Raja Ampat is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Indonesia, located in Southwest Papua Province. The beauty of its underwater scenery is the main attraction of this island on the eastern tip of Indonesia, which is often referred to as a ‘hidden paradise’.
White sandy beaches with crystal clear sea water, small karst islands and towering karst cliffs as well as local wisdom that we may not encounter in other areas.
Raja Ampat has an incredible underwater biodiversity. Hundreds of coral species, thousands of fish species, and many of the world's soft coral species enliven the joy of underwater life. Colourful coral reefs and vast coral forests create stunning underwater scenery. This diversity makes it a paradise for divers and ocean lovers.
The stunning beauty of Raja Ampat is that it is located on a scattering of small islands bordered by sea water, bays and karst rock formations creating an interesting gradient of colours.One form of local wisdom in Raja Ampat is the Sasi Tradition. This tradition is a form of local wisdom in managing marine resources. Sasi is carried out by closing the sea area to take certain biota for a certain period of time. The Sasi tradition is implemented to maintain the balance of the ecosystem and ensure the sustainability of natural resources. For example, the prohibition of harvesting marine products such as fish, sea cucumbers, or soft corals for a certain period.
This aims to protect natural resources, both on land and in the sea, through a mechanism that prohibits the taking or utilisation of natural products at a certain time.
If you visit Raja Ampat, you can interact with the indigenous people and learn about their life in harmony with nature.
If you're interested in visiting Raja Ampat, here's a step-by-step guide to Raja Ampat, starting from Jakarta...wherever you're from, there's a flight to Jakarta.
The first trip you have to make is to the city of Sorong. Sorong city can be reached by plane with the destination Jakarta to Sorong. As the nearest city, Sorong is the first entry point to Raja Ampat via Domine Eduard Osok Sorong International Airport. The time taken is about 6 hours with ticket prices starting from Rp 3 million per person for one way.
After arriving at Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong, the journey continues to Raja Ampat. From the airport, you can use a taxi or travel to reach Sorong Harbour or Sorong Fishing Harbour. Next, using a ship, departure to Raja Ampat is done from Sorong Harbour to Waisai Harbour. Waisal Harbour is located in Waisai City and is the entrance to Raja Ampat Regency. The ferry operates daily, and the journey time is approximately 2-3 hours depending on weather conditions. Ferry tickets can be purchased at the counter available at the harbour.
In addition to using the ferry, you can also use the air route from Domine Eduard Osok Airport, Sorong to Marinda Airport, flight tickets are not available online and can only be purchased directly at Sorong Airport.
After arriving in Waisai City, you can use local transportation to reach the location of your lodging or your desired tourist destination in Raja Ampat.