Maheswari
Maheswari Phinisi
Padar Island: the climb to three bays, as Maheswari sails it
Updated 20 October 2026
Maheswari reaches Padar on day 2 of the 3D2N and day 3 of the 4D3N, and on the 2D1N and full-day routes as well. The climb to the main viewpoint takes 25 to 45 minutes. Sunrise falls at 06:18 in July and 05:31 in November. The park ticket costs IDR 250,000 for a foreign visitor.
Where Padar falls on each length
On the 3D2N, the second day opens with the Padar trek, and breakfast comes after it. You walk first and eat after. The 4D3N does the same on its third day, and the 2D1N on its second.
The full day is the exception. There breakfast comes first, then the Padar trek, then lunch, so you climb in the morning light and not at first light.
On the day the captain decides the order of the stops, with the weather and the sea in mind, and the weather can change the route. The sunrise table below is computed for the island, and the crew set the hour of the climb that morning.
| Month | Sunrise | Leave the boat by | On the ridge by |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:54 | 04:49 | 05:34 |
| February | 06:05 | 05:00 | 05:45 |
| March | 06:06 | 05:01 | 05:46 |
| April | 06:04 | 04:59 | 05:44 |
| May | 06:07 | 05:02 | 05:47 |
| June | 06:14 | 05:09 | 05:54 |
| July | 06:18 | 05:13 | 05:58 |
| August | 06:12 | 05:07 | 05:52 |
| September | 05:56 | 04:51 | 05:36 |
| October | 05:39 | 04:34 | 05:19 |
| November | 05:31 | 04:26 | 05:11 |
| December | 05:38 | 04:33 | 05:18 |
Times are computed for the location and are accurate to within a few minutes.
The path, the ridge and the light
Padar is a ridge walk. The classic viewpoint looks over three bays whose sand is three different colours, and the climb to it takes 25 to 45 minutes. The upper ridge takes longer. The difficulty is moderate, and the path is loose and steep in places.
Padar is not a beach stop. The point is the view from the ridge, and there are no dragons on the island. Morning gives the softer light, and the crowds are heaviest in July, August and December.
The table below sets out the stop in the same terms as the other pages: the type of place, the climb, the best window and the months to avoid if you dislike company on a narrow path.
- Best window
- Sunrise
- Time ashore / in water
- 25–45 min
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Tide
- Not tide-dependent
- Busiest months
- July, August, December
What it is not: no dragons on Padar · not a beach stop: the point is the ridge viewpoint
Photo taken on a Komodo Explorer trip · 12 photos
What to carry up
Shoes come first. Sturdy shoes with grip matter more on Padar than on any other stop, because parts of the path are loose. Of the sandals and trekking shoes on the bring list, Padar is the walk that calls for the shoes.
Carry water, sunblock and sunglasses, which the bring list also names, in the backpack it names too. Take a head torch if the crew tell you the start falls before dawn, and the park notes put the start about 65 minutes before sunrise.
Leave the rest on the boat. A hand free for the rail is worth more than another lens. Mineral water, coffee, tea and a snack are included in the fare, so you need not buy anything before you go ashore.
The ticket for Padar
Padar is inside the national park, so the park ticket applies: IDR 250,000 per person per day for a foreign visitor, IDR 50,000 on weekdays for an Indonesian visitor and IDR 75,000 at weekends. It is bought online in the visitor's own name and paid apart from the fare.
A daily visitor cap has applied at Padar since 1 April 2026, in time sessions, and the figure has been revised during the year. We check the current cap when we register your party. KEXI's park package covers the government entrance ticket (PP 36/2024), the ranger and the local levies. It is added to the boat price, unless your quote shows it as included.
A drone is a separate question. Tell us before you fly, because national park rules apply and a permit is needed.
FAQ
How long is the Padar walk?
The climb to the main viewpoint takes 25 to 45 minutes. The upper ridge takes longer. The path is loose and steep in places, so allow time to come down as well, and agree one hour for the whole party to start back.
Is Padar suitable for children?
The climb is moderate, and parts of the path are loose and steep. A child who walks well can manage it with an adult beside them, and you know your children best. Send the ages and we say what to expect.
What shoes for Padar?
Sturdy shoes with grip. The bring list opens with sandals or trekking shoes, and Padar is the walk for which you wear the trekking shoes. Flip-flops stay on the boat. The descent is where loose stones catch a flat sole, so the same shoes serve for both directions.
Does the route reach Padar for sunrise?
On the overnight routes the Padar trek comes before breakfast, at first light. The captain sets the order on the day, the weather can change it, and the park's daily cap applies; the sunrise table gives the time of the sun.
Is Padar on the full-day route?
Yes. The full day goes to Padar after breakfast, then lunch, then Pink Beach and Komodo, and back to Labuan Bajo the same day. The fare is IDR 40,000,000 (≈ USD 2,454) for up to 20 guests.
Check availability — Maheswari
Maheswari is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia. We arrange the pickup, take the payment and keep your booking in order. The boat sails with its own crew.