Namaste!  India can be a  challenging and complex country but also very rewarding once you feel like you’ve prepared for it. I am sharing my India packing tips and essential packing list for India (and Southeast Asia).  I am traveling for a total of three months. I am traveling to India for 30 days on an India e-Visa and it is sandwiched between my trips to Thailand, Borneo and Taiwan. But I have traveled India for three months as well.

Essential Packing List for Traveling India

This video will share with you the essential travel items that I’m packing for my solo trip to India and beyond.

What Should You Wear When Traveling India

What Should Female Travelers in India Wear?

• Dress like an Indian Local for Female Travelers: Many female travelers in India, myself included, love wearing traditional Indian clothing like kurtas ( a long tunic) and salwar kameez. A salwar kameez includes a long tunic (kurta), loose pants that look like leggings or pajama bottoms (salwar), and a scarf (dupatta), which makes for a comfortable, breezy outfit that is perfect for sightseeing. These clothes are modest and stylish, and they blend in well with the local culture.

Activities and Climates in India

India has many cultural activities, religious festivals, day tours and street food, than it does physical activities. Expect activities to be pretty casual and not very sporty.  If you travel to the hill stations of the north, you can encounter some trekking and more exertion is required in higher altitudes. Northwestern India is arid and can get cold. Rajasthan is arid and desert. Southern India entails hot beaches.

Southeast Asia offers a wealth of activities, from trekking, hiking, and scuba diving caving to exploring temples, waterfalls, and beaches. Your packing list should account for a mix of outdoor adventures and cultural experiences.

Tip: Pack clothes that are moisture-wicking and quick-drying, ideal for sweaty hikes or unexpected rain showers.

Important Travel Documents for India

 India’s government is very bureaucratic and strict. You need a visas or e-visa; the latter requires the least paperwork and mailing. Many things are handled by paperwork and its lack of technology can feel behind times.

Although most Southeast Asia governments are fairly friendly about travelers crossing borders overland, you will need to carry the right visas either in advance or upon arrival.

 Passport  (Valid for the next 6 months)

Like your credit card, never leave home without your passport. It needs to be valid for the next six months, so if it’s expiring soon, it’s time to get a new passport.

India Visa (for U.S. citizens)

The India eVisa grants you 30 days per single entry. You are only allowed one entry. If you want the ten year- multiple entry visa, you need to specify this and pay a little more, but it’s worthwhile if you plan to visit India often.

Read:  Step-by-step Guide: Applying for an India Visa (US citizens)

• Processing time takes approximately 72 hours. Apply four days before your trip as your visa’s countdown begins on the date it is issued.
• Have a week’s worth of accommodation planned. I use Booking.com -an online booking service which doesn’t charge cancellation fees. Read tips for proving onward travel

Copies of passport page  & extra passport photos

I  always take multiple copies of my passport page and extra passport photos, whenever I travel. This is  because I make a lot of last minute decisions on where to go. If I need a travel visa for a country that I serendipitously want to enter, it’s a 50-50 chance I’ll end up needing passport photos and a copy of my passport page.

If you plan to get an Indian SIM card, these two documents are a requirement.

India 3 Month Packing List for Backpacking

Backpack Size

I pack light to keep my luggage manageable, while leaving room for souvenirs or essentials picked up along the way. A wheeled backpack carry-on is my go-to for easy mobility even if I’m traveling for months. If I’m traveling by train or crowded bus, it’s easier if you have a small carry-on. Luggage needs to fit in train storage compartments under the train berth. I sleep with my luggage on my berth so that someone doesn’t accidentally walk off the train with it.  Eagle Creek Gear Warrior XE and Hynes Eagle wheeled backpack carry-on are Swiss Army carry-on convertibles. Recommended wheeled backpack carry-on options

On crowded local buses, luggage needs to fit on your lap. Your luggage should not take up an entire seat (it’s for passengers, not luggage) or the walkway. Public restrooms in train stations may have a squat toilet, which another thing for your luggage to navigate.  You are navigating a lot of overwhelm: touts, heat, dust and dirt, crowds, poverty and the weight of your backpack luggage.

During my first trip to India, I  took a North Face Terra 45L Backpack. It’s a classic fave and has pockets accessible on the outside of the pack. Ergonomics and support is decent, but ultimately, I upgraded to my convertible carryon, because a backpack puts a lot of weight on my neck and lower back. 45L is medium sized; do not  go much larger unless you’re a football player.

 Daypack

This is up to personal style but I always take a daypack for things like my camera, laptop and valuables. It is often glued to the front of my chest and I never let it alone.

