Bombana Sailing Komodo
Bombana Sailing Komodo
Komodo Island hiking compared: Padar, Komodo and Rinca, which isn't on our route
Updated 23 October 2026
Komodo Island hiking on a Bombana 1 or Bombana 2 sailing trip means three walks: Kelor, a 15 to 30 minute climb, Padar, 25 to 45 minutes before sunrise, and a ranger-led trek on Komodo Island. Rinca is not on the printed route. Closed shoes with grip are the one must-have.
The three hikes on our route
The 3-day route holds three walks, and only three: Kelor opens day 1 with a short, steep hill, Padar opens day 2 with a climb before sunrise, and Komodo Island follows later on day 2 with a walk led by a park ranger. Everything else on the route is boat, beach or water.
Rinca isn't on any route we run. People ask about Komodo versus Rinca all the time, and Rinca isn't on our route, so it gets a section of its own. For now, if you book Bombana 1 or Bombana 2 on the printed route, your trails are Kelor, Padar and Komodo.
The 2-day charter keeps all three. The 4-day charter keeps all three and adds stops in the water. Nothing in the printed itinerary adds a fourth hike.
One line each. Kelor is the short warm-up with a bay view, Padar is the climb for the sunrise and the three bays, and Komodo is the long, flat walk for the dragons. They ask for different things from your legs, and the order of the route is kind to you.
Padar, the climb before sunrise
Padar is the hardest of the three, and the most photographed. It's rated moderate. The climb to the main viewpoint takes 25 to 45 minutes, and the upper ridge takes longer. Parts of the path are loose and steep.
It also starts in the dark. Guests leave the boat about 65 minutes before sunrise, so you climb by head torch and arrive as the light changes. Sunrise falls at 05:31 in November and 06:18 in July.
What you get is a ridge over three bays with differently coloured sand. What you don't get is a beach, a swim or a dragon. In July, August and December the viewpoint is crowded, so allow time at the top. The Padar page has the details, and the climb is the same on Bombana 1 and Bombana 2.
Komodo Island, the dragon walk
The walk on Komodo Island is led by a park ranger, and nobody walks it without one. It starts at the Loh Liang station. Short, medium and long trails exist, and the rangers pick the trail on the day.
Walks run 45 to 120 minutes and are rated easy, which makes this the longest of the three in time and the gentlest on the legs. The ground is flatter than Padar, and there's little shade, so heat is the challenge, not height. Water is your best friend. Carry more than you think you'll drink.
Dragons are wild, so sightings are common but never guaranteed. The Komodo Island page covers the rules and the park ticket, which is IDR 250,000 per person per day for an international visitor.
Rinca, a different trek
Rinca is a separate island in the park, where walking also needs a ranger, and it isn't on any printed route of Bombana 1 or Bombana 2. So we don't describe a day there, and we don't offer a stop.
Rinca isn't on our route, so if it is the one you want, tell us before you book. The open trip runs the printed route, and we can't promise to change it for a private charter either. We can tell you what is printed, and what is not.
In short: Komodo Island is the dragon stop we sail, and Rinca is not on our route. If dragons are why you're here, the Komodo walk is the one in your plan, and it is a proper one.
Gear and fitness for the three walks
Wear closed shoes with grip on all three. Kelor is steep and dry, Padar is loose and steep in parts, and Komodo has roots and stones. Sandals won't do for any of them.
Bring water, a hat and a head torch for Padar. Long sleeves or sunscreen help on Komodo, where the trail has little shade. Reef-safe sunscreen is for the beaches, not the hills.
On fitness, we promise nothing. The ratings are moderate for Kelor and Padar and easy for Komodo, and those are ratings, not a test you pass. If you walk regularly, you'll manage. If stairs are hard for you, tell your guide before the climb, and they'll help you set a pace you can hold. Nobody is hurried up Padar.
Heat, timing and a checklist
The three walks fall at three different times of day: Kelor on day 1, Padar before sunrise on day 2, and Komodo later on day 2, after Pink Beach. Komodo has little shade, so it is the one to cover up for.
Pace yourself on day 2. You start in the dark, and the day runs through a swim, a ranger walk and two snorkels to dinner. Breakfast follows the Padar descent, which is the right moment to sit down.
Here's a checklist you can copy:
- Closed shoes with grip
- A head torch for Padar
- Water and a hat
- Long sleeves or sunscreen for Komodo
- A park ticket in your own name
FAQ
Which of the three hikes is the hardest?
Padar, by the ratings: moderate, 25 to 45 minutes to the main viewpoint, on a loose, steep path in the dark. Kelor is also rated moderate but shorter, at 15 to 30 minutes. Komodo is rated easy and runs 45 to 120 minutes. All three need closed shoes.
Can I walk the Komodo Island trails on my own?
No. Nobody treks on Komodo Island without a park ranger, and the rangers pick the trail from the short, medium and long options. The park ticket is paid separately, in your own name, at IDR 250,000 per person per day for an international visitor.
Do I need a head torch for every hike?
Only for Padar, which starts about 65 minutes before sunrise. Kelor and Komodo are done in daylight. A head torch frees both hands for the steep sections, so we suggest one over a phone torch. It also fits in a small bag.
What shoes should I wear for Padar, Kelor and Komodo?
Closed shoes with grip. Parts of the Padar path are loose and steep, Kelor's is steep and dry, and Komodo has roots and stones. Sandals slip on all three. Wear them in before the trip, since 3 walks in 2 days is no time for new blisters.
How many hikes are on the 3-day sailing route?
Three: Kelor on day 1, then Padar and Komodo Island on day 2. Everything else is a boat, beach or water stop. Rinca isn't on the printed route, and the 4-day charter adds water stops, not a fourth hike.
Check availability — Bombana Sailing Komodo
Bombana Sailing Komodo is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia.