Indonesia packing list: clothes, kit and the things you will not use

The classic mistake is packing for the brochure: shorts and sandals, then discovering that the temple requires a sarong and that the Bromo sunrise is four degrees. Indonesia's lowlands are hot and humid year round, but the highlands, the early morning boat crossings and the air-conditioned buses all need a layer.

The second mistake is packing too much. Laundry costs a few dollars a kilo and comes back folded the same day in most towns. Two or three changes of lightweight clothing plus one warmer layer will carry you through two weeks, and a smaller bag makes ferries, scooters and homestays much easier.

Clothing that works

Cotton and linen in light colours are comfortable and dry quickly. Bring two or three t-shirts, a shirt with sleeves for temples and restaurants, one pair of long trousers or a skirt, shorts, swimwear and a light rain shell. A sarong is useful on beaches, in temples and as a towel when the guesthouse forgets one.

Dark colours hide the dust and the occasional splash from a passing truck, but they are hotter in the sun. Quick-dry fabric matters more than style: a cotton t-shirt that stays wet through a humid night will still be damp at breakfast. Avoid jeans, which take a day to dry and are uncomfortable in the heat.

For the highlands, add a fleece or a light down jacket and long trousers. Bromo at four in the morning is close to freezing, and the Baliem Valley sits at 1,600 metres. A buff or beanie is worth the space if you are doing a volcano sunrise.

• Light, quick-dry tops and shorts
• One long trousers or skirt for temples
• Fleece or light jacket for highlands
• Sarong, useful in many situations
• Wide-brim hat and sunglasses
• Reef shoes for coral beaches

Footwear

Sandals for the heat and a pair of trail shoes for volcanoes, waterfalls and jungle walks. Flip-flops are fine for the beach but useless on the loose scree of Ijen or the muddy trails around Bukit Lawang. Reef shoes help on the sharp coral beaches of Nusa Penida and Komodo.

Leave the heavy hiking boots at home unless you are doing a multi-day trek. Trainers with grip handle Bromo, Ijen and most day hikes, and they dry faster after the afternoon downpour.

A pair of reef shoes or old trainers is worth bringing if you plan to walk on coral beaches or climb into boats from the water. The limestone karst of Raja Ampat and the sharp rubble of Komodo are hard on bare feet, and a stubbed toe can end a diving day.

Health and insect kit

Repellent with DEET or picaridin, rehydration salts, paracetamol, antiseptic, blister plasters and any prescription medicine in its original box. Sunscreen is expensive in tourist areas and hard to find elsewhere, so bring a high-factor bottle and reef-safe formula if you snorkel.

A small first-aid kit is not paranoia. Coral cuts, scooter grazes and stomach trouble are the three most common problems, and a tube of antiseptic and a pack of plasters solves most of them. If you take a regular medicine, bring more than the trip requires and carry the prescription.

Electronics and power

Indonesia uses 230 volts and type C and F plugs, the two-round-pin European style. UK and US travellers need an adapter; many hotels have universal sockets but not all. A power bank is essential for long bus and ferry days, and a small headtorch is useful for volcano hikes and power cuts.

Bring one universal adapter and a short extension lead with two or three sockets. It turns a single hotel outlet into a charging station for phone, camera and power bank, and it weighs almost nothing.

Documents and money

Passport with at least six months validity, visa or e-VOA approval, return ticket, travel insurance policy, driving licence and an international driving permit if you plan to ride a scooter. Keep digital copies in cloud storage and one paper copy separate from the original.

Bring a small amount of rupiah or plan to withdraw at the airport, plus a backup card. A money belt is unnecessary in most of Indonesia, but a zipped day bag and a hotel safe cover the realistic risk, which is opportunistic theft rather than mugging.

• Passport and visa approval
• Insurance policy and emergency numbers
• International driving permit for scooters
• Two cards and some rupiah
• Digital and paper copies of documents

What you can leave at home

Beach towels, umbrellas, shampoo and flip-flops are sold everywhere for less than the cost of the luggage space. A heavy raincoat is wrong for the climate: you will sweat in it. Fancy clothes are rarely needed, and a suit or heels will spend the trip in the bag.

Drones need registration and permission in many areas, including temples and some national parks, so check before packing one. Diving gear is worth bringing only if it fits you well; rental equipment is widely available in Bali, Komodo and Raja Ampat.

Likewise, do not bring a full pharmacy. Indonesia has apotek in every town, and the basics are cheap. What you cannot buy easily is the specific prescription you take, a favourite sunscreen or a particular contact lens solution, so those are the items to pack in quantity.

The short version

Two lightweight outfits, one warm layer, sandals and trainers, rain shell, sarong, repellent, sunscreen, a basic medical kit, adapter and power bank. Everything else can be bought or washed along the way, and a bag you can carry up a ferry ramp is worth more than a fourth pair of shoes.

Questions people actually ask

What should I wear in Bali temples?

A sarong and a top that covers the shoulders, for men and women. Many temples lend or rent sarongs at the entrance, but bringing your own is simpler and cooler.

Do I need a raincoat in Indonesia?

A light waterproof shell is enough. Heavy coats are too hot, and most rain is intense but short. An umbrella bought locally is often the more useful option.

What plug adapter do I need for Indonesia?

Type C or F, the European two-pin style, at 230 volts. Bring a universal adapter plus a short multi-socket extension lead.

Should I bring hiking boots?

Only for multi-day treks. Trainers with grip are fine for Bromo, Ijen and day hikes, and they dry faster in the humidity.