From Beaches to Jungles: What to Pack for Indonesia
Packing for Indonesia can be tricky—trust us, we learned the hard way! During our two-month adventure across its islands on our world trip, we faced everything from scorching sun to tropical downpours. Whether you’re lounging on the beach, trekking through lush jungles, or watching the sunrise from a volcano, having the right gear makes all the difference. This guide will help you pack smart, so you’re ready for anything without overloading your bag.Suitcase or Backpack?
Indonesia can be challenging to navigate, making a backpack an ideal choice for travelers. With its vast diversity, you’ll likely be hopping between cities, islands, and flights, and a backpack will simplify your journey, saving both time and money. Whether you’re exploring bustling urban areas, remote beaches, or jungle treks, a backpack will be much easier to carry across uneven terrain, non-existent or damaged sidewalks, and even on boats.
We suggest packing light. The less you carry, the smoother your trip will be.
We typically organize our clothes in packing cubes for quick access: one cube for bottoms, one for tops, one for outdoor clothing, and so on. We also pack our shoes in fabric reusable bags. It ultimately depends on your packing style.
READ | Our Worldtrip Packing List
Our Daypack Items
We have a list of essential items we always pack in our daypack, no matter where we are. You can check Amazon Storefront list down below.
A helpful tip for traveling in Indonesia: bring your own toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and liquid soap in a small refillable bottle. Public restrooms may not have these supplies. In Indonesia, the bidet sprayer or known as the famous “bum gun” and a bucket with water and a mug is commonly used for cleaning instead of toilet paper. If you are not familiar with this, carry your own in case of an emergency.
Mosquito repellent and sunscreen are a must. We love the mosquito repellent cream in Indonesia. They have many nice smells, it’s not sticky, and very cheap. Sunscreen on the other hand can be quite expensive, so bring coral-reef safe sunscreen from home.
READ | Everyday Essentials: The Must-Have Items in our Daypack
BUY | Items in Our Bag: Daily Travel Edition on Amazon
Clothing
Packing for Indonesia is all about staying cool and comfortable while being prepared for different climates and activities. In places like Bali, Lombok, and the Gili Islands, lightweight clothing is perfect for beach days and wandering through markets. Knee-length dresses or skirts are useful for visiting temples or like Borobudur in Java, where modest attire is required. Men are also expected to cover their shoulders and knees. We use a beach towel as a sarong to cover our knees for temples.
Flip-flops are great for sandy beaches, but for exploring waterfalls in Ubud, but for hiking Mount Rinjani, you’ll need sturdy sneakers or hiking shoes. A light rain jacket or umbrella is essential, especially in Java’s humid jungles or during sudden tropical downpours.
If you're taking a boat trip, a waterproof bag keeps your gear dry. And no matter where you go, sun protection. like a hat, UV-blocking sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen is a must for Indonesia’s intense tropical sun.
✈︎Getting ready for a trip to Indonesia and feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don’t worry, we’ve got all the basics covered.
Head over to our Indonesia Travel Essentials guide for key info on where to go, how much to budget, and sample itineraries to get you started.
BUY | Shop everything you found on this list on our Amazon Storefront
CLOTHING PACKING LIST
Dressing Respectfully
Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country in the world. Please be mindful and wear conservative clothing when visiting this beautiful country. When visiting temples, palaces, and other cultural or religious sites, it’s important to dress respectfully by covering your shoulders and knees, as you won’t be allowed to enter without doing so. We encourage you to avoid wearing short, tight and revealing clothing.
If you are visiting Bali, you can wear less conservative clothing but DO NOT wear bikinis, go shirtless, or wear see-through dresses outside the beach! Yes, many tourists feel entitled to do so, but this is not part of Balinese and Indonesian culture. We encourage respectful behavior at the places we visit.
We’ve added all the items from our packing list to our Amazon storefront so you can easily find the products we love, use, and have personally tested during our travels.
To make things even easier, we also created a special section with modest clothing picks, for shopping or just outfit inspiration, based on what worked for us in Indonesia.
BUY | Find modest outfit ideas on our Amazon Storefront
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Toiletries
You’ll probably find most of your usual toiletries in Indonesia, so no need to overpack. Still, we recommend bringing sunscreen as it can be quite expensive in Indonesia, solid shampoo or soap bars, and any personal skincare products you can’t go without.
We try to reduce our liquids and use solid products to make carry-on travel easier and refill our favorite products instead of buying new travel-sized ones each time. For more of our go-to travel toiletries and eco-friendly swaps, check our Amazon Storefront.
TOILETRIES
contact lenses, glasses, contact lenses supplies
FEMALE
feminine hygiene products (menstrual cup & period underwear)
make up & make up brushes
Menstruators Essentials for Indonesia
For menstrual cup users it is easy to clean your cup on the go. Most of the toilets have a bidet sprayer or better known as the “bum gun” and/or a faucet for the bucket and mug. You might not always find hand soap, so bring a small refillable bottle along.
You will be able to find pads without any issue, but tampons are a rare find.
READ | Traveling on Your Period? Tips & Products to Stay Comfortable
TRAVEL MENSTRUAL ESSENTIALS
Electronics
You won’t need much, but a few key electronics make traveling in Indonesia a lot smoother. Consider bringing a power bank for long days out. Good noise-canceling earphones for bus, train or plane rides. An absolute must-have that you should not forget is a lightweight travel fan can also come in handy in the tropical heat. Indonesia uses the European style plug (Type C and F), so make sure your adapter fits.
