Packing List For Thailand 2026

✅ Before You Travel To Thailand: Essential Stuff To Sort Out

These aren’t things that go in your bag — they’re things that need sorting weeks or months before departure. Don’t leave any of these late.

🗂️ Documents and Visa

• Passport — Valid for at least 12 months beyond your arrival date, with blank pages for stamps. A passport cover protects it and keeps boarding passes organised.
• Visa — Most Western nationalities receive a 60-day visa exemption on arrival (as of April 2026). There has been discussion of changing this back to only 30 days but at the moment it’s still 60 days. official Thai MFA list for your nationality.
• Thailand Digital Arrival Card — Required for all visitors since May 2025. Complete it before you leave home at the official TDAC site. Takes five minutes and saves time at the airport. Applying for the TDAC is FREE. Only use the official site. There are lots of scammer websites that try to charge you money to apply for a TDAC.
• Document scans — Photograph your passport, all bank cards (back as well as front — the emergency numbers are on the back), insurance details and any other important documents. Save to your email account and to your phone’s cloud storage.

💉 Health

• Vaccinations — Book an appointment with your GP or a travel clinic at least 8 weeks before travel. Standard recommendations include Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and tetanus. Rabies may be advised if you’re spending time in rural areas. Malaria tablets are not usually needed unless you’re trekking in deep jungle.
• Prescription medicines — Bring a full supply. While international pharmacies exist in Bangkok, sourcing specific drugs can be difficult and time-consuming outside the cities.

💰 Money and Connectivity

• Credit and debit cards — Notify your bank before travel to avoid cards being blocked. Bring at least two cards from different networks. ATMs are everywhere in Thailand; budget for ATM fees.
• Thai SIM card — Far cheaper than roaming. You can pre-order a Thai SIM online via Klook for collection at the airport, or buy one from any mobile shop in Bangkok. Data packages are cheap and fast.
• Flights — Compare Thailand flights on Skyscanner. Three months ahead is generally the sweet spot for pricing.
• Bus and ferry tickets — For island-hopping or overland travel between cities, check 12go.asia for schedules and online booking. Worth pre-booking during peak season (December–January) when ferries fill up.

🎒 Luggage: Choosing the Right Bag

For most Thailand trips, a backpack in the 30–44L range is the right call. It keeps you mobile on tuk-tuks, songthaews and overnight buses, fits in overhead lockers on domestic flights, and doesn’t need checking in. Invest in a decent brand — the harness matters enormously once your pack weighs more than 8kg. Osprey remains the standard recommendation for quality and longevity.

Whatever bag you use, packing cubes transform how quickly you can find anything in it. Use three or four — one per clothing category — and repacking at guesthouses goes from a 15-minute wrestle to a 90-second job. Add TSA-approved luggage locks to all zips.

🧼 Toiletries and Health

What to buy in Thailand: Don’t waste bag space on large quantities of toiletries. Toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, deodorant, and basic pain relief (Panadol, Imodium) are all available at 7-Elevens across the country. Bring small travel sizes to last the first couple of days; restock locally.

🧴 Sun Protection

• Sunscreen SPF 50+ — Non-negotiable. Apply before leaving the room every morning. Banana Boat absorbs fast and works well in heat. Sunscreen sticks are handy for quick facial reapplication. Bring a full bottle from home; sunscreen in Thailand is often heavily whitening-tinted.
• Sunglasses — Cheap sunglasses are everywhere in Thailand, but they’re unlikely to offer meaningful UV protection. Bring a quality pair. Polarised options are particularly useful near water.
• Aftersun / sunburn relief — You’ll need it at least once. Pack a tube.

🦟 Insect Protection

• Mosquito repellent — Apply every morning, and again around 5pm before dusk when mozzies are most active. DEET-based repellents are most effective. Options on Amazon — you can also buy repellent in Bangkok. Covering up in loose trousers and long sleeves in the evening adds an extra layer of protection.
• Bite relief cream — For when the above inevitably falls short. Mosquito bites aren’t usually a serious health risk in tourist areas, but they’re miserable.

💊 Stomach

• Diarrhoea treatment — A case of Bangkok Belly is not a question of if, but when. Most cases pass within 24 hours and respond to rest and bottled water. Imodium is the go-to for when you absolutely need to keep moving. If symptoms persist beyond 48 hours, see a doctor — hospitals in Bangkok are excellent and relatively affordable.
• Hand sanitiser — Soap isn’t always available in cheaper bathrooms. Carry a small bottle.
• Tissues / toilet paper — Thailand uses bum guns (pressurised water hoses, essentially a bidet) rather than toilet paper in many bathrooms. They work better than toilet paper. But carry tissues for less sanitary situations. Compact travel toilet paper is a useful backup.

😷 General Health

• Antihistamine tablets — Particularly useful on long-haul flights, where recycled dry air can trigger allergy symptoms in otherwise healthy people. Cheap without prescription.
• Moisturiser — Face moisturiser for long flights. Air-conditioned cabin air strips moisture fast. CeraVe is a reliable, no-fuss option.
• Ear plugs — Essential for dorms, overnight buses, and trains. Moldex is the brand worth buying.
• Wash bag — Waterproof and well-organised. The hanging style is most practical in hostel bathrooms where counter space is scarce.

🗓️ Thailand Weather and When to Go

Thailand has three seasons, and which one you visit changes what goes in your bag. The cool and dry season (November–February) is the most popular time to travel. Temperatures in Bangkok hover around 28–32°C during the day, and evenings in the north — Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai — can drop to a surprisingly refreshing 15°C. A light fleece earns its place in the bag.

The hot season (March–May) is brutal in the cities, with Bangkok regularly topping 38°C. Pack your lightest, most breathable clothes and prioritise sun protection above everything else. The wet season (June–October) brings heavy but typically short daily downpours. A compact umbrella or lightweight rain layer is worth adding; a full waterproof jacket usually isn’t necessary unless you’re trekking in the north.

The islands and the south have a slightly different pattern — the east coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan) gets its rain in October–December, while the west coast (Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak) is best avoided during May–October. Plan accordingly.

📋 Frequently Asked Questions: Packing for Thailand