Recommended options: Anti-theft bags for solo travel  & minimalist anti-theft cross-body bags

Convertible Clothing

My mantra for packing is convertible, convertible, convertible. Every item I pack serves multiple purposes. For example, a lightweight sarong doubles as a beach cover-up, scarf, or makeshift towel. I pack my green pashmina on my travels. It comes in handy as an extra layer of warmth for an air-conditioned plane, train or bus. It’s also handy to have as a head cover for temples.

Read 12 Must Have Multipurpose Travel Items

Comfortable Shoes

Southeast Asia is perfect for walking and outdoor adventures. Bring breathable sneakers or hiking sandals that can handle uneven terrain and wet conditions.

I highly recommend packing a good pair of flip flops or Jesus sandals. If you are staying in a Southeast Asian hostel, you’ll want flip flops to walk around in common areas and showers.

These are also very handy for temple hopping days, as footwear is not allowed in temples. You may find stores selling flip flops, but if you’re a large foot size, it might be harder to find.

Read 23 Tips for Surviving a Hostel

A guidebook

I used to be a fan of Lonely Planet, but somewhere along the lines, I felt Rough Guides was more intuitive and quicker for me to navigate.

Rough Guides India is beheamoth, so instead of carrying a paper weight in my bag, I like to take only the chapters I think I’ll use.  See my hack on packing a guidebook!

Door stopper (for solo women… and men)

Locks in India don’t always feel sturdy or safe. In guesthouses they can be as simple as a padlock and an inner lock bolt. I pack a door stopper and it gives me peace of mind in guesthouses where I might feel a little uncertain. Recently, a male reader told me he read this packing list and didn’t think much of the door stopper, until he had a night intruder in his room in Agra. It scared him as the intruder was male and larger than him. I guess female travelers are not the only ones who need this. Check out ways to prevent travel theft

A Wrist Wallet

A lot of times I’m dealing with small change in India. I’m visiting small markets and buying food on the streets. I don’t like to carry a coin purse, so I’ll use my wrist wallet (read my review) for convenience, safety and speedy accessibility. (read my review)

Travel scarves with zippers are also handy to have as a purse which doesn’t look like one.

Check out Ways to Avoid Pickpockets when Traveling

Silk Liner

Whether I’m in a hotel, guesthouse or hostel, I pack my Sea to Summit Silk Liner. At least, it’s an extra silk layer of warmth for cold areas I never planned for. At most, it’s a protective layer against hostel sheets and bed bugs.

Sleeping Bag

While traveling India, you may experience extreme weather. Check the weather for the regions you’ll be visiting. You may find India packing list changing temperatures and this will affect the evenings and your sleep.

In south Indian states like Kerala or Hampi, heat can run dry to humid. In the northwest of Rajasthan, the heat is dry as dessert.  In such regions, a silk liner will suffice.

However, Northern India’s hill stations can run brisk in the morning and cold at night. When I stayed in Dharamsala for a month, there were nights my sleeping bag and silk liner did not feel like enough and I needed extra blankets. In Northeastern India’s Ladakh, it even snows! But if you travel Rajasthan or south India, you’ll find it’s arid to humid and hot.

India Packing Tips for Female Travel Health

Unless you have a special skin cream or makeup foundation, most toiletries you’re gonna find in India and Southeast Asia. As far as India packing tips go,  I love buying Indian products such as soaps, shampoos and conditioners, as some are made naturally or with Ayurvedic practices in mind.

Southeast Asian products are fun too as their beauty products can feature skin whitening and collagen.

Tip: Take old or used toiletries with you, so you can buy toiletries to bring home as souvenirs.

Should I Get Travel Insurance in India?

YES. India is one of those countries where I definitely recommend this trip insurance finder tool, because it is traveling India can feel unpredictable if you’re a foreigner. For India, I always get adventure trip insurance which covers outdoor activities and theft.

 I got into a motorbike accident as a passenger and got stomach parasites. No bueno. Accident can happen and India is a place where you may be vulnerable to them.

Water Purifiers

Avoid drinking tap water in India. The water often must be sterilized and boiled for drinking.However, if you’re in India for a length of time and you don’t want to keep buying bottled water (those rupees can add up!),  your next best options for water purification are SteriPEN (read my review) or  Lifestraw.

Read:Is Bottled Water a test of faith in India?

First Aid & Travel Survival Medicine Kit

The tropics mean mosquitoes and potential stomach upsets. Pack bug spray, a compact first aid kit, and medications for foodborne illnesses.

What’s in my travel survival medicine kit ? Anti malaria pills, Azithromycin (or Cipro), Immodium D, Tylenol, Dramamine motion sickness pills, Pepto Bismal and charcoal tablets. I bring oral rehydration packets. Heat exhaustion and dehydration (if you catch a stomach parasite) happens. Indian pharmacies sell them too. Bring a reusable water bottle to mix them in.

