Ngaraard: Villages, Stone Formations and Petroglyphs

Discover Ngaraard from different perspectives: a designated nature conservation area, a tour with a hike, and numerous registered cultural sites. The listings range from traditional villages to stone formations and platforms, bathing pools and petroglyphs. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, you can first consider which of these themes you want to shape your trip. The variety of categories offers a practical guide, without suggesting that all the places have the same character.

Tours, Hiking and Nature Conservation

The “Discover Ngaraard” tour began with a walk to Ngerchokl, known as the Fountain of Youth. The tour also included a visit to the ancient petroglyphs of Olebakelderau, followed by a traditional lunch at Kuabes Park. An orientation tour in August 2024 included a hike up to Bai ra Ngeruau. These travel experiences bring together place names, petroglyphs, lunch and hiking. If you’re planning a tour, confirm the current dates and itinerary in advance.

Nature conservation is also part of Ngaraard: the West Coast Mangrove Conservation Area is one of the state’s protected areas. If you plan to visit, check access in advance. This allows you to account for the area’s natural features in your plans while treating the cultural sites as a separate focus.

Traditional Villages and Registration Dates

Places registered as traditional villages include Beluu er a Elab in Ngaraard, registered on March 13, 1991, and Bai er a Ngeruau ma Chelsel a Beluu er a Ngebuked in Ngkeklau, registered on June 2, 1993. Also in Ngkeklau is the listing Beluu er a Ngkeklau/Ngotel, registered on July 5, 2001. Beluu er a Desengong in Desengong was registered on October 6, 2005. These dates are registration dates that place the listings in chronological order; they should not be understood as the villages’ founding dates.

Stone Formations, Platforms and Petroglyphs

The register also includes different kinds of stone sites. Chetoikechang in Ngkeklau is listed as a stone formation; it was registered on June 1, 1993. Ngerchokl in Ngebuked is also registered as a stone formation, on July 19, 1995. Ked ra Malk in Ngebuked was listed as a stone platform on September 2, 2004. The stone platform Omkuul in Choll followed on May 31, 2007, and the landmark Tangelbad in Choll on October 23 of the same year.

Other listings add different types of sites: Imeduurang in Ngeribkang, Chol, is registered as a bathing pool, dated July 19, 1995. Diong ra Omtikel in Choll was also listed as a bathing pool on September 26, 2012. The petroglyph site Blotk el Llecheklel a Chad el ngar er a Bad in Olebakelderau was registered on May 25, 2005. Cheldeklel a Dilrengulbai is listed as an underwater fortress; its registration date is August 18, 2021.

Another cultural story is commemorated at Kuabes Beach Park: totem poles at the entrance honor the love story of Surech and Tulei. Signage about the story was unveiled in 2026. For travelers, listings like these open up different themes, from village history and stone formations to stories honored at a particular place.

Ngaraard in the Wider Destination of Palau

The wider destination of Palau includes other natural features that are not in Ngaraard. Lake Ngardok is in the state of Melekeok and is Micronesia’s largest natural freshwater lake. The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon covers 100,200 hectares and includes 445 coral limestone islands; it is home to 746 fish species and more than 385 coral species. These examples provide broader context about Palau, while the cultural sites and conservation area described above are in Ngaraard.

Discover more destinations: Choll

Go to the main travel overview: Palau.