Our Thailand packing list

This is the Thailand packing list we use. Both our trips were in January (2022, and New Year 2022 to 2023), so it's built for heat, boat trips, beaches, a bit of jungle walking and temple visits where you need to cover up.

Best time to visit Thailand

On the Andaman coast (Krabi, Phuket and Phi Phi) the beach season runs from about November, when the heavy rains ease, to the end of April or early May, when the rainy season returns. That's also when the resorts are busiest and hotel prices are highest. Daytime temperatures in the south are around 32°C (90°F), so pack light clothes, and something warmer for air-conditioned buses and hotels.

The Gulf islands in December and January

Our 2026 trip goes to Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Chang instead of the Andaman coast. On the Koh Tao and Koh Samui side of the Gulf the rainy season usually eases around the new year, though some years it carries on into January, so the rain jacket and a dry bag for the camera are going in.

For a dive course

We’re doing our Open Water course on Koh Tao this time. The dive school provides the scuba kit, so the extra packing is small:

• Swimwear and a rash vest: you’re in and out of the water over several days.
• Reef-safe sunscreen: see Leave at home, below.
• The dive medical form: dive schools ask you to fill in a diver medical questionnaire before the course. A yes to any question means a doctor has to sign you off before you can dive, which is far easier to sort out at home than on the island.
• Travel insurance that covers diving: many standard policies don’t, or only to a set depth, so check the wording before you go.

Leave at home

• Vapes and e-cigarettes: it is illegal to have or use any vape, e-cigarette, pod or e-liquid in Thailand, with no exception for tourists (GOV.UK Thailand travel advice).
• Sunscreen containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC or butylparaben: banned in Thailand’s marine national parks since 2021, with fines of up to 100,000 baht (Bangkok Post). Check the label before you buy.

What to pack

Here's what goes in our bags for Thailand:

• Clothes:

  • Hoody: for air-conditioning and the odd cooler evening.
  • Jeans or long trousers: for evenings and temples, where knees must be covered.
  • Shorts: for most days.
  • Lightweight rain jacket: essential in the rainy season.
  • Hiking socks: for jungle walks like the ones in Khao Sok.
  • T-shirts: light and breathable.
  • Swim shorts or swimsuit: for the beach, pools and boat trips.
  • Cap or hat: the sun is strong.
  • Flip-flops: for the beach and evenings out.
  • Trainers: for walking, and for steep paths like the Monkey Trail in Ao Nang.

  First aid kit:

  • Bandages and tape: for minor injuries.
  • Diarrhoea kit: better to have it and not need it.
  • Paracetamol: for pain relief.
  • Plasters: for cuts and blisters.
  • Travel sickness tablets: useful for boat trips if you get seasick.
  • Tweezers and nail clippers: small but useful (keep scissors in the hold bag).

• Toiletries:

  • Aftershave and perfume: travel sizes.
  • Deodorant: a must in the heat.
  • Shampoo and conditioner: travel sizes save weight.
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste

  Travel documents:

  • Travel insurance policy: keep a copy on your phone and on paper.
  • Vaccination records: check the current health advice on GOV.UK before you go.
  • Passport and a photocopy: the passport needs at least six months left on it.
  • Driving licence and International Driving Permit: if you plan to hire a car or motorbike. Check your insurance covers it too.

  Tech and gadgets:

  • Camera, drone and action or underwater camera: for the boat trips and snorkelling.
  • Power bank: for long days out.
  • Bluetooth speaker: for music by the pool.
  • Snorkel and mask: for the reefs around Phi Phi.

• Everything else:

  • Earphones: for flights and long transfers.
  • Hand sanitiser: for street food and markets.
  • Lightweight travel towel: dries quickly and packs small.
  • Worldwide travel adaptor: so everything can be charged.
  • Selfie stick: for photos of the two of you.
  • Waterproof phone case: for beaches and boats.
  • Travel pillow: for the long flight from the UK.

Before you pack

Check what your hotels and tours provide before you fill the case. Some boat trips lend out snorkelling gear, for example.

For customs, money and getting around, see our Thailand things to know page, and for the day-by-day diaries, see our Thailand trips.