Ten Essentials for a Road Trip Along the Pacific Highway

The best advice for packing for Southeast Asia is simple: bring less than you think you need. The weather is warm, laundry is cheap and almost everything can be bought locally. A lighter bag makes every bus, train and staircase easier.

What to pack

Your bag

• A backpack of about 40 to 50 litres. It should be small enough to carry on and comfortable enough to wear all day.

• A small daypack. Useful for daily outings, and it can hold your valuables.

• Packing cubes. They keep things organised and make it easy to find what you need.

Clothes

Choose light, quick-drying fabrics that suit hot, humid weather.

• 4 to 5 T-shirts or tops

• 2 pairs of shorts and 1 pair of light trousers

• 1 light long-sleeve shirt for temples and cool evenings

• A sarong or scarf, useful as a cover-up, towel or blanket

• Underwear and socks for a week

• Comfortable sandals and one pair of closed shoes

• A light rain jacket or poncho, especially in rainy season

Tech

• Phone and charger

• Universal travel adapter

• Power bank

• Headphones

• Optional: an e-reader or a small camera

Health and hygiene

• Sunscreen and insect repellent

• A small first aid kit with plasters, pain relief and rehydration salts

• Any personal medication you need

• Hand sanitiser and tissues

• Basic toiletries in small bottles

Hostel essentials

• A padlock. Most hostels have lockers but expect you to bring your own lock.

• Earplugs and an eye mask. They make dorm sleeping much easier.

• A quick-dry towel. Light, compact and useful everywhere.

• A reusable water bottle. Refill it where you can to cut down on plastic.

What to leave at home

• Heavy jeans and thick jumpers

• Too many pairs of shoes

• Expensive jewellery

• Anything you would be upset to lose

A final tip

Pack your bag, then take a third of it out. Most travellers end up wearing the same few outfits anyway, and you will thank yourself when you carry it up your first flight of hostel stairs.