Holiday Packing List

Packing List For Thailand 2025

Need a packing list for Thailand? Here’s some packing tips about what you can leave at home and what you should make sure you bring to the Land of Smiles.

The engine of a jumbo jet seen from a passenger window with the shadow of the plane on a field coming in to land at Bangkok Airport
Coming into land at Bangkok Airport

Trying to work out what you should put in your backpack before you travel to Thailand can be a bit daunting. Here’s a list of what I found to be most useful during my own Thailand backpacking days, before I wound up living in Bangkok.

Preparing For Your Trip To Thailand

Some of the most important things you will need for your trip to Thailand won’t actually be in your backpack. Make sure you’ve got these essentials for your trip sorted out – they all need a bit of time before you plan to travel to sort out.

Can I Use My Mobile Phone In Thailand?

Staying connected in Thailand is relatively easy and affordable for tourists. Pre-purchasing a South-East Asia eSIM via Klook is increasingly the most convenient way to set up your phone. Most contemporary smartphones have the facility built-in and the set-up is reasonably straightforward. The site has full instructions and a detailed list of supported devices.

eSIMs are generally data only, but you can use WhatsApp or similar to make calls. Wi-Fi calling is sometimes available. Thailand has three main mobile operators if you need to buy a physical SIM:

  • AIS (Advanced Info Service): Known for its wide coverage,
  • DTAC (Total Access Communication): Offers various tourist-friendly packages,
  • TrueMove H: Another major provider with competitive deals.

You can purchase these cards at airports (including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and other convenience stores, or shops run by the mobile operators themselves – where you can discuss your needs with a member of staff, who will help you get set up. Airport vendors will usually offer deals aimed at arriving travellers.

Make sure your phone is unlocked before you travel and take your passport as proof of ID.

Free Wi-Fi is available in many public places, including airports, hotels, cafes and restaurants, and shopping malls. Download large data files, such as apps and offline maps before you travel, to cut back on usage.

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Stuff You Don’t Need To Bring To Thailand

  • Toiletries – Brand name toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, soap, razors, tampons, pain relievers (eg Tylenol or Panadol), toilet paper and deodorant are all plentifully available in every 7-11 which are almost everywhere in Thailand. Obviously you want to bring some of this stuff while you travel, otherwise you’ll honk on arrival. My point is that you don’t need to bring a suitcase full of it.
  • T-Shirts – Don’t bother buying expensive tshirts at home as you can pick them up for cheap (100 baht or less if you bargain well) in Bangkok – but also note the caveats below.

What Do You Need To Pack For Thailand?

The golden rule is always pack less. Don’t buy half of the local camping shop in an attempt to be prepared for every situation – simply buy it when you need it while you’re travelling. In Thailand this is particularly true, because, assuming you’re starting your journey in Bangkok, pretty much every Western thing you could need is available and is often cheaper too.

What Clothes To Pack For Thailand

  • T-Shirts, Shorts, Skirts – T-shirts are easy to find in Thailand, but if you veer towards a larger frame, remember that it will be difficult to find bigger sized clothing in Thailand. Therefore it’s worth having decent quality shorts and skirts that will deal with everyday travel and getting washed a lot. Sturdy zipper pockets on your shorts are also invaluable for storing passports and other valuables.
  • While cotton is a good default choice, linen clothes are my preferred favourite – it’s even more breathable than cotton and, to my mind, definitely worth the extra expense.
  • The only problem with both linen and cotton is that they retain sweat and can hang wet and heavy on you if you’re being active – just walking an hour during the daytime in Thailand can cause a Niagara of perspiration. I’ve recently converted to Under Armour T-shirts for daytime use in Bangkok, which live up to their promise of staying relatively dry and light.
  • Also make sure you have a light long-sleeved top and full-length trousers that will cover your arms and legs – you might need it at dusk when the mosquitos come out. You’ll be able to find this easily in Bangkok. Thai fishermen’s pants are cheap and all over Khao San Road.
  • A sarong is also a very useful item to have as it can double as a makeshift towel, pillow, etc.
  • What Underwear To Pack – For underwear, it’s really worth investing in something that withstand the heat and your body’s sweat. I’ve found that Under Armour underwear, while expensive, has been invaluable for staying cool in the Bangkok heat and also avoiding chafing if you’re doing a lot of walking or cycling. (N.B., a workaround to avoid chafing is to apply some lubricant jelly, like KY Jelly, to your Zones Of Potential Pain. If you’re planning a hike or long day of walking, it could really help maintain your comfort levels. Just don’t ask me how I worked that out).
  • What Footwear To Pack – Shoes tend to be poor quality in Thailand, unless they’re expensive imports, and hard to find in bigger sizes. You will be doing a lot of walking so it pays to have good footwear to keep you comfortable and your feet in good condition. Check Amazon for cheap men’s sandals and sandals for women. After years of wearing sandals, I recently switched to very lightweight, breathable Keen CNX hiking shoes which I find far superior (and protects your feet from ground ickiness in case you step in a swamp puddle, etc). If you go with trainers (or sneakers) as your preferred footwear, make sure they have plenty of ventilation otherwise you will cause yourself blisters, heat rash and other issues.
  • You should also bring a spare pair of lightweight “formal” shoes if you plan on going clubbing or any of the posher bars in Bangkok (like Vertigo). It’s a bit overkill to wear massive mountain hiking boots in most of Thailand. Even if you are going trekking, unless you’re going to be really hardcore about it and spend more than a couple of nights away from civilisation, it’s not really worth bringing them. Sneakers will probably do fine.
  • Fleece – It may seem crazy to bring a fleece jacket to a tropical country, but Thai buses and cinemas – and indeed, many other indoor spaces like shopping malls – are notoriously chilly due to arctic air conditioning. Plane journeys can also be cold. A lightweight fleece can make all the difference for your comfort. Check Amazon for cheap women’s fleeces and men’s fleeces. You don’t want anything too expensive in case you lose it.

