What to Pack for a Phinisi Trip in Komodo

Space on board is shared and there are no shops at sea. What earns a place in your bag on a Komodo boat trip, and what can stay home.

On a phinisi trip, most of the day happens outside your cabin: in the water, on a beach, on a hillside trail, or on deck while the islands slide past. Komodo National Park is reached only by sea, usually from Labuan Bajo, so whatever you forget stays forgotten until you are back in town. Pack a few right things, each with a reason to be there.

Light layers for midday sun and morning wind

• Loose, breathable shirts and shorts. Quick-drying fabrics earn their place, because on a boat everything gets a little damp.
• A lightweight long-sleeved shirt with a high UPF rating. The CDC notes that UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of UV, so the skin it covers needs no sunscreen.
• Two swimsuits, so one dries while you wear the other, and a rash guard to cover your back and shoulders while you snorkel.
• A light jacket or windbreaker. Early departures can be windy and cool offshore, and afternoons on deck can turn breezy. In the wet season, a thin rain shell does the job.
• One outfit you like for dinner on deck, and something that covers shoulders and knees for town and village stops, in keeping with local dress codes.

Sun protection that lasts through a swim

Komodo lies close to the equator, where UV is stronger. The CDC notes that water and sand reflect it and that it passes through clouds and haze, so on deck it reaches you from the sky and off the water.

• Broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher. The CDC suggests about a shot glass worth for an adult's exposed skin, reapplied every two to four hours and more often after swimming. Choose one whose only active ingredients are zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, and let the UPF shirt and rash guard cover most of your skin so less ends up in the water.
• A hat with a wide brim that shades your face, ears and neck; the CDC notes that a baseball cap leaves ears and neck exposed. A chin strap keeps it on in the wind.
• Sunglasses rated UV400, wraparound if you can find them, and a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher.

If you take regular medication, ask a pharmacist whether it raises sun sensitivity; the CDC lists some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory painkillers among them.

Feet, bags and the ride to shore

Many landings happen by small tender or a short wade through the shallows, and that shapes a few choices.

• Water shoes or grippy sandals for pebbly shores, hot sand and wet tender steps. They protect your feet; they are not a reason to stand on coral.
• Closed shoes or sturdy trail sandals for hillside walks. Any walk where dragons live happens with a park ranger.
• A small roll-top dry bag for every trip ashore: phone, sunscreen, a dry layer, a little cash. Spray and wet landings are normal.
• A soft duffel or backpack rather than a hard suitcase. Storage on board is often limited, and soft bags fold into corners that rigid shells cannot.

Power, motion and medicine

Indonesia's official tourism site says most plugs and sockets in the country are Type C and F, the two-pin European style, on 230 volts at 50 hertz. Bring an adapter if yours differ, and check the input range printed on each charger; if it does not cover 230 volts, you need a voltage converter.

On board, power is often shared, so a power bank and a multi-port USB charger save small negotiations at the socket. Ask your operator what is available.

If you are prone to motion sickness, pack the remedy you know works and talk to a pharmacist before the trip; our seasickness guide has more.

Bring enough of any medicine you rely on, a small kit for scrapes, stings and upset stomachs, and insect repellent for evenings ashore. UK government advice notes that treatment for serious injury or illness may not be available in remote areas, and that some medicines are regulated differently between countries, so check yours before you fly.

Documents and cash

• Your passport, or valid ID for domestic travelers, with a photo saved offline. At the time of writing, UK government advice says your passport must expire at least six months after you arrive in Indonesia and have at least two blank pages. Check your own government's guidance and the current visa rules.
• Travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation, with the policy number and emergency line saved offline.
• Your dive certification card or e-card, if you plan to dive.
• At the time of writing, park visits are booked in advance through an online system with a daily visitor cap, so confirm early with your operator that yours are arranged.

There are no ATMs at sea. Withdraw rupiah in Labuan Bajo before you board, in small bills, for crew tips, village purchases and anything your package does not include. Park fees change and are not always included, so check what is covered. If you change money, UK advice is to use only licensed changers, which display a Bank Indonesia logo and a QR code.

What to leave at home

• The hard-shell suitcase.
• Half the outfits, and anything slow to dry. Laundry is often limited on board, and most days you will live in a swimsuit and two shirts.
• Jewelry and valuables you would hate to lose over the side.
• High-wattage appliances such as hair dryers, unless your boat confirms it can run them.
• Single-use plastic. A refillable bottle is kinder to the islands; ask whether your boat has a refill station.

Pack the night before, then lift the bag with one hand. If it feels easy, you are probably close.