What to do there?
What to do there?
There is just so much to do here, there is bound to be something interesting for everyone to do at Raja Ampat Islands. Raja Ampat Islands is of the most untouched Indonesian region and visitors can expect great underwater adventures with experiences to dive among sea creatures like manta rays.
Besides diving in various spots around the island from Raja Ampat Dive Lodge point, do enjoy the sunrise and sunset view while you are there, or go snorkeling at the jetty, walk on the floating sand island at Pasir Timbul which appears only a few hours away. You can also swim amongst the stingless jellyfishes!
Adventurous travellers can also hike up easy paths and trails around Pienemo Island for its amazing view and nature discovery, Also try to hike Puncak Harfat Jaya, where you can see a wide scenery of Misool Island. Apart from all these, there is also a star-shaped lagoon known as Telaga Bintang, a unique attraction for travellers to discover by taking a speedboat trip from Waisai. Or, get up close and personal with the locals at Arborek Village; which is also a great place to explore cultural experiences and activities.
Besides diving in various spots around the island from Raja Ampat Dive Lodge point, do enjoy the sunrise and sunset view while you are there, or go snorkeling at the jetty, walk on the floating sand island at Pasir Timbul which appears only a few hours away. You can also swim amongst the stingless jellyfishes!
Adventurous travellers can also hike up easy paths and trails around Pienemo Island for its amazing view and nature discovery, Also try to hike Puncak Harfat Jaya, where you can see a wide scenery of Misool Island. Apart from all these, there is also a star-shaped lagoon known as Telaga Bintang, a unique attraction for travellers to discover by taking a speedboat trip from Waisai. Or, get up close and personal with the locals at Arborek Village; which is also a great place to explore cultural experiences and activities.
What to see there?
What to see there?
Pristine beaches and the clear waters makes it hard not to fall in love with the islands of Raja Ampat and the views that they offer — making each island unique in their own way. Apart from the corals and rich marine life, there are also plenty of nature and wildlife where visitors can observe.
Feast your eyes on an underwater cave full of stalactites and stalagmites at the Blue Water Cave, Kabui Bay or Kabui Passage. Prehistoric hand paintings that can be found around Pef Island, Sumalelen and Sumbayo cliff is also among the various attractions that can be found in Raja Ampat Islands.
Birdwatching is commonly done at Batanta or Waigeo Island, and a few places around Raja Ampat. There are many hidden treasures in these pristine rainforest and you will be surprised by the many unique species you will be able to spot while you are there such as Cendrawasih Bird or bird of paradise which is also the mascot of Papua.
Feast your eyes on an underwater cave full of stalactites and stalagmites at the Blue Water Cave, Kabui Bay or Kabui Passage. Prehistoric hand paintings that can be found around Pef Island, Sumalelen and Sumbayo cliff is also among the various attractions that can be found in Raja Ampat Islands.
Birdwatching is commonly done at Batanta or Waigeo Island, and a few places around Raja Ampat. There are many hidden treasures in these pristine rainforest and you will be surprised by the many unique species you will be able to spot while you are there such as Cendrawasih Bird or bird of paradise which is also the mascot of Papua.
What to eat?
What to eat?
Sago grubs satay, Grilled fish Manokwari, Papeda, Shrimp Screwing, Mumu, Chicken Barapen, Papuan coffee, Seafood dishes
Who should I travel with?
Who should I travel with?
Solo , Couple , Friends , Family , Group
Where to eat?
Where to eat?
Restaurants (also known as rumah makan or RM), local bars, cafes, warung/lesehan (local style dining) around main islands
Useful local terms
Useful local terms
In Raja Ampat Islands, the locals converse in Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia) and Papuan language, as well as basic English which is mostly spoken by locals in the main islands.
-
Indonesian language:
- Hello: (Apa Kabar?)
- Do you speak english? (Anda bisa bicara bahasa inggris?)
- Please write it down (Tolong tuliskan)
- How much is this? (Berapa harganya)
- Thank you. (Terima kasih)
- Sorry. (Maafkan saya)
- Help. (Tolong.)
-
Papuan language:
- Hello. (Gude)
- How are you? (Yu stap gut?)
- Thank you. (Tenkyu)
- Please. (Plis)
- Nice to meet you. (Gutpela long bungim yu)
Insiders’ tips
Insiders’ tips
- The four major islands of Raja Ampat are Salawati Island, Batanta Island, Waigeo, and Misool.
- You can choose to travel to Raja Ampat Islands either via plane or by sea depending on which way you are comfortable with.
- For plane, there are express flights available daily from Sorong to the Raja Ampat Waisai Airport. Plane tickets are reasonably priced and you can save a lot of travelling time as compared to travelling via ferries.
