Land based adventures in Raja Ampat

Trekking in Raja Ampat

When it’s time to leave the water, there’s a host of things to see and do on land.

How to organise land based adventures in Raja Ampat

There are many tour companies and independent guides who can organise an itinerary of your choice for exploring the wonders of the Raja Ampat islands. Tours can be as simple as a quick bird watching trip out of Sorong, or you can embark on an extended trekking and camping trip through the jungles of Batanta or the vast Waigeo interior and highlands.

It’s easy to organise spur of the moment day trips too. Almost every village has local guides happy to show you the hidden wonders of their island home.

Birding and Birds of Paradise

Raja Ampat has long been famed for its Birds of Paradise, the ancient trade in the feathers of which drew the famed British naturalist Alfred Wallace to the islands in 1860. Since that time over 250 avian species have been described in the islands, including many endemic species like Wilson’s Bird of Paradise (Waigeo and Batanta), the Red Bird of Paradise (Waigeo and Gam), Kofiau Island’s Kofiau Monarch and Paradise Kingfisher and Waigeo’s Brujin’s Bush Turkey.

Some of these iconic species can be easily seen during a short excursion – to set eyes on others will require patience and an extended jungle trek. Regardless of your level of commitment, birdlife on the islands is rich and varied – no matter where you are, you’ll be hearing birdsong throughout the day. Guide Simon Kolomsusu can take you in Wallace’s footsteps to the site of the naturalist’s Raja Ampat research camp where you can also observe the dawn mating display of Red Birds of Paradise. Waigeo guides Benny Mambrasar and Franky Mambrasar can show you the jungle display grounds of Waigeo’s Wilson’s Bird of Paradise and all Gam homestays provide tours to see dawn displays of Red Birds of Paradise.

Check out professional birding guide Steve Anyon-Smith’s detailed Birding in Raja Ampat trip report for everything you need to know to organise your own tropical island birding holiday.

Jungle trekking and wildlife observation

The Ambel Maya villages of Waifoi and Warimak on Waigeo have developed fabulous rainforest trekking and Mayalibit Bay tour packages. See incredible landscapes, hundreds of bird species and rare and endemic fauna and flora. Staying in village homestays and jungle camps, these treks will also introduce you to Raja Ampat’s original culture: That of the Maya people from whom Mayalibit Bay takes its name.

The four biggest islands of Raja Ampat – Waigeo, Salawati, Misool and Batanta – harbour an incredible range of wildlife in diverse habitats. It will take time and patience to see even a fraction of the jungle’s larger inhabitants, but a sharp eye will spot plenty of the animal kindom’s smaller representatives. Waterfalls, crystal clear rivers, ancient burial grounds and the remains of jungle villages long since abandoned for coastal settlements may be encountered. Even on the smaller islands like Gam, Kri and Mansuar, the jungles afford the opportunity of some amazing encounters. They also afford the chance of getting completely lost, so – if you have no guide – don’t wander too far in pursuit of the source of those strange sounds! Pak Daud Mayor at Warikaf Homestay offers long treks through the Gam wilderness. Freddy Sauyai, the owner of Koryau Kayem Homestay on Mansuar is from Batanta and can organise tours of the jewels of that less visited island.

If your specific area of interest is birding, here’s an encyclopaedic Raja Ampat birding report, complete with locations, sighting records and more.

Cultural and village tours

In addition to the prehistoric sites mentioned above, there’s a wealth of more recent historic and significant sites in Raja Ampat. Relics of the era of the Four Kings, jungle groves that still shelter bamboo containers used in pre-Christian rites, World War II remains – there’s a lot to see. Immersion in present day culture is guaranteed if you stay in homestays in villages. Most villages have guides who can introduce you to kampung life, or you can contract the services of guides like Christian Sauyai, who can design custom itineraries for cultural (and other) tours.

Low tide coastal exploration

Tides in Raja Ampat have a maximum range of about two metres, which can expose a vast amount of reef and sandbank in some areas. There are two low tides every 24 hours, so almost every day there’ll be a period when you can explore exposed reefs and walk beaches that are non-existent at high tide. If you do explore reef areas at low tide, please read our Health and Medical page so you’re aware of the risks. You should always have foot protection and should never walk on or touch coral or the marine creatures you’ll encounter. You’ll see wonderful stuff anywhere you take a walk at low tide – here’s a few suggestions:

  • Explore the sandbanks that join the islands of Kri and Mansuar.
  • Pick your way carefully among the coral fringed pools of the exposed reef to the east of Sawinggrai village on Gam.
  • Walk the beaches between Waigeo’s Warimpurem Homestay and Saporkren village and refresh yourself at the cool and voluminous freshwater springs that the low tide exposes.