What’s in my first aid kit?  Antibacterial ointment, alcohol swab, bandaids, Afterbite (makes mosquito bite itches go away), Tylenol and safety pins. bandaids, antibacterial ointment, a tiny roll of gauze and stool softener tablets (environmental changes does weird things to my bowels!)

Vitamins are the one thing you’ll not find readily in India. You’ll want it especially if you’re doing a yoga teacher training program, just to stay fit. I like to pack Emergen-C1,000 mg packets, to chase away colds due to extreme weather changes. India has many climates and regions. It could be sweltering hot in Goa, but snowing in Ladakh.

Bug Protection and Permethrin treated clothes

Both Southeast Asia and India can have mosquitoes which come out at night. In some areas, mosquitoes can carry malaria or dengue. The amount of mosquitoes you experience may vary depending upon location and how close you are to wet/ humid areas and sitting water.

• Use insect repellents which contains at least 20%  DEET. This helps protect against mosquitoes .You won’t find Deet in India or Southeast Asia. They tend to use more natural bug deterrents and electronic mosquito repellent.
• Spray your clothes and luggage with Permethrin. It’s heavy duty treatment and toxic should you use too much or accidentally ingest it. It last several washes, so spray and let it set for a while before using it. Read about ways to prevent bed bugs & mosquitoes.
• Melaleuca Spray or Solumel is an antibacterial I use for my bed & train berth.  It helps deter bed bugs
• These may not actually be effective in preventing malaria or dengue fever, but it will help reduce the risk.

•  Lemongrass Oil: I love using natural oils. Mostly, I like the multipurpose travel oils  like Now Foods lemongrass oil or tea tree oil. Lemongrass has a crisp lemon scent, but can also be used as an antibacterial and mosquito/bug repellent.  If you like oils then India is the best place to get the ones that are normally considered expensive in the U.S… for instance, sandalwood is an essential oil you’ll pay a premium for in western countries. In India, it’s common.

Read Top 5 Must Haves for India

Eco-Friendly Sunscreen

Sunburn is not a tan and no moisturizer will help skin cancer! It’s essential to pack sunscreen. India has beaches in the south and high altitude regions like Ladakh are exposed to the brightness of the sun. Otherwise, the general climate in India can run warm to hot and you’ll likely be outdoors a lot.  I always pack a Sunscreen stick  in my daypack to take and reapply on the go.

Tip:  reapply your sunscreen every two hours.

• Kokua Sun Care Hawaiian SPF 50 Natural Zinc Sunscreen – Good quality. Goes on thick but not greasy.
• Raw Love SPF 35 All-natural Mineral Sunscreen (Maui)

• Raw Elements Tinted Facial Moisturizer 

• Manda Organic SPF 50 Sun Paste (for Sports)– Also uses Myanmar Thanaka for skin health and reusable container

Read my Reef Safe Sunscreen guide to see which sunscreen is banned in some countries.

Lip Balm

Lips can get dry in India, especially if you go up north where it’s more chilly climates. Burt’s Bees Color Lip balm is a new lip balm I like for one girlie reason~ you can choose the lip color you want and it acts like a light lipstick. Some regions of India can get dry. In Ladakh I was in dry, cold climate and high altitude. My lips chapped within two days!

 Feminine Toiletries

For those who haven’t had experience with the squat toilet or have bad knees, I recommend a female urinary device like the Freshette or the GoGirl. In India and Southeast Asia, you will have a run in with a squat toilet sooner or later. (For more on how to use it, read here).

Bring tampons and deodorant.

 Biodegradable Baby Wipes & Hand Sanitizer

Bio-degradable baby wipes (flush-friendly, although I would not flush it as pipes in India can be old) are not something you’ll find in India. However, you will find them in Thailand and thus, likely in Southeast Asia. Biodegradable tissues are eco-friendly.

Note:  Flushing toilet paper or anything is ill-advised. Some toilets and drainage systems in India and Southeast Asia are old and it may clog the pipes.

I try not too be too germaphobic. But I still take bottle of hand sanitizer because many toilets in India and Southeast Asia don’t have sinks to wash up in.

Tip: You will experience the squat toilet in India. It is the most common type of toilet in India. Whereas Southeast Asia you’ll come across the handheld bum gun, squat toilet or western toilet.

Toilet paper

It is handy to carry a packet of tissues or toilet paper with you. They are not always available at public toilets. You can easily buy tissues at local shops. Toilet paper and tissues in India are usually good for only one wipe or nose blow; tear easily.