- If you are planning to take a taxi from the airport to the ferry terminal, do also be aware that the fare is not a fixed amount, it all depends on the taxi driver on how much they want to charge you, it could range from IDR 100,000 up to IDR 250,000.
- For ferries, there are 2 daily trips from Sorong to Waisai and from Waisai to Sorong. The trip takes approximately 2 hours and departs at 9am and 2pm daily.
- Please be noted that there are no online booking services to purchase ferry tickets so be sure to be punctual if you want to take the ferry. There are both economy and VIP tickets available whereby the VIP room comes with air conditioning and a private toilet.
- You can also opt to rent a private speedboat if you do not want to go on the ferry or plane. Rental can range from USD 600 to USD 1000 depending on the size of your speedboat. It might be a little bit pricey for some but the speedboat can take you directly to your destination as compared to the plane or the ferries.
- Do check with the resort that you have booked with to see if they provide transportation services to the resort itself. Most resorts do provide their own speedboat services to transport tourists to the resorts directly.
- Do be aware that you are expected to pay an environmental maintenance service tax to the local government there and this amount will double if you are a foreign visitor.
- Raja Ampat Islands consists of peaceful surroundings, and some areas of far from the main islands are lesser developed where tourists can only access to limited facilities. However, the main islands offer various kinds of accommodations for travellers — from dorm rooms in budget hostels to luxurious romantic retreats, villas, and family-friendly stays.
- If you are a diving fanatic, there are online applications that are available where you can check on the daily weather forecast, wind and even tide heights before you head out for the trip. Generally, the best months to dive is between September to April.
- It is advisable for visitors to prepare by taking an anti-malaria medicine, sunscreen and loads of mosquito repellants on your trip to the islands as there are no four seasons in Raja Ampat. With tropical weather, it is always sunny there. Heavier rains are often from December to January, so be sure to plan your trip ahead.
- It is advised to ask a permission first before you enter a church, mosque, temple, or any religious and ensure that you are dressed appropriately. Kindly respect the culture and religion of the locals there.
- Food lovers, be prepared to indulge in a wide variety of local Papuan food here in Raja Ampat Islands. However, mostly are pork-based and non-halal. Halal food can be found mostly in Muslim restaurants around Waisai and Sorong.
Whether you are a diving fanatic or in need of an island escape, Raja Ampat Islands will not disappoint you with its untouched nature and amazing diving spots.
Whether you are a diving fanatic or in need of an island escape, Raja Ampat Islands will not disappoint you with its untouched nature and amazing diving spots.
What to do there?
What to do there?
There is just so much to do here, there is bound to be something interesting for everyone to do at Raja Ampat Islands. Raja Ampat Islands is of the most untouched Indonesian region and visitors can expect great underwater adventures with experiences to dive among sea creatures like manta rays.
Besides diving in various spots around the island from Raja Ampat Dive Lodge point, do enjoy the sunrise and sunset view while you are there, or go snorkeling at the jetty, walk on the floating sand island at Pasir Timbul which appears only a few hours away. You can also swim amongst the stingless jellyfishes!
Adventurous travellers can also hike up easy paths and trails around Pienemo Island for its amazing view and nature discovery, Also try to hike Puncak Harfat Jaya, where you can see a wide scenery of Misool Island. Apart from all these, there is also a star-shaped lagoon known as Telaga Bintang, a unique attraction for travellers to discover by taking a speedboat trip from Waisai. Or, get up close and personal with the locals at Arborek Village; which is also a great place to explore cultural experiences and activities.
Besides diving in various spots around the island from Raja Ampat Dive Lodge point, do enjoy the sunrise and sunset view while you are there, or go snorkeling at the jetty, walk on the floating sand island at Pasir Timbul which appears only a few hours away. You can also swim amongst the stingless jellyfishes!
Adventurous travellers can also hike up easy paths and trails around Pienemo Island for its amazing view and nature discovery, Also try to hike Puncak Harfat Jaya, where you can see a wide scenery of Misool Island. Apart from all these, there is also a star-shaped lagoon known as Telaga Bintang, a unique attraction for travellers to discover by taking a speedboat trip from Waisai. Or, get up close and personal with the locals at Arborek Village; which is also a great place to explore cultural experiences and activities.
What to see there?
What to see there?
Pristine beaches and the clear waters makes it hard not to fall in love with the islands of Raja Ampat and the views that they offer — making each island unique in their own way. Apart from the corals and rich marine life, there are also plenty of nature and wildlife where visitors can observe.
Feast your eyes on an underwater cave full of stalactites and stalagmites at the Blue Water Cave, Kabui Bay or Kabui Passage. Prehistoric hand paintings that can be found around Pef Island, Sumalelen and Sumbayo cliff is also among the various attractions that can be found in Raja Ampat Islands.
