Thalassa
Thalassa Phinisi
Padar Island sunrise hike from a private phinisi
Updated 23 October 2026
The Padar Island sunrise hike is a 25 to 45 minute climb to a viewpoint over three bays, and it opens day 2 of the Thalassa 3D2N. The tender leaves the hull about 65 minutes before sunrise. Padar has no dragons, and park tickets are paid separately.
Leaving the boat in the dark
Padar is not a beach stop and it has no dragons. It is a ridge with one view, and the view is the reason the second morning of the Thalassa 3D2N starts early. Guests leave the boat about 65 minutes before sunrise, ride the tender to the landing and begin the climb in the half dark.
Sunrise at Padar falls at 05:31 in November and at 06:18 in July, so the start of the day moves by about three-quarters of an hour across the year. The captain sets the exact time on the morning, because wind, tide and the park's entry slots all feed into it.
Breakfast on board comes after the climb, not before it. The 2D1N opens its second day on the same ridge, so both routes begin day 2 here.
- 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
The climb, minute by minute
The path to the main viewpoint takes 25 to 45 minutes, depending on the group. The ground is loose stone and dry earth, and parts of it are steep, so shoes with grip matter more than anything else you pack. Sandals do not work here.
A park ranger walks with each group of up to 5 on Padar, as on Komodo and Rinca, and a larger party needs a second ranger. Thalassa 1 carries up to 11 guests and Thalassa 2 up to 27, and a path this narrow turns any group into a line. On the large boat the line spreads by pace, and the faster walkers wait at the viewpoint.
Going on to the upper ridge adds time beyond the main viewpoint. Decide on the tender who goes on and who stops, so nobody is guessing at the fork.
At the top the three bays lie below you, each with sand of a different color. Most people stay for the light to arrive, then walk down for breakfast.
Photo supplied by the boats' owner · 12 photos
The sunrise table by month
For the climb, plan on a head torch, shoes with grip, water and a light layer for the wind on the ridge. Hats and sunscreen are for the way down, when the sun is up.
The table shows sunrise at Padar for each month. The earliest falls in November and the latest in July, and the boat leaves the landing about 65 minutes before the time shown. Crowds on the path follow the calendar too: July, August and December are the busy months, and the other months leave more of the ridge to the group.
If you sail in a busy month, the captain starts the climb at the first slot the park allows, and that start can differ from the time in the table. Your written quote and the briefing on board give the plan for the day.
| 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. The crew shifts wake-up with the actual swell.
No dragons, no beach
Padar answers one question: what does the park look like from above. It does not answer the question about dragons. The Komodo walk, on the same day of the 3D2N, is the stop for that.
It is also not a swim. Guests who want water go to Pink Beach after the Komodo walk, with a mask and the reef close to the sand.
Park entry is paid per person per day: IDR 250,000 for foreign visitors, IDR 50,000 for Indonesian citizens on weekdays and IDR 75,000 at weekends. Komodo National Park tickets and ranger fees are never part of the fare, and your written quote shows how to budget for them.
A private charter fits the climb well, because you choose the day and the captain chooses the slot. Both Thalassa boats sail the same stop.
FAQ
How long does the Padar climb take?
Allow 25 to 45 minutes up to the main viewpoint, and more if you carry on to the upper ridge. Allow time at the top for the light, then walk down for breakfast on board. The captain sets the departure from the boat about 65 minutes before sunrise, and the ranger leads the group from the landing.
On which day of the 3D2N is Padar?
Padar opens day 2. Day 1 covers Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong, and day 2 begins on the Padar ridge before breakfast, then goes on to Komodo, Pink Beach and Taka Makassar or Manta Point. The 2D1N also starts its second day here. Kanawa closes the 3D2N on day 3.
Are park fees for Padar in the fare?
No. Park tickets are paid per person per day: IDR 250,000 for foreign visitors, IDR 50,000 for Indonesian citizens on weekdays and IDR 75,000 at weekends and public holidays. One KEXI park package per guest bundles the entrance ticket (IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per day under PP 36/2024) with the ranger fee and local levies, paid on top of the boat price unless your quote says it is included. One KEXI park package per guest bundles the entrance ticket (IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per day under PP 36/2024) with the ranger fee and local levies, paid on top of the boat price unless your quote says it is included.
What should I bring to Padar?
Bring shoes with grip, a head torch, water and a light layer. The path is loose and steep in places, so sandals are the wrong choice. Keep the phone in a pocket on the steep parts and carry a small daypack. Sunscreen and a hat matter on the way down, once the sun is up.
Check availability: Thalassa
Thalassa is published and booked by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, a booking partner for Thalassa 1 and Thalassa 2. The boats belong to their owner.