Padar island is one of the most unique and beautiful places in Indonesia where you will feel like you are in a real life Jurassic Park. This unique rock formation is visited by many tourists every single day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a little spot to enjoy this paradise to yourself. A trip to the Komodo islands would not be complete without a visit to Padar island.
Padar island can be visited as a day trip from Labuan Bajo or as part of a liveaboard cruise around the Komodo islands.
Padar island is located in the Komodo National Park, the only place in the world where you can see the incredibly dangerous Komodo dragons in the wild.
Don’t let that put you off though, a trip to the Komodo Islands will be one of the best adventures you will ever go on.
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A Complete Guide to Visiting Padar Island in the Komodo Islands
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
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Where to Stay in Labuan Bajo
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Labuan Bajo, so you will not be short on options. Here are our top suggestions for the best places to stay in Labuan Bajo for any budget.
Luxury –AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach is a luxurious place to stay on the beachfront in Labuan Bajo. The accommodation has a restaurant, gym, and bar 0nsite and all of the rooms are airconditioned with free wifi.
Each morning a continental breakfast is offered at the resort.
Book your stay at AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach here.
Mid-Range – If you are looking for luxury at a cheaper price point, how about checking out Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo. This resort is nearby the beach and has a restaurant, gym and bar onsite. All rooms are fitted with a terrace and air conditioning and some of the rooms have pool views.
Book your stay at Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo. here.
Budget – We stayed at Hotel Bonne Nuit which we really couldn’t fault. It was cheap and was a short walk from the airport which made it really easy when we arrived. The rooms are small but have air-conditioning, a desk as well as a mosquito net over the bed which we were very grateful for as we were so covered in bites!
This was most likely a complete one-off but I would hate if it happened to anyone else and we hadn’t mentioned it. Bring all your belongings into your room at night. Unfortunately, our shoes were eaten by dogs as we had left them outside our bedroom. We work up in the night to hear what sounded like dogs fighting outside our room, turns our if was over our shoes so take our advice and don’t leave anything outside!
What is Padar Island
Padar island is also known as Pada, and is located between Komodo and Rinca islands and is the third largest island within the Komodo National Park. This unique rock formation is visited by thousands of tourists every year as they travel to the Komodo Islands to admire some of the most incredible scenery in the world.
The Komodo dragon is a giant lizard that can measure up to 3m in length and is a ferocious animal with toxic saliva that paralyzes its prey until it is ready to eat.
Komodo dragons aren’t commonly seen on Padar Island, however it has been found that there are a number that do live there.
However, although we didn’t see any on our trip to Padar island, snakes are common so keep this in mind when you visit. You may also see a number of deer on your walk.
This rugged island has volcanic features and 4 deep bays. The hills are covered in grassland and whether you visit in wet or dry season will depend on whether they are deep green in colour or more yellow. The 4 bays vary in colour from white sand to pink sand and the turquoise blue water that surrounds the island is great for swimming or snorkelling in.
One of the most beautiful parts of Padar island is that is is still relatively wild and underdeveloped so there are no hotels or accommodation on the island, you can only visit for the day. When you enter the island, there will be rangers collecting Komodo National park entrance fees. As of 2022, these fees have increased to 500k per person. This provides you with a tour guide that will take you on a 3km walk up 5800 steps to get to the most magnificent view point. The hike takes around 20-30 minutes up a steep stoned path depending on your pace. We would advise wearing comfortable shoes for this as the climb is long and steep, climbing 525m, and quite exhausting in the heat.
When is the Best Time to Visit Padar Island?
The best time to visit Padar island is either for sunrise or sunset. The golden colours reflecting off the blue water and rugged grassy island is a beautiful sight. It would also be very hot during the mid-day here as the stairs are quite steep.
We visited Padar island during the rainy season, which came with the risks that the weather would not be in our favour, however it meant the grass was a beautiful luscious green colour, in dry season this will be more of a yellow shade.
What to Expect at Padar Island?
You may well have seen this spot all over Instagram and it’s not hard to see why. I think this has to have been one of the most photogenic places we have ever been. Where towering mountains meets crystal clear water and white sand beaches. The landscape of this island and the surrounding islands really is quite something.
We stopped at Padar Island for sunset where our tour guide collected 550k rupiah each (£27) for National park entrance fees. There are 800 stairs to climb over a 525m distance and other boats will also arrive to experience sunset at Padar Island so it’s a bit of a convoy getting up there! There is plenty of space with great views that it isn’t necessary to hang around in groups, you’ll be able to find a wee spot for yourself!
How to get to Padar Island
The only way to get to Padar island is by boat leaving from Labuan Bajo. As the crow flies, this is around 40km and it usually takes around 3 hours on a slow boat.