Health And Grooming Items To Pack For Thailand

  • Sunglasses – You’ll be able to find plenty of cheap sunglasses in Thailand, but you might want to invest in a decent pair that will properly screen out harmful ultra-violet rays. The sun in Thailand can be savagely hot and if you plan on travelling for a while, it’s wise to protect your eyes. You can find quality sunglasses listed on Amazon if you want to avoid paying top dollar.
  • Water Carrier – You’ll need to drink a lot of water while travelling in Thailand. A hands-free hydration pack is worth considering – Camelbak are popular – if you are going to be active. It’s a lot easier than dragging a 2L bottle of water around everywhere. Incidentally, safe to drink bottled water is available pretty much everywhere in Thailand – you’ll only need water purification tablets if you plan to go camping etc for more than a couple of days.
  • Sunscreen And Mosquito Repellent – I can’t stress this enough: make sure you put on sunscreen and mosquito repellent every morning before you head out for the day, and definitely reapply mosquito repellent around 5pm before dusk, when mozzies tend to be most active. It’s very unlikely you’ll catch malaria in Thailand unless you’re spending a lot of time in deep jungle (which is also unlikely) – however, mosquito bites can be extremely irritating and just generally take the edge off your enjoyment. Preventing them ever getting near you is the best way to go – covering up in the evening with loose fitting trousers or long skirts is also a good idea, as mosquitos seem to love ankles, and obviously a hat, sunglasses and long sleeves are great for blocking the sun.
  • Travel Diarrhoea (or Diarrhea) Treatment – There’s no getting away from it – at some point on your travels, you will be struck with a case of Bad Guts. While you should heed timeless advice about avoiding drinking non-bottled water and eating anything that hasn’t been cooked, a lot of travel troubles are simply caused by the change of diet that you’re going through while travelling, coupled with the extra exertion of being probably more active than usual. Most symptoms pass (ahem) in 24 hours and it’s best just to rest and drink plenty of bottled water. If you absolutely have to move on, then something like Imodium or another travel diarrhea remedy is a good stopgap (sorry) but it’s not something you should rely on for days on end. Take for a couple of days and if you still have problems after that, you should go see a doctor.
  • Tissues / Toilet Paper – While we’re on the topic, it is also worth noting that you should always keep some tissues or toilet paper on you. In Thailand water hoses, or bum guns, are often used rather than toilet paper. This is a gently pressurised water jet, a little like a bidet, that you use to clean up which is far more effective and hygienic than toilet paper. However, you may still need some tissues to dry up or deal with a not so sanitary lavatory, and paper is not always available. Camper’s toilet paper is a clever compact travel solution, but tissues are also always available at 7-11 in Thailand too. You should also keep some hand sanitiser handy too, as soap isn’t always available either.
  • Antihistamine Tablets – If you suffer from any kind of pollen allergy or have a generally sensitive nose, I highly recommend you take antihistamines, not particularly for your Thailand trip but specifically for the long flight there. I’ve found popping an antihistamine at the beginning of a flight stops sneeziness and general miserable allergy symptoms brought on by breathing dry, canned air. They are very cheap and available without prescription.
  • Moisturiser – Keeping some moisturiser handy for your face on long plane flights (and actually, just generally day to day while travelling) can do wonders for making you feel better at the end of a long day. My girlfriend got me using some quite posh products like CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream which genuinely feel a lot better than bog standard moisturisers. Your mileage may vary.
  • Ear Plugs – If you’re a light sleeper, ear plugs are an essential for plane, train and bus journeys and, perhaps most of all, if you’re sharing a dorm room with a snorer. Moldex ear plugs are an excellent brand and very cheap too.
  • Condoms – International brands like Durex are common in Thailand, but Thai condoms are built for – how do I say this? – the smaller frame. They also have a reputation of not being especially good quality. All sniggering aside, it’s very important you look after yourself by making sure you take responsibility and use protection if you’re going to be sexually active. Best bring your own if you think you’ll need them. If you’re too shy to buy them in person, Amazon can help.
  • Quick Dry Towel – Super lightweight and non-bulky, one of these towels is a real godsend for minimising your travel load. They’re also pretty inexpensive. Check Amazon for a good variety of quick dry towel options.

