Pinisi Cruise: Raja Ampat Adventure - 10 days

Individual Private Tour - Tour Details & Information, Tour Code: SI-SOQ-01

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Begin of Tour Sorong (Irian Jaya/West Papua) - Teluk Tamulol (D)

Katharina © Sea Trek BaliKatharinaYour flight will arrive in the West Papuan port town of Sorong, the gateway to Raja Ampat. Transfer from the airport to the harbor, where your pinisi will be waiting at anchor. Once settled into your cabin, your cruise director will familiarize you with the vessel’s facilities and safety procedures. Ready to start our adventure, we will weigh anchor and set a southerly course for the archipelago. The following tour description is not fixed. Your captain and cruise director will make changes (due to weather and tides) to provide you with a unique experience.

Day 2: Teluk Tamulol (B/L/D)

Raja Ampat © Sea Trek BaliRaja AmpatThis morning, we will wake to see the sun rise over the picturesque chain of islands that makes up the Misool archipelago. The topography is typical of ‘karst dissolution’, featuring a great number of tiny islets whose bases have been eroded over time by the relentless motion of the tides. We will spend the day maximizing everything that this fascinating area has to offer by marvelling at both the marine wonderland under the water and the magnificent landscape above the surface. We can test out our paddling skills in the sea kayaks, watch for birds perched on the rocks, or just sit back and take in the glorious scenery. After a full day of island hopping through this archipelago, our pinisi will spend a quiet night at Tamulol Bay.

Day 3: Teluk Tamulol - Pulau Dajang (B/L/D)

Katharina Deck © Sea Trek BaliKatharina DeckThe day start with an early breakfast and a swim through the mysterious dome-topped cave at Tamulol - undoubtedly one of Raja Ampat’s most memorable activities. Reach the partially submerged cave after a boat ride across the shallow waters and winding canals of Tamulol Bay. The cavernous grotto invites you to swim, snorkel or simply float and relax in the waters. The more adventurous can swim or paddle through the dark waters to the other mouth of the cave. After returning to the ship for lunch, continue to explore more of the impressive maze of karst islands, both above and below the surface. Look out for mysterious skull cairns in sea-cave cemeteries, and cave walls covered with prehistoric petroglyphs, estimated to be anything between 3,000 to 5,000 years old and depicting various human figures and huge human palms, fish, flowers and plants, tools and vessels. Overnight, our boat will cruise north to the island of Batanta.

Day 4: Pulau Dajang - Teluk Mayalibit (B/L/D)

Raja Ampat © Sea Trek BaliRaja AmpatAfter days of marine exploration, the jungle-clad island of Batanta offers a change of scenery and a chance to stretch your legs on an adventurous trek into the island’s interior. The boat anchors near Arefi Village, nestled on the north coast of the island. Local guides will escort you through the mangrove waters to the start point of our trek. A short walk along the riverbed ends at the first of two jungle waterfalls, complete with a refreshing pool for cooling off. The fit and adventurous may choose to continue the uphill climb along the rocks to where a second, larger cascade awaits. After leaving the wilderness behind, return to the pinisi and move on to a nearby spot to swim and snorkel before moving north to the island of Waigeo.

Day 5: Teluk Mayalibit (B/L/D)

People of Raja Ampat © Sea Trek BaliPeople of Raja AmpatWake up in the south of Mayalibit Bay – the huge and wild bay at the heart of Waigeo, Raja Ampat’s biggest island. The bay, which almost splits the island in two, is entered via a narrow fjord-like channel that meets the ocean just east of Waisai on Waigeo’s south coast. When the tide is running, the huge volumes of water flowing into or out of Mayalibit the channel look like a swift and powerful river. After breakfast, take the dinghies to Lopintol Village to find one of the villagers to guide us on a morning spelunking expedition. The plan is to visit two very dramatic and contrasting caves that highlight the fascinating underground formations of the karst landscape. After lunch, freshen up with a well-earned swim and snorkel before heading to Sapokren Village on the southwest tip of Waigeo Island to meet with a local NGO leader to discuss illegal logging, community development and (hopefully) details of a new FFI (Flora & Fauna International) project in these areas.