TRAVEL ELECTRONICS
smartphone & charger
camera, memory card & charger
Camera Gear
If you love taking photos as much as we do, Indonesia will keep your camera busy every single day. You’ll want to be ready for every kind of shot.
We always travel with our camera, drone, instax and phone setup, plus a few small accessories that make a huge difference. Think extra SD cards, waterproof cases, spare batteries, lens cloths, and a lightweight tripod for those sunrise and night shots.
If you’re curious about what’s in our camera bag or want ideas for upgrading your setup, check out our full post on our travel photography gear, we break down exactly what we use and why it works so well for travel days.
BUY | Camera & Photography Accesories we use on Amazon Storefront
OUR PHOTOGRAPHY ESSENTIALS
CAMERA & LENSES
Sustainable Recommendations
We always bring our reusable water bottles, as they can be refilled with filtered water for free at most accommodations, including Indonesia.
A reusable bag is another must-have, perfect for grocery shopping or beach trips. It’s also handy for rearranging items at the airport, helping us transfer things into our carry-on. For hikes or visits to street food markets, we suggest packing collapsible food containers, along with reusable cutlery and metal straws.
READ | Eco-Friendly Travel: Sustainable Essentials for Your Packing List
BUY | Sustainable items that we always travel with on Amazon
TRAVEL SUSTAINABLE FAVORITES
Laundry
We recommend packing light, as doing laundry in Indonesia is quick and easy. You get your clothes washed for a small fee at your accommodations. Most of them offer laundry services, they normally charge per weight.
Don’t forget to pack a laundry mesh bag for both sustainability and to protect your delicates while traveling Indonesia.
READ | Wondering how to do laundry when traveling? Check our best tips.
OUR TRAVEL LAUNDRY SET UP
Flight Essentials
Long flights to and within Indonesia can feel much smoother with a few essentials by your side. We always pack in a small clear toiletry bag in our small carry-on backpack our comfort and entertainment must-haves. Things like a neck pillow, noise-canceling headphones, a refillable water bottle, and a power bank. These little items make all the difference during long travel days.
BUY | Flight Bag Favorite Products on Amazon
READ | Comfort Meets Minimalism: Essentials for Your Next Flight
Safety
Indonesia is a safe country, with low crime rates. Pick-pocketing might happen. We advice you to stay aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas.
Being connected means being prepared. We use Saily eSIM to stay online wherever we go, so we can navigate, stay in touch, and travel safer.
READ | Our best tips for staying safe during our travels
BUY | Our travel safety gear on Amazon
eSIM | For a reliable connection during your Malaysia travels, a Saily eSIM helps you stay safe and connected without roaming issues.
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Health
Vaccinations
No specific vaccinations are required for entry into Indonesia unless you're traveling from a country with a risk of yellow fever.
We advice you to consult with a healthcare provider before traveling.
Recommended Vaccinations for Indonesia:
Routine Vaccinations: Make sure you’re up to date on the standard vaccinations, including:
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
Polio
Influenza
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Hepatitis A: The virus can be spread through contaminated food or water, and it’s advisable for travelers to get vaccinated before visiting Indonesia, particularly if you plan on visiting rural or less-developed areas.
Hepatitis B: It is recommended for travelers who may have exposure to blood or bodily fluids, such as those planning on staying long-term, seeking medical treatment, or engaging in high-risk activities.
Typhoid: If you plan to visit more rural areas or eat food from street vendors, the typhoid vaccine is recommended as it protects against foodborne bacteria that can cause infection.
Japanese Encephalitis: This is recommended for travelers who will be spending significant time outdoors in rural areas or near farms, particularly during the warmer months when mosquitoes are more prevalent.
Rabies: Rabies is a major concern in Indonesia, it’s recommended for travelers who may have close contact with stray dogs and monkeys.
Travel Insurance
Travel health insurance is essential for any trip, covering unexpected medical expenses such as doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and emergency treatments. It ensures you receive the care you need while protecting you from high medical costs. This is especially important when traveling to unfamiliar destinations or regions with limited healthcare access, where quality medical treatment may not be readily available. To help you find the best coverage for your trip, we’ve put together a guide.
READ | Travel insurance: the one we use and why you should too
Payment Methods
Indonesia can be very credit card-friendly country and some shops accept card payments charging small transaction fees. However, it’s still good to carry some cash, especially for small eateries and night markets. ATMs are widely available.
READ | Save on ATM Fees and Exchange Rates: Debit Card for Travelers
WISE: OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL CARD!
We use Wise everywhere: fair rates, easy cash withdrawals, and no hidden fees.
Travel Documents
Keep your passport, travel insurance, and flight confirmations easily accessible, preferably both digital and printed. We always keep our important documents safely stored in a waterproof pouch and backed up online, just in case.
DON’T FORGET THESE DOCUMENTS
Passport (with at least 6 months validity)
Visa (if required)
Flight tickets / boarding passes
Hotel booking confirmations
Travel insurance details
Photocopies / scans of important documents (passport, visa, travel insurance)
International drivers license
Student ID
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