Birdwatching is commonly done at Batanta or Waigeo Island, and a few places around Raja Ampat. There are many hidden treasures in these pristine rainforest and you will be surprised by the many unique species you will be able to spot while you are there such as Cendrawasih Bird or bird of paradise which is also the mascot of Papua.
Feast your eyes on an underwater cave full of stalactites and stalagmites at the Blue Water Cave, Kabui Bay or Kabui Passage. Prehistoric hand paintings that can be found around Pef Island, Sumalelen and Sumbayo cliff is also among the various attractions that can be found in Raja Ampat Islands.
Birdwatching is commonly done at Batanta or Waigeo Island, and a few places around Raja Ampat. There are many hidden treasures in these pristine rainforest and you will be surprised by the many unique species you will be able to spot while you are there such as Cendrawasih Bird or bird of paradise which is also the mascot of Papua.
What to eat?
What to eat?
Sago grubs satay, Grilled fish Manokwari, Papeda, Shrimp Screwing, Mumu, Chicken Barapen, Papuan coffee, Seafood dishes
Who should I travel with?
Who should I travel with?
Solo , Couple , Friends , Family , Group
Where to eat?
Where to eat?
Restaurants (also known as rumah makan or RM), local bars, cafes, warung/lesehan (local style dining) around main islands
Useful local terms
Useful local terms
In Raja Ampat Islands, the locals converse in Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia) and Papuan language, as well as basic English which is mostly spoken by locals in the main islands.
-
Indonesian language:
- Hello: (Apa Kabar?)
- Do you speak english? (Anda bisa bicara bahasa inggris?)
- Please write it down (Tolong tuliskan)
- How much is this? (Berapa harganya)
- Thank you. (Terima kasih)
- Sorry. (Maafkan saya)
- Help. (Tolong.)
-
Papuan language:
- Hello. (Gude)
- How are you? (Yu stap gut?)
- Thank you. (Tenkyu)
- Please. (Plis)
- Nice to meet you. (Gutpela long bungim yu)
Insiders’ tips
Insiders’ tips
- The four major islands of Raja Ampat are Salawati Island, Batanta Island, Waigeo, and Misool.
- You can choose to travel to Raja Ampat Islands either via plane or by sea depending on which way you are comfortable with.
- For plane, there are express flights available daily from Sorong to the Raja Ampat Waisai Airport. Plane tickets are reasonably priced and you can save a lot of travelling time as compared to travelling via ferries.
- If you are planning to take a taxi from the airport to the ferry terminal, do also be aware that the fare is not a fixed amount, it all depends on the taxi driver on how much they want to charge you, it could range from IDR 100,000 up to IDR 250,000.
- For ferries, there are 2 daily trips from Sorong to Waisai and from Waisai to Sorong. The trip takes approximately 2 hours and departs at 9am and 2pm daily.
- Please be noted that there are no online booking services to purchase ferry tickets so be sure to be punctual if you want to take the ferry. There are both economy and VIP tickets available whereby the VIP room comes with air conditioning and a private toilet.
- You can also opt to rent a private speedboat if you do not want to go on the ferry or plane. Rental can range from USD 600 to USD 1000 depending on the size of your speedboat. It might be a little bit pricey for some but the speedboat can take you directly to your destination as compared to the plane or the ferries.
- Do check with the resort that you have booked with to see if they provide transportation services to the resort itself. Most resorts do provide their own speedboat services to transport tourists to the resorts directly.
- Do be aware that you are expected to pay an environmental maintenance service tax to the local government there and this amount will double if you are a foreign visitor.
- Raja Ampat Islands consists of peaceful surroundings, and some areas of far from the main islands are lesser developed where tourists can only access to limited facilities. However, the main islands offer various kinds of accommodations for travellers — from dorm rooms in budget hostels to luxurious romantic retreats, villas, and family-friendly stays.
- If you are a diving fanatic, there are online applications that are available where you can check on the daily weather forecast, wind and even tide heights before you head out for the trip. Generally, the best months to dive is between September to April.
- It is advisable for visitors to prepare by taking an anti-malaria medicine, sunscreen and loads of mosquito repellants on your trip to the islands as there are no four seasons in Raja Ampat. With tropical weather, it is always sunny there. Heavier rains are often from December to January, so be sure to plan your trip ahead.
- It is advised to ask a permission first before you enter a church, mosque, temple, or any religious and ensure that you are dressed appropriately. Kindly respect the culture and religion of the locals there.
- Food lovers, be prepared to indulge in a wide variety of local Papuan food here in Raja Ampat Islands. However, mostly are pork-based and non-halal. Halal food can be found mostly in Muslim restaurants around Waisai and Sorong.
