view from the top
in , , ,

Wonderful Indonesia: Padar Island, Komodo National Park

Wonderful Indonesia: Padar Island, Indonesia

After a day full of snorkeling over at Pink Beach, we set out to trek the third largest island in the Komodo National Park – Padar Island!

This island is surrounded by beautiful waters as well as rounded hills and is a 3-hour boat ride from Labuan Bajo. Once inhabited by the Komodo dragons, it is now relatively untouched except for the trekking paths that we came here for.

Approaching Padar Island
Approaching Padar Island

As you make your way here another series of stunning islands will be visible from a good distance along the Straight of Leech. We rode a relatively bigger boat from the island of Flores until we got to a spot just a few meters away from the shore of Padar. We then got transferred to a smaller-sized speedboat until we finally hit the shore.

Swimming in Padar Island
Swimming in Padar Island
here we come
here we come

Padar has one of the most breathtaking views of Komodo once you reach the top but getting there was quite a bit of a challenge. As soon as we hit the shore, we were greeted by small white rocks, which we had to tread before we even reached the starting point of the trek.

short hike
short hike

As you can see from the images above, this steep ascent is what you will be greeted not long after you start your journey. You would also have to conquer loose soil, sharp rocks and the scorching heat of the sun. That said, be sure to slip on the proper footwear, lather on a generous amount of sunscreen, wear light and breathable long-sleeved top to keep your skin from getting burnt. As with any activity, carry a sizable amount of water as well to keep yourself hydrated every so often.

Fun Hike
Fun Hike

I, myself, may have put on a generous amount of sunblock but I forgot to bring a long sleeve to temporarily put on, leaving my skin extremely burnt. I had no choice, though, either I keep going or stay stuck up there!

The entire trek took about 1.5 hours. As you begin to reach certain levels, the view gets better and better, making it impossible for you not to want to take a pause, and take turns with your buddies to take a good number of pictures!

Since sweat and dust is unavoidable, especially for your cameras, don’t forget to have a microfiber handy to keep the dirt at bay!

view from the top
view from the top Photo by iwwm

The Padar Island easily has one of the best vistas in the entire Komodo National Park. While I suffered a few bruises and cuts from landing flat on my butt several times, it was a struggle that was well worth taking on. Whether you’re a flatlander like me, or not, this trek is certainly doable for as long as you take the necessary precautions.

Written by Serica Rojas

Serica is a 20-something videographer and photographer. She is currently based in the PH and dreams of hosting her own travel show one day!

What do you think?

Comments

Huawei P9 or iPhone 7

Huawei & Leica: The future of dual camera technology in the Smartphone Industry

Chamantad Viewpoint

Photo Essay: Capturing the Beauty of Batanes with Asus Zenfone 3