Day 6: Teluk Mayalibit - Arborek (B/L/D)

Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) © Sea Trek BaliRed Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra)After waking up, before sunrise, we will follow in the footsteps of the famous naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in a pre-dawn quest to spot the remarkable Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra ), one of the species that Wallace was most anxious to collect. We hope that the efforts of our trek through the forest will pay off, enabling us to catch a rare and privileged sight of the bird’s elaborate courtship dance as the day breaks over the forest canopy. Whether we spot the birds or not, for sure we will experience a wonderful trek. Afterward, we will turn our attention from the sky to the sea as the Ombak Putih makes its way through the Dampier strait, home to some of Raja Ampat’s premier reefs. With a bit of luck, we hope to snorkel among some of the larger specimens of marine life attracted to the strait’s nutrient-rich currents. We will end our day by mooring off Pulau Arborek in front Arborek Village. Here, we can easily circumnavigate the tiny island by foot and gain a sense of the Asai culture, which is still kept alive by the villagers living in this isolated place.

Day 7: Arborek - Pulau Wayag (B/L/D)

Pygmy Seahorse © Oliver C. ThorntonPygmy SeahorseAnother full day of adventure awaits us along the convoluted western coast of Waigeo. We will begin the morning by exploring Wofoh, three island gems linked together by stretches of pristine coral reef. You can use the tenders or kayaks to navigate the islands, or put your newly-acquired fish identification skills to use in exploring this vibrant reef. Or you may prefer to simply just relax on the beach. In the afternoon we will move northwards to Aljui Bay, home to the Cendanda Pearl Farm, one of the larger producers of high quality seawater pearls in the region. Pearling is an important industry throughout Indonesia and a number of farms can be seen in the waters of Raja Ampat, where the farmers may grant us permission to visit their facilities and receive an explanation of the pearling processes that we have seen during our voyage. In the evening, we will make our way across the equator to the Northern Hemisphere on our journey to the islands of Wayag.

Day 8: Pulau Wayag (B/L/D)

Ombak Putih Cabin © Sea Trek BaliOmbak Putih CabinFew areas in Indonesia can lay claim to such unsurpassed natural splendor as Raja Ampat’s Wayag islands. The beauty of these picturesque karst spires is perhaps only equalled by the brilliant colors and vibrancy of the reefs and the marine life that flourishes below. Nature has carved these islands into a series of coves and lagoons, narrow channels and inlets, caves, jagged rocks and shaded, sandy beaches. For those who dare, there are some spectacular but nearly vertical climbs that are rewarded with magnificent panoramas. We will spend a quiet night here at anchor.

Day 9: Pulau Wayag - Pulau Apibok (B/L/D)

The Wayag islands are Raja Ampat’s best, and we will make the most of this unique region for one more morning, navigating the maze of mushroom-shaped islands, and stopping for swimming and snorkeling. In the afternoon, we will set our compasses to return to the Southern Hemisphere on our way back to mainland West Papua. In the evening, we will have our farewell dinner with our captain and crew.

Day 10: Pulau Apibok - End of Tour Sorong (Irian Jaya/West Papua) (B/L)

After a quick stop for a final swim and refreshments on one of the nearby islands, we will make our way back to the harbor of Sorong, arriving around lunchtime. Here we will bid farewell to the Ombak Putih and her crew. Our tenders will take you ashore for your transfer to the airport for your onward travel.

