Trip Overview
Length:
10 day trip / 8 days kayaking
Difficulty:
2 / 5
Price:
From $ 4800 USD p/p
Location:
Raja Ampat, West Papua
Dates:
December 10-19, 2023 - 4 cabins available
What makes this trip special
- The undisputed centre of marine diversity in the world
- 10 days aboard a 4 star yacht with luxuries of the modern world
- Snorkel and dive with 1200 different species of fish
- View 600 species of reef building coral
- Paddle among the 1500 stunning limestone islands and white sand beaches
- Choose to sea kayak dive or snorkel on three excursions per day
- Unique cultural experiences
The Tour
This tour allows guests to see the highlights of Raja Ampat with the freedom and comfort of a liveaboard. From the moment you land in Sorong to the moment you take off, you do not have to worry about a thing. Your guides and yacht crew will take care of all safety matters and logistics.
This trip is fantastic in that it allows guests a plethora of adventure activities throughout the day. You choose if you want to kayak, dive, snorkel, or SUP. During the trip we will kayak or dive up to three times each day. Our comfortable home will act as a floating base camp and will transport us in total comfort from one stunning area to the next.
The Place
The island of New Guinea sits just below the equator, bounded by the Pacific Ocean in the north and the Arafura Sea in the south. Raja Ampat can be found on the northwest tip of West Papua. Approximately 1500 limestone islands make up Raja Ampat. The area is untouched and unknown, abounding in pristine tropical beaches, sapphire seas and one of the world’s most spectacular marine habitats.
The Weather
October through to February is considered the dry season. Rainfall consists of short but intense downpours that can occur during the heat of the afternoon. Winds are general very light during this season.
The Sea Kayaking
With so many islands to explore it feels like you are paddling through a maze of stationary icebergs, each rock formation more bizarre and astonishing than the last. Each paddle excursion is unique, and you will never tire of the view. We paddle through mangrove forests with hidden channels and bays. We will explore bays with thousands of mushrooms shaped limestone islands rising straight from the depths. We will explore coastlines with incredible rock formations and see a variety of the bird life that Raja Ampat has to offer.
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The Diving
The diving in Raja Ampat is reputed to be the best in the world. With 42 endemic reef fish, numerous endemic sharks, as well as thousands of colourful soft and hard coral, each dive outing is unique and outstanding. Dives vary from calm water dives, to diving underneath sea arches, diving with currents, drift dives and diving from a boat. Two dive masters will guide each dive.
The Snorkelling
The snorkelling is also world class. Thousands of fish and coral can be seen on each snorkel outing and there are thousands of incredible sites to snorkel during our trip. We will snorkel from the tender, snorkel from the beach, and participate in drift snorkels.
The Stand Up Paddle Boarding
We have two Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUP’ing) available for guests to use during the trip. SUP’ing is an incredible way to view the coral reefs from above the water. The perspective from a SUP allows you to see all the green and blue hues of the water, see the fish swimming below and see all the colours of the coral.
What's Included
- 9 nights accommodation on board
- Meals on yacht
- Full length sea kayaks and all equipment
- Stand up paddle boards and equipment
- Two dive masters
- Kayak guide
- Port transfers at the start and end of trip
- Raja Ampat Marine Entry Permit
What's Not Included
- Dive equipment (can be rented from yacht)
- Snorkel equipment (can be rented from yacht)
- Meals while in Sorong before and after trip
- Hotel accommodation in Sorong
- Alcoholic beverages
- Indonesian Visa
- Travel insurance
- Airfares
Trip Itinerary
Your adventure with us will begin as soon as you touch down at the airport in Sorong. You wont have to worry about a thing as we will pick you up from the airport and take you to the yacht, where you can rest and relax from your travels before we begin kayaking, diving and snorkelling.
DAY 1
We will pick you up from the airport and transport you directly to the yacht.
Depending on your time of arrival, you will have some time on the boat to move into your room and relax on the top deck.
By early afternoon everyone will have arrived on the boat. Once everyone has arrived, we will meet the crew, have a safety briefing and set sail for our first destination, Fam Islands. We will arrive at the Fam Islands around early evening and have the opportunity to head out for our first sea kayak excursion.
