Padar Island, Hiking for Spectacular View
Padar Island is an island located within the Komodo National Park. It is one of the three largest islands in the Komodo National Park area. Padar Island is under the administration of West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.
The structure of the island is rugged with a hill set against a deep bay. Padar Island has grassland covering the island. It is a savannah hill with a spectacular view and is surrounded by beautiful white and pink sand beaches. Some diving and snorkeling spots are also found around the island.
A Komodo island tour package will not be complete without visiting Padar Island. You can visit this island on a day tour or an overnight tour package. These arrangements will lead you to visit other beautiful destinations in the Komodo National Park. Trek to the top of this island is a must doing activity on your visit.
Getting to Padar Island
The only way to reach Padar Island is by a Komodo tour package from Labuan Bajo. However, you can also join a boat trip from Lombok or Bali. There are varieties of Komodo tour packages which is including a visit to this island. You can do it on a day trip from Labuan Bajo or a liveaboard tour package.
A trip to Padar will spend approximately 3 hours on a slow boat or Phinisi boat. Meanwhile, if you go on a high-speed boat, it will take approximately 1 1/2 hours. However, the trip duration is depending on the sea condition.
Getting to Labuan Bajo from Bali is the first step you will need to do. A flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo will take 1 1/2 hours, and then you can join the boat tour. Once arrive in Labuan Bajo, you can get on the boat tour to Komodo.
Best Things to Do on the Island
The most interesting thing to do on Padar Island is hiking to enjoy a spectacular view of the island. However, you can also visit the beautiful beach pink sand beach on the north side of the island. You can enjoy lounging on the beach, snorkeling, and swimming.
Trekking on the island will spend about 30 minutes to the top. The perfect time is sunset or sunrise, however, it is depending on your boat schedule. Most boat tours will spend during the daylight and sunset on this island.
Diving is also the best activity to do on this island. There are a few amazing dive spots to try on this island. If you are a diver, you can join the dive tour packages from Labuan Bajo. Day trip dive and liveaboard are both available at dive centers in Labuan Bajo. You will find beautiful coral reefs and colorful fish on the island.
Are Komodo Dragons Live on Padar?
Most of the Komodo dragons are found on Komodo Island and Rinca Island. However, according to the Komodo Survival Agency in 2004, there were Komodo dragons extinct on the island. But at the moment the Komodo dragons are not really seen on the island.
The Komodo Dragons are the world's largest lizard with a length is approximately 3 meters. Most of them are inhabitants of the Komodo and Rinca Islands. There are over 3000 Komodo dragons found on both islands.
Other wildlife is also found in Komodo National Park. you will find deer, buffalo, boar, and birds. On the island of Rinca and Komodo, you will trek to see the Komodo dragons and other wildlife.
Padar Island Entrance Fee
The entry fee for the island is IDR500.000 per person. This entrance fee cost comes together with the Komodo National Park. So you will pay in total IDR500.000 for all places to visit in one go trip.
Another fee you will pay is if you use a drone on this island. This cost will pay separately from the Komodo National Park entrance fee. This fee will cost approximately IDR1000.000.
The entry fee will pay directly to the National Park administration once you do the Komodo tour. You will have to bring enough cash during the trip.