Electronic Devices To Pack For Thailand

As your mobile phone will likely be the single most valuable and most fragile item you are carrying on your travels, a few things to consider:

  • Don’t forget to bring your charger! It’s relatively easy to find replacement chargers in Bangkok (try any major shopping mall or Fortune Town IT mall at Phra Ram 9 MRT station) but it’s an inconvenience to trudge around to get it when you could be doing more interesting stuff.
  • Make sure you have a suitably rugged case for you mobile phone which means it can withstand being dropped and splashed with water. Otterbox provide some excellent Defender cases which, while not that stylish, turn your mobile phone into a tank. I’ve dropped my iPhone numerous times and the Otterbox Defender saved it from even getting a scratch every time.
  • If you are coming to Thailand during Songkran, the annual nationwide week-long water fight, you will want to either leave your mobile phone at home or wrap it in several ziplock bags. Even the most rugged case won’t be able to protect it from the inevitable soaking it (and you) will get.
  • Selfie sticks are everywhere in Thailand these days, so don’t feel shy if you want to get those holiday shots of yourself – just do be aware of those around you so you don’t whack someone in the head with it.
  • If you use your phone a lot, you’ll probably want to get a backup power source – there are some excellent cheap power banks to give your phone an energy boost. This is definitely worth bearing in mind if you plan to use GPS and Google or Apple Maps on your phone which burn power quite fast, as does uploading photos to Facebook, Instagram, et al.
  • One key issue with a phone being a Swiss knife is that if you lose it, you lose a lot of stuff in one go. Make sure that you have cloud access to upload your photos so you have a separate copy – or download your images onto a laptop if you’re bringing one with you. It’s a hassle, but you’ll be heartbroken if you lose all your photos without a backup. (If you do bring a laptop, get something low cost so you won’t be too heartbroken if it gets lost or trashed. Laptops are remarkably cheap these days).
  • Torch – you’ll have a torch function on your mobile phone, but having a dedicated torch if you’re going to be outside cities is a good idea. Nitecore Tube torches are small, cheap, incredibly powerful and fit on your keyring.

Other electronics-related items to consider:

Special Items For Specific Activities

  • Swimwear – No doubt you’ll be spending time on one of Thailand’s iconic beaches – you may already be planning to do nothing but hang out on the sandy white. Make sure you pack a couple of pairs of swimwear – bikinis, boardshorts and the like – so you can leave one set to rinse out if you’re spending multiple days by the sea. It’s also important to ensure you get swimwear that’s a good fit and good quality. Remember that it’s not considered polite in Thailand to wander around bare-chested or in skimpy clothes when off the beach, so having a t-shirt or sarong to cover up when you head into town is considerate – and helps keep the sun off too.
  • Pen – Keep a pen in your carry-on luggage to fill in immigration forms on the plane before you land – saves you time doing it when you get into the airport. Also useful in endless random situations. If you plan to travel on from Thailand to Cambodia, Laos, etc, it’s also worth making sure you have several passport-size photos of yourself to attach to visa applications – again, it saves you running around looking for a photo machine at the last minute.
  • Snorkel Gear – If you’re heading to the islands or beaches for snorkeling, bringing your own gear can save you money and ensure better quality.
  • Hiking Gear – Similarly, if you’re planning to visit national parks or do any trekking, proper hiking shoes and gear will help you navigate rough terrain.

