A remote wilderness off the northwest tip of Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat boasts the richest marine biodiversity on earth and some of the best scuba diving in the world. Located within the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat’s calm waters weave around jungle-strewn islands, some of which are home to indigenous communities of the Asmat tribe who have inhabited the forests of South Papua for thousands of years. A Raja Ampat cruise can immerse you into the region’s most enchanting places as you snorkel and dive in pristine waters, hike through thrumming rainforests and cast away to secluded coves.
Best time to visit Raja Ampat
Raja is a year-round destination. The best time to visit Raja Ampat for diving is generally considered to be between November and April when the calmer seas and lower rainfall bring the very best visibility; this is therefore also the time when the majority of boats cruise Raja Ampat before then moving to the waters of Komodo for a season in the Komodo National Park.
How to visit Raja Ampat
The best way to visit Raja Ampat is to take one of the daily direct flights from Jakarta (Java) to Sorong. Frequent flights to Jakarta depart from Singapore.
Things to do in Raja Ampat
- Experience world-class diving in the most biodiverse marine haven on the planet
- Spot manta rays, reef sharks and dugongs drifting through hypnotic underwater worlds
- Snorkel over vast coral gardens and forests, through shoals of kaleidoscopic fish
- Embark on rainforest hikes through Raja Ampat’s enchanting uninhabited islands
- Discover remote fishing villages inhabited by the indigenous Asmat Tribe
- Enjoy secluded picnics on deserted beaches and by cascading waterfalls
- Get completely off-grid in a far-flung paradise where you are unlikely to see another boat for days
- Go kayaking or paddle boarding through mirror-like waters
Where to stay in Raja Ampat
The best way to experience Raja Ampat is by boat. There are a small number of boats (the Aqua Blu, for example) that offer cabin bookings on a shared basis. For the ultimate experience we recommend privately chartering a phinisi. These traditional Indonesian cargo boats have been refurbished to the standards of a floating 5-star floating hotel, and deliver the most memorable immersion into the wonders of Raja Ampat.
Phinisis range in size from one cabin to multiple cabins, but all of those featured in Red Savannah’s portfolio come with a superb crew to include a captain, cruise director, chef, deck hands and, in some cases, even a massage therapist. Our portfolio showcases some examples but is not exhaustive and we work with only the top 10% of boats available in Indonesia to ensure only the highest standards in terms of comfort, service and cuisine. See our portfolio of phinisis here.
For those preferring to base themselves on land, Misool Eco Resort is a fabulous dive resort on one of Raja Ampat’s four main islands. A stay at Misool can be easily combined with a cruise if desired.
