Raja Ampat Guide

On a tight budget, but got plenty of time? Cargo boats to Batanta and Fam are much cheaper than going via Waisai. Here’s what you need to know.

Updated September 2022: All the information you need to plan and book a visit to Raja Ampat in 2022. Visas, flights, quarantine, covid testing, etc

May 7 2021: Our cancellation policy was updated today. Only a VERY small number of bookings made after May 7 2021 are likely to be affected.

Mar 18 2020: Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19): Important information for guests of Raja Ampat homestays. A statement by the Raja Ampat Homestay Association.

A licenced guide with excellent English and long experience taking care of Indonesian and international clients, Indra Franzpower is a Misool specialist.

The Raja Ampat Diving Code of Practice should be familiar to and observed by all divers and dive operators in Raja Ampat.

Information for independent travellers wanting to visit Raja Ampat on a budget. Accommodation, transport and expense details to help with trip planning

In addition to the Raja Ampat Marine Park Entry fee, there’s a few places where extra fees are charged. Here’s where and why.

Charged by the Raja Ampat Government to help pay for tourism infrastructure, this ticket is one of two official fees that visitors are required to pay.

Price of and how to purchase the required Raja Ampat Marine Park entry permit tag, including office location maps and photos. All visitors must have one.

How to visit this iconic island group (and where you can go to see something similar if you find reaching Wayag is too hard)

Raja Ampat boat hire is not cheap. Avoid feeling ripped off by considering this advice, planning carefully and being aware of local conditions.

An overview of the factors contributing to Raja Ampat accommodation prices, why they are justified and how your views can be heard by local accommodation providers

Raja Ampat map resources, including hi-res geographic, accommodation locations, dive & snorkeling sites, Sorong street, Marine Protected Area maps and more

Raja Ampat electricity, telephone and internet technical details and availability. Don’t expect widely available access to these services in the islands.

Information for travellers regarding access to money, banks and ATMs in Raja Ampat. You will need rupiah when out in the islands!

Detailed information about local health risks and the medical services available in West Papua’s Raja Ampat islands

Detailed Raja Ampat weather and climate information, including current conditions and 9 day forecast for travellers wanting to choose the best time to visit

Information about island life and Raja Ampat local culture. Read the important points relating to appropriate dress in villages & what to expect on Sundays

Information about island fresh water sources and why you should say no to bottled drinking water in Raja Ampat and drink locally sourced water instead

What to expect from Raja Ampat homestay food and drink. No a la carte menus, no waiters, no cocktails – just wholesome, nourishing traditional Papuan fare

A step by step description of how to get to Raja Ampat, including international and local flight details, airport transfers, ferry schedules and information

Read this important information if you want to book traditional Papuan accommodation in Raja Ampat. Communication is difficult!

Detailed must-know information for those considering accommodation in Raja Ampat homestays. Room types, facilities, services and cultural considerations.

The Raja Ampat Homestay Information Center at Waisai harbour is open 7 days a week to assist you with everything to do with your homestay experience.

This step by step guide provides everything you need to know when planning a Raja Ampat trip. Start here to quickly find the answers to all your questions.

The Kepulauan Ayau and Kepulauan Asia atolls are WAY beyond the end of the beaten track. Here’s how to visit this remote and undeveloped oceanic paradise.

A tiny sand cay in the middle of everything. Excellent snorkelling, a dive shop, vibrant village life, close to Piaynemo, Manta Sandy and Manta Point.

Incredible snorkelling in pristine ocean over rich reefs. Seagrass prairies, dugongs, waterfalls, rich jungle wildlife, remote and isolated homestays on uninhabited islands.

The famous Friwen Wall, excellent snorkelling and diving, village life, close to Waisai and the many attractions of Pulau Gam and Kabui Bay.

Great reefs, some fabulous beaches, Birds of Paradise, the attractions of Gam and Kabui Bays, easy village access and lots of choices for accommodation.

The most popular of Raja Ampat’s islands, with many dive centers and plenty of accommodation options, great house reefs and long beaches.

Fringing coral reefs as good as those of Kri, jungle trekking opportunities, villages to explore, an easily accessible mid-island lake and rich birdlife.

The Raja Ampat Homestay Association has no members on these islands, but here’s what we know and contacts for local experts who can help.

Misnamed as “Fam” on most maps, the Pam Islands offer Raja Ampat’s most stunning beaches, crystalline waters, excellent snorkelling, and Piaynemo’s panoramas.

Raja Ampat’s biggest island, with enough attractions and accommodation options to keep you entranced for weeks. Wildlife rich jungles, incredible bays, diverse experiences.

Some of the best reefs in Raja Ampat, spectacular seascapes, amazing bays, ancient handprints and cultural sites, fabulous snorkelling around remote island hideaways.

Oct 6 2018: “That volunteer trip you might be going on this year isn’t helping anyone…” How to best support conservation & community development in Raja Ampat.

Sep 13 2018: CAP has a proven track record of providing education otherwise unavailable in Raja Ampat’s villages. Help their invaluable work to continue.

May 7 2018: Coconut crabs have been wiped out wherever their extensive former range overlapped that of humans. Homestays will not cook them for you.

Experience Waigeo’s incredible terrestrial biodiversity and Ambel Maya culture with these rainforest trekking and Mayalibit Bay tour packages.

