4m 51s: Länge
31Aussicht
0Bewertung

Where is Raja Ampat? Find Indonesia on a map. Got it? well now try to find Papua. Yes the big island at the far eastern edge of the country. Raja Ampat is located off the north-west tip of the island in a place known as the bird’s head peninsula. Believe me when I say it is much easier to get there when you know exactly where it is, at least on a map. How to get there There are two main ways to enter Raja Ampat, the first is from Sorong, West Papua to Waigeo. The other way is Misool, which you can reach from Ambon. I have only ever entered Raja Ampat from Sorong, so I will focus on what I know and have experienced and not what I have not. The easiest way to get to Sorong is fly to there from Jakarta (Btw, if you want to know is it worth it to spend some time in Jakarta, you better check this article). The flight takes about seven hours and usually transits in Makassar (Ujung Pandang) for one hour. These are local airlines that I know serve the route Jakarta-Sorong: Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air, Merpati, Express Air. Some of the airlines transit in Surabaya or Ambon. A return ticket costs between Rp. 700,000 until Rp. 5,000,000. If you want to get the cheapest tickets then you will need to find an airline with a promotion. I know that it is possible to get a ticket this cheaply, because my friend once bought a Jakarta – Sorong return ticket for only Rp. 685,000! Isn’t that great? The other option you have is to fly from Jakarta to Makassar with Air Asia and then from there fly to Sorong with one of the local airlines that I mentioned before. Air Asia to Makassar on promotion period time can be as cheap as Rp. 154,000 one way. Cheap! It is also possible to take a public Pelni ferry from Jakarta (Tanjung Priok port) to Sorong. A one way economy ticket costs Rp. 747,000 while a super VIP ticket costs Rp. 2,954,500 (two beds per cabin with a private washroom, TV and air conditioner). The journey takes 4-5 days. What Can You Do in Raja Ampat? Raja Ampat is not just about diving. As an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands there are endless cays, and shoals to explore, white sand to relax on, clear water to swim in, coral to marvel at and colorful fishes to amaze you. The most iconic thing to do in Raja Ampat besides the diving, is climbing the peak of Wayag islands. There are two different summits to climb and both offer a breathtaking view that can’t be beaten. Birdwatchers will find plenty to do in Raja Ampat with all of the birds of paradise to be seen. Sawinggrai Village is a great place to see them. You will have to watch out for all of the mosquitoes that will try and suck your blood. In front of the home-stay in this village you can also feed the fish (the local people provide the food for all the fishes). There are stairs that you can use to sit on and half submerge your legs underwater. The experience is priceless and even more enjoyable rather than a fish spa! The other obvious thing to do is go diving or snorkelling. You can swim with Manta Rays, watch dolphins and see thousands of beautiful and colorful fishes. I was lucky and saw a blue dotted cuttlefish when I did a bit of snorkelling in the ocean in one of the islands. I was quite shocked because the last time I had that experience in Sulawesi I was diving and not just relaxing! I hope I have shared enough of my experiences and knowledge to give you even more of a reason to visit Raja Ampat. If you do visit, please be sure to preserve this beautiful environment.