The 'bring these and you'll barely need anything else' list
- Insulated reusable water bottle (750ml–1L). The single biggest waste reducer on the trip.
- Cloth tote bag. You'll use it daily at markets and warungs.
- Bamboo or steel travel utensils (fork, spoon, chopsticks).
- Reef-safe sunscreen, no oxybenzone, no octinoxate. Buy it before you fly.
- Solid shampoo and soap bars. Airline-friendly and no leaks.
- Sarong. Doubles as beach towel, temple wrap, picnic mat, and cover-up.
- Small dry bag (5–10L) for scooter rides and boat transfers.
- Quick-dry travel towel.
- Basic first-aid kit including rehydration salts and any prescriptions.
Clothing (for two weeks)
- 5–7 lightweight tops (linen or cotton, synthetics feel awful in humidity).
- 2–3 shorts, 1 pair light trousers for temples and cooler evenings in the highlands.
- 1 modest outfit with shoulders covered for temple visits.
- 1 swimsuit (two if you swim daily, they don't dry fast in wet season).
- 1 light rain shell, even in dry season, mountain weather flips fast.
- Comfortable sandals + one pair of trainers or trail sandals for hikes.
What to leave at home
- Hair dryer, every accommodation has one.
- Bulk toiletries, solid bars replace 90% of these.
- Heavy books, Bali has excellent bookshops if you need one.
- Formal wear, nothing in Bali requires it, not even most business dinners.
The buy-on-arrival short list
A few things are cheaper and often better locally. Buy them in your first day or two rather than shipping them from home:
- A woven basket bag if you want one, supports local weavers.
- Fresh sarongs from a market stall.
- Mosquito repellent (local citronella-based ones work well).
- Fresh fruit for your accommodation.
The daily test
At the end of each day, glance in your bin. Mostly food scraps and a bit of paper? You're doing well. A pile of little plastics? That's your signal for tomorrow, where can you swap one of them out?