Padar Island, Komodo: the hike, the three bays, fees and rules

Padar Island is one of the three main islands of Komodo National Park in eastern Indonesia, between Komodo and Rinca. It is famous for one view: a steep climb up a ridge to a lookout over three curved bays with differently coloured sand. You reach it only by boat, usually from Labuan Bajo, and the best light is at sunrise.

It is the picture most people have in mind when they think of Komodo, and it is on almost every route through the park. This guide covers the hike, what you see from the top, the rules that changed in 2026, what it costs to land, and how to time a visit from a private yacht so you climb in cool air before the day boats arrive.

Quick facts

What is Padar Island?

Padar is the third largest island in Komodo National Park, after Komodo and Rinca, according to Bernama. UNESCO describes the park as three major islands, Rinca, Komodo and Padar, plus many smaller ones, all of volcanic origin, sitting between Sumbawa and Flores. The park was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1991.

Padar has no village and no hotels. What it has is shape: a narrow, hilly island where several bays bite into the coast from both sides, so that from the central ridge you see three of them at once. In the dry months the hills turn gold and brown, which makes the contrast with the water even sharper.

Padar is not where you go for dragons. A field survey published in Media Konservasi by IPB University found no sign of them on the island and linked their absence to a shortage of prey. For dragons, see our guide to where to see Komodo dragons.

How long is the Padar hike, and how hard is it?

The Padar hike is short but steep: a mostly stepped trail of over 800 steps from the jetty to the main viewpoint, according to Bernama. Fit walkers do it comfortably; the challenge is heat and the loose ground on the way down, not distance.

There is almost no shade on the ridge. The path is built steps on the lower and steeper sections and bare earth and gravel in between, which turns dusty in the dry season and slippery after rain. Most people stop several times on the way up, partly to breathe and partly because the view keeps improving.

How long it takes depends on your pace and how many photos you stop for. A useful guide: each visiting session at Padar runs for a three-hour window (more on that below), and that is comfortably enough time to land, climb, enjoy the top and get back to the tender without rushing.

What to wear and bring:

• Closed shoes with grip: sandals and flip flops are the main cause of slips on the gravel on the way down.
• Water: even at sunrise, the climb is warm work.
• A head torch or phone light: if you start before first light.
• Sun protection: a hat and sunscreen for the descent, when the sun is already up.

Who can do the Padar hike?

Anyone comfortable with a short, steep climb on uneven ground can do it, including older children and most fitness levels. There is only one route to the viewpoint and no alternative path, so it is not suitable for guests with significant mobility limitations. On a private charter, those who stay behind can swim near the jetty or wait on deck with breakfast, and the captain can hold the boat close to the base of the trail so the walk back to a cool drink is short.

What are the three bays of Padar?

From the viewpoint you look down on three bays, each with a different coloured beach: one pale and white, one pink, and one darker grey. The pink colour comes from the same mix of crushed red reef material that colours Komodo's better known Pink Beach.

The classic photograph is not always taken from the very highest point. Many of the best angles are partway up the ridge, looking back over all three bays at once, so it pays to stop and look behind you on the climb. A wide lens takes in the whole sweep; a longer lens picks out the boats anchored below and the texture of the hills.

Padar's pink sand beaches, known locally as Long Beach or Pantai Panjang, are a separate stop by tender from the anchorage, and many charters pair the climb with a swim there afterwards.

What are the rules and fees for visiting Padar in 2026?

Since 1 April 2026, Komodo National Park has limited visits to 1,000 people a day, booked in advance through the park authority's SiORA app, and Padar is one of the sites the quota covers. The cap was trialled from January to March 2026 and enforced from April, as reported by Floresa.

The quota applies to Padar, Rinca and Komodo islands, including 23 dive sites around them, and the daily limit is split into three sessions: an early morning slot, a mid-morning slot and a late afternoon slot, each three hours long, according to Okezone. Indonesia's forestry minister had said in 2025 that Padar had become overcrowded and that its quota system needed tightening, as The Investor reported, and fences and signboards have been added around the popular photo spots.

The park entrance fee for foreign visitors is Rp250,000 per person per day, the same on weekdays and holidays, under Government Regulation PP 36/2024, which took effect on 30 October 2024, according to Antara. The same report says trekking, wildlife observation and snorkelling are included in that ticket, while diving is a separate Rp25,000 per activity and drones cost Rp2 million per unit per day.

Fees and quota rules are reviewed by the park authority, so treat these as a snapshot. On a charter, the yacht's crew or our concierge handles SiORA bookings and fee payments, and every quote lists the current park fees per guest. Our guide to Komodo National Park fees covers how they appear on a quote.

When is the best time to visit Padar?

The best time of day is sunrise, and the best months are the dry season, roughly May to October. Low morning light brings out the colour of the three bays, the trail is still cool, and the island is at its quietest before day trips from Labuan Bajo arrive.

Late afternoon is a good second choice, with soft light again, though you will come down as the light fades. Midday is the hardest option: the sun flattens the colours and the climb is hot.

