×

Palau🇵🇼 | best hikesWhere to Find the 2 Best hikes in Palau

Hikes in Palau are short, humid and muddy, and they split into distinct types. On Babeldaob, jungle trails lead to waterfalls and ridges with few other people. Around Koror, access is easy but many limestone islands need a boat. Peleliu trades waterfalls for wartime relics. Backpacking here works best with a rental car and an early start, before tour groups arrive.

By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 18, 2026
Explore the best beaches in Palau

Why go?Key Factors That Shape the Experience

Palau is a small island nation, not a mountain country. The highest point is only about 240 m, so hikes here are short walks through rainforest, over limestone and along old Japanese-era roads, not long treks. Most visitors come for diving, so formal trail culture is thin: few signs, few maps, and trails that can vanish after a wet week.
Land is held by clans and state governments, which means many trails charge a small fee or expect a local guide. Carry cash in US dollars, since the dollar is the local currency. Pack quick-dry clothes and shoes with real grip, because the red clay turns slick fast. Start before 9 a.m. and you will usually have the trail to yourself, and the humidity is kinder too.
Why These Made the Cut
The list of best hikes in Palau is created based on scenery, challenge, trail quality, landmarks, and overall enjoyment. If you feel a hike is missing in this list, please let us know.

When to go?Best Time to Visit Palau for hikes

Best months: The best months for hiking in Palau are February to April, when rainfall drops to roughly 200 to 250 mm a month and the clay trails are firmest underfoot. Temperatures hardly move all year, sitting around 27 to 31°C (80 to 88°F) with heavy humidity, so the real variable is mud.
Shoulder and wet seasons: December, January, May and June are good compromises, with showers that tend to arrive as short afternoon bursts. July to October is the wettest stretch, with 300 mm or more a month, and rough seas can cancel boat transfers. Typhoons are rare because Palau sits south of the main belt, but the swell they send can still disrupt boats.
Crowds and prices: Flights and rooms climb during December to April and around Lunar New Year and late-spring Asian holidays. Book guesthouses early … read more 👉
Best months: The best months for hiking in Palau are February to April, when rainfall drops to roughly 200 to 250 mm a month and the clay trails are firmest underfoot. Temperatures hardly move all year, sitting around 27 to 31°C (80 to 88°F) with heavy humidity, so the real variable is mud.
Shoulder and wet seasons: December, January, May and June are good compromises, with showers that tend to arrive as short afternoon bursts. July to October is the wettest stretch, with 300 mm or more a month, and rough seas can cancel boat transfers. Typhoons are rare because Palau sits south of the main belt, but the swell they send can still disrupt boats.
Crowds and prices: Flights and rooms climb during December to April and around Lunar New Year and late-spring Asian holidays. Book guesthouses early for those windows. Wet-season trips often save a noticeable amount on rooms.

hike hoppingPlanning Your Route Efficiently

How long to allow: A trip linking several hikes in Palau needs 5 to 7 days, and a week leaves room for weather. Use Koror as your base, since it has the guesthouses, restaurants, car rental and boat docks.
Direction and pacing: Do Babeldaob first, in half-day or full-day outings. Drive the Compact Road, which runs about 85 km around the island, and expect 45 to 90 minutes from Koror to most trailheads. Save Peleliu and other outer islands for later in the trip. The boat ride takes roughly 1 to 2 hours each way, and it gives you spare days if seas stop sailings. Give Peleliu a full day, or better, an overnight.
Common mistakes: Travelers often pack a Babeldaob trail and a boat day into one day, then arrive after dark and exhausted. Keep to one major outing per day. Also avoid booking your last … read more 👉
How long to allow: A trip linking several hikes in Palau needs 5 to 7 days, and a week leaves room for weather. Use Koror as your base, since it has the guesthouses, restaurants, car rental and boat docks.
Direction and pacing: Do Babeldaob first, in half-day or full-day outings. Drive the Compact Road, which runs about 85 km around the island, and expect 45 to 90 minutes from Koror to most trailheads. Save Peleliu and other outer islands for later in the trip. The boat ride takes roughly 1 to 2 hours each way, and it gives you spare days if seas stop sailings. Give Peleliu a full day, or better, an overnight.
Common mistakes: Travelers often pack a Babeldaob trail and a boat day into one day, then arrive after dark and exhausted. Keep to one major outing per day. Also avoid booking your last day for the outer islands, because one cancelled boat can cost you a flight.

