| PULAU KRI | VITAL STATISTICS |
|---|---|
Attractions
| |
| Size | 1.6 square kilometres |
| Coastline length | ~7.5 kilometres |
| Number of villages | None |
| Number of Homestay Association homestays | 20 |
| Average cost of 1 way transfer from Waisai to Kri homestays IDR [USD] | 700,000 [$47.00] |
| Average one way travel time | ~1 hour |
| Other nearby islands with homestays | Mansuar, Gam, Friwen |
Kri location map
Quick links
Waisai Homestay Information Center
Kri north shore homestays
Kri west end homestays
Kri south coast homestays
All Kri homestays
High resolution Raja Ampat map (PDF 3.59MB)
Step by step trip planning guide
Kri is quite a small island. It’s a long, narrow, forested island that is really part of the neighbouring Pulau Mansuar, from which it is separated by a narrow and shallow strait.
In fact, Kri has always been known to its traditional owners as Mansuar Kecil (“Little Mansuar”). It was effectively renamed by an early foreign resort owner who relocated from the original Pulau Kri at Batanta. He didn’t want to change all his promotional material, so… but that’s another story.
Kri’s attractions are its surrounding reefs, great beaches and the several homestay dive centers on the island. Thanks to the “Lonely Planet Effect”, Kri is by far the most popular island in Raja Ampat and – as a consequence – is the location of Raja Ampat’s largest and busiest homestays. If you’re looking for lots of interaction with other visitors, then Kri is the place for you. If you want the quietest experience possible, head for the south coast homestays.
The concentration of homestays along Kri’s north shore means that Kri is also one of the few places you can arrive without a booking and walk from place to place until you find a room. (In the December/January high season though, you’d almost certainly have a better chance of success doing that between the villages of Sawinggrai and Kapisawar on Gam.)
Kri’s forests, although not being home to Birds of Paradise, are rich in birdlife. Reptiles are well represented too, with large monitors occasionally making an appearance.
Jungle trekking isn’t really possible due to the steep terrain and lack of trails, although there is one path that climbs to a high point near the island’s western end. Fabulous panoramas of the Dampier Strait and neighbouring islands are available from there, and sunset from the lookout is spectacular. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes though – and to carry flashlights or headtorches if staying for the sunset!
A note about rats: Many guests on Kri are dismayed by the fact that the island’s native rat population has exploded in tandem with tourism. The rats are really only troublesome if you keep food (or anything that smells like food) in your bungalow. Toothpaste, soap and cosmetics will attract them, as will any material which bears the scent of anything like food. They can be very persistent, and plastic containers aren’t much of a deterrent. The magnitude of the problem varies from homestay to homestay. Be sure to check reviews. If the possibility of rats entering your bunaglow is unacceptable, then Kri is probably not a good choice for you.
Another issue for some guests is Kri’s slightly brackish groundwater. The lack of good fresh water is the reason villages were never established on many small islands like Kri. If the idea of bathing in slightly salty water is more than you can bear, then it would probably be better to choose a place elsewhere.
Diving and snorkelling
Diving and snorkelling are pretty much what it’s all about at Kri. Many say that Kri’s reefs are the best in Raja Ampat – but that’s more than likely only because they haven’t seen the reefs at Batanta and West Waigeo.
Great snorkelling is available from every Kri homestay beach and there are a number of homestays with onsite dive centers on the island.
All homestay dive centers dive all of the popular Raja Ampat sites, so (as far as diving opportunities go) it doesn’t matter which one you choose. Raja Ampat can be a challenging dive environment though, so be sure to do your research and choose a reputable operator.
Diving can be arranged by the homestays without dive centers, but if diving is your main aim then you’d be better off booking at a homestay with its own dive center, as you’ll have preference when demand is high.
Please note: In October 2019, dive centers at Kri made an agreement that they will not ‘steal’ clients from each other. This means that, if you are a guest of a Kri homestay with an on-site dive center, then you will only be able to dive with that dive center. If you want to be free to try different dive centers on Kri, then do not book Kri accommodation at a homestay with an on-site dive center.
Hiking
Although jungle hiking possibilities are very limited on Kri, long beachwalks are possible along the north coast at low tide. There are extensive sandbanks that connect Kri to Mansuar and the small islet of Ransiwor that lies between Kri’s western end and Mansuar’s Yenbuba village.
At low tide it’s possible to cross the sandbanks to Ransiwor and Mansuar. The sandbank shallows contain lots of interesting critters awaiting the tide’s return, and there’s excellent snorkelling around Ransiwor and Yenbuba’s jetty. Be sure you know the time the tide returns if you plan to walk back! If you get caught, you should be able to find someone in Yenbuba that you can pay for a boat ride back to your homestay.
Once on Mansuar, it’s possible to walk the long path that connects the villages on that island’s north shore. If you go to the extreme western end of the path, you can also cross Mansuar past a lake to the south coast village of Sauwandarek. There’s great snorkelling available there too. The complete trek would be a whole day’s adventure though, so you’d need to arrange for your homestay to pick you up from Sauwandarek.
If trekking is high on your agenda, the best treks in Raja Ampat have been set up in Waigeo’s jungles by the Maya communities of that island’s Mayalibit Bay.
Cultural performances
Most of Kri’s homestay owners come from the village of Yenbuba on neighbouring Pulau Mansuar. Members of the Yenbuba community will organise dancing and drumming performances on request. These performances are delivered at Pulau Ransiwor, the tiny islet between Kri and Mansuar. Performance guests can also share a table and partake of traditional cakes, fruit and drinks. The entire cost of attending goes to the Yenbuba community.
In September 2022, Lumba Lumba Homestay was the only homestay advertising these performances. If you would like to attend, contact Lumba Lumba or ask your Kri hosts if they can arrange a performance for you.
How to choose accommodation on Pulau Kri
Individual homestay pages provide photos and more detail about the specific attractions and tours, services and facilities available at each place.
Note that all homestays can organise almost any trip you want to do: With the exception of Wayag visits, if the trip you want isn’t mentioned on the homestay’s page, it may well still be available. Especially if it’s to a location not too distant from the homestay.
Use the accommodation page search filters to quickly find all homestays offering the features and facilities that are important to you.
Here is how to book. Please note that booking in advance is recommended at Kri. Advance bookings are essential if you want to stay at a homestay with a dive center, and at all Kri homestays during peak season (October-February).
How to get to Kri
All Kri homestays can provide pickups from Waisai and transfers to/from anywhere else. Average cost and travel time from Waisai is shown in the table above. Individual homestay transport prices are provided on their pages.
If you’re staying somewhere else first, it’s usually quicker to have your current host transfer you to your next place, rather than to ask your next host to come and pick you up. See this page for more information about the high cost of boat travel in Raja Ampat.
Kri phone signal & internet access
Cell phone reception is very good at most homestays on Kri, thanks to the nearby tower on Mansuar. Most of the north coast homestays receive a strong signal which supports a 3G and sometimes a (slow) 4G data connection. The signal is weaker at south coast homestays, and at those at the easternmost end of the north coast. Refer to individual homestay pages for location specific reception information.
Note that free WiFi connections are extremely rare in Raja Ampat. You will need a local SIM for your phone. See this page for details.