You can fly to Labuan Bajo from Bali for an affordable price and flight generally travel between Bali and Labuan Bajo daily.
Below are some optional day tours that go out to Padar Island if you don’t want to spend the night on a boat.
Optional Day Tours
Labuan Bajo Swim and snorkelling tour
For less than £200 you can head out for the day and visit some of the most iconic spots in the Komodo Islands. Lunch and snorkelling equipment are included as you will visit some of the most incredible snorkel spots, including Manta Point
On the trip, you will travel to Long Beach, Pink Beach, Kanawa Island, and more, with plenty of stops for swimming and photos.
You will also visit one of our favourite spots, Padar Island to take in the breathtaking views.
Read more about what this trip includes and book your trip here.
Full Day Komodo National Park Tour
A full day tour around the Komodo National Park visiting some of the most incredible snorkelling spots and visiting the mighty komodo dragon.
Lunch and snorkelling gear is included in the price of the trip and the speedboat will take you to places such as Pink Beach and Komodo Island, as well as some of the clearest blue water to go snorkelling in!
Read more about what this trip includes and book your trip here.
For all other multi-day cruises around the Komodo Islands, check them out here.
Before You Leave for the Komodo Islands
Before you set off on your way to the Komodo Islands, there are a number of things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best insurance for your trip to Indonesia. All of this is discussed in detail below.
How to Get an Indonesian Visa
As for the Indonesian visa itself, getting a visa for Bali is relatively straight forward if you come from one of the listed Visa on Arrival countries. If your country is on this list, all you have to do is turn up at the airport with a valid passport and you will automatically be granted 30 days in the country.
If you wish to stay longer than 30 days, you will need to buy a Visa on Arrival Extension before you pass through immigration. This costs around $35USD and can be done right before you pass through immigration. Once you are in the country, you will then need to extend your visa a further 30 days either by yourself, or by paying a visa agent to do so for you.
You can read our full guide to extending your Indonesian visa right here.
How to Get to the Komodo Islands
The Komodo Islands are located off the coast of the Indonesian island of Flores and the easiest way to get to Flores is by flying. We flew from Bali with Air Asia although there are other airlines such as Wings Air and Lion Air that also fly to Flores from Bali and also from Java.
You will arrive at Labuan Bajo airport which is only a short drive from the port where the boat leaves. Due to the boat and flight times, you will need to spend a night on either side of your trip in Labuan Bajo, we will share some recommendations for where to stay below.
Where to Stay in Labuan Bajo
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Labuan Bajo, so you will not be short on options. Here are our top suggestions for the best places to stay in Labuan Bajo for any budget.
Luxury –AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach is a luxurious place to stay on the beachfront in Labuan Bajo. The accommodation has a restaurant, gym, and bar 0nsite and all of the rooms are airconditioned with free wifi.
Each morning a continental breakfast is offered at the resort.
Book your stay at AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach here.
Mid-Range – If you are looking for luxury at a cheaper price point, how about checking out Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo. This resort is nearby the beach and has a restaurant, gym and bar onsite. All rooms are fitted with a terrace and air conditioning and some of the rooms have pool views.
Book your stay at Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo. here.
Budget – We stayed at Hotel Bonne Nuit which we really couldn’t fault. It was cheap and was a short walk from the airport which made it really easy when we arrived. The rooms are small but have air-conditioning, a desk as well as a mosquito net over the bed which we were very grateful for as we were so covered in bites!
This was most likely a complete one-off but I would hate if it happened to anyone else and we hadn’t mentioned it. Bring all your belongings into your room at night. Unfortunately, our shoes were eaten by dogs as we had left them outside our bedroom. We work up in the night to hear what sounded like dogs fighting outside our room, turns our if was over our shoes so take our advice and don’t leave anything outside!
What to Pack for Your Trip to the Komodo Islands
Given the climate of Indonesia in general, packing for this trip is relatively straightforward. Swimwear is the most important piece of clothing you will need if you are wanting to go swimming in the sea. You will also need to pack suncream as being out in the fresh air on the boat and in the sea all day, your skin will be at risk of burning.
When it comes to the weather, Indonesia is a tropical country meaning it has two seasons: wet season and dry season. We would recommend packing a waterproof, just in case it rains on your trip.
As a general rule for packing for Indonesia, it is best to think “layers”. Pack a few light layers of clothing, including a jumper and a waterproof, and wear as many layers as you want according to the weather.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you will see in the Komodo Islands, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for the Komodo Islands
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, our guide to visiting the Komodo Islands with Sail with Papiton. If you are visiting this incredible city and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! Let us know in the comments below!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience.
If you are planning the Komodo Islands trip soon then check out our other Indonesia content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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