How to visit Komodo National Park and Padar Island, Indonesia? Komodo National Park is a stunningly beautiful part of Indonesia, and home to the magnificent Komodo dragon, which can only be found in this part of the world. The national park comprises three islands: Komodo, Padar and Rinca. The views from the peak of Padar Island are out of this world. And both Padar and Komodo itself have incredible natural pink sand beaches. You can reach Komodo National Park from Labuan Bajo, a town on the large neighbouring island of Flores. Read on for how to visit Komodo National Park.
Read: How to Get a Drone Permit for Komodo National Park
How to Visit Komodo National Park
The most common way to get to Komodo National Park is to base yourself in Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores. It is also possible to visit via a multi-day boat trip from Lombok, near Bali, but I have not done this so will not cover that off here. (Also, the Lombok – Komodo boats are known for their unethical treatment of whale sharks, which is not something I would wish to promote).
Option 1: Slow Boat from Labuan Bajo
The slow boat is the cheaper option. They generally make 4 stops: Padar Island, Pink Beach, Komodo Island to see the dragons and then finally one snorkeling spot. The boat itself was quite simple with a bench on each side and you could also climb up and sit on top. It takes longer to get from place to place but I found the boat very relaxing and enjoyed the experience of just being at sea and just chilling in the sun. They gave us breakfast of sugared donuts and tea / coffee and also a packed lunch (choice of chicken / fish / vegetarian). The slow boat was my preferred option.
Option 2: Fast Boat from Labuan Bajo
The fast boat is more expensive. It makes 6 stops in total: the same stops as the slow boat plus an extra 2 snorkeling spots. The boat is a speed boat with comfortable leather seats. It feels like a functional way to get around rather than being an experience in itself. You do get a lot more time snorkeling though than on the slow boat, so this is the best option if that is a priority for you. I did not get breakfast on my fast boat trip (not sure if this is the case for all companies) but the lunch was very good (choice of chicken / fish / vegetarian).
How to book the boat trips
You can either book your boat trip online in advance or you can book directly at a tour operator in Labuan Bajo. The town itself is quite small and most of the tour operators are all on one main street. I just wandered up and down the street and asked all the tour operators for their prices and managed to agree a good deal that way.
What to See in Komodo National Park
Padar Island View Point
The view from the top of Padar Island is absolutely breathtaking. It has become one of the most famous viewpoints in Indonesia. And for good reason! You can see a pink sand beach, black sand beach and white sand beach all at the same time. The climb up the steps to the top is pretty tiring in the heat, but absolutely worth it!
Pink Beach
So there are actually at least 3 pink beaches in the area. I visited 2 of them, and could happily have just spent all day at both of them. The pink sand is stunning, and the sea is aquamarine blue and the perfect temperature for swimming. Remember to pack your sun cream as it’s hot here!
Komodo Dragons
Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in existence, and getting to see them up close and personal was absolutely amazing. We were guided by rangers carrying pointy sticks to make sure that the dragons did not get too close to people and vice-versa. There have been a lot of discussions in recent years about how to keep tourism in Komodo National Park sustainable and responsible (they no longer feed the dragons live goats for the tourists to watch thank god!!), so it will be interesting to see how this continues to develop in the future as the area continues to get more popular.
Snorkeling
The water in this part of Indonesia is beautiful, clear and warm, so you do not need a wetsuit. It’s possible to see amazing coral, fish, turtles and even manta rays! The best time of year to see manta rays is from December to March. Komodo National Park is also considered one of the best areas in Indonesia for scuba diving, and you can book separate dive boat trips from Labuan Bajo.
Hopefully you have found this guide on how to visit Komodo National Park useful. See my other posts about Indonesia here.
Practical Guidance for Indonesia
Hopefully this post will have inspired you to book a trip to Komodo National Park, Indonesia. I’ve also included some useful information for Indonesia in general below. If you plan all the boring stuff in advance you can relax and enjoy your trip more!
How do I get a visa for Indonesia?
Make sure to check the Indonesian visa requirements for your own country as the rules can vary depending on what passport you have. Many countries can get a 30-day visa on arrival (VOA). I purchased mine at Bali Denpasar airport and was able to pay with my WISE card. You must meet passport validity requirements and have a return or onward ticket. You can explore different visa options on the official Indonesian Immigration website. If you overstay your visa there is a fine of 1 million rupiah a day.
Money in Indonesia: (IDR)
If you’re visiting Indonesia you’ll need Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). To get IDR at the best rates, I highly recommend getting a WISE card before you go. This allows you to convert money into Indonesian Rupiah (or any other currency!) at the best rates and then spend on your Wise card as though it were a local bank card or withdraw cash in Indonesia without hidden fees. Wise is a UK-based financial services company (available in most countries worldwide) and is highly regulated in the various regions it operates in (in the UK it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority).
Get your WISE card here.
SIM Card and Data for Indonesia
There are two main options for getting a SIM card and data to use in Indonesia:
Option 1: eSIM with Airalo
The main advantages of purchasing an eSIM via Airalo (enter the referral code ROWAN1271 for a discount) are:
- you do not need to insert a physical SIM card, so you can keep your home country SIM in your phone
- you can get a multi-country eSIM rather than having to get a new one each time you go to a new country
- you can download the eSim before you leave your home country, meaning that you will have data immediately on arrival. This gives you peace of mind and is perfect for using Google Maps and rideshare apps etc.
- You can top up your data allowance via the app
Option 2: Buy a local physical SIM card
The main advantages of purchasing a local SIM card are:
- Local SIM cards generally offer better rates. You can often (depending on the country) get a lot more data for a lower price.
- You will get a local phone number which is better for making local calls / text messages
Personally I think Airalo is the best for short holidays or if you are only spending a short time in each country. If you’re staying for a longer time, or if like me you use a lot of data, a local physical SIM card may be better.
Get your Airalo eSIM here. Enter the referral code ROWAN1271 for a discount.
Travel Insurance
Make sure that you have travel insurance to cover you for your trip. I can highly recommend Heymondo. I use them to cover me for all my trips and their app is very easy to use.
Purchase Heymondo travel insurance here.
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[…] and find the best deal. I haggled a bit and secured a discount for booking both Wae Rebo and a Komodo National Park boat trip together at the same agency. It is possible to book in advance via a third party provider […]