The ListThe Best hikes of Palau

1 Ngardmau Waterfall Trail

30-meter falls, forest stairs, plunge pool, 2.5 km each way

Descend a long staircase through ferns and palms to Palau's tallest waterfall, then swim in its pool before the steep climb back.

palau-hike-ngardmau-waterfall-trail
© Google | 莊智暘

2 Mount Ngerchelchuus

Palau's highest point, savanna summit, Ngardmau combo

Climb about 240 meters over slick red clay and open grass to a summit looking across Babeldaob's ridges toward the western lagoon.

Loading the map 🌍

Expert viewWhat You Should Know

How many to do: I advise three or four hikes in total. Palau’s trails are short, so the limit is boat schedules, heat and cost, not stamina. Fewer than three and you miss the contrast between the island types. More than four and the days blur into the same red mud and humid forest.
Choosing between kinds: For waterfalls and jungle, Babeldaob gives the best value: you can self-drive in a rental car at US$50 to 80 a day (split it with other travelers), pay small trail fees of about US$5 to 20, and get a full morning of walking. A guide, at roughly US$50 to 120 per group, makes sense only on trails that are hard to follow. For history, a Peleliu tour costs about US$150 to 250 per person with the boat, and it takes a whole day but is the only practical way to cover the sites. Limestone-island walks … read more 👉
How many to do: I advise three or four hikes in total. Palau’s trails are short, so the limit is boat schedules, heat and cost, not stamina. Fewer than three and you miss the contrast between the island types. More than four and the days blur into the same red mud and humid forest.
Choosing between kinds: For waterfalls and jungle, Babeldaob gives the best value: you can self-drive in a rental car at US$50 to 80 a day (split it with other travelers), pay small trail fees of about US$5 to 20, and get a full morning of walking. A guide, at roughly US$50 to 120 per group, makes sense only on trails that are hard to follow. For history, a Peleliu tour costs about US$150 to 250 per person with the boat, and it takes a whole day but is the only practical way to cover the sites. Limestone-island walks inside the Rock Islands need the Rock Islands permit, about US$100 and valid for 10 days, plus a boat, so they are the priciest per hour and best for travelers who are already taking a lagoon tour.
Budget: Palau is expensive by Pacific standards. Plan on US$90 to 150 a day for a guesthouse room, meals, shared car costs and small fees. A hiking-focused week typically totals US$700 to 1,200 before flights.
Safety and respect: Red clay turns treacherous in rain, so wear shoes with grip and carry at least 2 liters of water per person. Saltwater crocodiles live in mangroves and river mouths, so do not swim there. On old battlefields, stay on marked paths because unexploded ordnance still turns up, and never remove relics. Most land is clan or state property, so pay fees, ask before entering unmarked tracks, and cover your shoulders in villages.

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutPalau Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Palau
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Palau
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Palau
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Palau
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Palau
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Palau
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Palau
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Palau
The digital guide (99 pages) contains:
✅ 22 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 2, 3 & 5-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?Best Stay Options in Palau

Palau has very few true hostels, so budget travelers mostly stay in small guesthouses, motels and apartment rentals, with simple private rooms typically running US$50 to 100 a night. Downtown Koror puts you on the main road within walking distance of restaurants, supermarkets, dive shops and the country’s modest bar scene, while Malakal sits closer to the docks where many dive and Rock Islands boats leave and is quieter at night, though you’ll need a taxi for dinner. Arakebesang is calm and leafy with good water views but spread out, and staying on Babeldaob gives you rural silence at the cost of a 30 to 60 minute drive to the Koror boat departures; all four areas are low-crime and relaxed after … read more 👉
Palau has very few true hostels, so budget travelers mostly stay in small guesthouses, motels and apartment rentals, with simple private rooms typically running US$50 to 100 a night. Downtown Koror puts you on the main road within walking distance of restaurants, supermarkets, dive shops and the country’s modest bar scene, while Malakal sits closer to the docks where many dive and Rock Islands boats leave and is quieter at night, though you’ll need a taxi for dinner. Arakebesang is calm and leafy with good water views but spread out, and staying on Babeldaob gives you rural silence at the cost of a 30 to 60 minute drive to the Koror boat departures; all four areas are low-crime and relaxed after dark.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

PalauWhere to Go Next

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.