DAY 2
We will awake in the Fam Islands to a breakfast buffet with beautiful sunrise views over the islands. We will have two dive and sea kayak options for the day.
The Fam Island’s are an incredibly beautiful archipelago with a hike to a 360 degree viewpoint, a maze of islands to explore, and incredibly diverse diving. Tonight we will make our way to Wayag.
DAY 3 and 4
For the next two days we will explore the uninhabited Wayag group of islands, located just north of the equator. We’ll enjoy the beautiful whitesand beaches with coral reefs just meters from the shoreline: perfect for a snorkel! The limestone islands look like mushrooms sprouting from the sea and are fantastic to circumnavigate in our kayaks.
DAY 5
Our yacht will have an early morning departure and head for the Equator Islands, which as its name implies, lies on the equator. Today we will circumnavigate the Equator Islands with our sea kayaks. Highlights of these islands are a cave and an incredible bay with a mangrove forest to explore via kayaks. These small beautiful Islands are a paradise unto their own.
In the afternoon we will head to Aljui Bay and have the opportunity to tour a pearl farming operation.
DAY 6
A short yacht ride from Aljui Bay is Hidden bay. The entrance to this bay is small and inconspicuous, and hides an incredible maze of mangrove channels, limestone caves and pillar rocks. We often see Horn Bills and Western Crowned Pigeons in this area. In the afternoon we will explore Phef Islands, where we will find rock paintings.
DAY 7
Our paddle playground for the next couple of days is around the hundreds of limestone islands in Northern Kaboei Bay. The snorkeling and diving in these islands is world class. On our underwater explorations we’ll view pristine coral, thousands of colourful fish, turtles, black tipped sharks and extraordinary large fish species such as the friendly batfish and the grouper.
DAY 8
Today we will head towards the southern shores of Gam Island and explore a chain of eel grass lakes and paddle through an incredibly mangrove forest. We have the chance to see Dugongs, which are said to feed in this lake chain.
In the afternoon we will snorkel and dive the Freewin Wall. This will be a drift dive/snorkel along a cliff wall that dives deeply into the ocean. An incredible amount of fish and coral can be found in these clear waters.
Day AYToday we will have the opportunity to explore a massive cave while hiking. Bring your headlamp and adventurous spirit as we trek through huge cathedral like openings and small squeezes. We will kayak, snorkel and dive The Passage, a narrow passage the separates Waigeo Island from Gam Island. In the afternoon we will head to Batanta, where we will use the tender to visit a spectacular waterfall and extensive mangrove forest.
DAY 10
We will arrive in the Sorong Harbour early morning and have our last breakfast buffet on the boat. Final farewells and thank you’s will be said to the crew.
We will transport guests to the airport in time for their flights.
The Yacht
The Live-aboard vessel we use on this trip is called Jakare. She is a sailing ship built in 2016 in traditional South Celebes Phinisi Style. It is made of several tropical wood species including teak, ironwood and merbau. The ship is modernly equipped and stylishly decorated. The boat is 35 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, there is plenty of space. It has been specifically designed with comfort in mind.
Take a 3D tour of Jakare by clicking here
Key Features
- Tastefully appointed cabins that feature individually controlled air conditioning and private ensuites
- 1 Large Suite, with a huge rear window
- Two large decks for lounging and cocktail hour
- A huge dining area for meals and relaxing
- A covered open air lounge with cushions and bean bags
- 2 Tenders available for diving and snorkelling outings
- Diving Compressor and diving equipment
- Stand Up Paddle Boards
- A full fleet of good quality, expedition style kayaks. Singles and doubles available, all with rudders and bulkheads.
The Dining Space
The rear dining area is an amazing space, it’s completely open concept with large tables and comfortable seating for up to 14 people. It’s completely sheltered but has open sides which allows a breeze to blow through the space and means you can take in the scenery while enjoying your meals.
Lounge Area
Immediately behind the dining area is a large sheltered lounge with cushions and bean bags. This space also benefits from the open sides and is the perfect place to relax or read a book.
The Foredeck
The foredeck is primarily used as a place to get ready for an outing. All dive, snorkel and kayaking gear is stored here. Guests can get ready under the shade of a huge awning. There is also a large table which provides the perfect place to conduct briefings before an outing.
