I'm a solo traveller who lives out of a backpack for 210 days in Asia - these are essentials you MUST pack

A solo traveller who trekked around Asia with just two backpacks has revealed the packing essentials she recommends the most. 

Rachel Smith, 25, regularly shares her travels on social media and spent seven months visiting various locations in Southeast Asia last year. 

She travelled to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka with a 50L Osprey backpack as well as a 15L day bag.

The solo traveller kept essentials like important travel documents and chargers in her smaller bag.

Meanwhile, her larger backpack was tactfully packed with cubes and she explained to Omni: 'Inside, I always use packing cubes to stay organised: one for underwear and bikinis, one for bottoms, one for tops, and one for dresses.' 

As for what Rachel thinks all holidaymakers should pack, she says a hanging wash bag is essential. 

The handy piece of kit 'keeps all my toiletries in one place and off hostel floors,' Rachel said. 

She also recommends bringing two microfibre towels: 'One for the beach, one for showering'.

Travel locks are also good to take for ensuring valuable items are kept safe on the go.

Rachel explained she uses hers 'for securing valuables in hostels'.

A waterproof phone case is also handy and a cheaper option than buying underwater cameras.

She added: 'Great alternative to a GoPro, but test it in a sink first!'

The solo-traveller also lists a worldwide travel adapter as a key item to pack, and described it as 'One plug that works everywhere'.

While a power bank is also important and Rachel explained it as 'essential for long travel days and safety as a solo traveller'.

She added: 'For clothes, I had plenty of mix-and-match outfits so I could create lots of looks without packing too much. 

'I also brought makeup and a couple of nice dresses for when I wanted to feel good on nights out. 

'I ended up using almost everything I packed, but the items I used daily were: my packing cubes, microfibre towel, power bank, and travel locks. 

'My makeup and dresses weren't everyday essentials, but I was so glad I had them when I wanted to feel a little extra.' 

As for what Rachel advises against packing, the solo-traveller felt she brought too many white clothing items. 

'They got dirty so quickly, and I had to continuously go to the laundry service to get them cleaned,' she explained. 

'I also regret not buying doubles of things like my microfibre towel, so I could’ve had one for the beach as well as one for the shower.'

For those travelling to Asia, Rachel also urges holidaymakers to not bring bug spray. and instead purchase it at 7/11 there, which she says 'sells the cheapest and best versions'.

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