Raja Ampat is in the center of the world’s coral triangle and is a world-class premium destination. Raja Ampat trip is not cheap. However, there are some tips for exploring Raja Ampat even for travelers on a budget. Before traveling to Raja Ampat, you must reach Sorong, Papua. Sorong is the starting point before continuing the Raja Ampat trip.
Raja Ampat trip, How to Get to Sorong?
Ignore the search for flights to Sorong if you are a traveler from outside Indonesia. Flights to Sorong are not served by international flights. Automatically, you have to take a flight to Indonesia. If you are planning to go to Bali and take a flight to Sorong, you will not find direct (non-stop) flights from Bali to Sorong.
The best option to reach Sorong is, you go to Jakarta, Makassar, Surabaya, and Manado. Flights from all four cities offer direct flights to Sorong. If you still want to take a flight from Bali, you can take Garuda, Batik Air, Lion Air, and Sriwijaya air with 1-2 times transit. We recommend searching for domestic flights within Indonesia for dates and times that match your travel plans.
Arriving in Sorong, you must continue the journey to the port with a time range of 10-20 minutes. If you join a certain boat operator, usually they will provide pick-up and drop-off services for you from Sorong to or from the port.
If you are not associated with any boat operator, you can ride a motorbike for 20,000 IDR. The journey by taxi from Sorong to the port is around 100,000 IDR. If you are an adventurer with a limited budget, you can take public transportation for a long time comparing ride a motorbike or taking a taxi.
How to get from Sorong to Raja Ampat?
You have to prepare a Raja Ampat trip planning ahead of time before you arrive in Sorong. The choice is whether you will take the Raja Ampat liveaboard, public ferries, or speed boat. Raja Ampat trips using liveaboard are highly recommended to save your cruise time. The operator will arrange everything when you arrive in Sorong.
Raja Ampat charter boats cost a lot of money. The best option is the Raja Ampat open trip where you will join other adventurers. Liveaboard operators offer various types of ships and cabin variants. The more luxurious the ship, the type of cabin, and the facilities available, the more expensive the price will be.
Surfing the internet and looking for an open trip Raja Ampat while you are in your home country is the best option. You can compare the boats, cabins, facilities, and prices they offer.
Raja Ampat Trip with a limited budget
Ferries from Sorong to Waisai and Waisai to Sorong depart daily at 0900 (9 am) and 1400. (2 pm). Ferries to Raja Ampat depart from Sorong’s Pelabuhan Rakyat (public harbour). The Bahari Express boats take about two hours to get to Waisai, while the “slow boat” takes three hours.
Tickets for the Bahari Express start at IDR 100,000 for economy class and IDR 215,000 for VIP. A VIP seat will provide you with an adjustable-back chair in a climate-controlled room.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices in the Waisai and Sorong port office buildings on the day of travel. If you can’t find them, just ask at the port. Ferry tickets cannot be purchased online.
If you need to get to your hotel quickly, you can charter a speedboat. The speedboat harbor is about 200 meters west of the ferry dock. Speedboats are far more expensive (hundreds of dollars) and far less comfortable than public ferries or flying – you’d need a very compelling reason to charter one!
Ferries from Sorong to Misool leave Sorong at 1100 on Mondays and Thursdays. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, ferries from Misool to Sorong depart at 0700. The ticket costs IDR 350,000.
Kri is the most popular island, and there are almost always homestay boats waiting to pick up guests heading to Kri. If seats are available, you can save money on transfers by sharing with other passengers.
Most of Raja Ampat lacks inter-island public transportation, but transfers from one homestay to another are simple to arrange.
Transfers should always be scheduled a day or two ahead of time. You can either request a transfer from your current host or contact your destination to arrange a pickup.