Carnaby
Carnaby Phinisi
Padar Island for a group photo
Updated 26 October 2026
Padar is a 25 to 45 minute climb to a viewpoint over three bays. Carnaby 1's open-trip route opens day 2 at the top for sunrise; Carnaby 2's published route puts Padar at sunset on day 2. There are no dragons on Padar, and sturdy shoes matter on the loose, steep path.
Twenty-five to forty-five minutes up, one photo at the top
Start with what Padar is not. It has no dragons, and it is not a beach stop: the point is the ridge viewpoint, where three bays show differently coloured sand. No promise is made about the light or the cloud on your day.
The climb to the main viewpoint takes about 25 to 45 minutes, and the upper ridge takes longer. For the group photo, let the whole party reach the viewpoint before anyone takes a position, then shoot with the bays behind you. The sunrise and sunset times for each month are in the table.
The park entry ticket is paid per person and is never part of the fare: IDR 250,000 for foreign guests, IDR 50,000 for Indonesian guests on weekdays and IDR 75,000 at weekends.
- Best window
- Sunrise
- Time ashore / in water
- 25–45 min
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Tide-dependent
- 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
| 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 |
Sunrise on Carnaby 1, sunset on Carnaby 2
Carnaby 1's open-trip route opens day 2 with sunrise at the top of Padar. Its private itinerary lists Padar on day 2, and the time is fixed with you and the captain. Carnaby 2's published 3D2N puts Padar at sunset on day 2, the last stop of the day.
For a sunrise climb, guests leave the boat about 65 minutes before sunrise, so a headtorch helps. Sunrise at Padar falls near 05:31 in November and 06:18 in July, which moves the start time through the year.
The captain sets the departure from the boat and can change the order of the stops on the day.
Real photo from a KEXI trip · 12 photos
Mixed ages on one ridge: who climbs and who waits
A group of 14 strings out along the path, and a group of 21 strings out further. The fast walkers reach the top in 25 minutes and the slowest take 45, so plan a wait at the top and a meeting point before the climb starts.
The organiser's note: tell older guests and children in advance that the climb is optional. Closed shoes with grip matter more than anything else you pack, because parts of the path are loose and steep. Bring water; there is little shade.
Guests who stay on the boat keep the sundeck. The reunion page explains how the same logic works for a three-generation family.
Padar is a viewpoint: dragons and beaches are elsewhere
If the group wants dragons, that is Komodo Island on Carnaby 1's route or Rinca on Carnaby 2's. If the group wants a swim, that is Pink Beach the same day. Padar gives the view and nothing else, which is why it works so well for a photo.
Padar has a daily visitor cap that applies in time sessions, and we check the current cap when we register your group. Entry fees are on the park fees page. Read the 3D2N page for the whole route and the charter page for what a group of this size costs.
FAQ
How long is the Padar climb?
About 25 to 45 minutes to the main viewpoint, depending on fitness and the heat. The upper ridge takes longer. A group of 14 on Carnaby 1 or 21 on Carnaby 2 should plan to wait at the top for the last walkers before the photo.
Can grandparents do Padar?
Guests who are steady on a steep, loose path can; the climb is optional. Older guests can stop partway or stay on the boat, and the sundeck keeps them in the celebration. Tell us the ages and we plan the day around them.
Are park fees included?
No. Komodo National Park tickets and ranger fees are never part of the fare, on a private charter or an open trip. The entry ticket is IDR 250,000 for foreign guests, IDR 50,000 for Indonesian guests on weekdays and IDR 75,000 at weekends, per person.
What should we wear?
Closed shoes with grip, a hat, light long clothes against the sun and a bottle of water for the climb. A headtorch helps for a sunrise start. Shoes matter most, because parts of the path are loose and steep, and there is little shade.
Check availability — Carnaby
Carnaby is published and booked by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, a booking partner for Carnaby 1 and Carnaby 2. The boats belong to their owner.