Asia is getting more and more popular for women looking to travel in a group or solo. The best thing about traveling through Southeast Asia is that everything is so cheap! I wanted to create this women’s packing list for backpacking Southeast Asia, because I too had such a hard time fitting everything into a backpack!
My original plan when I first came to Asia was to backpack for a month. At the end of that month, I decided to live here for good (at least for now). I wanted to create this packing list for any female who are looking to backpack Europe. We have a ton of clothes, I know. And it will be hard, but traveling through Southeast Asia with a backpack is so doable.
Here’s a women’s packing list for backpacking Southeast Asia:
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For the most part asian culture is a bit more conservative. There are lots of temples you’ll be visiting so you’ll want to make sure you have a few staple pieces to cover up knees and shoulders when sight seeing. However, it is really hot and humid during rainy and burning season. If you are traveling between the months of April – September be prepared for hotness and stickiness.
Anyway, I hope you find this women’s packing list for backpacking Southeast Asia extremely helpful!
You’ll want to pack a lot more than what is necessary, BUT DON’T DO IT. Pack the minimum and then shop for what’s necessary once you are in Asia. Having a variety of tops that you can mix and match with different bottoms is the best way to make new outfits out of basics.
In terms of fabrics, I’d stick to 100% lightweight cotton and moisture wicking materials found in athletic wear. Linen is also very breathable but wrinkles easily, so I typically keep it out of my backpacking packing list.
This number will vary depending on how long your trip will be. But Asia is going to be hot and it is going to be very sunny. You will want to pack basic colored tops that you can dress up, dress down, or even wear to sleep. Make sure the tops you bring are versatile enough to do it all.
You will not need more than one since it is really hot in Asia. But the air conditioning in Asia is so intense. So bring this in case you plan on hanging out inside of a restaurant or an a inside bar or even in your hostel room.
Carrying a lightweight cardigan or sweater with you is so important when you are sight seeing in Asia. When I was sight seeing I was mostly wearing tank tops because of how in intense the heat was!! But when visiting temples I always needed something to cover up my shoulders. Bringing a lightweight cardigan or sweater is super easy and nice when you are sight seeing. Also when the aircon is too intense.
I literally live in dresses in Asia because it’s so dang hot. They are super easy to take on and off and is still super breezy. I like to bring neutral colored dresses that I can mix and match with different cardigans. Keep in mind, if you are going to be visiting temples you’ll need to be wearing something that covers your knees and your shoulders. In terms of material, I’d stick to 100% lightweight cotton or moisture wicking material found in athleisure. Linen is also great in warm weather, just beware they are prone to wrinkling which might be a hassle!
Monsoon season is frequent across all southeast asia countries and the rain is totally unpredictable. I typically like to bring a lightweight raincoat which is especially important if you plan to be driving via motorbikes. I love the Columbia brand and their rain jackets, but I also found this raincoat on amazon that wraps into itself. Super convenient for traveling! If you don’t want to carry a raincoat, then the alternative would be stopping at your local mom-and-pop shop or 7-eleven to pick up a rain poncho. Depending on where you’re staying, sometimes airbnbs and hotels have umbrellas too!
Only bring bottoms that you can mix and match with everything. Leave the bottoms with fun prints that you will probably only wear once at home. Mixing and matching is everything when you are trying to fit your whole life into a backpack. This is a must in the middle of the female packing list for backpacking Southeast Asia!
It’s going to be hot and you are going to want to be comfortable. You can wear athletic shorts to sleep or if you plan to hike a mountain randomly in Thailand. I practically lived in running shorts in Asia because it is so hot. I love Nike athletic shorts because of their quality but I also found this cheaper alternative on Amazon too!
Like I said before Asia is really hot. You’ll mostly be in clothes where your legs can breathe. Denim and flowy shorts are perfect during the day when it’s hot, but be sure to bring a sarong to cover up if you are sight seeing. They are also perfect if you plan on going out at night!
