What to wear and pack: a celebration on a boat in Komodo

No dress code is imposed by the boat, but the walks impose one. Closed shoes with grip are the first item, because Padar, Kelor and the Komodo trail all run over loose or steep ground. Sandals do not work.

Padar takes 25 to 45 minutes uphill, Kelor 15 to 30, and the Komodo walk 45 to 120. Shade is thin on all three, so a hat and a bottle of water go in every bag. Long sleeves or sunscreen help on the Komodo trail.

Guests who do not plan to climb can leave the shoes at home; the boat does not require them. Everyone else packs them first, before anything for the evening. Children need closed shoes too, and so does the grandparent who wants the Kelor view.

The Komodo trail has little shade, and the ranger sets the pace. A light long-sleeved shirt in a pale colour is cooler than bare shoulders, and a cap with a strap holds in a breeze.

Snorkel stops are the second kind of day: Manjarite, Pink Beach, Taka Makassar and Manta Point on Carnaby 1's route, and Pink Beach and Manta Point or Mawan on Carnaby 2's. Swimwear under the clothes saves time on the beach.

Reef-safe sunscreen matters in shallow water. A rash guard covers the shoulders in a long swim, and a dry bag keeps phones and cameras safe on the tender. Snorkelling gear and life jackets are on board; towels are provided. A light cover-up for the tender ride between the boat and the beach keeps the wind off wet shoulders.

Guests with their own mask can bring it, and a spare pair of goggles is useful for the child who loses one. A dry shirt for the boat ride back is worth the space. A zip bag per guest keeps wet swimwear apart from the dressed-up outfit.

Sunset at Kalong is the one moment the group sits still and looks at each other, so it is the one evening worth dressing for. One outfit per guest is enough, kept in a soft bag that folds flat in a cabin. Hair, jewellery and shoes for the deck table can wait until after the swim at Manjarite.

Ask us whether shoes come off on deck, and we confirm it. Bring a light layer, because the evening breeze on the sundeck can feel cool after a hot day.

A second outfit for the guest of honour helps with the photos on day 2, which come after the Padar walk. Carnaby 2 has a hot and cold shower in every cabin, and Carnaby 1 has a hot shower in each bathroom, so a change before dinner is easy.

Both boats have the same tip list: trekking shoes, a backpack, emergency cash, personal medicine and a flash drive or hard disk. The drive is for photos and video taken by others on the trip. On a private charter the documentation is not included, so a friend's phone is the camera, and a power bank keeps it alive through the day.

Cash matters because there are no ATMs in the park or on the islands. Take cash before you board. Crew gratuities are paid by you, in cash, and are not part of the fare.

Personal medicine goes in a hand bag, including anything for sea sickness. Bring enough for the whole trip, and keep it in your hand luggage on the flight to Labuan Bajo. The planning timeline covers what happens at the start of the trip.

Light fabrics read clearly on a sundeck against a dark evening sea, and they dry fast after a swim. The Carnaby 2 photos show a deck table laid with white linen, so a pale outfit matches the table.

Avoid anything that cannot get wet or sandy, and leave good jewellery in the cabin on the snorkel stops. A group of 14 or 21 looks best in one shared colour family, which is easier to agree in the group chat than at the pier. Ask the guest of honour last, and keep the answer to yourself.

For the stops, see the 3D2N page and the Padar page. The services page lists a photographer, quoted separately, if you want one.