What to pack for Thailand

Pack light for Thailand — clothes, toiletries and most gear are cheap and everywhere. What's worth carrying from home is sunscreen, repellent you trust, and one outfit that covers shoulders and knees.

71 items · 14-day backpacking, hot and humid weather, with a checked bag · tick them off, print, or adjust the list to your trip below

Temple dress code is enforced, not suggested

Shoulders and knees covered, for everyone. The Grand Palace in Bangkok is the strictest and turns away people daily; sarongs are sometimes available to rent at the gate, sometimes not. One pair of light long trousers and one shirt with sleeves solves it for the whole trip, and doubles as protection on the days the sun is unreasonable.

Buy it there — with three exceptions

Clothing, flip-flops, toiletries, and a beach towel all cost less in any Thai 7-Eleven or market than the space they take in your bag. Three things are worth carrying: sunscreen (expensive locally and frequently mixed with skin-whitening agents), a repellent you already know works, and any medication you rely on. Thai pharmacies are excellent and cheap for everything else.

Rain is a daily event, not a ruined day

In the wet season, expect a heavy downpour most afternoons that clears within the hour. That calls for a light rain shell and dry bags for electronics — not for cancelling plans. If you're taking ferries between islands, bags get loaded on open decks: a waterproof cover or a liner bag inside your pack is the difference between damp and destroyed.

Feet and scooters

You'll be in sandals almost permanently, which is fine until a long temple day; one pair of closed shoes earns its place. If you plan to ride a scooter, wear a helmet that actually fastens and cover your legs — road rash from a low-speed slide on hot tarmac is the single most common injury travellers bring home from Thailand, and travel insurance often refuses claims without the correct licence.

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Frequently asked questions

What should I wear to temples in Thailand?

Shoulders and knees covered, for everyone. This is enforced at the door rather than politely suggested, and the sarongs some temples lend out are much-used in a humid climate. Light long trousers and a sleeved shirt in a breathable fabric cover it without being unbearable in the heat.

What should I buy in Thailand rather than pack?

Almost all toiletries, clothing and beach gear are cheap and everywhere, so packing light and buying on arrival works well. The exceptions worth carrying from home are sunscreen, which is expensive locally and often contains skin-whitening agents, any prescription medication, and shoes if you take a large size.

Do I need a motorcycle licence to rent a scooter in Thailand?

If you intend to ride, bring one. Rental shops often hand over a scooter without asking, but travel insurers routinely reject claims from riders who were not licensed for the vehicle — which turns a common minor accident into an uninsured hospital bill.

Each one is a full list with advice specific to that trip — and the generator underneath it, so you can adjust it to yours.

What to pack for Thailand

Temple dress code is enforced, not suggested

Buy it there — with three exceptions

Rain is a daily event, not a ruined day

Feet and scooters

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