What to Wear in Thailand? With Free Printable Checklist

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Beaches, mountains, and crazy Bangkok – Thailand is a fun country to visit. Whether you are island hopping or gap year stopping there’s something for every type of travel lover.

However, with all the excitement of planning the trip of a lifetime, we often get carried away with what to take and end up packing too much.

This Thailand packing list will detail what to wear in Thailand including the travel essentials, toiletries and electronics you can’t leave at home. We will also detail what to buy in Thailand!

Know Before You Go

Packing for Thailand shouldn’t be a stressful experience but we advise checking out the weather forecast and this list of the top Thailand activities to help you work out your travel gear.

Weather in Thailand

The Insta-perfect picture of Thailand would have you thinking that it is sunny all of the time but that is fake news, unfortunately!  

The best time to visit Thailand depends on which areas you plan to visit.

• May-late September/early October is bad for the west coast islands like Phuket and Krabi.
• September-December is rainy season for the east coast islands like Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
• The north sees a drier season around November-May.

Top Things to do in Thailand

• Rum buckets and scorpion snacks in Bangkok.
• Waterfalls and hot springs in Pai.
• Hiking, rafting and elephant washing in Chiang Mai.
• Temple hunting in Chiang Rai.
• Diving and snorkelling at Koh Phi Phi.
• Full moon party Ko Pha-Ngan.
• Expat life Koh Tao.

Thailand Packing List

Naturally, the number of items depends on your luggage size and duration. For two weeks, consider the following.

Clothes – Female/Ladies

• Four vest tops (day).
• Three cami/dress vest tops.
• Shorts for a beach/city.
• Skirts (I actually prefer skirts to shorts, dumpy thighs!)
• Black gym/yoga pants – casual and disco pants in one item.
• Dresses – little black dress is always a winner, match with flip-flops and a scarf/shirt for the perfect Thailand outfit.
• Cardigan.
• Hoody.
• Shorts for hiking.
• Overtrousers USA / UK for downpours while hiking.
• A waterproof coat like my beloved Marmot US / UK comes with me everywhere. which folds into its own pocket, great for hiking/saves space.
• Merino wool base layer like Icebreaker Merino wool base layer USA / UK  – keeps you cool in hot climates, warm in cold conditions.

If you plan to spend a lot of time on islands, check out our beach packing list too.

Convertible Clothes

Hybrid clothing is on point. Convertible dresses can be worn in twenty different ways. Saves space and looks unique in every photo you take!

Pack travel detergent. We washed our clothes with shampoo during our travels and they stunk after a while. 

What to Pack for Thailand (Male/Men)

Guys, you’ll want to still look suave while fighting the sweat. Here’s our tried, tested and refined Thailand travel essentials for men.

• Five vesties.
• Five shirts/Ts (check out Bluffwork’s range for travel-specific shirts).
• Shorts.
• Hiking pants (convertibles work well for hikes).
• Hoody.
• Merino wool base layer.
• Waterproof coat – Craig is now rocking the Mountain Equipment Rupal but that might be a little bulky for Thailand.

Pro tip: You will need to cover up when visiting temples, some have clothes for you to hire there.

Thailand Shoes

Personally, I think the best shoes for Thailand come in a three-pack! Flip-flops/sliders for beach days, hiking boots or covered shoes for treks and fancier sandals for evening wear.

• A sturdy pair of flip-flops – Havaianas US / UK. 
• A fancier pair of sandals for partying.
• Closed shoes like a pair of black trainers (go with everything) for scooter rides – don’t attempt mopeds in flip-flops you will scrape or burn your feet (Craig scraped, I burnt).
• Gortex waterproof hiking shoes or boots (shoes are lighter, I wear Salomon US / UK which I trekked with to Machu Picchu. , Craig wears Scarpa boots for treks and wading his way through monsoon roadblocks!

That’s it, don’t pack another pair. You are just wasting precious space.

How to Pack Your Travel Shoes for Thailand

Wear your heaviest pair of shoes during travel/transit(that’s why I like my Salomon, they look nice as well as support my awkward feet) and squeeze your other shoes down the sides of your suitcase or backpack.

Many backpacks open like suitcases now (front opening like a clamshell) so you can get to your shoes easily enough. It’s often worth popping your flip-flops in your day bag for accessibility. Hot feet are no fun!

Invest in a heavy-duty shoe bag for dirty/sandy hiking boots, you can double this bag up as a waterproof bag which is useful for water sports.

Underwear/Swimwear

When creating your checklist on what to bring to Thailand, pride of place should be a couple of swimwear options because let’s face it, we book a trip to Thailand to get those Instagram worthy shots of the palm trees and turquoise waters. So let’s dive in. 

• Pants/knickers/boxers – I pack extra because, well… sweat.
• Cotton trainer socks.
• Merino wool hiking socks US / UK– very important for hiking as they are breathable.
• Bras.
• Sports bra if top-heavy.
• Bikinis/swim suits.
• Kaftan, sarongs, cover-ups – don’t go wild on these. One is enough if you are going all-inclusive or looking to book into a luxury hotel (they are economical!)
• Swimming shorts.

Top tip for bikinis – pack dark bottom, a variety of bold coloured bikini tops for different looks.

Buy a snorkel there.