See the photos in the gallery at the top of this page for a taste of the sights…

Climb a mountain

Well, not really a mountain, but a steep, high hill with one of the best views in the world from its summit! Mount Pindito lies in the heart of Wayag’s magical green-clothed rock islands. A fairytale landscape emerging from tropical seas in the north-west of Raja Ampat, Wayag is the subject of the definitive image of the Raja Ampat islands. It’s the picture everyone wants to see. You have to go a very long way to see it. It’s also the single most expensive trip you can make in Raja Ampat. The karst island seascape of Piaynemo is virtually identical, although on a far smaller scale –  see it in the gallery above. Piaynemo is also less remote, much cheaper to visit and, unlike Wayag, has homestay accommodation. See Piaynemo Homestay’s page for more info.

Explore caves and rock art galleries

Misool Island‘s karst landscape reaches amazing scale in the giant Tomolol Cave. Sacred to local Muslim people, the cave entrance is protected by a shrine, but the cave can be explored via the veritable river that flows through it. Tours using rubber boats or float rings can be arranged.

If you visit Tomolol, make sure you also take time to visit the rock art galleries that adorn island overhangs and cave walls nearby. Estimated at somewhere between three and five thousand years old, the enigmatic ochre paintings are still in fine condition and give a glimpse of a way of life long since vanished.

Also in the area are limestone cliff burial sites that still contain the skeletal remains of other ancient island residents. Exceedingly fragile and bearing a patina of moss and lichen, the skulls and bones of these graves are relics of a much more recent time than the cave paintings, but still bear witness to a culture long gone from the islands.

Visit a pearl farm

On the western coast of Waigeo, the fjordlike entrance to Aljui Bay hides the Cendana Pearl Farm and provides the sheltered waters vital to the cultivation of these jewels of the sea. Demonstrations of pearl oyster seeding and an insight into the time-consuming care and diligence required to successfully produce quality pearls can be had on a visit here. Selpele homestays provide the perfect base to explore Aljui Bay.

Tour a sea turtle rookery

It’s a bit of a stretch to call a visit to the remote islands of north-west Raja Ampat a “land based adventure”: getting there will require spending a lot of time on the water! Worth it for fans of sea turtles and pristine uninhabited tropical islands though – especially if you’re already planning to visit the Wayag group.

Raja Ampat is a major breeding area for both the Hawksbill and the Green Sea Turtle, and the turtle-tracked, soft sandy beaches of Sayang and Piai islands host substantial Green Turtle rookeries. Turtles come ashore almost every night of the year, with peak numbers between March and June, the time of year when seas are usually calm. (A good thing, given the length of the journey to the islands!)

If you want to see turtles actually nesting or hatching, you’ll probably need to spend a night or two on the islands. To do so will require bringing food, water and camping gear with you and ensuring you leave no trace of your stay when you leave.

Bon Wauw Homestay at Manyaifun has 2 day/1 night camping trips to Sayang. The trip also includes a stopover at Wayag.

The Sayang-Piai-Wayag Sea Turtle Conservation Program has a permanently manned monitoring station on Pulau Piai and you should make this your first stop, especially if you plan on camping on either of the islands. If you’d like to make enquiries or give advance notice of your arrival, you can do so by email to Ferdiel Ballamu at the Alternate email address listed in the project details page linked above.

Other contacts for land based adventures in Raja Ampat

  • Papua Expeditions come highly recommended, are specialists in bird watching tours and can organise custom itineraries of any kind. Visit Papua Expeditions’ website for further information and a sampling of their range of Raja Ampat ecotours.
  • The Raja Ampat Homestay Information Center in Waisai can put you in touch with guides and tour organisers if you arrive without having made prior arrangements.

Comments

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  1. Rodger Sabey on

    I contacted Husna at the Raja Ampat Tourist Association and she was able to arrange a guide to take us to watch the Cendrawasih mating dance at a location 30 minutes from Waisai. We left at 5 am and were in place in a treehouse/blind before dawn. As soon as it became light, about a dozen male red birds of paradise started dancing and displaying their stuff while the females watched intently.
    The advantage of this treehouse was that it is directly opposite the dancing tree and you have a clear view!
    I went with other guides at other sites and was at the bottom of a tree looking up. It was difficult to see what was going on from the ground, so be sure to ask your guide about where you will be watching the Cendrawasih dance!
    Husna was also able to arrange scooter rental and a homestay.
    She is on WhatsApp at +62 852 5455 0411

  2. Diego Conde on

    Good afternoon,

    My name is Diego Conde and I’m going to Sorong from 4th January until 11th January. I would like to do a trip in the rainforest, jungle trekking and wildlife observation. Could you please send me information about it?

    If you need more information please let me know.

