What to Pack for a Surf Trip to Bali (And What to Leave at Home)

Most Bali packing lists are written by people trying to sell you something. They are long, they are vague, and they assume you are going somewhere with a shopping street.

Here is ours, written from the other end: we see what guests actually unpack in Medewi, and we see what stays in the bag all week. The short version is that your list is shorter than you think, because a good part of it is already here.

Start by crossing things off

Before you pack anything, know what you do not need to bring:

• A surfboard. We have a full quiver you can use, from soft tops to mid-lengths and logs.
• A leash. Comes with the board.
• A rash guard. Included with every session.
• Face sunscreen. We keep reef-safe zinc at the house for the water.
• A wetsuit. The water sits between 27 and 29 °C all year. There is no month in which you will want neoprene.

That is already most of a normal surf-trip packing list gone.

The actual list

In the water

• Two sets of swimwear. One is always wet. This is the single most common regret.
• A long-sleeved rash vest of your own if you burn easily. Ours are included, but having a dry one is worth the space.
• Reef booties. The Medewi point breaks over smooth boulders and the walk in and out is the rocky part of the day. Plenty of locals go barefoot. If you are not used to it, especially on a lower tide, booties will save you the small cuts that ruin a week.
• Proper sunscreen, more than you think. Zinc, reef-safe, and enough of it. Tropical sun at 8° south is not the sun you know, and it works through cloud.
• A hat and sunglasses for the hours between sessions.

On land

• A quick-dry towel. Cotton never really dries here.
• Flip-flops, plus one pair of closed shoes for the waterfall walk or the volcano.
• Light, loose clothes. Three or four sets is plenty for two weeks. Laundry is quick and cheap.
• A sarong. Does four jobs: temple visit, beach mat, towel, blanket on a cold bus. Buy one here, they are better and cheaper.
• A light rain jacket between November and March, and honestly a decent idea in any month.
• A dry bag for scooter rides and boat trips.

The boring things that matter most

• Cash in rupiah. We take cash, bank transfer or Wise, but not cards, and the same is true of most warungs out here. Sort your cash before you need it rather than after.
• A small first aid kit. Antiseptic, waterproof plasters, and something for an upset stomach. Tropical water turns a small cut into a real problem faster than you expect, so clean everything the same day.
• Ear drops. The most forgotten item on this list, and the one most likely to cost you surf days.
• Mosquito repellent. Mornings and evenings.
• A plug adapter. Indonesia runs 230 V on type C and F sockets, the same round two-pin as most of Europe.
• Any medication you actually rely on, in its original packaging, in your hand luggage.

Your own board: bring it or borrow one?

Do the arithmetic before you romanticise it. A board bag costs money on most airlines in each direction, it has to be carried through two or three airports and two hours of coast road, and it occasionally arrives with a new ding.

Bring your own board if you are genuinely attached to a particular one, or if you are an advanced surfer with a shape you trust. Otherwise borrow ours. Medewi is a soft, rolling wave that rewards volume and length, and most visitors end up riding something longer here than they ride at home anyway. Our longboarding guide explains why.

What to leave at home

• A hard suitcase. Half the journeys here end on a scooter or a sandy path.
• Most of your clothes. You will live in two outfits and swim in the third.
• Hairdryer, straighteners, big toiletry bottles. Humidity wins, and everything is for sale in Bali.
• Anything bought "just in case". Whatever you forget, you can almost certainly buy on the island.

Dry season versus wet season

April to October is dry and windy in the right direction. Pack for sun: more sunscreen, a hat, something with sleeves.

November to March brings warm rain, usually in the afternoon. Pack a light rain jacket, a dry bag that you will genuinely use, and shoes that cope with mud. Nothing gets cold, it just gets wet. We went through what those months are really like in surfing Bali in the wet season.

Three things people forget every single season

1. Ear drops. Mentioned twice on purpose.
2. A second pair of boardshorts. Mentioned twice on purpose.
3. Enough cash for the first day, before anyone has told you where to get more.

Quick answers

Do I need a wetsuit in Bali? No. The water is 27 to 29 °C year-round. Boardshorts, a rash vest and sunscreen are all you need.

Should I bring my own surfboard to Medewi? Only if you are attached to a specific board. We have a full quiver, and Medewi suits mid-lengths and logs better than most travel boards.

Do I need reef booties? Not strictly, but the entry at Medewi is over boulders. If you are not used to walking on rock, bring them, especially for lower tides.

Can I buy what I forget nearby? Bali has everything, but West Bali is a village, not a shopping street. Specialist surf items are better brought with you; everyday things are easy.

What about a visa? Indonesian entry rules change from time to time, so check the current requirements for your passport before you book flights rather than before you fly.

Still unsure about something specific? Ask us before you pack. We would rather answer a small question now than watch you buy a second rash vest in Denpasar. You will find the short version of this list on our surf coaching page too.