v2.webp){kind=logo}
- Ngardmau Waterfall (Ngardmau Falls) — Palau’s biggest, a short but steep jungle hike drops you into a mossy amphitheater and a swimming pool that feels wild and private; excellent for photographers and a real rainforest experience you won’t get on the coral islands.
- Lake Ngardok (Ngardok Nature Reserve) — the island’s largest freshwater lake, ringed by swamp forest and mangroves; paddle a canoe, watch endemic birds and freshwater turtles, and get a sense of Palau’s inland ecology that’s totally different from the glassy lagoons offshore.
- Badrulchau Stone Monoliths — an ancient ceremonial field of standing stones and platforms; fewer crowds than Koror’s museum exhibits, and the stones sit in the middle of working village land, so the place feels lived-in and historically rooted rather than
- Ngardmau Waterfall (Ngardmau Falls) — Palau’s biggest, a short but steep jungle hike drops you into a mossy amphitheater and a swimming pool that feels wild and private; excellent for photographers and a real rainforest experience you won’t get on the coral islands.
- Lake Ngardok (Ngardok Nature Reserve) — the island’s largest freshwater lake, ringed by swamp forest and mangroves; paddle a canoe, watch endemic birds and freshwater turtles, and get a sense of Palau’s inland ecology that’s totally different from the glassy lagoons offshore.
- Badrulchau Stone Monoliths — an ancient ceremonial field of standing stones and platforms; fewer crowds than Koror’s museum exhibits, and the stones sit in the middle of working village land, so the place feels lived-in and historically rooted rather than cordoned-off.
- Ollei Village and its coastal monoliths — a quiet northern hamlet with its own line of ancient stones, a peaceful mangrove edge and a tiny beach; one of those off-the-beaten-route spots locals still use for fishing and picnics — great for slow wandering and chatting with residents (hidden gem).
- Airai Bai (traditional men’s meeting house) — a beautifully carved, painted bai near the airport area where you can see traditional Palauan art and social architecture up close; it’s a compact cultural stop you can combine with arrivals or a Ring Road loop.
- Drive the Babeldaob Ring Road — village stops & sakau houses — the island road is the activity: stop at village bais, roadside food stalls, taro patches and local sakau (kava) houses to taste food and customs that don’t exist in tour-book form. Less polished than Koror’s tourism circuit and far more honest (hidden gem as an experience).
- Ngeremeduu Bay mangroves and tidal flats — shallow creeks and mangrove tunnels where you can kayak, birdwatch or walk the muddy flats at low tide; good for spotting shorebirds and seeing how coastal communities harvest clams and crabs up close (locals know the best channels) — quiet and under-visited.
- Mount Ngerchelchuus summit — the highest point on Babeldaob: a sweaty, rewarding short climb through thick forest to wide views over the island’s ridges and the westward coastline. Not a technical hike, but the panorama makes it worth the effort.
- Ngiwal village & coastal cultural sites — small village culture, shoreline family plots, and a restored traditional bai; visiting here gives a clear look at daily village life, clan paddling traditions and shore-based fishing methods that are getting rarer elsewhere.
- Accessible WWII relics along the western coast (Ngeremlengui area) — rusting bunkers, concrete emplacements and supply tracks left from the war are scattered along parts of Babeldaob’s west coast; they’re tangible history in the landscape and, when paired with a local guide, reveal the island’s wartime stories without the crowds.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.
Best Backpacking
.jpg)
Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.