What to Pack for Asia Long Trip in 2025: Your Essential Backpacking List

My Backpack Essentials for a Multi-Month Trip Around Asia 🧳

Spending several months in Asia is a mix of excitement and logistics. The big question before taking off: what do I pack in my bag? Too much, and it’s a nightmare to carry. Too little, and you might struggle. After months on the road, here are the things that turned out to be truly useful — the ones I’d bring again without hesitation.

The Backpack: Your Travel Companion 🎒

Main backpack: 50 to 60L - the perfect size to carry everything you need without turning into a turtle. Go for a bag with solid back support and easy-access pockets.
Daypack: useful for exploring, scooter rides, or working from a café (10 to 20L).

Nomad Life: Tech Gear 💻

Lightweight but reliable laptop
Universal adapter + compact power strip
Power bank
A pouch to organize cables, chargers, earbuds…
A Kindle
An AirTag (to slip into your backpack and always be able to track it — even in airports)

Minimalist Toiletries 🛁

Solid soap (you never know)
Solid shampoo
Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant
Sunscreen + lip balm
Tropical mosquito repellent (a must in Southeast Asia — local ones aren’t as effective in my experience)
Nail clipper, small tweezers
Basic meds: band-aids, disinfectant, paracetamol, probiotics, and especially Smecta (lifesaver)

Practical Items That Make a Big Difference

Sleep mask + earplugs (tiny but life-saving)
Combination padlock
Dirty laundry bag (a tote bag works just fine)
Reusable or filtered water bottle
Swiss army knife (in checked luggage only!)

Travel Apps (and Life Savers) 📱

Agoda: for accommodation
Grab: essential for getting around in Asia
Wise / Revolut: fee-free payments and withdrawals
Google Translate: for menus and chatting with locals

What I Packed… and Hardly Used 🧼

The third book (thank you Kindle)
My big makeup bag (turns out I barely wear any while traveling)
Too many printed documents (everything’s digital now)

Clothes: Just the Right Amount 👕

Asia is hot, often humid, but it can get chilly in the mountains or in A/C-blasting buses. Here’s my minimal but effective clothing list:

5 t-shirts
1 long-sleeved light shirt
1 pair of light pants
1 pair of shorts
1 pair of leggings (perfect for long rides or hikes)
1 windbreaker / thin fleece or Away-style jacket
1 swimsuit
Breathable underwear
1 pair of sturdy sandals
1 pair of lightweight sneakers
1 persair of flip-flops for not-so-glam show
A pair of sunglasses and a cap — depending on the region, the sun can be really strong

Conclusion 🌏

Traveling light means less stress, more freedom, and always room for a souvenir or two. And between us, you can buy almost everything on the spot for much cheaper.