Through the year, the pattern looks like this:

Two sources anchor this table. Indonesia's weather agency, BMKG, has placed the peak of the dry season for East and West Nusa Tenggara in August, as reported by Kontan, and its Komodo station has warned of high waves at the peak of the rainy season around January, according to Antara. The park was temporarily closed in January 2026 because of severe weather, Floresa reported, and visitor numbers peaked in July. For more detail, see Komodo weather by month.

How do you get to Padar Island?

You reach Padar by boat. Almost every trip starts in Labuan Bajo, the harbour town on the western tip of Flores, which has its own airport and is the usual way in from Bali. From Labuan Bajo, boats head into the national park, and Padar sits roughly in the middle of it, between Komodo and Rinca.

There are three ways to do it:

1. A day trip from Labuan Bajo: a fast boat that visits several sites in one long day, usually arriving at Padar later in the morning.
2. A shared liveaboard: a cabin on a boat with other guests and a fixed schedule.
3. A private yacht: the whole boat for your group, anchoring near Padar the night before so you can climb at first light.

Our guides to getting from Bali to Komodo and from Labuan Bajo into the national park cover the logistics.

Seeing Padar by private yacht at sunrise

A private yacht changes Padar more than almost any other stop in Komodo, because the boat can be anchored close by the evening before. The crew wakes you with coffee in the dark, a tender takes you to the jetty, and you climb as the sky changes colour. By the time day boats from Labuan Bajo arrive, you are back on deck having breakfast.

With the 2026 session system, this also means your landing slot is booked in advance as part of the route, rather than left to chance. Our separate guide to Padar Island at sunrise sets out a typical morning.

Every one of the 63 boats on our board sails in Komodo, from small phinisis for a couple to large expedition yachts, with whole-boat rates from about US$1,750 to about US$55,000 a night. Padar fits into any route of three nights or more; our 3-day Komodo boat trip and 4-day itinerary both build it into the first full morning. You can browse the fleet or send your dates and our concierge will shortlist boats and plan the Padar session around sunrise.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a booking to visit Padar Island?

Yes. Since April 2026, visits to Padar, Komodo and Rinca are booked in advance through the national park's SiORA system, inside a daily cap of 1,000 visitors split into morning, mid-morning and late afternoon sessions. On a private charter, the crew or our concierge books the session for your group as part of planning the route.

How much does it cost to visit Padar Island?

As of October 2026, foreign visitors pay a Komodo National Park entry fee of Rp250,000 per person per day, which covers trekking and snorkelling. Diving is charged separately at Rp25,000 per activity. Fees are set by the park authority under PP 36/2024 and can change, so your charter quote lists the current amount per guest.

How many steps are there on the Padar hike?

Over 800, according to a December 2025 report by Bernama. The trail mixes built steps on the steepest sections with bare earth and gravel. It is short but steep, with no shade, so closed shoes with grip and water matter more than fitness. The descent on loose gravel is where most people need to take care.

Are there Komodo dragons on Padar Island?

You should not expect to see dragons on Padar. A field survey published by IPB University found no sign of them and linked their absence to a lack of prey such as deer. For dragon walks with park rangers, routes visit Komodo or Rinca islands instead, which most charters combine with Padar in the same trip.

What is the best time of day for the Padar viewpoint?

Sunrise. Low light shows the colours of the three bays best, the climb is cooler, and the ridge is quieter before day boats from Labuan Bajo arrive. Late afternoon is the second choice. The 2026 session system has early morning and late afternoon slots, so both can be booked in advance.

Can you visit Padar in the rainy season?

Sometimes, but conditions are less reliable. The rainy season peaks around January and February, when the weather agency warns of high waves, and the park was temporarily closed in January 2026 for severe weather. The trail also gets slippery after rain. The dry months from May to October are the dependable window.

Is Padar the same as Pink Beach?

No. Padar is the island with the famous ridge viewpoint, and it has its own pink sand beaches, known locally as Long Beach. Pink Beach, or Pantai Merah, is a separate beach on Komodo island. Most routes visit both, often on the same day, as they sit close together.

How many nights do I need to include Padar?

Three nights is enough to fit a Padar sunrise, a dragon walk and the manta sites into one Komodo charter. Four to five nights gives slack for weather and tides, and a week reaches the quieter south of the park. Padar usually comes early in the route, often the first full morning.

Sources

• Komodo National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Centre
• Indonesia enforces visitor quotas at Komodo National Park, Floresa
• Wisatawan Taman Nasional Komodo dibatasi 1.000 orang per hari, Okezone
• BTN Komodo sosialisasi penyesuaian tarif baru masuk kawasan, Antara
• Indonesia to limit Komodo Park visitors to protect Padar Island, The Investor
• Padar Island report, Bernama
• Kajian ekologi dan status keberadaan komodo di Pulau Padar, Media Konservasi (IPB University)
• BMKG: puncak musim kemarau terjadi Juli Agustus, Kontan
• BMKG imbau warga Mabar waspadai cuaca ekstrem di puncak musim hujan, Antara