Much easier and much cheaper to buy in Asia. But a sarong is the best thing to have in Asia. You can use it as a cover up at the beach or to cover up over your shorts in a temple. You can even use it to wrap your hair up. Buy a sarong in Asia. The patterns and quality will be better and it’ll be a fun souvenir to bring home with you.
Like I said before, you’ll want breathable clothes. Skirts are the best because your legs will be able to breathe in the horribly humid weather. Don’t even think about bringing jeans. You will never wear them. I loved having wrap skirts for the beach and for during the day. Super easy to wear and super cute too!
Harem pants can be easily bought in Asia so leave it until then. But if you are going to be bringing pants make sure they are breathable and flowy. Don’t even think about bringing jeans, because you will die of heat exhaustion wearing them, I promise. Harem pants are the “Asia backpacker look”. They are fun, flowy, and also a good souvenir to bring back home.
This number will vary. I ended up doing a ton of yoga while I was visiting Asia hence why I brought 2 pairs. But if you don’t plan on doing yoga or exercising all that much, then one pair should be okay. I like to wear leggings on planes or even just if I am walking around and want to be comfortable. I love Nike leggings and Lululemon leggings, definitely more pricey but the quality is worth it!
The beauty of being a woman. Bringing bras and underwear. Don’t over do it, but definitely bring the essentials. This goes along with socks and swim suits too.
I like to go braless most of the time, but I know not everybody can do that. Bring the your every day t-shirt bra for comfort and a sports bra if you plan on exercising. I would probably only bring neutral colored bras that you can wear with everything. I live in these sport bras because they are perfect for wearing under t-shirts too.
I tend to go for comfort over sexiness. Asia is hot and you’ll want your private areas to be able to breathe. I love and basically live in Calvin Klein undergarments because they are lightweight and have no panty lines. The number you bring will depend on how often you plan on doing laundry. You’ll also want underwear that is quick drying in case you run out, are too lazy to do a full load of laundry, and need to do a quick wash in the sink.
This will really depend on what shoes you bring. Most of the time I spent in Asia I wore sandals because it was so hot. I have about 3-4 pairs of socks for the times I go to the gym or if I am doing an outdoor hike. You’ll want odor-eliminating socks that are quick drying to capture all that moisture from the humidity in Asia.
It is hot as heck in Asia. I know I sound like a broken record but it’s true. You’ll want to jump into the ocean if you can, and if not the ocean then a pool.
Oh shoes. So many options, but so little space. I’d only recommend packing 2-3 pairs of shoes. What type will depend on what type of activities you plan on doing and how often. Obviously if you don’t plan on hiking often, then you won’t need to pack hiking shoes. But you’ll want to find shoes that can be dressed up or dressed down. Here’s a list of what shoes to pack when backpacking Southeast Asia.
I live in these all day every day. Chaco Sandals are the best and are so comfortable whether you plan on walking a ton or going for a swim at the beach. There are a bunch of other really good other brands that are a similar vibe: I’ve heard really good things about Teva Sandals and Sketchers is always a good and reliable brand too! These are perfect because you’ll want a shoe with a comfortable sole, but still will want your feet to be able to breathe!
I chose to bring sneakers instead of hiking shoes, but it all depends on what you plan on doing. I brought Nike sneakers since I can use them for working out, going around during the day, and if I plan on doing a longer hike. I found it to be much more versatile for the activities I planned on doing in Southeast Asia. ASICS shoes are my go to running shoes since they are stable enough to go on long outdoor runs making them a good sneaker to bring on a trip to Asia!
You’ll definitely need a pair of flip-flops if you plan on staying in hostels. I’d wear flip-flops in the communal showers because I don’t even know what kind of weird stuff might be in there lol. It’s a super nice alternative too when you plan on just having a beach day. If you can find a shoe that can double as a flip flop and a cute sandal for going out, then you have a win-win. Birkenstocks usually has a ton of good options for that. Crocs is also GREAT as they are comfortable and waterproof.