Other Documents To Prepare For A Visit To Thailand

Document Scans – Take mobile phone photos of your passport, driving license and all your credit cards, insurance info and any other important documents and save them as JPEGs to your online email account like Gmail. That way, if you lose any of your documents, you have copies of them available anywhere with an internet connection – and on your phone too.

Also keep a list of the numbers of your banks etc that you need to call to cancel your cards in your internet email account.A quick way to do this is lay out all your cards on a table face down and take a photo with your mobile phone. Every card has the emergency contact number written on the back so you now have an instant record of all those numbers – just make sure your photo is not out of focus!

Luggage For A Visit To Thailand

Other Health Considerations For A Visit To Thailand

Check what vaccinations you need to get or renew at least 8 weeks before you go to Thailand (usually Hepatitis A and B, tetanus, typhoid and possibly rabies, plus maybe malaria tablets, although they are usually not required).

In addition to vaccinations, get a full supply of any prescription medicines you require. Store these in your luggage in their original packaging – still sealed and with the original doctor’s prescription, if possible.

Money For Visiting Thailand

  • Credit Cards and Debit Cards – Have credit cards and a debit card that will work in international ATMs and won’t block you due to being accessed from Thailand.
  • Travel Wallet – With all the documents and bits of paper you need to carry around for travelling – passport, boarding cards, hotel reservations, plus cash, credit cards etc – having a place to stash all of it can be invaluable – provided, of course, you keep the wallet safe. A travel wallet you can hang around your neck and so keep hidden under clothes is favoured by many, while there are various options for storing in trouser pockets too. (It’s wise to always carry a wallet in your front pockets, and to split cash etc between both pockets so you don’t lose everything). Some travellers worry about getting mugged or some other terrible misfortune but frankly that is very unlikely. What’s far more likely is that you will lose or misplace your wallet yourself, so finding a way to keep it safely on you and reassure yourself it’s there is important. As mentioned above, make sure you have scans of all your passport, credit cards and other important documents.

The Best Time To Visit Thailand

Thailand enjoys a tropical climate which means it’s warm year around but can also be humid and rainy – some months are still far more enjoyable than others. Assuming you’ll spend at least part of your time in Bangkok, we have summarised the climate for that city. Bear in mind that temperatures and humidity will differ as you move to the north or south of the country.

  • The best time to visit Bangkok is between November and February. This is Thailand’s cool season, with daytime temperatures slightly under 30°C and relatively low humidity. This is also Thailand’s peak season for tourism, which means prices are slightly higher overall.
  • While November to February might be the best time of year to visit Bangkok, you’ll still have a good time in the city at any other time of year. There’s no “winter” in Bangkok like there is in a cooler country, so you’ll never need to pack a coat.
  • Bangkok’s hottest months are from March until late June. In this period, daytime temperatures can reach 35-40°C and humidity can be extremely high. Expect to sweat if you visit during this time of year and pack some cool, comfortable clothing.
  • Bangkok’s rainy season lasts from July until October. Although some people expect relentless all-day rain, the rainy season is usually a mix of drab, overcast weather and rainstorms in the late afternoon. When it’s not raining, it’s still easy to enjoy Bangkok’s sights and attractions.
  • You’ll get the best value for money by visiting Bangkok during the rainy season, when hotel rooms are marked down significantly. You’ll pay the most to visit Bangkok from November until February, when hotel bookings and prices are at their highest.
  • Be aware that there are several major holidays that take place in Bangkok throughout the year, from the Chinese New Year to Songkran, which can cause a spike in prices and visitor numbers.

Planning What To Do And Where To Go In Thailand

  • Thailand Guidebook – While there is a plethora of great info about Thailand online, if it’s your first time to Thailand, a guidebook is probably still the easiest way to rapidly get an idea of all the options available to you. It’s worth getting a guidebook a few months before your trip so you can really thumb through it and highlight the stuff you’re really interested in. Lonely Planet Thailand would be my personal preference, but there are numerous other guidebooks too.
  • Bangkok Map If you are planning to spend more than a couple of days in Bangkok, investing in a map will save you a huge amount of time and frustration. I’ve written before how Groovy Map is hands-down the best map of Bangkok which helps you swiftly understand the sprawling metropolis and where all the good stuff is. It’s definitely worth getting a copy before you arrive in Bangkok and study it on the plane as you come in to land.
  • It’s also worth noting that Google Maps have detailed maps of Bangkok, and it can be hugely helpful to use GPS on your mobile phone to let the map guide you. I would still recommend the Groovy Map as a general overview and use your phone maps to guide you to specific destinations. Also be aware that Google Maps are not 100% accurate – quite a few places are incorrectly located so watch out for that.

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