When packing for this program, remember the name: Come With Nothing!
Everything you need to bring on this program will be able to fit inside one carry-on sized backpack that you can carry on the plane. Basically all you need to pack for this program is what you will need to get you through the first night in Thailand, plus toiletries and travel necessities. This can include two changes of clothing, hygiene products, prescribed medications, and a maximum 5 personal items (camera, journal, book, etc.).
Throughout the program, you will be stopping at local markets for more supplies and doing laundry either in the villages, local style, or at laundry shops while in towns.
Carry-On
- A smaller bag, fanny pack, or day backpack is ideal. Don’t worry – the items marked with a “*” below don’t count against your “5 things”!
-
Passport*
- Photocopy of passport*
- Wallet/money/ATM card*
- Book
Pens and journal*
- Phone (optional!)*
- Camera
Chargers*
- Ear buds*
- Change of clothes*
- Sunglasses*
-
Water bottle*
- Medications*
- Consent to Travel form*
- Yola emergency contacts*
- Extra t-shirt and underwear in case your bags get lost!*
- Flashlight or headlamp
Checked Luggage
If you choose to bring checked luggage, it should be no more than 30 Liters and a backpack is ideal.
MUST HAVE ITEMS:
- Insect repellent–we suggest bringing a natural option AND something with DEET (no more than 20-30%)
- Sunscreen (good quality sunscreen is expensive in Southeast Asia!)
- Feminine hygiene supplies – tampons are not widely available in Southeast Asia.
- We recommend you bring what you think you will need for the duration of the program.
- Hand Sanitizer
- DO NOT BRING BULKY HIKING/WORK BOOTS! These are not needed and will become a burden. You can buy cheap service shoes when you arrive.
VERSION 1 – BIG AND TALL:
- Shopping in Southeast Asia can be quite challenging for big and tall people since people in Southeast Asia are smaller than most tourists. If you’d like to play it safe, here is a complete list of everything you’d need:
-
2-3 pairs of lightweight pants or capris. Please leave yoga pants at home as they are too form-fitting.
- 2-3 pairs of shorts/skirts, which should hit the knee or longer.
- 5-7 tops (t-shirts and sports shirts) – They can be cotton, or quick-dry shirts like capilene or polypropylene. Tank tops, crop tops, or transparent shirts are not appropriate. Keep in mind you will find cool T-shirts and clothes at markets you will be visiting throughout the summer, which can supplement the tops you bring over.
- 2-3 light, long sleeve t-shirt – breathable is best for the sun and certain areas of the region can get buggy or chilly (if you’re lucky!) at night.
- 1 lightweight hoodie – most likely needed on flights, in movie theaters, and in airports. Most people will be fine without one.
- 8 pairs of underwear – Quick-dry material is best.
- 3-4 pairs of socks – lightweight quick dry athletic socks are best.
- 2 swimsuits – modest two piece “sporty” suits are fine but no bikinis. You may notice that most people in the region swim in shirts and shorts.
- 1 Sarong/shawl/lightweight towel (not white!) – you can buy this in country.
VERSION 2 – MINIMALIST!!
- For those of you who would like to bring as little as possible, this is your invitation to do so! You can find everything you need once you arrive in country. Challenge yourself!
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4 pairs of underwear – Quick-dry material is best
- 1 lightweight hoodie –to keep your warm on the flight over.
- 1 swimsuit – modest two piece “sporty” suits are fine but no bikinis please.
- 1 T-shirt – After traveling across the world in your Rustic t-shirt, it will feel good to take a shower when you arrive and change into a clean shirt.
- Most general toiletries are available throughout the region at a fraction of the cost. We suggest packing all items that could leak in a plastic or ziplock bag.
Important
Luggage Weight Restrictions
Airlines in Southeast Asia have weight restrictions for checked and carry-on luggage. Many students store their backpacking backpack as a carry-on in the overhead, and a smaller day pack for under the seat in front of them, but you’re welcome to check that larger backpack if you wish. Please know airlines enforce that checked luggage should be no more than 33lbs (15kg) and your carry-on luggage to 15lbs (7kg). Make sure everything you pack in your carry-on complies with the carry on regulations of the TSA. Lastly, remember to leave your valuables or prized possessions at home. It’s easier for things to get lost, stolen, or damaged while traveling.
Our Dress Code Expectations in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian cultures are very conservative. Despite the hot climate, people in these parts of the world show less skin than in many Western cultures, and you’ll rarely see low-cut shirts or short shorts in rural communities. As we seek to respect and preserve the culture of the communities we work with, we ask that our students dress conservatively while in country. This is especially important because people of the region tend to keep quiet when they feel uncomfortable, so it’s our job to come prepared from the start. If you are not wearing proper attire, we will ask you to change your clothes or abstain from the service project of the day.
To dress respectfully in Southeast Asia, please bring loose-fitting pants or shorts that cover just above the knees (think basketball length). Bring basic t-shirts that cover your shoulders, and please leave all tank tops, cut off shirts, low-cut, see-through, or crop tops at home. As mentioned in our packing lists, yoga pants and leggings are not appropriate because they are too form-fitting. The key is to show less skin and to stay cool by wearing loose-fitted clothing. Check out these tips about how to pack for culturally-immersive travel and why Yola cares about preserving a conservative dress code on our programs.