By air
Domine Eduard Osok, Sorong (SOQ), then ~2 h by ferry to Waisai
Southeast Asia · Indonesia
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
The richest reefs on the planet
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to April — calm seas
Don't miss
Piaynemo
Wayag
Arborek village
Cape Kri
Things to do
Diving and snorkelling Cape Kri and the manta cleaning stations
The Piaynemo viewpoint
Birds-of-paradise at dawn
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Nickoasmara · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Dive or snorkel gear, reef-safe sunscreen, cash (few ATMs)
A quieter corner
Arborek village jetty, where the reef starts at the pier
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Raja Ampat?
Fly into Domine Eduard Osok, Sorong (SOQ), then take the ferry to Waisai, about 2 hours.
When are the seas calm in Raja Ampat?
October to April, when the seas are calm.
What should I pack for Raja Ampat?
Dive or snorkel gear, reef-safe sunscreen and cash, as there are few ATMs.
What's a hidden gem in Raja Ampat?
The Arborek village jetty, where the reef starts at the pier.
About Raja Ampat
- Island
Where it is
Raja Ampat is an archipelago of more than 1,500 small islands, cays and shoals off the western tip of New Guinea, in the province of Southwest Papua, Indonesia, around the four main islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati and Misool.
History
The name Raja Ampat, four kings, comes from a local legend of seven eggs, four of which hatched into the kings of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati and Misool. The islands were long within the sphere of the Sultanate of Tidore in Maluku before Dutch colonial rule, and scientific sampling has found their reefs richer in species than any other area of the Coral Triangle.
People
Raja Ampat's villages are home to indigenous peoples such as the Ma'ya, along with families of Biak origin, who speak their own languages as well as Indonesian. Fishing, taro gardens, sago palms and village-run homestays support island life.
Known for
- Coral reefs of extraordinary diversity
- Diving with manta rays
- The Piaynemo karst viewpoint
- The limestone islands of Wayag
- Birds-of-paradise in the rainforest
Did you know?
Scientific surveys have recorded around three-quarters of the world's known hard coral species on the reefs of Raja Ampat, which forms part of the Coral Triangle.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.