The essential Bali packing list: What to bring for every adventure

A trip to the magical island of Bali is one of those dream holidays, high on everyone’s bucket list — but are you ready? Before you jet off to the Isle of Gods, make sure you’ve got everything you need. Just follow our handy essential Bali packing list, and you’ll be set.

Documents and travel essentials for Bali

Let’s start with the boring bits. There’s nothing exciting about checking your paperwork to make sure everything’s in order, but it will save you a lot of potential headaches. Here are the basic documents for Bali that you need:

Passport

You’re a seasoned traveller, so you won’t forget this one, right? You’d be surprised by the number of people who leave this vital document at home! There’s a reason we’ve put it right at the top of our Bali packing list. Keep in mind that to enter Indonesia, you’ll need six months’ validity on your passport from your date of arrival, as well as two blank pages.

Visa

Yes, there is a visa required for Bali. The good news is that many nationalities can get a visa on arrival, available at most large airports and ports in Indonesia, including Bali. That means one less thing to worry about before you travel!

It’s worth noting that the visa-on-arrival process means there are inevitably very long queues at Bali Airport, particularly during peak tourist season. That’s just the way it goes, unfortunately. Be prepared to take a long time to get through the airport, so don’t make any important plans for immediately after you land!

Cash

It’s always a good idea to carry some Indonesian rupiah in Bali. While many countries are increasingly cashless, the Isle of Gods tends to have a slower pace of life. You’ll find that a lot of businesses in Indonesia don’t even accept card payments. If card payments are accepted, service fees are common, which can really eat into your holiday budget. That’s true in Bali, and it’s even more important to carry cash if you’re visiting the smaller nearby islands, like Nusa Penida or the Gili Islands. What’s more, some travellers report frequent problems with ATMs, especially if you’re heading off the beaten track.

You’ll need to part with some of your precious rupiah right away. The visa on arrival costs 500,000 IDR. In 2024, the Indonesian government introduced a tourist levy payment for visitors to Bali. It costs 150,000 IDR. In both cases, you can pay with a card, but you’ll be charged a service fee.

Gadgets, chargers and adapters

Naturally, you’ll want to bring your phone to Bali — and you may have a couple of other essential gadgets in your backpack, too. Remember that power banks must go in your hand luggage due to concerns about lithium battery fires. If you try to sneak one into your checked suitcase, baggage handlers are likely to remove it and dispose of it.

Indonesia uses Type F plugs, which are the same as mainland Europe. Some of the fancier hotels will also have USB chargers, but these are a pretty rare sight.

You can buy an eSIM on arrival at the airport. If you’re not renting a scooter or hiring a driver, you might want to download ride-hailing apps like Grab or Gojek, which will make it a lot easier to get around the island.

Clothes

Now for the fun part of our Bali packing list: what are you going to wear? Well, you’ve probably seen plenty of Instagram pics of scantily-clad influencers frolicking in beautiful settings on the Isle of Gods. A word of warning, though: Balinese culture is religious and conservative. Yes, you’ll see tourists wandering around in bikinis and muscle shirts, but the locals see this as disrespectful. There have even been cases in recent years of influencers getting arrested and deported for inappropriate photoshoots, so tread carefully!

Many of the most beautiful attractions in Bali are religious sites, where both men and women are expected to dress modestly. Unlike most of Indonesia, Bali is not Muslim, but if you’re in a religious place, you must cover up your knees and shoulders. When you visit a temple, there are usually places to buy or borrow a sarong just outside. Remember that there are many sites in Bali that you might not realise are sacred, including ancient trees and volcanoes.

If you add the Gili Islands to your itinerary, remember that they have a Muslim majority, so dress appropriately. Again, women are not expected to cover their hair, but they will be expected to choose modest clothes. For a longer Indonesian itinerary, do your research! This is a large country, and customs vary from region to region and island to island. For example, the province of Aceh, known for its great scuba diving and its wild orangutans, follows Sharia Law, and visitors are expected to cover up.

Everyday clothes

Bali is a hot, tropical island where the humidity levels are high all year round. Natural fibres like cotton and linen will help keep the sweat at bay. Long, loose-fitting clothes are generally more comfortable in the heat than things that are short and tight — and they have the added bonus of helping to keep the mosquitoes at bay!

There are plenty of options to buy clothes in Bali if you haven’t brought enough, and the island also has a number of cheap laundry facilities. You may want to add a couple of extra t-shirts to your Bali packing list. The island is hot enough that most visitors like to change into something fresh before dinner.

Swimwear

Be honest: are you really going to avoid the beach in Bali? The emphasis on modest attire certainly doesn’t extend to Bali’s beaches — but remember, the sun here is very hot indeed. Many Asian tourists prefer to wear rashguards to keep from burning. Look for a rashie with SPF and UPF protection to stay safe.

We recommend bringing practical swimwear that will let you move around without any fear of a wardrobe malfunction! As well as the beach, you may be planning fun, thrilling activities like white water rafting, scuba diving, snorkelling or even cliff jumping. You definitely don’t want your bikini top flying off mid-adventure!

