Traveling around Komodo National Park without visiting the third-largest island in the area after Komodo Island and Rinca Island, Padar Island is a significant loss. With underwater volcanoes, a view of hills overlooking the bay, and the green bushes and trees in the savanna covering the island, it becomes a must-visit tourism spot during the tour. With this Padar Island travel guide, you’ll get the best out of your traveling experience!
How to Get There
Padar Island is situated near Rinca Island. They are only separated from Lintah Strait. First of all, you need to go to Labuan Bajo. Direct flights to Labuan Bajo are available from Lombok, Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Kupang. The flight from Bali will take an hour, while the flight from Jakarta will take 2 hours. You can also take a bus from Bali to Labuan Bajo if you’re more comfortable taking a 3-hour drive road trip.
Once you arrive at Labuan Bajo, you’ll have two options to get to Padar Island: a private boat tour and a group boat tour. The group boat tour is a cheaper option that will cost IDR 600,000 per person. Although taking a private boat tour is pricey, you can choose wherever and whenever you want to go. It’s worth the price!
If you have a budget and want your trip to be as time-efficient as possible, LiveOnBoard offers you a unique experience for voyage and lodging at the same time. They allow you to have a tour with a medium-sized boat and stay for 2 or 3 nights. Cut out the hassle of looking for hotels to stay.
When to Visit
Exploring Padar Island before sunrise is undoubtedly a magical experience! Enjoy the golden sun on the horizon without having to suffer under the scorching sun. The temperature spikes after 9 am, and the humid air is suffocating. Not to mention, the waves are rising and getting rough after 11 am. Not a very safe time to voyage, isn’t it?
Entry Fees
This Padar Island travel guide is not complete without mentioning the budget. So, here you go. Padar Island is a part of Komodo National Park, which is why you need to pay for the national park’s entry fee. When you enter the island, you’ll find a ranger collecting the entrance fee. The entrance fee changes depending on the day, the activities you’re about to do, and the type of tour you’re taking. There are also other fees, such as hiking fees, tourism tax, and boat parking fees. Each of the prices ranges from IDR 5,000 to IDR 150,000.
Here Are the Detailed Costs:
- An entrance ticket to the Komodo National Park for a motorboat costs IDR 100,000
- Entrance ticket for Komodo National Park visitor costs IDR 5,000
- Admission to Komodo National Park nature activities & wildlife observation costs IDR 10,000
- Ticket for snorkeling in the Komodo National Park area costs IDR 15,000 per person
- Tickets for forest exploration, hiking, and Komodo National Park mountain activities cost IDR 5,000
Accommodation
There’s no lodge in Padar Island, so most tourists stay in Labuan Bajo and spend the day out taking a trip to Komodo National Park. The lodge around Labuan Bajo ranges from IDR 200,000 to IDR 4,000,000. It is recommended to stay for 3 to 4 days to maximize your experience on the island.
What to Find There
In Padar Island, hiking the enchanting green hilly landscape becomes the main activity as high hills are scattered around the island. The trail has more than 300 steps, so make sure your body is fit enough before the hike to avoid any sickness. Be careful during the hike as the trail is rocky, dusty, and quite steep, with about a 45-degree slope. It is slippery once it’s wet, and it has no handle to grip. Therefore, wear proper footwear such as mountain sandals to avoid slipping.
Besides the savannah hills, you can also find four beautiful bays around the island. The beach has varied sand colors—white, gray, and even pink. What a great spot to take photos!
Although it’s located near Komodo Island, there’s no Komodo dragon around because the temperature on the island is too high for them.
What to Bring
Padar Island has a high and dry temperature, and the activities you’ll do there will require extra care. Here are the things you need to bring to your trip:
- Water – it’s scorching hot there, so bring enough water to avoid dehydration. Don’t wait until you faint!
- Sunblock – You’re traveling to get tanned, not to get sunburnt.
- Snacks – additional fuel during the hike!
- Light jacket – it gets cold in the morning.
- Camera and drone – what’s the point of going to a scenic tourism spot without taking pictures or recording any video? Make sure that the battery is full.
- Bring and wear proper footwear for a long hike and walk. No high heels, please.
- Hiking stick
- Umbrella and hat
After reading this article, we hope that you have the best plan for your trip after reading this Padar Island travel guide. Happy traveling!
