What we’re packing for Asia (and what we’re leaving behind)
There’s a certain feeling that comes with pulling the backpacks out again.
After five months of living, working and house-sitting along Australia’s Great Ocean Road, it’s time to pack up again.
The backpacks are out, the non-essentials are packed away, and the excitement (and mild panic) is kicking in.
But it’s not just another trip, it’s the next chapter.
We’re heading back into full-time travel, starting in Asia – our favourite lost-cost, easy travel destination, with a mix of worldschooling in Goa, slow travel through Southeast Asia, and wherever else our curiosity takes us.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learned after fifteen months of life on the road, it’s this:
Packing light makes everything easier.
But before the flight, there’s the part no one glamorises on Instagram: the pile of clothes on the bed, the toy negotiations with an eight-year-old, and trying to fit everything into your backpack and wondering, “How do we still own this much?”
Fifteen months on the road has taught us that you really don’t need as much as you thing when you’re travelling full-time…even with kids.
So here it is: what’s really in our bags this time, what we’ve learned to let go of, and how we’ve finally found that sweet spot between prepared and we’ll figure it out.
The truth about packing for Asia with kids
When we first started travelling, I used to overpack everything.
Extra clothes and shoes, backup toys, a “just-in-case” bag for things I never even touched.
Every time we moved around, I’d end up end up having to carry all that extra weight around – not to mention the stress at the check-in counter when the bags would get weighed!
Now, after more than a year of learning (and repacking) across continents, I’ve realised that the more you travel, the less you need.
Asia is hot, busy, and full of so many new and different things, but it’s also incredibly easy to buy what you need along the way. So this time, we’re taking only what makes us feel comfortable, practical, and free.
If it hasn’t earned its place, it’s not coming.
What’s actually in our bags?
Asia is a climate of extremes – sticky cities, sunny beach days, chilly mountain nights, and monsoon downpours that appear out of nowhere. Our clothes have to be easy to wear, light, and fast drying.
For us adults, that means:
- Loose, lightweight cotton tops that don’t cling, even in 90% humidity.
- Light trousers and long sleeves for visiting temples and protecting against mosquitoes.
- Something warm to layer, because night buses are basically moving fridges.
- A couple of pairs of shorts and swimmers for the beautiful beaches and pool days.
For Jai:
- A handful of cotton t-shirts – comfort and simplicity is key!
- Comfy shorts and joggers that survive climbing trees and tuk-tuk rides.
- One light hoodie for cool evenings.
- And a hat to keep off the sun.
We’ve learned that when you live from a backpack, clothes need to be functional, multi-purpose and not take up much space. And the ones that get worn the most need to be easy to wash and dry – with no ironing necessary.
Add a light scarf, a hat, and a rain jacket, and you’re ready for anything from monsoon to mountain chill.
And trust me, you don’t need as many pairs of shoes as you think. I used to pack at least four or five pairs so I would have something for every occasion, but they take up so much space and you really won’t need them.
We now pack a pair of flip-flops, walking sandals and trainers or walking shoes. That’s it. That’s all you will need. You’ll thank me later
What backpack do we use?
The bag we’ve been using through Southeast Asia, and now for our next trip, is the Voyager Wheelie from Mountain Warehouse. We love it for it’s versatility – use it as a backpack or as a wheelie bag, plus it’s lightweight, simple and comes with a smaller daypack that we use for carry-on and days out.
Packing tip 1: We use packing cubes – one for each person’s clothes, one for extras. It keeps things organised and easy to find when you’re constantly on the move.
Packing tip 2: Roll don’t fold – clothing takes up less space and everything fits better in packing cubes.
What to pack in the family first aid kit?
Here’s the truth: you don’t need a full pharmacy in your bag.
Asia has everything – and usually for a fraction of the price.
We bring just enough for the first week:
- Solid shampoo and conditioner bars – no leaks and last for ages.
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, SPF lip balm.
- Hydration salts and diarrhoea medication – essential to have with kids.
- Basic first aid kit – plasters, antiseptic wipes, paracetamol, antihistamine.
- Mosquito repellent + bite cream – a must, especially in tropical areas.
- Reusable water bottles with filters – saves plastic (and your stomach).
- Sunblock – preferably waterproof.
It’s tempting to bring everything from your pharmacy, but unless you use it regularly, you probably won’t need it. And pharmacies in Asia are always easy to find, have everything you’ll need and cheap as chips. Plus they usually speak pretty good English.
Tech stuff we never travel without
Because we work online and worldschool on the road, tech is essential, but we’ve cut back to just what we truly use.
- Laptops and chargers – for work and homeschool lessons.
- Phones – we grab local SIMs when we arrive at our destination. Cheaper than airports and way better for long-term travel than an expensive e-sim.
- Power bank and universal plug adapter – possible to buy in Asia too.
- Noise-cancelling headphones – sanity savers on planes and buses.
- Tripod and compact camera – for YouTube and blog photos.
- Lightweight day packs – we each have one for day trips and carry-ons.
Practical tip: A small backpack for each person works wonders. It keeps kids responsible for their own things and makes travel days much smoother.
The kid essentials (that actually get used)
Travelling with an eight-year-old means finding the balance between keeping them entertained and not hauling an entire toy box.
This time, we’re packing:
- A few toy dinosaurs and animals – small, easy to carry and things he actually loves playing with.
- A Kindle and headphones – for reading and audiobooks.
- A sketchpad and pencils – perfect for downtime and getting creative.
- A travel journal – he records his highlights and funny moments each day.
- One comfort toy – because even little adventurers need something that feels like home.
Parent tip: Let your kids help decide what comes with them. Giving them that small bit of control makes travel smoother and helps avoid the dreaded toy arguments mid-flight.
What we’re not packing this time
After a year of learning what not to bring, this list gets easier every time.
Here’s what didn’t make the cut:
- Heavy jeans or jumpers: bulky and rarely worn. Plus it’s easy and so cheap to buy warm clothes when you’re at your destination, if you need them. When we arrived in Pai, Thailand last year it was cold….but I found a second hand shop selling jumpers for 50 Thai Baht (about 90p)! When we left, I gave them away rather than carry them around for no reason.
- Hair dryers or big makeup bags – too heavy, not worth it.
- Excess toys – they get lost, broken, or forgotten about in the bottom of the bag.
- “Just-in-case” items – the biggest culprits for overpacking.
- Fancy shoes or clothes – comfort wins every time.
You don’t want to be carrying extra weight around. It’s unnecessary and leaves you less room for purchases in Asian markets where everything is so cheap.
Pack less, live more
If you’re dreaming of travelling through Asia with your kids, start here with your bags. Don’t overthink it. Don’t try to plan for every possible scenario.
You can buy what you forget.
You can replace what breaks.
But what you’ll gain – the freedom, the connection, the shared adventures, that’s worth far more than what you leave behind.
You realise you don’t need to be perfectly prepared.
And that’s what this next chapter is all about for us:
Less stuff, more life.
Less planning, more presence.
More time together, out there, discovering what really matters.
Thinking about travelling Asia with your kids? Or curious about what full-time travel is really like? Drop your questions in the comments or connect with us on Instagram @realtravelfamily. We love sharing the reality of life on the road.