Bali Packing List: What to Bring & Skip

• Pack light clothes — Bali is warm year-round. You will sweat in jeans.
• Bring sunscreen from home (reef-safe, SPF 50+). It is cheaper and better quality.
• A sarong is available for Rp 30,000–80,000 ($2–5) anywhere in Bali. Do not pack one.
• Prescription medications and any specific health supplies should come from home.
• A light rain jacket or poncho if visiting wet season (Nov–April).
• Mosquito repellent (DEET-based 30%+) is cheaper at home and worth bringing.

What to bring:

• 3–5 lightweight t-shirts or tops (cotton or linen, not synthetics in this heat)
• 2 pairs of light shorts or linen trousers
• 1 smarter outfit for beach clubs / nicer restaurants (linen shirt, sundress)
• 1 pair of long pants or a maxi skirt for temple visits and cooler Ubud evenings
• Swimwear (2 pieces — one in the wash, one to wear)
• Good quality flip-flops or sandals (Birkenstock-style hold up better than cheap versions)
• 1 pair of shoes for hiking or longer walks
• Underwear (7 days worth — easy to wash and dry quickly in Bali)

What to buy in Bali instead:

• Sarong (Rp 30,000–80,000 at any market or shop)
• Cheap beach cover-up / pareo
• Fun local shirts (Ubud and Kuta markets are full of them)
• Flip-flops if you need backup

Leave behind: Jeans (too hot, too heavy), thick hoodies (a light layer suffices), formal business wear, multiple pairs of shoes.

Bring from home:

• Sunscreen (SPF 50+, reef-safe — significantly cheaper at home and better quality)
• Mosquito repellent (DEET 30%+ or picaridin — effective against dengue mosquitoes which bite by day)
• Any prescription medication — see your doctor 6–8 weeks before travel
• Basic first aid: ibuprofen, antihistamine (for insect bites/allergies), oral rehydration salts (for Bali Belly), Imodium, blister plasters
• Hand sanitiser (compact bottle for temples and street food situations)

Available in Bali (pharmacies / Guardian stores):

• Basic medications (paracetamol, antihistamine, Imodium)
• Sunscreen (variable quality, often pricey)
• Tampons (available at Pepito and Bintang supermarkets — limited selection in smaller towns)
• Condoms, contraceptive pills (available but ask your GP beforehand for your specific brand)
• Contact lens solution (Guardian pharmacy)

Essential tech to bring:

• Phone + charger + portable power bank (power cuts happen occasionally)
• Universal travel adapter (Indonesia uses Type C and Type F/German plugs, 220V)
• Camera if photography is a priority (phone cameras are usually sufficient for travel shots)

Plug type: Indonesia uses Type C (round 2-pin, Schuko) at 220–240V. Most modern device chargers are dual voltage (100–240V). Check your devices — hair dryers and some older chargers may not be. US travellers need an adapter (not just a converter — Indonesian voltage will fry 110V US devices).

Skip or leave: Laptop (unless you are working remotely), action camera (GoPro rentals are available at surf shops for Rp 100,000–200,000/day), hair dryer (most villas and hotels provide one).

Surfing:

• Board: rent in Bali (Rp 75,000–150,000/day) — not worth flying with a board for most trips
• Rash guard (bring — protects from sun and reef)
• Surf wax (can buy locally at surf shops)
• Reef booties if surfing sharp reef breaks (Uluwatu, Padang Padang)

Diving:

• Wetsuit: 3mm for most Bali diving. 5mm for Nusa Penida mola-mola season (Aug–Oct, cold upwelling)
• Mask and fins: can rent, better to bring your own mask for fit
• Dive computer: bring your own

Hiking (Mt Agung / Mt Batur):

• Headlamp (essential — summit treks start at 2–3 AM in darkness)
• Warm layer (summit temperatures drop to 5–10°C)
• Trekking poles (optional but helpful for descent)

• Passport: valid for 6+ months from entry date. Do not forget this.
• Printed or digital copies: A screenshot of your passport bio page, e-VOA approval, travel insurance policy, and first-night accommodation. Useful if your phone dies.
• Cash (USD or IDR): $50–100 USD for VOA and first day. ATMs are available airside in Bali but having emergency cash is sensible.
• Travel insurance documents: Policy number and emergency contact number. Know what your policy covers (scooter riding, diving, adventure sports — many standard policies exclude these).
• International driving permit (IDP): If you plan to ride a scooter, an IDP endorsed for motorcycles covers you legally. Obtainable from your national automobile association before departure.

• Towels: Every villa, hotel and guesthouse provides them. Beach towels are available locally for Rp 50,000–100,000.
• Sarong: Ubiquitous, cheap, and better quality bought locally than packed.
• Excess shoes: Flip-flops for 80% of your time, sneakers or sandals for the rest.
• Sleeping bag: Not needed for Bali — all accommodation has bedding.
• Umbrella: Rp 30,000–50,000 at any Indomaret.
• Formal clothing: Bali has no dress code for dinner that cannot be met by clean casual wear.
• Multiple books: Used book swaps are everywhere in Canggu, Ubud and Seminyak.
• A yoga mat: Every Bali yoga studio provides them.

Can I buy good-quality clothing in Bali?

Yes, increasingly so. Seminyak has proper fashion boutiques with well-made resort wear. Canggu has surf brand shops. Ubud has locally made ethically-produced items. Budget clothing at Kuta markets is low quality but great for disposable beach wear.

Is there a dress code for beach clubs?

Most beach clubs (Potato Head, Ku De Ta, La Brisa) have a no-swimwear-only rule for entry — a cover-up, light dress or shorts over your swimwear is enough. Smart casual for the evening. No strict formal dress required anywhere.

Do I need a first aid kit?

A basic personal kit is sensible: bandages, antiseptic wipes, blister plasters, tweezers (for splinters, or coral — wear reef shoes near coral). Full pharmacies and clinics are available everywhere in tourist Bali for anything beyond basic self-care.

What about adapters for charging?

Indonesia uses C/F-type plugs at 220V. Buy a universal adapter before leaving or from any electronics shop in Bali (Rp 30,000–80,000). USB-C and standard USB wall plugs are sold everywhere.

Is it worth bringing a portable water purifier?

For eco-conscious travellers: yes. A LifeStraw or SteriPen reduces single-use plastic waste. Refill stations (clean filtered water for your bottle at Rp 5,000–10,000) are common in Canggu, Ubud and Seminyak. For environmental reasons this is worth considering over buying plastic bottles daily.

Any packing tips for the wet season specifically?

Add a compact poncho or packable waterproof jacket. A dry bag (even a large zip-lock bag) for your phone and camera on scooter trips or waterfall hikes. Quick-dry clothes (travel synthetics or merino wool) are preferable over cotton during wet season as clothes dry slowly in high humidity.