What to Pack for Thailand
Are you planning a journey to the Land of Smiles? Thailand, with its stunning landscapes, rich culture, and vibrant street markets, offers an adventure like no other. Having spent two months exploring this captivating country ourselves, we understand firsthand the importance of packing smartly for a comfortable and enjoyable trip. In this guide, we'll share our expertise and insights on what to pack for Thailand, helping you make the most of your adventure. You can pack and wear whatever you want for Thailand… but from our experience comfort is key in the hot temps! From clothing essentials for both men and women to must-have electronics and travel essentials, we've got you covered.
Thailand Travel Essentials:
Quick Dry Travel Towel: Lightweight, quick drying and space-saving! PERFECT for the beach or even as a blanket on an airplane or bus.
Umbrella: Be prepared for sudden rain showers. Even if you visit Thailand during dry season, you are bound to experience a few rain showers.
Sunscreen: THIS IS A MUST HAVE! Sunscreen in Thailand is super expensive because they have to import it. Seriously- make room in your bag for a couple bottles and thank us later! Trader Joe’s makes and incredible face sunscreen that’s lightweight and absorbs quickly.
Backpacks: If you’re backpacking through Thailand, which we 10/10 recommend over a rolling bag, these are essential! Evan uses this Osprey bag which is comfortable, made for women and extremely durable. Lemon opted for this Aer Backpack which is virtually indistructable.
Tissues (for Toilet Paper): An essential when traveling through Thailand as most of the bathrooms will not have toilet paper.
Travel Pillow: Ensure a good night's sleep during long journeys on planes, trains and buses. Evan prefers this one because it takes up MUCH less space than a traditional travel pillow.
Packing Cubes: Stay organized and make the most of your luggage space. packing cubes are an absolute MUST but these ones from tripped travel gear are the best out there. They compress your items allowing for even more space and keep you organized. They also come with a laundry bag which we can’t live without (we even use it at home).
Filtered Water Bottle: The water is not safe to drink in Thailand so we recommend these filtered water bottles to keep you safe. While buying bottles water is inexpensive in Thailand, it creates a lot of waste.
Bug Spray: Buy this while you’re in Thailand! They sell it almost everywhere but check 7-11 first. It’s affordable and natural and works like a charm!
Wet Wipes: These have come in handy more times than we can count!
Caribeners: While this may seem random, I promise they will come in handy during your trip. You can use them as hooks to hang up wet clothing, clip a jacket to your backpack and more!
Thailand Packing Checklist
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Women's Clothing:
Linen Everything: Embrace the tropical climate with breathable linen clothing that keeps you cool and stylish. Linen is the ideal fabric as it drys qucikly and it’s comfortable. If you’re shopping in the summer season, check out Old Navy as they tend to carry linen blend clothing during that time.
Beach Cover-up: Perfect for transitioning from the beach to a seaside restaurant effortlessly.
Loose Lightweight Clothing: Stay comfortable in the heat with loose, breathable attire. Preferable fabrics are linen, cotton, lightweight moreno wool. Trust us- Evan brought jean shorts on our last trip to Thailand and she regretted it.
Rain Jacket: Be prepared for sudden tropical showers.
Waterproof Sneakers (Vessi Brand): Explore confidently while keeping your feet dry and comfortable. These are our absolute FAV shoe for traveling, they are comfortable, waterproof, stylish and they last!
Adventure Sandals: While a lot of travelers prefer Birkenstocks, we found them uncomfortable. Evan has been wearing Chacos Sandals and LOVES them. They are sturdy, comfortable and durable.
Leggings: Versatile options for daytime exploration and evening outings. It’s important to wear pants when riding a motorbike in Thailand and these leggings from fabletics have lasted Evan YEARS.
Men's Clothing:
Linen Clothing: Stay cool and fashionable in Thailand's tropical climate.
Shorts: Essential for staying comfortable in the heat.
686 Brand Pants: Durable, comfortable and perfect for motorbike rides. Honestly everything from this brand is perfect for travel and WELL WORTH the money.
Merino Wool Shirts: Moisture-wicking and odor-resistant, ideal for the hot and humid Thai climate. Moreno wool socks and underwear are perfect for travelers!
Moisture-Wicking Clothing: Stay dry and comfortable in humid conditions.
Vessi Waterproof Sneakers: Protect your feet while exploring with these incredible waterproof shoes!
Thailand Travel Essentials
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Electronics:
Portable Rechargeable Fan/Phone Charger: A dual-purpose device to keep cool and charged. Evan didn’t bring this with her on her first trip to Thailand and deeply regrets it! Seriously this thing is a game changer, it keeps you cool, has a flashlight and acts as a power bank for your phone.
Power Bank: Stay connected on-the-go with this reliable Anker Power Bank.
Phone Tripod: Capture stunning travel memories with this lightweight and easy to use tripod.
JBL Clip Portable Speaker: This speaker is one of our most used travel items! Its water resistant, sand proof and ultradurable. We’ve used it on hikes, at the beach, by the pool, in the shower and more!
Noise-Canceling Headphones: Block out distractions during long journeys- these things were a LIFE SAVER while on a 12 hour train ride through Vietnam. We were cramped into a room with a Vietnamese family (including 2 toddlers) and we might have gone crazy if it weren’t for these noise canceling headphones. These ones from Sony are THE BEST but after we lost them on a bus in France, we purchased these JBL Headphones and they work well too!
Travel Adapter: We’ve used this one for 2 years without fail. It’s worked in 26 countries!
GoPro: This is perfect to capture you memories in picture, video and underwater video form!
Charging Cords: Don't forget these essential lifelines for your devices.
Medication:
Consult with your doctor before taking any medication. Most of these medications can be purchased in Thailand but if you have a preferred brand then bring it with you. The following are what we consider to be essential.
Ibuprofen: Great for headaches
Pre and Pro Biotics: To help prevent travelers diareah.
Anti Diareah Medicine: In case you get travelers diareah.
SafetyWing Insurance: We know this isn’t medication but it is just as important. SafetyWing covers you in an array of medical emergencies. They have 24/7 chat with an actual human and it’s super easy to file a claim if something were to happen.
Allergy Medication: A change in atmosphere can trigger allergies. It’s best to carry some in case you become agitated.
With these insights and recommendations, you'll be well-prepared for your journey through Thailand. Packing smartly ensures you can fully immerse yourself in the country's wonders and create lasting memories.
Thailand Packing List for Women
5-7 Underwear, 3 Bras (2 sports and 1 regular/strapless), 2-3 Socks.
1 Sleepwear Set
2 T-shirts, 1 dress shirt, 3 tank tops, 1 long sleeve/cardigan
1 pant/long skirt, 1 legging, 1-2 dresses, 2 shorts
1 swimsuit, 1 coverup/sarong
1 rainjacket
1 pair of sandals, 1 pair of sneakers.
Thailand Packing List for Men
5 Pairs of underwear, 3 pairs of socks
1 Sleepwear set
4 T-shirts, 1 dress shirt, 1-2 tank tops, 1 long sleeve
3 Shorts, 1-2 pants
1 Swim trunks
1 Rain jacket
1 Sneaker, 1 Sandal
While you can buy a lot of these things while you’re in Thailand, from our experience it’s better to spend your time exploring rather than shopping for essentials. Be sure to submit your email above to get our complete and thorough Thailand Packing Guide!
