Thailand Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for Thailand: light, breathable clothes for the heat and humidity, plus something that covers your shoulders and knees, because temples like the Grand Palace strictly enforce a modest dress code. Bring strong insect repellent and a reef-safe mineral sunscreen, and note that Thailand bans chemical sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate in its marine national parks, with fines up to 100,000 baht. Pack a sarong that doubles for temples and the beach, sandals you slip off easily, a Type C adapter for the 220-volt sockets, and cash, because many places are baht-only.
Thailand essentials at a glance
- Light, breathable clothes
- A sarong and a shoulder cover for temples
- Strong insect repellent
- A reef-safe mineral sunscreen
- Slip-on sandals
- A Type C adapter (220V)
- A reusable water bottle
- Cash in baht
Thailand runs hot and humid and moves between glittering temples and island beaches, and what you pack has to respect the temples and beat the elements at the same time: cover up for the wats, and guard against sun, bugs and the occasional downpour. Light, breathable clothes handle the heat, a sarong covers your shoulders and knees at a wat and doubles on the beach, and slip-on sandals suit a country where you take your shoes off constantly. Add repellent, a reef-safe sunscreen and some baht, and the essentials are covered.
Clothing
- Light, breathable tops, trousers and long skirts
- A sarong or scarf to cover shoulders and knees · required at temples
- Swimwear ×2
- A light rain layer for monsoon showers
- One smart-casual outfit for dinner
- Long sleeves for the evenings and bugs
Temples and feet
- A shoulder cover and long bottoms · the Grand Palace and all temples enforce it
- Slip-on sandals you remove easily
- Socks without holes
- Comfortable walking shoes
Sun and bugs
- A reef-safe mineral sunscreen · chemical ones are banned in marine parks
- Strong insect repellent · DEET or picaridin
- A hat and sunglasses
- After-sun and lip balm with SPF
Beach and water
- Quick-dry swimwear and a rash guard
- Water shoes for rocky beaches
- A dry bag
- Snorkel and mask, or rent on site
Health and money
- Any medication
- Anti-diarrhoea and rehydration sachets · be careful with tap water and ice
- Hand sanitiser
- Cash in baht · many places outside malls are cash-only
- A card and your passport with copies
Tech
- A Type C plug adapter · Thailand runs on 220 volts
- Chargers rated 100 to 240 volts
- A power bank
- Phone with offline maps and a translation app
What not to pack
- Sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate · banned in Thailand's marine national parks; fines up to 100,000 baht
- Revealing clothes for temples · shoulders and knees must be covered; the Grand Palace refuses entry
- Shoes that are hard to remove · you take them off at temples, homes and some shops
- Any plan to drink the tap water · stick to bottled water
- All your cash in one place
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Cover up for the temples
Every Thai temple, from the Grand Palace in Bangkok to a village wat, requires covered shoulders and knees, with no sleeveless tops or shorts, and you remove your shoes to enter the buildings. A sarong or scarf in your day bag solves it anywhere.
Reef-safe sunscreen, and know the ban
In 2021 Thailand banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC and butylparaben in its marine national parks, with fines up to 100,000 baht. Pack a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to stay safe and protect the reefs.
Pack slip-on shoes
You take your shoes off constantly, at temples, guesthouses and some shops, so sandals or slip-ons beat laces every time. Pack socks without holes, because they are on show when your shoes come off.
Carry cash and a Type C adapter
Many places outside the malls are cash-only, so keep baht on you. Thai sockets run on 220 volts and take Type C plugs, so bring a Type C adapter and check your chargers read 100 to 240 volts.
The things people forget
- A sarong or scarf to cover up at temples
- A reef-safe mineral sunscreen for the marine parks
- Strong insect repellent
- Cash in baht for the many cash-only spots
What people wish they had packed
- Slip-on sandals for all the shoes-off moments
- A light rain layer for the monsoon shower
- A dry bag for the islands and boats
- Long sleeves for the evening mosquitoes
Frequently asked questions
What should you pack for Thailand?
Light, breathable clothes with a sarong or scarf to cover up at temples, strong insect repellent, a reef-safe mineral sunscreen, slip-on sandals, a Type C adapter, a reusable water bottle and cash in baht. Modest cover-up and reef-safe sunscreen are the two things you cannot skip.
What should you wear to temples in Thailand?
Cover your shoulders and knees, with no sleeveless tops, shorts or short skirts, and remove your shoes to enter temple buildings. The Grand Palace is strict and will refuse entry, so carry a sarong or scarf and long bottoms.
Is sunscreen banned in Thailand?
Chemical ones are, in the marine national parks. Since 2021 sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC or butylparaben are banned there, with fines up to 100,000 baht. Bring a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
What do people forget to pack for Thailand?
A sarong or scarf to cover up at temples, a reef-safe mineral sunscreen, strong insect repellent, slip-on shoes for the shoes-off moments, and enough cash in baht for the cash-only places.