Long Sands Beach on Padar Island is an option for those seeking to enjoy the beach’s pinkish hue with fewer crowds in the Komodo National Park. This beach is different from the Pink Beach on Komodo Island. The Long Beach stretches along an expansive shoreline of the southern side of Padar Island.
Given its long shoreline, visitors have diverse spots to enjoy the panorama. Thus, the overall vibe of Long Sands Beach is less crowded with people. The pinkish sand colour comes from the mixture of white sand and crushed red coral. Such a natural phenomenon may relate to microscopic animals, namely, foraminifera or forams.
Through biological processes, these forams turn the sand pink. At the Pink Beach, the sand seems pinker than at the Long Beach. In this article, you will get all the information about the beach and what it has to offer. In addition, you will also learn how to reach the spot using popular transportation modes. Keep scrolling down!
How do you get to Long Sands beach?
First, you must fly from Bali or Jakarta to Labuan Bajo International Airport, and then take a boat to the beach, which is part of the Komodo National Park. Labuan Bajo itself is the entry point and main gateway to the park, which includes Padar Island. Usually, the flight duration is between 1 and 1.5 hours from Bali.
Once arriving in Labuan Bajo, you can continue your trip from Labuan Bajo Harbour to the beach. Three boat options are available. Most tourists choose shared day tour boats to arrive at Long Sands Beach. This boat package is more affordable. Another option is a private speedboat charter, which is more suitable for explorers seeking faster trips. The third option is a phinisi or multi-day liveaboard cruise for more authentic and immersive experiences.
Things to do at Long Sands Beach
Although Long Beach is less popular than Pink Beach, this destination is worth visiting. It is also known as the Long Pink Beach; the spot offers a scenic view with softer pinkish sands as far as your eyes can see. To set your feet on the beautiful sands, you need to book trips with tour agencies.
Usually, the trip costs already include the entry fees to the Komodo National Park and Padar Island. The boat trip that you book commonly includes other sites, such as Komodo dragon tours in Rinca Island and Manta Point. Check the full list of recommended activities at Long Sands Beach:
Relaxing
Looking at the long, sandy stretches with crystal-clear waters is sufficient to put your mind at ease. Once again, thanks to it being less crowded, the beach is more ideal to release stress or reduce anxiety. You can do casual walking while taking cool pictures. The pretty backdrops are the most stunning visuals to share on your social media platforms.
Swimming
The Long Sands Beach is also a perfect swimming spot. Both adults and children may swim in the spot thanks to the calm and gentle waves. The waters are relatively shallow, hence kids should swim safely with parent supervision. The water is crystal-clear and often warm, hence you can look at the sandy bottom clearly.
Snorkelling
The Long Sands Beach is home to diverse marine life, which is due to the coral gardens and rocky reef areas not far from the beach. As you snorkel during calm days, you can easily spot fish as the visibility is usually great. This condition makes snorkelling possible for beginners. Some of the fish species you can meet include parrotfish, butterflyfish, and angelfish.
Practical suggestions to optimise your trip
To reiterate, the beach offers more chances to relax thanks to its smaller crowds. However, there may be moments when plenty of tourists arrive at Long Sands Beach after they finish visiting the other, more popular spots. Besides, timing is everything. You don’t want to have poor images there just because they come at the wrong time, do you?
Imagine coming all the way from Jakarta or even abroad, only to find poor light for your natural photography backdrops. As such, the list is here to ensure your time and budget will be totally worth it.
- Early morning is the best time because the seas of Long Sands Beach are calmer and the light is better.
- If you want to snorkel or swim, do so during slack tide.
- Avoid coming during midday because the sunlight can be scorching. Better to come either late morning or late afternoon.
- Don’t forget to apply reef-safe sunscreen to protect both your skin and the coral.
- Always wear water shoes, which are especially important when touching coral fragments or rocky grounds.
Begin your amazing adventure with Discovery Komodo Adventure!
The Long Sands Beach is a great alternative to enjoy more relaxing vibes other than the Pink Beach or other coastal areas within the Komodo National Park. Discovery Komodo Adventure is more than happy to guide you along the way! Since 2013, they have handled diverse needs from their clients to have an authentic and exceptional tour in Komodo Island and beyond.
With their excellent expertise, you shouldn’t worry about how to reach the island. They will ensure that your trip is safe and pleasant. The team consists of certified local guides who are well-trained and know all the information that you may not find anywhere else. What are you waiting for? Connect with them for a lifetime and have a memorable adventure of your life.