Cabins
There are 3 types of cabins onboard Jakare. The two cabins in the bow are perfect for single travellers. They feature 2 single beds.
The midship cabins feature 1 double bed and 1 single bed. These two cabins work well for couples but can also be used by single travellers. The rear cabin is the largest cabin and features a queen sized bed as well the ability to use a separate cabin with 2 single beds making it the perfect choice for couples or a family. The suite has a large window which opens up fully allowing unbelievable views and a nice airy feeling to the cabin.
All cabins have a private ensuite with toilet, shower and sink. They all have individually controlled air conditioning units as well as small fans.
Rear Cabin – Suite
- Fully equipped with bathroom, hot shower and sink
- Air conditioning
- Huge rear window
- Large number of cabinets and closets
- Queen sized bed
- 2 single beds available for families
Cabins 3 and 4 – Superior Cabins with space for up to 3 people.
- Fully equipped with toilet, sink and hot shower
- Air conditioning
- Large number of cabinets and closets
- 1 Double Bed and 1 single bed
Cabin 1 and 2 – Twin Cabins
- Fully equipped with toilet, sink and hot shower
- Air conditioning
- Large number of cabinests and closets
- 2 Single Beds
Sun Decks
There are also 2 large sun deck which is the perfect place for a morning yoga session or a sunset cocktail
Photo Gallery
Route Map
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the meals like on the liveaboard trips?
How much rain will we encounter on our trip?
What sort of winds will we encounter while paddling?
Will we encounter swell during the trip?
Will we paddle in any larger swell conditions?
What is the average air temperature in Raja Ampat?
What is the average ocean Temperature?
What is the average humidity levels?
Will the trip be cloudy or sunny?
What sort of kayak will we be paddling?
What kind of paddles will be used?
What kind of kayak sprayskirts will we be using?
What kind of PFDs will we be using?
What is a typical day like on the trip?
Can you explain the type of paddling outings we will have?
How many hours will we paddle each day?
What sort of distances will we be paddling?
Should I bring a snorkel?
What should I expect in terms of water temperature?
Should I bring a stinger suit?
What type of snorkel outings will we have?
Will we visit any traditional villages along the way?
Is there a dress code in the villages?
Are there opportunities to buy anything in the villages?
Is there anything I can bring to give to the villages and the people?
Are there mosquitos on land?
Where does the boat anchor at night?
Does the boat move locations at night?
Who are the crew on the boat?
Are there mosquitos on the boat?
Are there sharks and are they dangerous?
Are there crocodiles?
Is there malaria in Raja Ampat?
Trip Reviews
Tess Watney, AUD
Let me see, what could I say about Raja Ampat….LOVED IT!! I had the most amazing time, getting to kayak around different islands each day was so exciting as each place was stunning. I found that the crew on the Euphoria were so helpful, sweet and happy. I also found that the shared room was comfortable and it was great having our own bathroom. Food was so yummy. I could spend an age in the water as well and found different things in each of the places we snorkelled. Matt and Danny did a fantastic job guiding. I was like a kid in the candy shop… always so happy to see what was round the corner. Thank you all so very much, I had a blast.
Di Hoopert, AUD
In 2 words…….absolutely fabulous ! ! It was everything I could have expected & more. The snorkeling was some of the best I have experienced, esp the number & variety of fish. Compared to the conditions I am use to here the kayaking conditions were idyllic, very little wind, swell, current or chop. Angela, our guide was the ultimate skilled professional & a top person into the bargain, very social & friendly, always helpful, cheery & positive. She went to great lengths to accommodate my dietary requirements & always provided a variety of nutritious meals, despite the remoteness & conditions. I have already recommended this trip to many people.
Marla Moon, USA
Our experience paddling Raja Ampat with Angela was beyond amazing, beyond any fantasy imagined
Application Form
Once you’ve filled out our online application form we will contact you within 24 hours. Our follow up email will include the detailed trip notes.
We’ll also send you a medical form. This helps us make any necessary preparations, it does not exclude you from the trip. To secure the booking we require a 1000 Euro deposit for each person. If you’d prefer to contact us directly we can be reached at info@expeditionengineering.com or at +12502662515
We’d be happy to discuss different trip options and help you find the perfect expedition holiday.
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