Tour Raja Ampat’s highlights by boat, spending nights either camping or at homestays. Quick package tours or extended explorations of your own design.

Essential information for divers wanting to dive Raja Ampat on a budget. What you need to know about diving with Raja Ampat homestays, including contact details.

All the information you need to organise the snorkeling trip of a lifetime. Maps, video, safety information, recommended accommodation locations and more.

A guide to the many tour options available for land based adventures in Raja Ampat. Tour guide contact details, photos and information for island visitors

An overview of the activities and attractions on offer in Raja Ampat for non-divers. Famous as a dive destination, it will soon be famous for so much more.

From Birds of Paradise to House Swallows, Raja Ampat is a birder’s paradise. Here’s everything you need to know to get out and see them all.

Information and contact details for organising sea kayaking in Raja Ampat. See the linked photos – there’s no better way to explore this island wonderland.

Here’s how to see as much of Raja Ampat as possible in a limited time. If the Wayag Islands are on your bucket list, this is one of the best ways to experience them!

Kri Island’s Wobbegong Dive Adventures offers accommodation inclusive dive packages as well as dive only packages for guests at other homestays.

At Pulau Arborek in the heart of Raja Ampat, Arborek Dive Shop provides guided dives, equipment rental and tours to the best of Raja Ampat’s dive sites.

Is Wayag on your “must do” list? Join Papa Soleman’s six day marine adventure and also experience wonders that most Raja Ampat visitors will never get to see.

These are the ones not to miss: The best Raja Ampat dive sites, all easily accessible from the many Dampier Strait accommodation and dive operator options.

October 11 2017: How can local communities retain control of their traditional lands in the rush to development? A look at the problem and its solution.

Sep 17 2017: UNDP Equator Prize Award to the Raja Ampat Homestay Association recognises the vital role that the Association plays in conservation in Raja Ampat.

Oct 22 2015: Environment Watch is a web app that allows everybody to report environmental concerns and incidents to the responsible Raja Ampat authorities.

Jul 16 2014: “Fifty years into the future, we the people of Raja Ampat…” – A document defining the aspirations of Papuan communities in Raja Ampat.

Apr 16 2014: The sources of increasing trash in the ocean and on the beaches of Raja Ampat, local efforts to control it and how to avoid adding to the problem.

Updated Sep 9 2017: UNDP Equator Prize winners. Supporting Papuan accommodation providers, ecotourism ventures, conservation initiatives, and visitors.

Mar 15 2015: Littering and waste disposal is a major problem in Raja Ampat. Here’s the story of some local heroes not content to sit back and wait for government to solve it.

Aug 25 2015: This survey provides feedback directly to Raja Ampat’s eco-tourism operators. If you’ve visited the islands, your feedback is sought and valued!

Aug 15 2014: If you want to learn to dive in Raja Ampat, or are an already certified diver looking to improve your qualifications, this is for you!

Apr 13 2014: Here’s how to ask questions, provide site feedback, post homestay and guide reviews and make suggestions. We’re here for you.

Nov 20 2014: Late breaking news – Go join the true Guardians of Raja Ampat in community screenings of the film during November and December 2014.

Jul 5 2014: Light up Raja Ampat – Contribute to the distribution of life-changing technologies and creation of sustainable businesses in remote island villages

Jul 2 2014: The biggest extravaganza ever mounted in the islands, Sail Raja Ampat is set to make a huge impact – but will it be beneficial or more akin to a giant meteorite strike?

May 2 2014: Stay Raja Ampat Mark III. A quick guide to the new functions available to help you find your perfect accommodation in Raja Ampat.

Christian Sauyai and his brother Ferdi offer guided and custom boat tours to Wayag, Piaynemo, Batanta, Kabui Bay and elsewhere in the Dampier Strait region.

Simon Kolomsusu specialises in nature tours and visits to historic and culturally significant sites on Gam. Contact details, information and tour photos.

John Urbon makes negotiating Sorong easy. He can help with logistics, regional tours, airport and hotel transfers, and onward travel. Contact details here.

If you want to see the Wayag-like panoramas of Piaynemo and snorkel its pristine corals, Bastian Dimara is your man. Find info and his contact details here.

Contact details and info for Franky Mambrasar, who guides tours to observe the famed Wilson’s and Red Birds of Paradise, cockatoos and other Waigeo species

Contact information, tour prices and reviews for Red and Wilson’s Bird of Paradise tours with Benny Mambrasar on Raja Ampat’s Waigeo Island

Based in Sorong, Anne speaks English and can organise Misool tours and accommodation to fit both your interests and your budget.

Born on Misool, fluent in English and a certified rescue diver, Abdul can organise any Misool adventure you want.

Fluent in both French and English, Alberth can guide you and organise travel anywhere in Raja Ampat, West Papua and Papua provinces

Alex is a Sorong based, English speaking guide who can organise anything you want to do in Sorong and Raja Ampat.

Updated June 1 2023: How to make a truly effective and meaningful contribution to conservation and community development in the Raja Ampat islands.

Sep 22 2012: We’ve shifted domains and rebuilt Raja Ampat Homestays as Stay Raja Ampat. New look, same aim of helping you contact accommodation owners.