Bombana Sailing Komodo
Bombana Sailing Komodo
Padar Island sunrise hike from a sailing boat
Updated 23 October 2026
The Padar Island sunrise hike opens day 2 of the 3-day sailing trip on Bombana 1 and Bombana 2. Guests leave the boat about 65 minutes before sunrise and climb 25 to 45 minutes to a viewpoint over three bays. Sunrise falls at 05:31 in November.
The climb starts in the dark
Padar is the first thing on day 2, and it starts early. Guests leave the boat about 65 minutes before sunrise. The climb to the main viewpoint takes 25 to 45 minutes, and the upper ridge takes longer. You walk the first stretch by head torch and arrive as the sky pales.
The table below gives sunrise at Padar for every month. The start time moves with it. In November the sun comes up at 05:31, in July at 06:18, and the climb moves with it, hour by hour, through the year.
On the day, the guide sets the real departure from the boat.
| 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 |
Computed for the location; accurate to a few minutes.
Three bays, three colours of sand
The classic view from the top looks over three bays. Each has differently coloured sand, so the curves of the shoreline read like a painted map. The main viewpoint is on the north side of the island, and the path leads there along the ridge.
Light changes the picture fast. The hills start dark, and then the green comes up and the sand takes colour. Cloud flattens all of it, and we can't promise a clear dawn in any month. The three bays are the same either way.
July, August and December bring more people to the ridge. At those times the viewpoint fills, and arriving on time matters more than walking fast.
A line of people forms at the best rail, and it moves.
Photos from the route · 12 photos
Not a beach, not a dragon stop
Padar has no dragons. If a dragon is what you came for, that's Komodo Island, a few stops later on day 2, and it's a ranger walk rather than a hike. Different stop, different kit, different rules.
Padar isn't a beach stop either. The point is the ridge viewpoint. You climb, look, take photographs and walk down. Nobody swims here as part of the printed route, and the sand below the bays is something you look at, not something you visit.
It's not a long trek. It isn't a stroll either. The path is moderate, with loose, steep sections. People who walk regularly manage it comfortably, while people who find stairs hard should tell their guide before the climb, not halfway up.
Shoes, torch and water for the ridge
Wear sturdy shoes. Parts of the path are loose and steep, and sandals slip. Closed shoes with grip are the one thing on this page we insist on. Everything else is a suggestion.
Bring a head torch, because you start in the dark. A phone torch works, but a head torch frees both hands for the steep bits. Add water, a hat for when the sun is up, and a light layer for the wait before dawn.
Keep your camera or phone in an easy pocket, because you'll stop to look. The hiking guide compares the Padar path with the Komodo walk, and the packing list has the full list for the trip.
Padar's place in the three days
Padar opens day 2 on the 3-day route, and on the 2-day and 4-day charters too. Then come breakfast, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Taka Makassar and Manta Point. The 3-day route has the full order.
Where the boat spends the night is the weather and the captain's decision that day. Day 2 begins here, before sunrise, whatever the sky does.
Every sailing on Monday & Friday includes Padar, on both boats, whatever the month. The view changes with the season, though the climb doesn't, and the same stop in a wet month and a dry month can feel like two different places. If you want the best chance of a calm, clear morning, see the best time to sail. For a snorkel after the climb, see the snorkelling page.
FAQ
How long does the Padar climb take from the landing?
The climb to the main viewpoint takes 25 to 45 minutes. The upper ridge takes longer. The path is loose and steep in parts, so the pace is yours and the guide's to set on the day, not the clock's.
How early do we leave the boat for Padar?
About 65 minutes before sunrise. In November sunrise at Padar is 05:31, and in July it is 06:18. The guide sets the exact time on the day. It's a pre-dawn start on day 2 of the 3-day trip, and everyone on the boat goes together.
Is the Padar hike suitable for someone who rarely walks uphill?
It is rated moderate. The climb is 25 to 45 minutes with loose, steep sections, and you can stop for a breather whenever you need one. If you rarely walk uphill, say so to your guide before you start. We don't promise a fitness level, and nobody is hurried.
What if Padar is cloudy at sunrise?
You still climb, and you still see the three bays. Cloud only changes the colour of the light. We can't promise a clear dawn, in July or any other month. If rain or wind rewrites the plan, the itinerary is tentative and the captain decides.
Check availability — Bombana Sailing Komodo
Bombana Sailing Komodo is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia.