*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
This post is all about travel essentials for Southeast Asia and highlights fifteen items that will make your Southeast Asia adventures safe and enjoyable.

Travelling through Southeast Asia is truly the trip of a lifetime! Between the food, the people and the natural wonders, it’s a place in the world I can’t help but to keep revisiting. In 2023 & 2024, I spent 6 months travelling all over Asia. During this trip I packed very minimally, living out of only a 45L backpack. Along the way I’ve collected a list of travel essentials that, in my opinion, every Southeast Asia traveller needs.
Whether your trip is 2 weeks or 2 months, make sure you have these travel essentials for Southeast Asia before you head out on your adventure!
💵 Spend in different currencies with Wise
📞 Stay connected with an e-sim from Airalo
🌎 Find affordable accommodation on Booking.com
🍜 Plan tours and entertainment with Viator
✈️ Save money booking flights on Hopper
1) Comfortable, Lightweight & Waterproof Shoes
You will be doing so much walking in the heat in Southeast Asia so a light but comfortable shoe is important. In addition to that, the weather can change quickly. There are many spontaneous storms that last only 30 minutes. The last thing you want is to be walking around with wet socks, so a waterproof pair of shoes that keeps you going even through the rainy days is a must.
My personal favourite shoes are from the brand Vessi. I wore Vessi’s everyday for 6 months on my last trip to Asia, they were incredible and are still in great condition afterwards. I honestly can’t tell you how many times I was so thankful I had brought these shoes with me! They are truly waterproof, super lightweight and really comfortable making my long days of walking or hiking in any kind of weather actually enjoyable. Also, they are really easy to clean when they inevitably get dirty which is a plus. The Vessi’s I purchased for the trip were the Everyday Move in Polar White. I like the white shoe because they go with dresses as well as athletic outfits.
2) Imodium & Motion Sickness Tablets
These two medications were lifesavers many times and are an important travel essential for Southeast Asia. To begin, there are multiple modes of transit when travelling through Asia including sleeper buses, motorbikes, trains, and boats. Add in the winding roads and rough waters, even a person with the strongest stomach can end up motion sick. I recommend a non-drowsy version of motion sickness tablets, my favourite is Gravol.
Next, Imodium is a medication that helps with an upset stomach which can be caused by multiple things during travel including the water, food or just catching a bug while you’re on the go! It’s important to have this medication on you, because if you get sick you may not be well enough to go out to the store to buy some. With that being said, ensure you purchase travel insurance to cover any emergencies or trips to the doctor. You never know what might happen, and it’s always a good idea to be prepared for anything.
3) Phone Leash
Looking for a great way to keep your phone accessible and safe while travelling? I loved using a phone leash during my trip! When in crowded areas I would tuck my phone into my clothing or bag but then it was so easy to pull out for photos, directions or Google translate. I loved that it was impossible for it to fall or drop, and that I always knew where is was. This is the exact phone leash I used for my Southeast Asia trip and I highly recommend it. I still use it to this day, especially for hiking and day trips.
4) Water Bottle
In Southeast Asia, it is common to buy drinking water in plastic bottles. Throughout my travels, almost all accommodations and airports had drinking water refill stations for the guests. So, instead of buying plastic water bottles to take with us for the day, we reduced plastic waste and saved money by carrying a reusable and insulated water bottle. I love my Hydroflask because it keeps water cool all day long, especially when you’re exploring in the burning heat! It’s also nearly indestructible making it perfect to drag through airports, hikes, tours, boat trips and more!
5) Reusable Cutlery & Straw
This is one of my favourite travel essentials for Southeast Asia! Travelling with a reusable cutlery set and straw is amazing for all the takeaway food you inevitably end up buying. Plus, most average hotel rooms, hostels and guest houses in Asia don’t come with a kitchen area. So, having a spoon or fork handy for the late night snacks you buy from 7-Eleven is an essential! It’s also better for the environment compared to always using throwaway cutlery. I like to travel with a bamboo set since it’s lightweight. Note that I didn’t travel with the bamboo knife – only the spoon, fork and straw. I’m not sure if it would be an issue in the airport but I didn’t want to chance it.
6) Travel Adaptor
Regardless of which country you’re travelling to, you will probably find a travel adaptor extremely useful. It’s one of the important travel essentials for Southeast Asia, not only because you will need it to charge your devices, but also because adaptors with a protective fuse can help save your devices if there is a random spike in voltage. In addition, it is helpful to have an adaptor with multiple options for charging so you can charge a few different devices at a time. This travel adaptor is a great affordable option as it includes a protective fuse and a spare.
7) Tote Bag
A packable tote bag is another essential when travelling as it can be used for so many things! I used my tote bag for trips to the laundromat, grocery shopping and as a day bag on a variety of day tours. It’s an amazing option because you can carry multiple items such as your water bottle, sunscreen, camera, snacks and more! Plus, a tote bag looks great with most outfits making it a versatile bag choice when travelling. There are so many cute tote bag to choose from – these are some of my favourites.
8) Dry Bag
A good dry bag is absolutely needed for all of the water activities in Southeast Asia. Keeping your gear and clothing dry on boat trips, snorkelling adventures, and rainy days on the motorbike is essential. A 10L dry bag is a good size for most people. If you’re a travelling with a partner or a friend, purchasing a 20L and sharing it is also a great option. Dry bags are really easy to fold up and pack. I often kept mine folded up in one of the water bottle pockets of my travel backpack.
9) Rashguard
Sun safety is really important when travelling through Southeast Asia. Many people will find themselves with bad sunburns, especially if you’re participating in water activities where you’re having so much fun that you forget to re-apply! Purchasing a comfortable rashguard for your trip makes those days in the sun more enjoyable and safer for your skin. I used my rashguard when I took surfing lessons, went canyoneering and on various snorkelling trips. This rashguard from Body Glove is amazing and I highly recommend checking it out.
10) Sun Hat & Polarized Sunglasses
These are two additional sun protection travel essentials for Southeast Asia! A packable sun hat and polarized sunglasses are a must for sun protection on a daily basis. I recommend a sunhat that has a full brim to cover both your face, ears and back of your neck. You will spend hours under the hot sun exploring so you’ll want to look for a hat that is lightweight and breathable. I used this hat nearly every day on my 6 month trip and it was absolutely perfect! I like the style and fit of it, in addition to the UPF 50+ protection.
Sunglasses are another essential, especially ones with polarized lenses. The sun is so bright that oftentimes, even with a hat and sunglasses, I still found my eyes tired from squinting. There are so many styles and options available but I really like these glasses!
11) Mineral Sunscreen
Due to spending so much time in the ocean and other water bodies, it’s important to wear mineral sunscreen as other forms of sunscreen contain chemical ingredients that can damage coral reefs and marine life. I saw a lot of this damage while travelling in Asia. It’s important for us to be conscious travellers, understand our impact, and ensure we are making choices that limit the negative effects on the environment and the local people. You can learn more about mineral sunscreen here. My favourite is the Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen with SPF 50+.
12) Travel Towel
A lightweight, quick dry towel is essential for beach days, gym workouts, yoga classes, or if you’re staying at a hostel that makes you pay for a towel… 🙄 I recommend looking into something packable like this travel towel. You should also look for an option that has a clip or loop attached which makes it easier to hang in shared shower spaces.
13) Flip Flops and/or Waterproof Sandals
An additional shoe to use for public showers, swimming in waterfalls, and beach days is another essential. I chose a supportive sandal that, if needed, I could also walk around all day in. The Teva Hurricane XLT2 sport sandals are the absolute best! I’ve had these shoes years before I took this trip and they were the perfect addition for all water related activities!
14) Bug Spray
Bug spray is an important health essential because bugs, such as mosquitoes, carry diseases including Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever. Ensure you speak to your doctor before travelling to be prepared with other preventative measures such as getting vaccinated. I always carried a small bug spray with me in my day bag to re-apply as needed. It is recommended to re-apply heavily during the times when bugs are most active which is typically at dusk and dawn.
15) Hand Sanitizer
Last on this travel essentials for Southeast Asia list, is hand sanitizer. Keeping sanitizing spray, gel or wipes with you in your day bag is so helpful! When you’re travelling, especially on public transit, you come into contact with so many things and so many people. In addition, some bathrooms do not have soap or hand wash stations, so having sanitizer available is a great solution. I also found it helpful for the multiple meals we had on the road each day, and ensuring our hands were clean before and after eating.