Reef-safe sun care
Mineral sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate. Standard sunscreen damages coral and is discouraged across the park.
Pack light, and pack for sun
A week aboard needs less than you think, and cabin storage is finite. The one thing worth over-packing is sun protection.
Plan your journeyIn short
Soft bags only — a hard shell has nowhere to live in a cabin. Everything else is: enough light layers to stay covered in the sun, one set that covers shoulders and knees for the villages, and shoes you can climb in.
- Soft duffel, not a hard suitcase
- Reef-safe sunscreen; the ordinary kind is not allowed
- Shoes with grip for the Padar and Rinca trails
The list
Six things worth getting right
The rest you can improvise. These you cannot buy once you have sailed.
Light long sleeves
A rash guard and a long linen shirt beat repeated sunscreen. Equatorial sun on open water is relentless.
Two pairs of shoes
Something with grip for the Padar ridge and the Rinca trail, and something you can kick off on deck.
Polarised sunglasses
With a strap. The glare off the water is the thing most guests underestimate.
Personal medication
In original packaging, with enough for the whole route plus a few days. Bring seasickness tablets even if you never need them.
Power and storage
A power bank and spare cards. There is power aboard but the park has almost no mobile coverage.
What to wear ashore
On the boat, whatever you like. Ashore is different: villages on Flores and around the park are conservative, and covered shoulders and knees are the courteous minimum.
One light long-sleeved shirt and one pair of loose trousers cover every landing on the route and double as sun protection on deck.
For the ranger-guided walks, closed shoes and long trousers are the practical choice as much as the polite one.
What you can leave at home
Cabin space is the constraint, and most of this is already aboard.
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Towels and toiletries
Beach and bath towels are provided, along with basic toiletries.
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Dive gear
Serviced equipment in every size is aboard. Bring your own mask if you prefer, nothing else.
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Formalwear
There is no dress code at any point on any route. Nobody has ever needed a jacket.
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Ask before you buy anything
The list changes with the season you are sailing in. Tell us your dates and we will send the one that applies.