket: weather in Thailand can be unpredictable and you don’t need to find yourself in the middle of the jungle while raining;
- Hat;
- Sunglasses;
- 1 pair of comfortable flip-flops or sandals;
- 1 pair of hiking shoes (that are also great for walking for long hours).
Men’s Thailand packing list: Clothes edition
- 4-5 T-shirts;
- 2-3 tank tops;
- 2-3 shorts;
- 1-2 long-sleeve shirts: you will need to cover yourself when you visit temples;
- 1-2 long and breathable pants or jeans: for those cold evenings, for hiking and for entering temples;
- 2 pairs of swimming shorts;
- Rain jacket;
- Hat;
- Sunglasses;
- flip-flops;
- Hiking shoes.
Sidenote: don’t forget to pack socks and underwear. I’m not gonna tell you how many :)), but try not to overpack.
If comfortable traveling is your thing, then you need to think about packing only quality, sweat-free clothes that look cute and feel amazing.
Toiletries and Personal Care
Now it’s time to write all the essentials for hygiene and personal care that are important to your Thailand packing list:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste;
- Shower gel
- Shampoo and conditioner;
- Skincare: cleanser, serum, moisturizer;
- Deodorant;
- A good, quality sunscreen (Please don’t forget about this one and if you don’t have it, now it’s the time to invest in the best one. My husband and I got serious and very painful sunburns that lasted for days);
- Aloe vera gel (if you get sunburn, this one is your savior in shining armor)
- Insect repellent (protection), if you plan to go hiking then you need to protect yourself against the little buggers;
Pro tip: chances are most accommodations will offer toothpaste, shower gel and shampoo, so I suggest you pack only travel-size containers. These will be your space-saving allies and if you like shopping you are going to need that extra free space in your luggage.
My favorite travel-size containers are these ones because they are easy to use (you can squeeze the product), colorful (making it easy to distinguish each one), and super cute.
Electronics and Travel Accessories
For electronics and travel accessories, I divided my Thailand packing list in 3 categories: universal adapters, electronics essentials and for capturing memories and accessories for comfort.
Powering up in Thailand
I feel like this is one of the most important items on your Thailand packing list because you are going to need all of your electronics to be charged and ready to use. I suggest you pick a quality universal adapter that is also small and easy to pack.
Electronics essentials
Thailand is a place where you will want to capture and encapsulate all those beautiful memories. This part of my Thailand packing list is to ensure you have every essential electronics that will help you get around, capture memories and also relax.
Here is what you need to put on your Thailand packing list:
- Cell phone and charger;
- GoPro and accessories or a Polaroid;
- Camera and accessories – I recommend Canon M50 Mirrorless, especially if you are a beginner. This camera is easy to pack and to keep in your backpack at all times. Another thing I also love about Canon M50 is that it has built-in Wi-fi, so it’s very easy to transfer photos to your phone or tablet;
- Portable Battery pack: it’s a savior, especially if you are exploring all day long.
Handy travel accessories for comfort
Any Thailand packing list should have a dedicated section to comfort items and nice to have travel accessories:
- Travel pillow
- Kindle or a physical book (made a huge difference for me during those long hour flights)
- Headphones: I recommend noise cancellation ones. My husband’s favorite are Sony WH-1000XM5
- Tablet: for nights or days when you want to relax or sit at the pool and watch your favorite show;
- Bags for dirty clothes
Medications and First Aid
You need to add medication essentials and prescriptions on your Thailand packing list, or how I like to say it, packing peace of mind. Of course there are pharmacies where you can get pills, but I like to have some samples for emergencies.
Maybe you suffer from headaches, or period cramps, or the food didn’t sit too well in your stomach. It is better to have your trusty medication bag instead of running to stores in the middle of the night.
Here are the most important medication I feel you should add to your Thailand packing list:
- Painkillers;
- Diarrhea medication;
- Pills for seasickness (I wish we had these with us on your boat trip in Phuket);
- Cream for wounds or sunburns (like Bepanthen and Aloe Vera gel);
- Plasters for blisters (even if you wear comfortable shoes, walking all day long can be hard on your feet);
- Anti-mosquito products (this is especially necessary if you are traveling to Northern Thailand).
I highly recommend you keep a small medication bag on your backpack wherever you leave the hotel for long hours, or if you go to the beach or jungle. My favorite medication bag so far is this set, right here. What I love about this is that it comes with a big bag that I put in the suitcase and with a smaller version that is perfect to fit my carry-on, or backpack when we are exploring all day long. In this way I always stay organized and have medication for any situation. So make sure you add to your Thailand packing list this set of medication bags.