    Best regards,
    Diego

    1. Christina on

      Hello Diego,
      we are also interested in a rainforest or jungle trekking. Did you do a trekking on your last trip? How was ist and what was the price?
      It would be nice if you could give me some informations!
      Christina

  3. Andrew on

    Great page and it’s been a great help in planning my visit to Raja Ampat in November. I’m going to be spending a few days in Waigeo when I arrive before heading out to other Islands, is there anywhere to hire a motorbike in Waisai for a few days?
    Thanks for putting all this information in one place :-)

  4. Becky on

    Thank you so much for such a great website! I am traveling back to Indonesia this July. I love finding new places to visit in Indonesia and Raja Ampat speaks to my need for snorkeling. My question is whether or not July is a good time for visiting and snorkeling in the Raja Ampat area. Or would I be better off trying to visit at different time of the year?

    Thanks for any input you might be able to give me.

  5. Sina on

    Dear team,
    Thanks so much for this homepage which convinced me to go to raja ampat. My tour will start in a few days and i would love to use the services of a sorong based guide (just for finding my way, pay the permit, have the most actual ferry times and choose a nice hotel and maybe find a guide for a short birding tour on my way back).
    But because there are no costs mentioned i wondered what may be a fair (for the guide also) price. I have never been to indonesia and i heard the guides are so polite. Thats why am afraid they say a “too nice”price or accept what i give or so…
    Thanks a lot for your answer

    1. You’re welcome Sina – and we hope you have a great time.

      We don’t know what the Sorong-based guides on the website would want to provide the services you are looking for, but (if we understand you correctly) you certainly don’t need to worry that you will pay too little!

      We recommend you ask what they want, do the conversion to your currency and decide if the service is worth the asking price to you. If it’s not, then make a counter offer. You shouldn’t really need a guide for anything though, except the short birding tour (and perhaps to choose a hotel if you’re not able to do that by internet search).

      If you haven’t seen them already, this page describes how to buy permits, and this one has information on how to get from the airport to the ferry terminal and buy tickets.

      1. Sina on

        Thanks! In general I think you are right about not needing a guide. But my flight arrives 8 a m at sorong and i want to make sure to catch the ferry by being there in time (whenever it runs :) )

        Thanks again
        Sina

        1. If you can exit the airport by 0830 and simply grab transport out the front, then you’d almost certainly make the 0900 ferry. If not, then there’s no question you’d be able to catch the 2 pm one :)

          (We update the ferry schedules on the website as soon as we’re advised of changes, and let everyone know via our facebook page.)

  6. Despoina on

    Hi,
    If I understand well by browsing your website, the only way to explore Waigeo by land is only via guided tours? Are the prices as expensive as the boat tours?
    Thank you very much for your help!

    1. Hi Despoina –

      Apologies for taking longer than usual to reply – we have been out of touch because we have just returned from researching some fabulous jungle trekking options! We will be adding a whole new section about these trips from the Mayalibit Bay villages of Waifoi and Warimak soon. We’ll email you about those as soon as they are up and will email you some info in the meantime.

      1. Serena on

        Ooh that is exactly what I’m looking for, too :-) As my trek will start quite soon, I would be more than happy to receive those information via email, too. Thanks so much for this great, great website!

        1. You’re welcome Serena :)

          Until we get the new page up, please contact Fahmy for prices and more information about the Mayalibit Bay jungle trekking options: +628113955591 / paghmee@gmail.com

  7. Ihsan fadhil on

    Hi,

    Im planning to be in raja ampat from the 21st – 24th (leaving on the morning of the 25th). I’m travelling solo and wont be doing any diving, so will be looking at hiking, bird watching and snorkeling. Can you recommend the best way to do this? Will I be able to join other groups if I arrange the activities through one of the guides/ travel service providers? I’m just afraid if I do the activities alone it will be too expensive, especially for renting the boats. Thank you.

    Zak

    1. Hi Zak –

      If you stay at the busier homestays you’ll have the best chance of sharing with other guests. All the homestays have (or can organise) guides for various activities. If you want to see Birds of Paradise you’ll need to be on Gam or Waigeo. On the accommodation page, the more reviews a homestay has, the busier it generally is. The number in brackets next to the star rating is the number of reviews.

  8. andrew on

    Hi. My wife and I are planning to stay at Kordiris Homestay in November. We would love to bring a whole lot of things (pens/pencils/colouring books) to give to the children in one of the villages nearby. Could you recommend a village nearby that could benifit from these resources. Thanks. Andrew

    1. Stay Raja Ampat on

      Hi Andrew. The nearest villages to Kordiris are Yenbeser and Friwen. Pretty sure that the distribution of those items in any village school would be warmly received!

      1. Mick on

        I am planning to go to Waigeo, would I be able to bring my own kayak on the ferry into Waisai? Also, would I be able to go fishing at Waigeo? thanks, Mic.

        1. Hi Mick –

          You should be able to arrange transport of your kayak on the ferry, but don’t leave it until the last minute to ask! You can fish as long as you’re outside Waigeo’s Marine Protected Areas.

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