In order to travel happy, a few preparations have to be made. It’s just the plain and simple fact.

Now as much as I love travel, I will be the first to admit that packing is among my top 5 least favorite things to do in the world. I hate everything about it – planning out all the things that have to come along for the trip, living out of a suitcase… Just thinking about it makes me cringe.

I’m also a bit of a shopaholic/clothing hoarder so packing leaves me with two less than appealing options: severely limiting my wardrobe or lugging around a suitcase that is heavier than I am. When it comes to this point, I always go with option A (as much as it hurts). In the end I will remember the photographs, the sites and the daily adventures, not the shortage of outfits I packed. And trust me, your back will thank you.

So, what do you pack for a backpacking tour of Southeast Asia?

Luckily, Southeast Asia is hot meaning your clothes will take up less space. I brought along 2 pairs of shorts, 4 dresses, 8 shirts, undergarments, a bikini, a straw hat (don’t recommend, it was a pain to carry around), flip flops and sandals. Pack your lightest, airiest clothes.

Laundry service is cheap and readily available so you will always have clean clothes to wear. You will also pick up a few local items (elephant pants, dresses) off the street. Make sure you have at least one outfit that is acceptable for visiting the temples, generally meaning covered shoulders and legs.

In my toiletry bag, I packed shampoo, conditioner, face wash, sunscreen, toothpaste, deodorant, hair ties, curl cream, curl spray and medicine. You can buy all these things once you arrive but we had just moved out of our home in New Orleans and decided to use up our toiletries. Skincare is really important to me whilst I’m traveling. I have acne-prone skin so I’m always buying products for exfoliating your skin. If I don’t exfoliate, my acne flares up. It’s not good – especially when I’m on vacation!

The only other items in my backpack, which I checked, were a microfiber towel and The Happiness Project. I wore yoga pants, a tank top, sweatshirt and Toms to the airport. A friend recommended an Arkadia Supply backpack for day trips because it can fold up into your pocket!

All the other stuff goes in the carry-on.

I bought a fun patterned booksack for my trip. It functioned as my carry-on, but I also used it to carry my belongings when I explored cities and went on excursions.

Asus Transformer with a 500 GB keyboard dock
Nikon D3000, 35 mm lens and charger
Mini video camera
Verizon global phone (I don’t recommend this, just get a SIM card to pop into an unlocked iPhone when you arrive)
Journal and pen (pen is useful for when you have to fill out your arrival card)
A pair of socks, sunglasses and an airplane pillow for the flight
Makeup bag (only the most basic essentials; you will sweat off makeup in the heat of SEA)
Small purse and travel wallet (tickets, passport, money)

Wish I Packed…

Cloth headbands
Headphones
More sports bras
Spray sunscreen

Secrets for Packing it All In

Packing your backpack can be tricky if you don’t do it properly.
Get a backpack with pockets and utilize them. I spent so long searching for a backpack but it was well worth it. I loved my backpack and it was so strong and durable throughout my travels. There are various choices when it comes to backpack brands so do your research!

Invest in a packing cube. I bought this one on the recommendation of Be My Travel Muse. It was great to have as a gauge (it was very obvious when I had over packed) and it kept my backpack organized. Plus, it was very convenient having a clean side and a dirty side. Roll your clothes to fit them in and zip as you go.

Leave a little space for souvenirs and the other purchases you acquire along the way.

Invest in a lightweight laptop. My Macbook was way too heavy and I wasn’t ready to invest in a Macbook Air so I opted for the Asus Transformer. Considering I was going to blog my way around SEA, electronics were non-negotiable but I would have been miserable schlepping around a heavy bag.

Keep valuables in your carry-on.

Buy a microfiber towel. They are so much smaller and dry very quickly.

Packing for the Weather

The climate will vary depending on which countries you visit, but the seasons in Southeast Asia are generally broken down as hot, wet and dry.

Dry season is November to February making it high season for tourists. Although the weather is nice, the crowds can get insane.

Hot season follows dry season until the rains begin around July. I traveled during the transition from hot to wet season because that time was convenient and I prefer to travel off-season. Although it was scorching hot and we got stuck in a very wet week in Laos, days were generally sunny with an afternoon/evening storm.

Here is a printable packing guide to help you get ready for your trip.

For tips on budgeting your trip read this.

Check out this post if you are looking for hostel recommendations.

And you can even take a look at my suggested itinerary.

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