A remote archipelago at the heart of the Coral Triangle, widely rated the richest reef diving on Earth, with jungle-clad karst islands like Wayag. Homestays and dive resorts sit among electric-blue lagoons.
0.50°S 130.52°E
October to April is the most popular window
6 nights
SOQ
$40/night
Raja Ampat is a sprawling archipelago of more than 1,500 islands off the northwest tip of West Papua, sitting at the centre of the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine area on the planet. The scenery above water rivals what is below: jungle-covered limestone karsts rising out of turquoise lagoons, with few people and almost no development. Most visitors come to dive and snorkel, but the islands also reward kayakers and birdwatchers.
This is one of the more involved and expensive trips in Indonesia, both to reach and to stay. It suits travellers who value water and wildness over nightlife, and who accept simple food, intermittent power, and patchy signal. Divers of all levels are catered for, though the best sites have strong current and reward experience. Come for the marine life and the silence.
Raja Ampat routinely records some of the highest fish counts anywhere, and sites range from gentle coral gardens to fast-moving channels thick with sharks, trevally, and manta rays. Cape Kri and the Dampier Strait are legendary for sheer abundance. Many top sites have current, so be honest about your experience level and dive with a guide who knows the tides.
You do not need to dive to see the magic here; some homestays have healthy reef a few fin-kicks from the dock. Bring your own mask and fins for the best fit, and ask staff about tides, since reef tops can be very shallow at low water. Drift snorkelling on an incoming tide is an easy thrill for confident swimmers.
A boat ride and a short staircase climb lead to the famous overlook above a maze of green islets and turquoise channels in the Fam group. Go early to beat both the heat and the boats arriving from Waisai. The nearby Star Lagoon is a worthwhile bonus if your boatman has time.
Seasonally, mantas gather at cleaning stations such as Manta Sandy in the Dampier Strait, where you kneel behind a marked line and watch them circle. It works as both a dive and a snorkel depending on conditions. Sightings peak with plankton blooms, so ask locally which months are best when you visit.
Getting there
Fly into Sorong (SOQ) on the Papua mainland, almost always via Jakarta or Makassar, often with an overnight in one of those cities because flights arrive late. From Sorong, take a taxi to the public ferry terminal and catch the fast boat to Waisai on Waigeo (around two hours), which runs only a couple of times a day, so check the schedule before you fly. From Waisai, your homestay or resort arranges a further boat transfer to its island. Liveaboards typically board in Sorong directly. Every visitor must also buy the Raja Ampat marine park entry permit (PIN tag), valid for the year.
Best time to visit
October to April is the most popular window, with the calmest seas and best visibility around November to March. Avoid the windier, rougher period around June to August, when some crossings and dive sites can be affected.
Where to stay
Locally run homestays on islands like Gam, Kri, and Arborek are the affordable, sociable option (think simple over-water bungalows with shared meals, often well under a hundred US dollars a night). Dedicated dive resorts and especially liveaboard boats cost considerably more but reach remote sites and run guided dives daily, which suits keen divers short on time.
No. Snorkelling here is world-class and accessible to any swimmer, and several homestays have great reef right offshore. That said, certified divers, ideally with some current experience, get the most out of the signature sites.
Yes. Every visitor must buy the Raja Ampat marine conservation permit, valid for the calendar year, which funds reef protection and local communities. Keep the physical tag with you, as it is checked.
Mostly no. Homestays often run generators for limited evening hours and mobile signal is weak to nonexistent on the islands. Treat it as a chance to switch off and bring a power bank.
Build a route across Indonesia in minutes. We work out the travel time and cost between every stop, then a local turns it into a trip.
Build your tripOn islands like Gam, guides lead pre-dawn walks to forest display sites where male red cendrawasih (the famed Papuan birds with the crimson plumes) show off in the treetops at first light. It means a very early start and a quiet, patient wait. Pair it with general birdwatching, as Papua's forests hold species found nowhere else.
Paddling between the mushroom-shaped islets, especially around the Fam Islands or out of a homestay base, is a peaceful way to explore at your own pace. Early morning water is usually glassy and calm. Some homestays rent kayaks, but confirm availability before you arrive.
Communities such as Arborek and Sauwandarek welcome visitors and are known for woven crafts and friendly hosts. A modest fee or a purchase supports the village directly. It is a grounded counterpoint to the diving and a chance to meet the people who own and protect these reefs.
The sights worth building a day around. Open any one for a full guide.
snorkel siteA friendly homestay village whose jetty drops onto coral thick with fish and the odd manta.
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snorkel siteA sheer coral wall off Friwen island, dense with soft coral and easy to snorkel.
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beachA bright sandbar that rises out of the sea at low tide and vanishes when the water comes up.
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viewpointThe famous star-lagoon viewpoint, reached by a built staircase of around 300 steps.
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viewpointA hidden lagoon shaped like a five-point star, seen from a short, sharp rock scramble.
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viewpointThe mushroom-shaped karst islands of far north Raja Ampat, seen from a steep limestone climb.
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