Packing for the rainforest is a balancing act: everything you bring, you carry through heat and humidity, but the few things that matter, really matter. This is the list we send our own guests, refined over hundreds of treks.
The essentials, any trek length
- —Lightweight, breathable long-sleeved shirts: sun and insect protection in one
- —Quick-dry trekking trousers (cotton stays wet forever here)
- —Sturdy hiking shoes or boots with grip: flip-flops genuinely won’t cut it
- —High-SPF sunscreen and insect repellent
- —Refillable water bottle: we provide drinking water on every trek
- —Rain poncho or lightweight waterproof jacket
- —Small first-aid kit with blister plasters
- —Cash in Indonesian Rupiah: ATMs in the village are limited
- —Camera or phone in a waterproof case, for the river crossings
Extra for multi-day treks
Good news first: on our overnight treks, the camping gear, food and cooking are carried and handled by the team. You only carry your personal pack.
- —One dry set of clothes for camp, sealed in a plastic bag or dry bag
- —Headlamp with spare batteries: jungle nights are properly dark
- —Long socks (they double as leech protection in the wetter months)
- —Lightweight towel or sarong: you will swim
- —Power bank: there are no sockets under the canopy
- —Earplugs, if the jungle’s night orchestra keeps you awake
What to leave at home
- —Drones: flying in Gunung Leuser National Park requires permits you almost certainly don’t have
- —Single-use plastic: part of every trip we run goes into keeping the Bohorok river clean, help us keep it that way
- —Heavy boots-for-the-Alps: lightweight and quick-drying beats heavy and waterproof in this climate
- —Anything you would be heartbroken to get wet, muddy or monkey-inspected
The golden rule
Pack light, pack smart. Day treks need a small daypack only. For multi-day treks, if your personal bag weighs more than 6-7 kilos, you are probably carrying something the jungle will make you regret. Still unsure about an item? Message us on WhatsApp: we answer packing questions daily.
Planning your own trek?
We arrange jungle treks, experiences and transfers daily, planned personally by our local team in Bukit Lawang. Questions cost nothing, we answer fast.