A practical Indonesia packing list: light clothes, reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag, the right plug adapter, what to bring for volcanoes, and what to leave home.
By Asik Travel Editorial6/5/20267 мин чтенияPacking for Indonesia is mostly an exercise in restraint. It is hot and humid almost everywhere, you will be in and out of the water constantly, and you will be carrying your own bag on and off boats more than you expect, so the winning move is to bring less than you think and leave room for a sarong you will inevitably buy. Here is a practical list built around how people actually travel here, from beaches to temples to the odd volcano.
Tailor it to your season with our best time to visit Indonesia guide, and read our safety guide for the travel-insurance and scooter notes.
Pack light, breathable clothes in quick-drying fabrics, since cotton stays damp in the humidity. You will live in shorts, t-shirts, and swimwear, but bring at least one set of more modest clothing, shoulders and knees covered, for temples, mosques, and conservative areas outside the tourist bubble. A light rain layer is worth it even in the dry season, and if a volcano like Rinjani or Bromo is on your plan, add real warm layers, because the summits are genuinely cold before dawn.
This is a country you experience largely in the sea, so pack around water days. Bring your own mask and snorkel if you have them, because rental gear is hit or miss on remote islands. A rash guard is the most practical sun protection for reef trips, and reef-friendly sunscreen fills the gaps. A dry bag is one of the most useful things you can pack, keeping your phone and camera safe on wet boat rides.
Use less sunscreen, not just different sunscreen
A long-sleeve rash guard is kinder to reefs and more reliable than reapplying sunscreen all day. Bring reef-friendly sunscreen for your face, neck, and hands, especially before remote island trips.
A few practical items earn their space. Indonesia uses Type C and F plugs at 230 volts, the same as most of Europe, so bring the right adapter. A power bank covers long travel days and boats with no sockets. A headlamp is invaluable for pre-dawn volcano climbs and islands with patchy electricity. Pack a basic first-aid kit with rehydration salts and any personal medication, since pharmacies are thin on the ground once you leave the towns.
Carry enough rupiah for remote stretches, because ATMs vanish on small islands and cards are unreliable outside cities and tourist towns. Keep digital and paper copies of your passport, visa, arrival card, and insurance separate from the originals. Travel insurance that covers boats, diving, trekking, and scooters is essential. Bring mosquito repellent, rehydration salts, and any prescriptions you rely on; some medicines that are legal elsewhere can be restricted in Indonesia, so check before packing controlled medication.
Resist the urge to overpack. You do not need a week’s worth of outfits, a hairdryer, or heavy hiking boots unless you are doing a serious volcano trek. Laundry is cheap and everywhere, so a few days’ clothes cycle fine. Hard suitcases are a liability on small boats and rough jetties; a soft backpack or duffel is far easier to handle. The lighter you pack, the more you will enjoy the parts of this trip that involve lifting your own bag into a wooden boat.
If you remember nothing else: light quick-dry clothes, one modest outfit, swimwear and a rash guard, reef-safe sunscreen, your own mask, a dry bag, a power bank, a headlamp, plenty of cash, and travel insurance. Add warm layers only if a volcano is on the agenda. Then check the season for where you are going in our best time to visit guide, and plan the trip with us.
Written by
Asik Travel Editorial
Local travel editors
We write from the islands we sell, with first-hand notes from our guides and operators.