Hotels, Rates & Information

Hotels for this Tour
(Changing the hotels according to your wishes is no problem!)
LocationComfort Hotels
Teluk TamulolKatharina/Ombak Putih
Boat
Kabine/Cabin
Pulau DajangKatharina/Ombak Putih
Boat
Kabine/Cabin
Teluk MayalibitKatharina/Ombak Putih
Boat
Kabine/Cabin
ArborekOmbak Putih/ Katharina
Boat
Kabine/Cabin
Pulau WayagKatharina/Ombak Putih
Boat
Kabine/Cabin
Pulau ApibokKatharina/Ombak Putih
Boat
Kabine/Cabin
Rates
Options Comfort
Rate per person EUR 7.035
USD 7,750
Based on individual private tour, min. 2 travellers in double/twin room
Changing or adapting this tour to match your personal needs, interests and wishes is, as always, possible. Please contact us! Group rates (closed groups only, min. 4 Pax) on request.
Single Supplement On Request
Single Traveller EUR 12.660
USD 13,955

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Information, Services, Remarks
Depart/Arrive:

Sorong (Irian Jaya/West Papua) / Sorong (Irian Jaya/West Papua)

Hotel/Airport Transfers:

Transfers are inclusive from and to above mentioned airports and hotels of the immediate area.

Services (included):

Private tour
English speaking guide
Air-conditioned car with driver
Accomodation: DBL room hotels (or similar)
Transfers, Entrance fees as per itinerary
Meal Plan as stated:
9x Breakfast 9x Lunch/Lunchbox 9x Dinner

Not included

Own expenses
Additional services (marked 'optional' above)
Programme not mentioned above
Season Surcharges
Fuel Surcharge (ca. EUR 400,- p.P.)
Domestic Flights

Best Season(s):

November - January

Important Remarks:

Min. 2 Persons. Single traveller rates on request.
Important information for traveler: Outside of highly touristic regions like Bali there is only a limited touristic infrastructure available. Regular flight connections, restaurants and hotels (all classes from simple to high end) are limited. Flight cancellations and delays are quite common. Please don't expect amenities like warm water, air-conditioning and even comfortable beds at all hotels and homestays during the round trip. This applies especially outside of bigger cities.

Important information: All programmes and transfers by boat are on seat-in-coach base (group). You may be in a small group with other people.
Domestic flights to/from Sorong are required. Air fare is not included. Modifications from itinerary are possible.
Schedule 2024
05.10.2024 - 14.10.2024 Katharina
18.10.2024 - 27.10.2024 Katharina
18.10.2024 - 27.10.2024 Ombak Putih
30.10.2024 - 08.11.2024 Ombak Putih
05.12.2024 - 14.12.2024 Katharina
17.12.2024 - 26.12.2024 Katharina
29.12.2024 - 07.01.2025 Katharina
29.12.2024 - 07.01.2025 Ombak Putih
Schedule 2025 ca. EUR 7.220,- p.P.
10.01.2025 - 19.01.2025 Ombak Putih
05.10.2025 - 14.10.2025 Katharina
18.10.2025 - 27.10.2025 Katharina
18.10.2025 - 27.10.2025 Ombak Putih
30.10.2025 - 08.11.2025 Ombak Putih
11.11.2025 - 20.11.2025 Ombak Putih
23.11.2025 - 02.12.2025 Katharina
05.12.2025 - 14.12.2025 Katharina
17.12.2025 - 26.12.2025 Katharina
17.12.2025 - 26.12.2025 Ombak Putih
29.12.2025 - 07.01.2026 Katharina
29.12.2025 - 07.01.2026 Ombak Putih
Please pay attention to the Travel Information provided.
When travelling islamic countries there can be interference during the month of Ramadan, other high holidays and fridays.
Volcanism: The Sunda Islands and the Sunda Archipelago are of volcanic orgin and show high volcanic activity. Accrodingly it may be possible that tours, routings and activities (especially those involving or near volcanoes) need to be altered in case of high activity or order by the government.
This tour is not soutable for people with reduced mobility. If you are unsure if you meet the requirements please contact us! We will try to find a solution for your individual needs.