Thailand Packing List: What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind)

After 15+ years of Thailand trips, my packing list has been refined through every mistake imaginable — overpacking for a week in Bangkok, underpacking for a month in Chiang Mai, forgetting reef shoes for Koh Tao. Here’s what actually matters.

Pack light and buy the rest in Thailand. 7-Eleven is on every corner. Toiletries, adapters, flip-flops, sunscreen — it's all available and usually cheaper than home.

The Golden Rule

Pack light and buy the rest in Thailand. 7-Eleven is on every corner. Bangkok malls rival anything in the West. Toiletries, adapters, flip-flops, sunscreen — it’s all available and usually cheaper.

Clothing (Pack for 5 Days, Laundry is Everywhere)

Essentials

• 4–5 lightweight t-shirts or tank tops — cotton or moisture-wicking. You’ll sweat through them daily.
• 2 pairs of shorts — quick-dry for versatility between beach and city.
• 1 pair of lightweight pants or joggers — for temple visits and nicer restaurants. Legs must be covered at temples.
• 1 long-sleeve shirt — for sun protection, AC-cold buses, and temple visits.
• 5–7 pairs of underwear — moisture-wicking if you can.
• 3 pairs of socks — more if you’re trekking in the north.
• 1 swimsuit (2 if island hopping — one is always drying).
• 1 sarong or cover-up — doubles as temple cover, beach blanket, towel, and pillow on buses.

For Temple Visits

Temples require covered shoulders and knees. Pack at least one outfit that covers both. Some temples provide wraps for ฿20–50 ($0.57–1.43), but not all. A sarong solves this permanently.

For the North (November–February)

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai get cool at night — 15°C (59°F). Pack:

• 1 light jacket or fleece
• 1 pair of long pants

Skip

• Jeans (too heavy, too hot)
• Formal clothes (unnecessary unless you have specific plans)
• More than one week’s clothing (laundry costs ฿40–60/kg/$1.14–1.71 everywhere)

Footwear

• Comfortable walking sandals — Birkenstocks, Chacos, or Tevas. You’ll be removing shoes constantly at temples and homes.
• Sturdy flip-flops — for beaches, showers, and casual walking.
• One pair of lightweight sneakers — if you plan to trek, hike Doi Suthep, or run.
• Reef shoes (optional but recommended) — for rocky beaches, Koh Tao snorkeling, and boat entries.

Toiletries & Health

Pack From Home

• Reef-safe sunscreen — hard to find in Thailand and critical for island snorkeling. Regular sunscreen is banned at some marine parks.
• Insect repellent with DEET — available in Thailand but the imported brands (Off!, Repel) are pricier. Dengue is real.
• Prescription medications — bring more than you need, in original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
• Basic first aid: Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, Imodium, electrolyte packets.
• Hand sanitizer — street food is incredible but wash/sanitize before eating.

Buy in Thailand

• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash — 7-Eleven has everything for ฿30–80 ($0.86–2.29).
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Tiger Balm and ya dom (menthol inhalers) — the Thai cure for everything. ฿20/$0.57.
• Aloe vera gel — ฿60–100/$1.71–2.86 at any pharmacy.

Electronics

• Phone + waterproof case — essential for boat trips and rain.
• Universal power adapter — Thailand uses Type A/B/C outlets (220V). Most hotels have USB ports but don’t count on it.
• Portable charger (10,000+ mAh) — long travel days between islands, overnight trains, and all-day tours drain batteries.
• eSIM or Thai SIM card — see our eSIM guide for details. Data costs ฿300–600/$8.60–17 for 15–30 days.

Optional

• GoPro or action camera — if you dive or snorkel regularly.
• Kindle or e-reader — for beach days and bus rides.
• Noise-canceling headphones — essential for overnight buses and Bangkok tuk-tuks.

Travel Gear

Must-Have

• Daypack (20–25L) — for daily excursions. Packable is ideal.
• Dry bag — ฿150–300/$4.30–8.60 in Thailand, but bring one if you dive or island-hop. Protects phone and wallet on longtail boats.
• Padlock — many hostels and budget guesthouses have lockers.
• Travel towel (microfiber) — dries fast, packs small. Budget hotels don’t always provide towels.
• Reusable water bottle — refill stations are common at hostels and some hotels. Tap water is NOT safe to drink.

Nice to Have

• Packing cubes — life-changing for organization in a backpack.
• Clothesline or bungee cord — for drying swimsuits in hotel rooms.
• Ziplock bags — for keeping electronics dry in sudden rain.

Documents & Money

• Passport — valid for 6+ months beyond entry date. Thailand grants 60-day visa-exempt entry for most Western passports (changed from 30 days in 2024).
• Passport photocopy — separate from your passport. Digital copy on phone too.
• Travel insurance documentation — print the policy number and emergency contact. Thailand requires proof of insurance for some visa types.
• ATM card with low foreign transaction fees — Thai ATMs charge ฿220/$6.29 per withdrawal. Withdraw ฿20,000–30,000 at once to minimize fees. Kasikorn Bank (green) and Bangkok Bank (blue) are the most reliable.
• Credit card — Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in cities. Cash-only in rural areas and islands.
• ฿500–1,000 in small bills for arrival taxi and immediate needs.

What NOT to Pack

• Expensive jewelry — unnecessary risk.
• A full-size towel — too bulky. Buy a sarong or bring a microfiber.
• Excessive cash — ATMs are everywhere. Carry ฿5,000–10,000 daily max.
• Heavy guidebooks — your phone has everything.
• Formal shoes — no one wears them. Even upscale Bangkok restaurants are casual.
• A massive suitcase — longtail boats, overnight buses, and tuk-tuks all punish heavy luggage. A 40–50L backpack or carry-on size rolling bag is ideal.

Season-Specific Additions

Rainy Season (June–October)

• Compact rain jacket or poncho
• Waterproof phone pouch
• Quick-dry everything

Hot Season (March–May)

• Extra sunscreen
• Cooling towel
• Electrolyte packets (you’ll sweat more than you think)

Cool Season / Northern Mountains

• Light fleece or hoodie
• Closed-toe shoes for trekking
• Warmer sleepwear (mountain guesthouses don’t have heating)

Scott’s Pro Tips

• Laundry is everywhere. Almost every hotel, guesthouse, and street in tourist areas has a laundry service for ฿40–60/kg ($1.14–1.71). Don’t pack more than 5 days of clothes.
• Buy a ฿100 poncho at any 7-Eleven when it rains. Cheaper and more accessible than packing a rain jacket.
• Tiger Balm is the Thai Swiss Army knife. Mosquito bites, headaches, muscle aches, motion sickness — put it on everything.
• Bring a pen for the arrival card on the plane. Thai immigration still uses paper cards.
• Your bag should be small enough that you can carry it off a longtail boat in knee-deep water. If it’s not, you packed too much.