Shoes

When it comes to shoes for Bali, think practical. You may be doing a lot of walking. Many travellers want to hike mountains like Mount Batur, and most of Bali’s famous waterfalls involve long, steep flights of rocky steps. You might want to go for a sturdy pair of trekking sandals rather than hiking boots, particularly in the rainy season.

A pair of flip-flops or slides is an absolute must on your Bali packing list, and not just for the beach. In Southeast Asia, you may be asked to remove your footwear before entering temples, shops and even restaurants. Opting for shoes that you can just slip on and off will make your life a lot easier.

So, should you bring fancy footwear to Bali? Well, it depends. If you’re planning to hit the clubs in areas like Canggu, then a pair of nice shoes for going out is essential. Many bars and clubs have a dress code that covers footwear. On the other hand, if your planned Bali adventure is more about yoga, hiking and nature, leave the heels at home.

A small, secure backpack

Why is it important that your backpack is secure? No, Bali doesn’t have a high crime rate — but it does have its very own brand of local pickpockets, in the form of the grey macaque monkeys that can be found all over the island. These daring creatures frequently unzip tourists’ bags in search of food and have been known to steal sunglasses and even mobile phones. We recommend an anti-theft backpack with its zip on the reverse side. Oh, and definitely don’t carry any food if you’re visiting places like the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud!

A waterproof jacket

The rainy season in Bali runs from November to April, but even at other times of the year, showers are common. A lightweight rain jacket of the kind that folds up small can be a real lifesaver. You may never use it, but we reckon it’s a good idea to keep it in your backpack during your trip.

A sunhat and sunglasses

Boring? Maybe. Essential? Definitely. You’re going to the tropics, and even if you’re not normally a hat person, it’s time to forget fashion for a moment. The sun in Bali can be fiercely hot, so every little bit of protection helps.

Medical matters

No one wants to get sick abroad! Every sensible traveller includes a little first aid kit on their Bali packing list. Here’s what’s on ours:

Prescription medication

You know this one yourself: if you have any prescriptions, bring them with you. We always think it’s wise to get a doctor’s note confirming the prescription, just in case you run into any difficulties at the airport. As always, check that your medication is legal in Indonesia. For example, medical marijuana is not permitted, and drug laws are very strict.

Mosquito repellent

The dreaded mozzies are a major hazard in Bali at all times of year. They’re particularly active around late evening, and many bars and restaurants will burn anti-mosquito coils to keep them at bay. Be sure to add a good mozzie spray to your checklist for Bali. Most accommodations in Bali feature mosquito nets over the beds. They’re not just for show — make sure to use yours!

Anti-diarrhoea tablets

There’s no delicate way to put this: Bali belly is real. Many travellers come down with stomach bugs while exploring the Isle of Gods. It’s the quickest way to ruin your holiday, so think ahead and pack some pills.

Seasickness tablets

Planning a spot of island hopping? Then, these bad boys are a must. They’re particularly important if you’re going scuba diving or snorkelling around the Nusa Islands, where the waters are choppy, not to mention you’ll be in a small vessel. Even if you haven’t suffered from seasickness before, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Throwing up over the side of a boat is never a good look.

Hand sanitiser

No, we’re not nostalgic for the days of the covid pandemic. Instead, we think that hand sanitiser deserves a place on your Bali packing list for one simple reason: traditional toilets. If you’ve never experienced the Southeast Asian squat drop, you’re in for a novel experience…

There aren’t that many traditional toilets left in Bali these days, but there are still some, particularly if you’re heading off the beaten track. They’re also still a very common sight in many other parts of Indonesia.

Tissues or toilet paper

Even though Western-style toilets are pretty common in Bali nowadays, toilet paper is a rarity. You’ll find it in the more upmarket hotels and in bars or restaurants that cater to tourists, but smaller guesthouses and local restaurants don’t bother with it. Instead, toilets are equipped with a cleaning hose to take care of business.

Now, toilet preferences are a deeply personal matter, and you may well embrace the bum gun. However, if the thought sends a shiver down your spine, add some paper to your list of things to pack for Bali. Just remember to throw it in the bin, and never flush paper in Bali, as it can damage the plumbing.

Sunscreen

Here’s the big one! You’re planning to have fun in the sun, of course, but the heat in Southeast Asia can be lethal. If you don’t want to end up looking like a prawn, be generous with the SPF 50. We recommend looking for reef-safe sunscreen if you plan to spend much time in the water, as it doesn’t contain harmful chemicals that can destroy coral.

We can’t wait to see you in Bali! Choose your dream holiday: our 8-day Bali adventure for a shorter trip or an epic 2-week journey across Bali and the Gili Islands.

For those who appreciate the finer things in life, we also offer an Exclusive Indonesia trip with luxury accommodation in Bali, the Gili Islands and Lombok. Which one will you join us for?