Komodo sailing trip packing list: what goes in the bag

A soft bag beats a hard suitcase. Cabins on a small phinisi are compact, a rigid case has nowhere to go, and a soft bag folds into whatever space the cabin gives you. Bombana 1 has 5 cabins and Bombana 2 has 5, and every one is shared space for you and your bag.

Ask us with your numbers and your cabin, and we'll answer for your date. A day bag for the climbs and the stops is useful, because you won't be going back to the cabin between them, and you'll want your hat, water and mask within reach.

Pack for three days, not for three weeks. Two swimsuits, a few light tops and one dry set for the evening are plenty. Short and simple.

Closed shoes with grip come first. Kelor, Padar and Komodo all need them, and sandals slip on the Padar path. Pack a pair of sandals or flip-flops too, for the boat and the beaches.

Sun is next: a hat, sunglasses, a long-sleeved top and reef-safe sunscreen. Komodo has little shade, the sun on deck is strong in the dry months, and a burn on day 1 is a long way to carry through day 3. A light layer helps in the dark before the Padar sunrise.

Take a refillable water bottle, and fill it before each climb. Add a rain layer if you travel between December and March, because the wet season brings showers, and the month-by-month page says which months to expect them. In the dry months it can stay in the bag. Pack it anyway.

Masks are provided on both boats. Fins are not promised, so if you want your own, bring them. A mask that fits your face is the one thing worth owning, and you can bring yours if you prefer it.

A rash guard is the best single item for the water stops. It covers your back, cuts sunscreen and keeps you a little warmer in the drift at Manta Point. A dry bag protects your phone at the beach stops.

Life jackets are on board. Bombana 1 has towels on board, and a quick-dry towel of your own is a small, safe extra on either boat.

Bring your passport or ID, and the booking confirmation on your phone. The meeting point is in Labuan Bajo, and you need to be there by 10:00 on day 1.

The park ticket is not in any fare. It's paid separately and in your own name. For an international visitor it is IDR 250,000 per person per day, for an Indonesian resident IDR 50,000 per day on a weekday and IDR 75,000 on a weekend. Ranger and pier levies come on top. The park fees page has the details.

Bring some cash for tips. Tips for the guide and crew are appreciated, and no amount is set. Meals and snacks are included, so you don't need food money. Travel insurance isn't included, so bring yours.

Mobile signal is local and patchy in the park. Treat the trip as offline, and charge your phone, camera and power bank before you leave the hotel.

Download maps, tickets and music before you board. Tell your family you will be out of reach for a while. It is also a good reason to look up.

For photographs, a charged camera and a spare battery matter at Kalong, where low light drains them. A waterproof pouch protects your phone at the snorkel stops. The Kalong page has camera notes.

Leave valuables you don't need, such as spare jewellery, a laptop and a large camera kit. Leave the hard suitcase, the hairdryer and the good shoes. Take only what you will use. Ask your hotel to hold them until you return around midday on day 3.

Leave the plan to see everything in Labuan Bajo on day 3. The boat returns around midday, and flights home should be after 13:00. Our hotel list can help with where to stay before and after.

Here is a checklist you can copy:

• Soft bag and a day bag
• Closed shoes with grip, plus sandals
• Hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, rash guard
• Head torch, water bottle, rain layer
• Passport or ID, cash for the park ticket and tips
• Charged phone, power bank, dry pouch