Packing List for Electronics

Tech gear & accessories

Tech gadgetry in a developing countries can range from medium to impossible to find. You can’t always trust the electronics you purchase there. It’s always best to prepare extra batteries.  Always take the charging/power cables you need. If doing a camping or trekking journey, never assume facilities will have electrical outlets. In some instances, they don’t.

I take a unlocked smart phone, camera, SD memory cards, day pack backpack and of course, backup batteries and charging cables. See my film/blogging gear here.

• Country plug adapters
• Extra memory cards and spare batteries
• Chargers and charging cables
• A multi-plug power strip in the case you’re sharing outlets with other travelers.

Unlocked iPhone

Travelers often want to know what type of factory phone to get for travel. Whichever phone you buy, make sure it syncs with your information and is compatible with your computer.

Tip:  Unlocked phones are best bought direct from the dealer or “factory unlocked”.  While there are sellers out there who offer AT & T unlocked phones (etc), there’s always a gray line.  With services which promise to hack into your phone and turn it into an unlocked phone, there’s always a concern about what will happen when you want to conduct upgrades of your mobile OS system.  Yeah, those damn system upgrades.

Multi-plug Surge protector

A multi-plug surge protector should be part of your travel kit if you carry a bit more than a mobile phone and camera. As a travel blogger and vlogger, I’m a big techie, but it was essential to me long before that also. Great for hostels and hotels, it helps save money and time when you either, don’t want to carry many adapters or forget where you placed things for charging.

Power spikes happen however, it’s only really happened to me during an electrical storm, when it fried my MAC laptop battery.  The wattage goes up to 220v. In the U.S., electrical devices take 110v, but many are equipped to handle up to 220v.  Still, if you feel your battery heating up or your laptop vibrate when you touch it, it’s due to this extra voltage it’ll be getting.

An e-SIM

Skip the hassle of searching for Indian SIM cards that keep deactivating. Get an Airalo eSIM instead and activate it before or when you arrive in India. Top off from your mobile device any time you like. There are single destination, regional and global e-SIMs to match your type of journey. Your mobile phone must use e-SIMs

India Packing List for Money & Currency

India and Southeast Asia are primarily cash based countries. Credit cards are only used for large purchase in stores and hotels.  There are money changers & ATM machines at airports and banks   .

Cash

Having a major form of currency, such as U.S dollars or British pounds is ideal to have entering any country. Sometimes, ATM cards don’t work or if you forgot to notify your bank of your travels, your bank card gets locked. Cash is a backup in the case you need to go to the airport money exchange (which I have had to do several times).

Indian Rupees (or currency of the country)

If anyone tells you taking rupees out of India is illegal they are only partially corect. You can take no more than 25,00 Rs out of India. I never leave with that much. Usually, I have about a 100 Rs and change left after a trip that I bring back with me as a safety precaution as my ATM cards occasionally meet problems in India.

Tip: Never accept torn rupees from vendors or anyone else.

 ATM card

I take two ATM/Debit cards in case one is flagged or lost.

ATM fees can be costly overseas, so I like to withdraw large sums at a time.  A recommended travel card is Charles Schwab, which waives foreign transaction fees. I love it! Also beware, India’s ATM have low withdrawal limits! If you’re wondering why you cannot withdraw all you want in one sitting, this is why. 

Tip: Check out these ATM mistakes to avoid when using Indian ATM machines

Do Credit Cards work in India?

Credit cards might only work with big hotels and large purchases at stores. Otherwise, you won’t be using them, but they’re a safety backup for booking onward travel online. Visa credit cards are widely favored over Mastercard.  American Express can only be used with high end hotels.

Useful Accessories

• 1 pashmina (* multi-use function:  face mask, shawl or headdress for conservative countries or religious temples, blanket and on some occasions, towel.)
• ziploc sandwich bags to put open snacks and food leftovers in. They’re also the poor man’s organizer. I can use it to hold money when I go to the beach (you can put it in your pocket when swimming), holding receipts, organizing currencies, etc… Read: How to Organize your Currencies
• Extra ziploc storage bags (* for dirty clothes, protecting your stuff from rain or mud, organizing currency, etc…)
• Snacks & Vitamins: I always take power bars as snacks.  I’ll sometimes pack a bag of dried fruit and mixed nuts as a backup meal for times when I don’t feel comfortable with my food options.
• Pack of tissues or small roll of toilet paper  (* you’ll need them for public bathrooms & rest stops)
• Flush-friendly biodegradable baby wipes
• A head flashlight
• A moleskine notebook is not only for journaling, but is handy for communication and note-taking.
• A waterproof backpack cover for rainy seasons.
• Optional: 1  lightweight rain jacket for cold nights or air-conditioned trains