What to Pack for Thailand (and What to Leave Home)

Pack light, breathable clothes, at least one outfit that covers shoulders and knees for temples, sandals plus one pair of proper walking shoes, high-factor sunscreen, insect repellent and a small dry bag for boat trips. If you are going north to Chiang Mai between November and February, add a warm layer. Leave the heavy wardrobe at home: laundry in Thailand is cheap and fast, and most everyday items are easy to buy.

Start with the climate

Thailand is hot all year, but not uniformly:

• Cool season, roughly November to February: pleasant in Bangkok and on the coast, cool mornings and evenings in the north, cold on the mountains at dawn.
• Hot season, roughly March to May: very hot everywhere, often well above 35°C in the afternoon.
• Rainy season, roughly June to October: heavy showers, usually short and in the afternoon, with high humidity. The Gulf coast (Koh Samui) has a different pattern, with its wettest weeks later in the year.

Your list should reflect where you are going and when. A beach week in Phuket in February and a trekking trip around Chiang Mai in December need different bags.

Clothes

• Light, quick-drying tops and bottoms. Cotton and linen are comfortable; synthetic travel fabrics dry overnight. Plan for one change a day, or more in the hot season.
• Temple outfit. A shirt or blouse with sleeves and long, loose trousers or a skirt below the knee. The Grand Palace in Bangkok enforces this strictly; see our guide to temple etiquette. A sarong is useful as a cover-up, beach towel and scarf in one.
• Swimwear. Two sets, so one is always dry. Swimwear is for the beach and the pool; cover up when walking through towns and into shops.
• A light long-sleeved shirt. For sun protection on boats and for mosquitoes in the evening.
• A warm layer. Air-conditioning on buses, trains, cinemas and malls is often very cold. In the north in the cool season, nights can be chilly, and at high altitude you need a proper fleece or light jacket.
• A light rain jacket or poncho in the rainy season. Umbrellas are cheap locally.

Shoes

• Sandals or flip-flops you can slip off quickly for temples and guesthouses, where shoes are left at the door.
• Walking shoes or light trainers for city days, ruins and national parks.
• Water shoes if you plan a lot of island hopping: some beaches and landing points have coral and rocks.

For beach and boat days

Island trips are among the highlights of a Thailand holiday, and the right kit makes them much better. On a longtail day such as our Krabi 4 Islands trip by longtail boat, you step off the boat into shallow water, spend hours in strong sun and may get splashed on the way back. Bring:

• Reef-friendly sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher. Several Thai marine national parks prohibit sunscreens containing certain chemicals harmful to coral, such as oxybenzone, as of 2026. Mineral-based sunscreens are the safe choice. Sunscreen is widely sold in Thailand but often more expensive than at home.
• A small dry bag for phone, cash and passport copy.
• A hat with a strap and sunglasses with a cord. Wind on a speedboat takes loose hats.
• A rash guard or swim shirt. Better sun protection than sunscreen when snorkelling.
• Motion sickness tablets if you are prone to it; open-water crossings can be choppy, especially outside the high season.
• Your own snorkel mask, if you care about fit. Trips usually provide gear, but a mask that seals well makes a big difference.

For the north and the mountains

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai feel different from the beaches. Temples are everywhere, so modest clothing is a daily need, and the mountains are much cooler. On a day trip to Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain at about 2,565 m, the summit can be close to freezing on cool-season mornings while Chiang Mai is warm. For our Doi Inthanon National Park day trip, bring:

• A fleece or light down jacket, especially from December to February.
• Long trousers and closed shoes for the forest trails and waterfalls, which can be slippery.
• A light rain layer: mountain weather changes quickly.
• Insect repellent for the forest sections.

Health and toiletries

• Insect repellent with DEET or picaridin. Dengue fever is present in Thailand, and the mosquitoes that spread it bite during the day. Local brands work well and are cheap.
• A small first-aid kit: plasters, antiseptic, rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoea tablets, painkillers, after-sun gel.
• Prescription medicines in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription. Some medicines that are common at home, including certain strong painkillers and sleeping pills, are controlled in Thailand and may need a permit. Check the current rules with the Thai embassy or the Thai Food and Drug Administration before you fly.
• Hand sanitiser and tissues. Not every public toilet has paper.
• Travel insurance details, including cover for boat trips and any motorbike riding you plan.

Pharmacies are everywhere in tourist areas and pharmacists often speak some English, so do not overpack general toiletries.

Tech and documents

• Plug adaptor. Thailand uses 220 V. Many sockets accept both flat two-pin (type A) and round two-pin (type C) plugs, and some accept type B and the Thai type O. A universal adaptor covers everything.
• Power bank for long day trips. Carry it in hand luggage, never checked in.
• Waterproof phone pouch for boat trips and for Songkran, the water festival in April.
• Passport valid for at least six months, plus a digital copy. Thailand's entry rules have changed several times; check the current visa and digital arrival card requirements for your nationality before you travel.
• A bank card that works abroad and some cash. Thai ATMs charge a fixed fee per foreign card withdrawal, so fewer, larger withdrawals are cheaper.

What to leave at home

• E-cigarettes and vapes. They are illegal in Thailand, and visitors have been fined. Leave them at home.
• Heavy jeans and many outfits. Too hot, slow to dry, and laundry costs little.
• Expensive jewellery. Unnecessary and a worry on beaches and boats.
• A big towel. Hotels supply them and a sarong does the job on the beach.
• Drones, unless you have checked the rules. Drones must be registered in Thailand and flying is restricted in many areas.
• Anything with a Buddha image meant as decoration, such as a T-shirt. It may be seen as disrespectful at temples.

A short checklist

FAQ

Do I need warm clothes for Thailand?

Only a light layer for most trips, for cold air-conditioning. If you go north between November and February, especially to the mountains, bring a fleece or light jacket.

Can I wear shorts in Thailand?

Yes, on the beach, in towns and on boat trips. Not in temples: there you need clothes that cover shoulders and knees.

Is it better to buy sunscreen at home?

Usually yes. It is easy to find in Thailand, but often more expensive, and reef-friendly mineral formulas can be harder to find outside the big tourist areas.

Can I bring my vape to Thailand?

No. E-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand as of 2026 and can lead to fines. Leave them at home.

What kind of bag works best?

A medium suitcase or backpack plus a small daypack. Domestic flights and boats have tighter luggage limits, and lighter bags are easier on piers and longtails.