Again not necessary if you aren’t an avid hiker. But if you are, then definitely bring them since there are some really good hiking trails all throughout Southeast Asia.
Now this might be obvious, but I’ll add some of my fave tech gadgets to this list. Obviously bring all your most loved tech items: phone, laptop, kindle, headphones, etc.
For days when you’re on loooong adventures, and you need some extra battery to find your way home
If you don’t have hair products that are dual voltage, you will literally fry your electronics (depending on which country you’re coming from). I know people who tried using a 120V straightener in 220V outlets that ended up in a power outage in the whole building. My friend fried her Dyson when visiting Thailand so I wouldn’t risk bringing any expensive hair tools.
I personally use the AmoVee two-in-one straightener/curler and swear by it. It’s one of the best hair purchases I’ve ever made because it is so useful and dual voltage. It’s lasted me almost a decade during my travels. It’s also pretty small, so super convenient for people with short hair. But there are many alternatives out there, just be sure to do your research. If you already have hair products that you love, make sure they are dual voltage before leaving for your trip or opt for heatless curls and cute updos! Remember it’s humid, so hair will likely go up at some point! Hair clips & hair ties are also a must.
I swear by this all-in-one adapter. I bought this exact one in 2019 which was the first time I ever backpacked Asia and still use the same one. It’s lasted me over half a decade and has been the best travel companion for all the 20+ countries I’ve visited since.
I’ve gone through multiple adapters and find this all-in-one adapter to be the best one I’ve ever used. I love that it has two USB and two USB-C so I can charge multiple devices at once. It’s 100% better than having to hold every adapter individually. I would pack at least 2 for your study abroad trip, just as a safety net in case you end up losing one!
For the plane or even to block out loud roommates. Having a good pair of headphones is so nice to have during your time abroad. I love my Apple AirPods, for their noise cancelling feature but there are a ton of alternatives out there as well.
Having good headphones is definitely important on your list of what electronics to pack for studying abroad.
Now this section is dedicated to all the miscellaneous stuff to bring on a southeast asia trip.
I’ve gone through a number of water bottles, and this exact Hydro Flask with this lid (not the straw) is absolutely leak proof and keeps beverages cold up to 24 hours. Another alternative is the Stanley Water Bottle which is also great for traveling. You can’t drink water from the tap in Asia, so you will likely be buying plastic water bottles. I like to pour plastic bottles into a thermos to keep my water cold, especially when it is hot in Asia!
For when you’re traveling, doing day trips or just sight-seeing around the city. You’ll want a high-quality backpack that’s big enough to carry all your day needs, lightweight and slash proof to avoid petty theft. I love North Face Backpacks for day use, weekend trips, hikes, or just going to work.
Anti-theft backpacks like this one that have built in clasps are really awesome. Be sure when you’re using public transport, tuktuks, etc. that you put your backpack on the front of your body. This might be a foreign concept to you, but do it or you may risk getting stuff stolen!
The key is to keep things as light as possible. You can buy ALL kinds of toiletries while you’re abroad including toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. If you have any holy grails that you swear by (for me it’s usually skincare stuff), then I’d bring those but keep in mind they’ll take up space in your luggage! As for makeup, I’d recommend to keep things as light as possible. Remember it is HUMID, so odds are you’ll be sweating most of your makeup off anyway.
Your passport (obviously), visas if necessary, travel insurance, photo IDs and any other travel documents your program may require!! Make digital photocopies of all important documents on the cloud just in case you run into any problems abroad (I.e. losing your passport or getting your phone stolen). Having photocopies of all your important documents will make the process much easier if you do run into that problem.
And there you ladies have it. A women’s packing list to backpacking Southeast Asia. Happy travels!
Xoxo,
Angelique Vestil – Ang Around The Globe
