What to Pack for Bali (and What to Leave Behind)
19 August 2026 · TravelJar
Bali is humid, informal and well supplied. You can buy almost anything you forget, which makes over-packing the more common mistake.
The exceptions are worth getting right.
The things that actually matter
Temples expect shoulders and knees covered. Sarongs are usually available at the entrance, but carrying a light scarf saves the queue and the deposit.
Footwear is the one place people under-prepare. Sandals cover most of the trip, but any of the cliff paths, waterfall walks or the Kelingking descent want something with grip.
- Light, covering layer for temple visits
- Shoes with grip, not just sandals
- Reef-safe sunscreen — strong sun even on cloudy days
- Rain layer if travelling in the wetter months
- Universal adapter — Indonesian sockets differ from Indian ones
What you can skip
Heavy toiletries, beach towels and most medicines are easy to buy locally and not worth the luggage weight. Formal clothes are rarely needed unless you have a specific venue in mind.