Travel Accessories

• Sunglasses.
• Headscarf/hat.
• Large scarf – travel hack: scarves make great covers, blankets, bags and curtains for dorm beds (read our hilarious tips for dorm users post).
• Day bag (I adore my Kanken).
• Tote bag – stop the Thai plastic tide.
• Leave the bling (including engagement rings) at home.
• Bio-degradbale glitter for Full Moon BUT don’t go in the sea with it – respect the Thai marine life.
• Bamboo straw and cutlery kit US / UK.

Electronics

• You definitely want to take headphones for bus/train/boat/plane journeys. They are also your best bet for when there’s a snorer in your company and great for hiding behind when you are too hungover to be social (like Harry Potter’s invisible cloak).
• GoPro to document all the advnentures you are going to take and definitely splurge on the waterproof cover and floating hand grip.
• Waterproof phone covers are great for keeping your phone alive but still available for selfies.
• We love Anker battery pack US / UK
  for phone and GoPro charging on the go.
• Craig never hikes without the JBL Clip US / UK . Superb sound, economically priced (makes for a great gift too).
• Universal plugs with USB slots are space savers US / UK.

Travel Toiletries + Medication

• Suntan lotion.
• Nice high factor face moisturisers like US / UK.
• Cleanser.
• Soap and solid shampoos save space, avoid spills and tend to be plastic-free.
• Razor.
• Toothbrush.
• Tooth tablets (no spill).
• Make-up: keep this to a minimum. You’ll rarely wear it (even if you put it on, you can expect it to fall off your face in the heat!) I like a palette which covers all bases.
• Mosquito repellent – you need to decide if you want DEET or DEET-free products like Avon Soft Skin US / UK. We’ve used both, nothing works if mosquitoes like you.
• You don’t need a mosquito net, just make sure you book accommodation with it.
• Malaria tablets – I cheaped out and took the (free) budget malaria tablets for our trip to Southeast Asia. I definitely didn’t feel myself, I bruised easily and felt a bit paranoid. For South America, I paid for Malarone and felt better. Others have had different experiences on both! Share your experience in the comments below.
• See your doctor for vaccinations.
• Well stocked first aid kit with needles.
• Tubigrip for strains.
• Leukotape US / UK to cover heels during hikes (that stuff does not budge!)
• Electrolytes US / UK for the hangovers (rum buckets, ‘nuf said).
• Filtering/purifying water bottle like the Water 2 Go (15% off using TSA15 at checkout).
• Don’t forget your travel insurance. Our review of True Traveller and World Nomads can be read here.

Thailand Packing Checklist

Click here to download your checklist for things to pack for Thailand (you may need to log in to your Gmail account).

Things To Buy In Thailand

You can pretty much buy anything in Thailand (7/11, Tesco, Pizza Hut) so don’t stress if you forget an item. It is a rite of passage to purchase:

• Hareem elephant pants/trousers.
• ‘Same same but different’ vesties.
• Tiger balm.
• Thai silk blankets.
• Fakebans (no protection though).
• Thai lanterns (don’t let them go/bad for the environment).
• Massages (super cheap).
• And for the most permanent souvenir – a Sak Yant tattoo!

All of the above can be purchased at Thai markets and along Kho San Road in Bangkok. I wish we had got a fake university card for cheap student discounts back home…

How to Pack for Thailand

One of the hardest parts of packing for Thailand is being strict on what you are taking. Pro tip – pack once then save time to re-pack because a third of what is in your bag/case should be left behind!

Backpack users – consider some kind of separation system like packing cubes or large ziplock bags.

Roll your tops then place in the cube/bag. Do the same for your bottoms. Roll valuables like sunglasses up with an item of clothing.

Suitcase users – roll or fold your items, the decision is yours. I do believe that rolling creates more space though. Roll valuables like sunglasses up with an item of clothing.

For both – place shoes down the sides of the bag or make the shoes fit into each other and pack them first. Place items like socks, headscarves etc in the shoes.

Keep your flip-flops in your day bag. Pack a clean pair of underwear, top and swimwear in your carry-on bag too just in case your luggage goes missing. Tripping with your partner? Pack half of a bag each that way if one case goes missing you still have half of your Thailand essentials.

I pack my underwear and swimwear in a separate make-up bag. I also store my toiletries in a second make-up bag (waterproof).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is wearing shorts in Thailand acceptable?

Sure! But if you plan to visit any temples you might want to pack a long pair of pants and a long-sleeved top.

2. Colors not to wear in Thailand?

Nothing is off-limits but research states that mosquitos prefer darker shades.

On the flip side, laundry store washing machines really don’t like white so expect your gear to come back looking a little on the yellow side.

P2o suntan lotion definitely does like white, it stains it.

3. What medications can I take to Thailand?

I took malaria tablets and the pill with me to Thailand with no issues. It is wise to carry your prescription receipt with you in case you are questioned.

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Final Thoughts

Thailand is honestly a care-free country with an infrastructure set up for tourists and backpackers. As long as you have your passport, visa, vaccinations and the correct meds you don’t have to overthink packing for Thailand because this country has everything ‘same same but different’!

Whether you are backpacking Thailand for a month or flashpacking to one or two destinations you are in for a fun time. Do remember the hangover hydration tablets!

What have we missed, tell us in the comments below?