Getting weary of Bali and plan to see more of the eastern Indonesia? Padar Island might be your answer. As a part of Komodo National Park, this tourist destination offers more than an encounter with Komodo dragon on its original habitat, but also a series of exciting activities surrounded by divine scenery. Moreover, it is not difficult to get to Padar Island from Bali. Depend on your time slot and preference, you can travel either by plane, on a sailing trip, or backpacking overland. Let’s check the options below!
Travelling By Plane
1. Bali – Labuan Bajo
This is the most seamless way to travel, suitable for those who have limited time. There are 4-6 direct flights every day leaving from Denpasar, Bali, to Labuan Bajo, the gate city to Komodo National Park.
The flight duration is 1 – 1.5 hours. It offers a beautiful view from the sky which is no less fascinating than seeing it from the ground. Shortly after take-off, the beautiful sight of Mount Rinjani will come into view. As you head to the east, you can see tiny green islands surrounded by bands of white sands lie on the turquoise sea.
2. Labuan Bajo – Padar Island
After arriving at Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo, head to the only main road, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta. There are a lot of tour packages offered by local agents along the street. As there is no public transportation to Komodo National Park, it is necessary to take one of the tour packages or find a privately chartered boat.
To minimize the cost, it is recommended to join on the same boat with other travelers. On average, the boat capacity is for 15 persons. Find other fellows with the same itinerary and share the cost together. The tours range from the simplest one-day tour to the several days live-aboard which offers lots of diving and snorkeling in the whole area. Make sure you choose the itinerary which includes Padar Island on its list.
On each tour, you can opt for a slow boat (3 hours to Padar Island) or speed boat (1.5 hours) which is more expensive but can cover more destinations on a relatively short time. Or, you may also travel in a traditional Phinisi boat, which usually comes in a private and luxurious package.
3. Bali - Sumbawa
Another alternative to get to Padar Island from Bali by plane is via Sumbawa. Stopping at Sumbawa gives you a chance to visit the legendary Mount Tambora whose eruption caused a year without summer in Europe on 1816. Sumbawa also has a nice beach and snorkeling sites.
There are two airports in Sumbawa Island that serve flights from Bali, one at Sumbawa City and the other at Bima, which is closer to Padar Island. It takes one hour flight from Denpasar to Bima.
4. Sumbawa – Padar Island
In Sumbawa, you need to go to Sape Harbor to find the ferry to Labuan Bajo. Sape is two hours ride by bus from Bima Airport. From there, take another eight hours by ferry to Labuan Bajo. Or, you can also travel by chartered boat from the Sape harbor to Padar Island and stop at several fantastic diving spots along the journey.
If you are traveling by plane, make sure to pack lightly. Labuan Bajo is a small city. Most of the flights operate on smaller fleets to serve the area. Some of them use ATR airplane with only 10 kg luggage capacity. Confirm with the airline before you book the flight. Some airlines also offer competitive rates during low season. Planning earlier allows you to choose the best rate suitable with your schedule.
Travelling By Sea
There are several reasons why the sailing trip is attractive despite the long hours in the open sea. For an avid diver, the route from Bali to Padar Island is full of the incredible diving spot. The long journey also gives the opportunity to interact with local people or fellow travelers. Getting to know those with the same direction will help you organizing cost-sharing once you arrived in Labuan Bajo.
Here are the options if you choose to travel by sea:
1. By Ferry
One of the ships operating between Bali and Labuan Bajo is KM Tilongkabila from PT. Pelni, a state-owned company. It serves a regular schedule at 9.00 in the morning from Tanjung Benoa, a harbor on the southern part of Bali.
Tilongkabila is a large passenger ship which offers a different kind of accommodations. It has a capacity of 916 people, most of them allocated for economy class. Other classes are class 1 and 2 with more comfortable accommodation.
Another Ferry departing from Tanjung Benoa is KM. Wilis, which is scheduled in the afternoon at 15.00. Both Tilongkabila and Wilis take 36 hours to Padar Island from Bali, with a stop in Lembar Harbor (Lombok) and Bima (Sumbawa). The cost is starting from IDR 240,000 per person in economy class.
2. Cruising Ship or Private Chartered Ship
Bali provides you with a large fleet of live-aboard boats in different size and facility to Labuan Bajo. It ranges from smaller wooden motorboats to the luxurious yachts. Some motorboats provide private cabins, while others serve collective accommodation under the deck. Meals are taken on the boat and along the way you can stop for diving and snorkeling expedition.
The duration can be customized according to your needs, or you may choose from several packages from the tour operators. The shortest trip may take four days and three nights with several stops in Lombok, Senggigi, Gili Trawangan, Kenawa, and Moyo Island.
Starting from 2016, PT. Pelni also launched a cruising ship to Labuan Bajo. It offers the package around IDR 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 which covers the tour to Komodo and Rinca Island, diving and snorkeling at Padar Island and Pink Beach.
Travel Overland
This route is for you who seek more adventures and closeness to local culture. It takes longer time, combining overland trip using a bus or chartered car with sailing trip using regular ferries across the strait. It may take ten days or more to get to Padar Island from Bali. Nonetheless, this trip is often fun and full of surprise.
Whichever trip you choose, have fun and enjoy the journey!
