Spectacular Aerial View from Wayag 2

Raja Ampat is becoming increasingly popular, not only among divers. However, many people still don't know how to properly plan an exploration there, which can lead to an inefficient and wasteful trip that doesn’t give you your money’s worth. People who have never been there and don’t understand the conditions often confidently buy promo plane tickets to Sorong (the gateway city to Raja Ampat) on their own, without any friends or travel companions. Only to find out that getting around Raja Ampat requires renting a speedboat, which costs millions of rupiah, with a trip to Wayag costing at least 15 million rupiah. It’s a very hefty sum to shoulder alone. Not to mention, Raja Ampat doesn’t have a daily join tour system yet. The join tours that are available only run on Saturdays or Sundays, and only if the minimum participant quota is met. And these are just day tours. Of course, you might get lucky and find another group willing to let you join and share the cost, but the chances are quite slim and not guaranteed at all. So, before you decide to head there, you might want to check this smart travel guide for exploring Raja Ampat first.

Wayag 1

Wayag 1

Wayag 2

GENERAL INFORMATION

Raja Ampat, located in the northwest of the "bird's head" region of Papua Island, in Southwest Papua Province (formerly part of West Papua Province), is a regency. It comprises of four main islands: Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool, with a total of 2,713 islands. The capital, Waisai, is situated on Waigeo Island. The nearest city serving as the gateway to Raja Ampat is Sorong, with its airport, Domine Eduard Osok.

Raja Ampat map

Raja Ampat map

TIME ZONE

Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT) (GMT+9).

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Between October and April. Avoid June to August due to (typically) high waves and strong winds.

Visit Raja Ampat during the right time to get the best experience

IDEAL DURATION FOR EXPLORING RAJA AMPAT

A minimum of 6 days is needed to explore either the northern region or the southern region (Misool) only. If you want to explore both regions, you should plan for at least 10-12 days. This duration allows for a satisfying exploration at an ideal pace.

Telaga Bintang (Star Lagoon), one of favorite spots in nother area of Raja Ampat

Misool, with its unique limestone

Misool, with its unique limestone

HOW TO GET TO RAJA AMPAT

From Jakarta to Sorong:

Airlines serving the Jakarta to Sorong (Domine Eduard Osok Airport) route include Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Lion Air, and Pelita Air. Flight duration is 4 hours (direct). Direct flights are available with Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, and Pelita Air, while Lion Air has a layover in Makassar. Normal round-trip ticket prices start from 6.6 million rupiah. To catch the Express boat to Waisai, choose a flight that arrives in Sorong no later than 7:30 AM.

Domine Eduard Osok Airport

From Bali to Sorong:

Garuda Indonesia offers direct flights from Denpasar, Bali to Sorong, arriving in Sorong at 06:20. Lion Air also operates flights from Denpasar to Sorong, arriving in the morning, but with layovers in Surabaya and Makassar.

From Sorong to Waisai (Sea Route):

- With public Express boat: 2 hours duration. Ticket prices are 125,000 rupiah (economy) one way and 250,000 rupiah (VIP) one way. The boats depart daily from Sorong to Waisai and vice versa at 09:00 and 14:00. Sometimes, there's also a schedule at 11:00. Departure times may vary, so double-check before your journey. Boat tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter at the port on the day of departure.

Express boat to Raja Ampat

Express boat to Raja Ampat

- Rent a speedboat: 2 hours duration. The minimum rental price is around 6-7 million rupiah one way for a maximum capacity of 10 passengers and an engine power of approximately 2 X 85HP (horsepower). Larger speedboats are available but come at a higher rental cost.

This is the type of speedboat available 

From Sorong to Waisai (Flight Route):

Raja Ampat is also accessible by air, with flights operating through Kabare Airport in North Waigeo District and Marinda Airport in Waisai (South Waigeo District). At present, Susi Air offers flights departing from Sorong to Kabare Airport, followed by a connection to Marinda Airport every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Departures from Sorong are scheduled for 07:00, with arrival at Marinda at 08:05. Similarly, return flights from Marinda to Sorong via Kabare are available on the same days, departing at 08:15 and arriving in Sorong at 09:20. The one-way ticket price is about 500,000 rupiah. For inquiries and ticket reservations, you can contact Susi Air at the following numbers: Waisai Call Center at 0811 2113 080 and 0811 2113 090, Sorong Call Center at 0811 4806 707, and 0811 2123 934 for ticket reservations.

From Sorong to Misool (Sea Route):

- With ferry Fajar Baru 8: 9-10 hours duration. Ticket price is 250,000 rupiah one way. Cabin rental is 500,000 rupiah/cabin for 2 people. The ferry departs from Sorong every Monday at 22:00, arriving in Misool (Yelu Village in South Misool) the next day, Tuesday, at around 07:00 or 08:00. Return trips from Misool to Sorong depart every Thursday evening at 19:00, arriving in Sorong the next day, Friday, at around 03:00. Make sure to board the ferry at least 1 hour prior to departure. Good news: Before 2024 ends ferry Fajar Indah II will be operated again.

Ferry Fajar to Misool

- Rent a speedboat: 4-6 hours duration. Price starts from 40 million rupiah round trip for a maximum capacity of about 12 passengers and a minimum engine power of 2 X 115HP (including waiting time of 3-4 days in Misool, but excluding crew meal costs).

Additional Information:

- Public boats in Sorong depart from Rakyat Sorong Port.

Rakyat Sorong Port

- Speedboats depart from Marina Port or Usaha Mina Port.

Marina Port

- It takes about 15 minutes by car from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to the port area.

Continued here.

Interested in visiting Raja Ampat? Contact Maya MyTrip on WhatsApp at 0811821006. 

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