Sailing
Soft bag, motion-sickness medication, headtorch, earplugs. Cabins are small and storage is smaller than you expect.
Liveaboard guideSilo 2 · Planning
Pack for Dry, Not for Tropical
Komodo is among the driest parts of Indonesia. Most packing lists are written for Bali, and they send people here with the wrong clothes and without the one thing they will actually need: a rash guard.
- Independent, not an operator
- Trade-offs named, not hidden
- Free, no obligation
- 800–1,000 mm Annual rainfall
- 25–30 °C Typical daytime range
- 21–22 °C Night lows in June
- 27–28.5 °C Water, shoulder months
The short answer
What the climate actually asks for
Hot, dry, exposed days and cooler nights than people expect — plus a lot of time on the water. That combination means sun protection and quick-dry layers matter far more than rain gear.
- Sun is the main hazard, not rain. On a deck with water reflecting back at you, shade is the only real protection.
- A long-sleeve rash guard is the single most useful item on this list — for snorkelling, for the deck, and for the trek.
- Nights get genuinely cool at sea, particularly June. One warm layer is not optional.
- Domestic baggage limits are tighter than international. Pack for the LBJ leg, not the long-haul one.
The list
What to actually bring
Grouped by what it is for. If you are only on land, skip the boat column; if you are only sailing, you need less than you think.
Clothing
Quick-dry and light, with one warm layer.
- Long-sleeve rash guard — the most used item you will pack
- Quick-dry shorts and light trousers
- One warm layer for night crossings and June evenings
- Modest layers for villages and any ceremony
- Sarong: towel, cover-up, sun shade, blanket
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a wide brim and polarised sunglasses
For the boat
Small things that make four nights aboard work.
- Motion-sickness medication you have used before
- Dry bag for phone and camera on tender transfers
- Headtorch — decks are dark and cabins are dim
- Power bank; sockets are limited and shared
- Flip-flops on deck, and something with grip for the trek
For the practice
Confirm what the operator supplies first.
- Travel mat or towel if mats are not carried — ask before you pack one
- A block or strap if your practice needs them
- A light shawl for early sessions on deck
- Earplugs and an eye mask: generators run at night
In the water
Rental exists, but fit does not.
- Your own mask if you have one that fits
- 3 mm shorty or full suit for repetitive diving
- Rash guard is enough for most snorkelling
- Dive computer and logbook if certified
- Reef-safe sunscreen only
Health & documents
Sorted before you fly.
- Travel insurance with evacuation cover — dive cover if diving
- Passport plus digital and paper copies
- Routine vaccines plus Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid — clinic 6–8 weeks ahead
- Mosquito repellent; malaria risk exists in parts of Flores
- Personal medication in original packaging, in hand luggage
- Cash: there are no card machines at sea
Leave at home
Weight you will not use.
- Hard-shell luggage — soft bags stow on a boat, hard cases do not
- Heavy rain gear; a light shell is enough
- Hair dryers and anything mains-hungry
- Single-use plastics — the park is a UNESCO site
- Smart clothes: nowhere here requires them
By format
What changes depending on your trip
The core list is the same. These are the additions each format actually needs.
Diving
Your own mask, a 3 mm suit for repetitive days, computer and logbook. And insurance that actually covers diving.
Dive wellness
Yoga & meditation
Ask whether mats are carried before packing one. A light shawl for dawn sessions is worth more than most props.
Yoga formats
The dragon trek
Closed shoes with grip, long trousers, water and a hat. It is short, exposed and hotter than the boat suggested.
All formatsBefore you book
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to bring a yoga mat?
Ask the operator first. Some wellness sailings and resorts carry mats and props as standard; plenty do not, and a mat is bulky against a tight domestic baggage limit. If nobody can confirm, a travel mat or a thick towel is a reasonable compromise — deck teak is harder than it looks.
What vaccinations do I need?
Routine vaccines plus Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Typhoid are the standard recommendations for Indonesia. Malaria risk exists in parts of Flores, so discuss prophylaxis with a travel medicine clinic six to eight weeks before departure. Dengue is present across Indonesia, so mosquito precautions matter regardless. This is information, not medical advice.
Is a wetsuit necessary for snorkelling?
Not for warmth — water sits around 27–28.5 °C in the shoulder months. A long-sleeve rash guard is enough, and it does the more important job of protecting you from sun and from incidental contact with reef. For repetitive diving over several days, a 3 mm shorty or full suit makes the fourth day considerably more comfortable.
What should I pack for the dragon trek?
Closed shoes with grip, long trousers, water, a hat and sunscreen. The walk is short but it is exposed, dusty and hotter than the boat ride suggested. Follow the ranger and keep the group together — that is the actual safety measure, not anything in your bag.
What should travel insurance cover?
Medical evacuation as the non-negotiable item — facilities in Labuan Bajo are limited and anything serious means a flight out. If you are diving, confirm the policy covers diving to the depth you will actually reach, because a lot of standard travel cover excludes it entirely. Cancellation cover is worth having in a region where weather moves schedules.
No obligation
Not sure what your trip needs?
Tell us the format and we will send a list for that specific trip — including what the operator already supplies, so you are not carrying it twice.