Backpacking Southeast Asia: What to pack?
So you’ve quit your job, sold your stuff, and bought your one way ticket. It’s just you and the great unknown ahead! Oh. Wait. And your backpack.
How do you even begin to pack 6 months of wardrobe into a single bag. And this isn’t like that weekend getaway to the Caribbean where you shove as many cute outfits into your suitcase to sit in the hotel all week open and stagnant. Nope. This is backpacking. A different playing field when you find yourself checking in and out of hostels multiple times a week, or getting lost from the train station walking to your hostel. Not to mention flying budget airlines where if your bag isn’t the appropriate weight and size you end up paying for practically a first class ticket. Trust me those bag fees add up!
So here I am to share what I packed for my six month journey around SE Asia. One of my biggest challenges in life is that I do not like to repeat outfits very often … so what does that translate to? I have Too. Much. Clothing.
As much as I like to dress well and keep up with the ‘trends’, I’ve backpacked before and don’t mind taking a break from putting forth that extra effort. At the end of the day it’s nice to choose simplicity and comfort, especially when you’ll find yourself in numerous uncompromising situations along the way.
Lucky for me, packing for SE Asia is easier then most backpacking trips because the weather is pretty much the same across the board. It’s hot, possibly rainy, and can potentially cool down in the morning or evening.
My saving grace: packing cubes! First and foremost, I want to thank the person who invented the packing cube. For someone as organized as myself they are truly godsend. While backpacking South America a few years ago I discovered the packing cube and it facilitated my trip so much. Organizing similar articles of clothing into individual cubes helps you find your desired item faster all while giving your bag shape. Trust me … you don’t want to look for that one tank top only to find it burrito rolled at the very bottom of your bag. Packing cubes all the way!
The backpack I’m sporting is an oldie but a goodie – a 55 liter ‘High Sierra Explorer‘. It’s been on a few short trips and a four month stent through South America. Though it’s seen some sights, it remains in perfect shape! In addition to the main body compartment, it has practical compartments down below and up top. There are water bottle holders on each side, a waist clip to keep the weight on your hips, numerous outside straps to clip things on, and a rain flap to cover the bag when necessary. It keeps its shape – long and narrow, the more you pack the higher it gets. I love my bag! It works well for me!
Wardrobe Necessities
6 Shirts. 3 short sleeved and 3 sleeveless. Though there are days when walking outside is comparable to being in a sauna, many heavily Buddhist and Muslim countries throughout Asia practice a conservative dress. This requires modest shirts that cover the shoulders.
2 Dresses. 1 to keep up with occasional nightlife or break the mold of shorts and a tank, and another for day use/beach cover up.
2 Bathing Suits to alternate. Picking 2 was quite hard for me!
1 Set of Pajamas. Lightweight yet modest enough to walk around the hostel in the case of a communal restroom/shower.
Socks + Underwear. Long socks for chilly nights and regular for daily use.
5 Bottoms. 1 jean shorts, 1 active shorts, 1 loose cotton harem pants, and 1 leggings for trekking and traveling (it’s actually not customary to wear leggings in strongly Buddhists countries, seen as immodest.) For the fifth I bought some typical tourist cotton pants while traveling, because when in Rome….
Microfiber Towel. These are godsend. They are compact and very quick to dry. Mine is an extra large (30×60 inches) by Rainleaf. Super recommended!
Lightweight Scarf. Handy for chilly evenings or to wrap over your shoulders when visiting temples if you find yourself in a sleeveless shirt.
Rain Jacket. Essential! The rain in SE Asia is not your typical April shower, it can be long and hard. Make sure your jacket is water proof, not just water resistant. My trustee rain jacket is made by Columbia.
Jean Shirt. My lightweight long sleeved option for chilly evenings or mornings.
2 Headbands. 1 thick headband and 1 bandanna for trekking, also doubling as a mouth and nose cover when driving motorbikes on dirt roads – the norm around most SE Asian cities. So. Much. Dust.
The Necessary Excess Items
The ‘stuff’ on your back that makes your life easier and helps you to be self-sustainable from your backpack. This portion of your bag varies person to person. For me I have:
1 Travel Blanket. I’m ALWAYS cold. This is super useful for bus, train and plane rides.
1 Inflatable Neck Pillow. Not as comfortable as a normal plush neck pillow but still effective and perfectly compact!
1 Yoga Mat. Because yoga everyday is good for the soul and sleeping on hard mattresses every night will make your body scream for a deeper stretch!
1 Water Bottle, 1 litter Nalgene bottle to fill up any opportunity you can, to avoid buying plastic water bottles!
1 Packable Daypack. For all day excursions around the city, beach, trekking, etc. Daypacks are extremely useful to stuff with snacks, sunscreen and anything else you might need to last from day to night. Mine is Zomake. It is lightweight, compact and folds into the pocket for easy storing when not in use.
1 Solar Charger. Thanks to my big sis for supplying me with a rad solar power bank. It clips right onto my backpack and can charge my phone up to two times. It also has a handy flashlight and compass. A godsend when outlets are far and few.
1 Power Adapter. Outlets vary country to country. Jamming a western power cord into the wall won’t make it work. Just like primary school taught us, match shapes with like minded shapes. Mine is a FOXNOVO Universal Travel Charger Adapter.
1 Fanny Pack. While the fanny pack has made a swift comeback in the US, it actually never left the eastern hemisphere. With the potential of getting your purse snatched off your motorbike or while walking, a fanny pack gives me more security.
Toiletries. Make sure everything is 100 ml or less. I bought a cheap set of empty travel containers with a clear case. It holds my deodorant, face wash, moisturizer, soap, shampoo, razor, toothbrush, and toothpaste.
Medicine Bag. Of course my mother helped me stock up on medicine I might need when abroad. From cold medicine to antibiotics and stomach bug pills I’ve got it on me for when the occasion arises. And trust me it will. Especially for stomach issues, I would stock up! I also have a little first aid kit with band-aids and ointment. Sanitizer. Mosquito repellent. Oh, and an emergency whistle. Maybe I should have that more accessible …
Multi Use Organizer. In this shnazy ProCase organizer I have my headphones, extra hair ties, compact hair brush, tweezers, nail clippers, sewing kit, a few extra earrings, etc. Just random things I wanted to bring all packed away into this handy organizer.
While each person has their own style of packing, I’ve landed on this one. Simple and efficient, trying to stick to the necessities as much as I can. With this load of clothes I find myself going at-least a week before having to do laundry, and with the extras I’ve packed I’ve had much less of a need to go to convenience stores. I’ve adopted a personal policy along the way: “if I buy something, I shed something.’ With this I’ve managed to keep my bag around 9 kilos, allowing me to comfortably walk around with my backpack and squeeze onto motorbikes or local buses with facilitation!
Hope this helps and enjoy your travels ahead!