Travel documents
It’s time to get to the part of my Thailand packing list that gives me the most anxiety, the travel documents. So far, many of the items that I included on this list can be replaced or can be excluded, but you can replace your passport, or visa documents.
If you get just one thing from this Thailand packing list guide, it is this: always write down all the documents that you need to have with you before your trip. No matter if they are physical documents or digital ones, make a list and keep it with you when you start packing your bags.
For the digital documents, like travel insurance or accommodation confirmations make sure you download them locally (I suggest you make a dedicated folder on your phone).
You never know when you need them and don’t have internet access. Better safe than sorry, believe me!
Now, let get into what travel documents you need to put on your Thailand packing list:
- Valid passport;
- Digital copy of the passport;
- Copies and documents for the visa or visa on arrival;
- Travel insurance (this is a must);
- Flight ticket
- Reservation for accommodation;
- Cash (there are a lot of places where paying with card isn’t available)
- Credit card;
- Driver license (if needed);
- Thailand Itinerary: if you have one (which I recommend).
Packing tips and hacks
Now that your Thailand packing list is done and you have your suitcase and backpack, it’s time to start packing. I know that this list may seem long and overwhelming, but if you organize everything it will get easier.
If you want to up your packing game and make this process more enjoyable and even fun, then check out my Ultimate Travel Packing Checklist Guide.
You can always check out my packing guide for more details, but here are my top recommendations for having the best experience with your Thailand packing list:
- Roll your clothes, instead of folding
Believe me on this, you are going to save so much space if you roll your clothes. Also, I find that it will get less wrinkled this way.
- Packing cubes and travel organizers are the solution for any stress-free travel
The key to a smart pain-free Thailand packing list is to have luggage organizers. These packing cubes will help you keep your things in categories, making them very easy to access.
Especially if you are constantly on the move, as you probably will be in Thailand, having your clothes and essentials neatly organized in distinct cubes will make packing and unpacking a breeze. You can also keep your most important and frequently used items in separate bags within your backpack or carry-on.
My favorite luggage organizers for a Thailand packing list are the ones from Bagail. They offer various sets of packing cubes, with different sizes and colors to choose from. You can opt for sets that have an elegant look or go for more colorful and fun options. The prices are accessible, making them an investment worth your effort.
Follow the link, here, and be ready to up your Thailand packing game!
- Don’t forget about bags for dirty clothes
If you want to keep your clean clothes separate from the used ones, then you should add bags for dirty clothes on your Thailand packing list. This is another item that will help you stay organized during your travel. Check out these cute bags, here.
- Keep your cables organized
I hate it when my chargers (for my tablet, phone, Kindle and camera) get tangled up in my backpack. Every time I need one of them, it feels like I’m on a special mission just to find the right one. That’s why having a dedicated bag for your cables can solve this problem. Consider adding this cable organizer to your Thailand packing list, and you’ll thank me!
Summarizing your stress-free Thailand packing list
I hope that this guide was helpful and took away the stress of making your Thailand packing list.
My final thoughts:
- Make a Thailand packing list before you start to put things in your suitcase;
- Keep your Thailand packing list stress-free by adding only travel essentials or items that offer you comfort, but don’t overdo it.
- Try not to overpack. Remember you’re going there to explore and to immerse yourself in Thai culture, not to carry huge and heavy luggages. Also, there are a lot of things you can buy there, like cheap clothes, flip-flops, towers and travel accessories.
- Pack only breathable clothes and don’t complicate your outfits. But at the same time, if you want to take glamorous pictures, don’t forget to add your beautiful dresses.
- Pack versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched to save space and reduce the weight of your luggage.
- Bring comfortable walking shoes for exploring and if you plan on visiting temples, pack a pair of socks that can be easily slipped on and off.
- Buy luggage organizers and up your packing game.
- If you love shopping, leave free space in your luggage. In Thailand there are huge day and night markets that sell cheap souvenirs and clothes. I bought several cute dresses from them.
- Don’t forget about travel insurance for your peace of mind.
Now, I’m curious to know your input. Please share your travel tips in the comments below to make this Thailand packing list even more awesome and complete.
If you want a detailed travel guide for Thailand, then check out the article below with things to do in Bangkok and Northern Thailand (Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai). In this articles you will have recommendations for accommodations (both luxury and on the budget), best guided tours and all the amazings things you can visit in do in Bangkok and Northern Thailand. Using the information from my detailed guides you can write your itinerary and add it to your Thailand packing list.
- Incredible things to see in Northern Thailand
- Incredible things to do in Bangkok
- A guide to accommodations in Northern Thailand: from budget-friendly retreats to luxury stays.