You may not have heard about Padar Island, but it is close to Komodo Island. In fact, Padar Island is a part of Komodo National Park, along with Komodo Island, Rinca Island, and 26 smaller islands. Padar Island is the third largest island in the Komodo National Park, after the Komodo and Rinca. Although Padar Island is not as famous as Komodo or Rinca, it is not less beautiful than the two.
Location wise, Padar Island is closer to Rinca Island compared to the Komodo Island and is separated by a strait. However, despite being a part of the Komodo National Park, Padar Island is no longer inhabited by Komodo dragons. The island is surrounded by several small islands and vast blue sea. Overall, it offers a unique panoramic view. Keep reading as we are going to talk all about Padar Island.
WHAT TO DO
The main attraction of Padar Island is its panorama. The island is formed by rolling hills that stretch out facing the blue sea. The best thing to do here is viewing the panorama from the top of the hill.
You can climb the hill on Padar Island to enjoy the panoramic view from the top. The view of blue sea and the surrounding small islands are just mesmerizing. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes trekking with an upward trajectory. The least experienced hikers may need more time to reach the top since some slopes are of more than 45 degrees.
Trekking to the top of the hill will take a lot of energy. And there is no ladder or safety rope in the path to help you climb, so you have got to depend on your foot strength. Be sure to climb with caution.
Use climbing shoes instead of sandals, because the trekking paths are quite slippery, dusty, and even rocky. Although reaching the top of the hill can be tiring, your efforts will be paid off! From the height of Gili Padar, you will be rewarded with a stunning panorama of the hilly landscape being squeezed between two bays of turquoise water.
Tips for trekking in Padar Island
Use a sunscreen cream with a minimum SPF 50. The sun in Padar Island is just so hot that you may get an irritating sunburned if you are not using any protection. Re-apply the cream every several hours, especially if your skin is sensitive to the sun.
Wear boots or climbing shoes. Do not wear sandals. The slope is quite slippery, and it is safer to use shoes. Besides, you do not want the sun to burn the uncovered area of your feet. It is not pleasant, trust me.
Do not forget to bring a camera to capture the moment. The view from the top will be so mesmerizing that you will want to stay there forever. But, you can't. At least take pictures, lots, and lots of pictures, to capture the beauty.
The best time to visit Padar Island is in the morning; the weather is nice, and the sea looks so blue in the background. It is also great to visit Padar Island on the afternoon and wait until the sunset to witness even more stunning beauty as the sun goes down.
Bring a hiking stick to help climbing the hill, especially if you are not experienced in trekking. Even if you are not bringing any, a random wooden stick will also do.
Join a package of an open tour to Padar Island. Since there is no public transport to Padar Island, it will be much more expensive if you go and pay your trip by yourself. You have to rent a boat! It is cheaper to go in a tour package. But make sure that the trip includes a visit to Padar Island.
Bring an umbrella or a hat. The sun in Gili Padar is not friendly at all. Even if you are using sunscreen cream, it will help a lot also to bring an umbrella or hat to cover your head.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are two ways to get to the Padar Island, from Labuan Bajo, and Bali or Lombok. First, from Labuan Bajo you could take a boat. Labuan Bajo is also a favorite place for tourists to start their journey to the Komodo National Park. There are a lot of accommodations there, so it will be easy to find a place to stay and transportation to go around. Second, from Lombok and Bali, you can get to Padar Island by plane. Unfortunately, there is no airport in Padar Island, so you still have to use the boat.
WHERE TO STAY
All about Padar Island is fastidious, but there is no accommodation here. The best place to stay while visiting Padar Island would be in Labuan Bajo unless you want to camp on the hill.
That is all about Padar Island. If you are planning to visit the Komodo National Park, then try to stop for a moment on this island. Its tranquility and beauty will make you linger.
