Experience the enchanting beauty of Indonesia's Raja Ampat Archipelago in comfort aboard the M/S Ombak Putih or M/S Katharina, traditional Indonesian phinisi boats. 1,500 islands form the renowned Coral Triangle, where you'll fine crystal-clear turquoise waters filled with the richest marine biodiversity on Earth. Trek across Batanta, Mansuar and Gam Island into dense, wildlife-rich rainforests for a chance to spot elusive Birds of Paradise and meet local villagers. Swim, snorkel and sail through channels surrounded by limestone cliffs and untouched beaches. After 10-days exploring the remote paradise of Raja Ampat, you will never want to leave!
Experience the enchanting beauty of Indonesia's Raja Ampat Archipelago in comfort aboard the M/S Ombak Putih or M/S Katharina, traditional Indonesian phinisi boats. 1,500 islands form the renowned Coral Triangle, where you'll fine crystal-clear turquoise waters filled with the richest marine biodiversity on Earth. Trek across Batanta, Mansuar and Gam Island into dense, wildlife-rich rainforests for a chance to spot elusive Birds of Paradise and meet local villagers. Swim, snorkel and sail through channels surrounded by limestone cliffs and untouched beaches. After 10-days exploring the remote paradise of Raja Ampat, you will never want to leave!
Explore the untouched landscapes of this Pacific paradise in search of exotic birds and wildlife
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Snorkel and kayak the pristine reefs of the Coral Triangle, home to an abundance of spectacular aquatic life
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Sail on a traditional Indonesian phinisi boat through the crystalline waters of the Raja Ampat Archipelago
Meet your guide at the hotel this morning and travel to the harbor to board the boat. Settle into your new home for the next ten days as we set course for the southernmost islands of Raja Ampat National Park. Enjoy an alfresco lunch and then stop for our first swim and snorkel of the voyage on a coral reef. Celebratory pre-dinner cocktails will be served on the back deck as the sun goes down and brings an end to our first day on the boat.
Accommodation: Ombak Putih Accommodation: Katharina
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
The Picturesque Misool Archipelago
Day 2
Today we wake up at the eastern end of the Misool Archipelago, a picturesque chain of jungle-covered limestone islets with spectacular corals reefs, which offer some fantastic snorkeling. We will spend the day exploring the many inlets and bays and beaches with some hiking, swimming and snorkeling. We will also break out the kayaks and paddle boards for some seaborne adventuring. Spend a quiet night at anchor under the stars.
Accommodation: Ombak Putih Accommodation: Katharina
Activity: Kayaking and snorkeling
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stingless Jellyfish Lake
Day 3
After an early breakfast, start our day with a swim and a snorkel through a giant dome-roofed sea cave filled with massive stalagmites and stalactites. We will then travel to mysterious, stingless jellyfish lake, one of only 20 such lakes in the world where these amazing creatures exist, and swim amongst the many thousands of stingless sea creatures. Using our tenders, we will visit some mysterious skull cairns in sea-cave cemeteries, and prehistoric cave paintings, estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old.
Accommodation: Ombak Putih Accommodation: Katharina
Activity: Snorkeling
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bird Watching and Snorkeling
Day 4
Today we will set out to catch sight of the Lesser Birds of Paradise in the wild, an unforgettable experience. We will rise early and walk through the forest to hopefully see the birds as they dance around in their 'lekking' trees. In the afternoon, we will explore underwater as we snorkel around one of the best coral reefs in the world with school of fish hanging out in the deep and colorful sea fans sticking poking out of the walls. Watch the sunset as we sail towards Batanta Island.
Accommodation: Ombak Putih Accommodation: Katharina
Activity: Snorkeling
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore Batanta Island
Day 5
The island of Batanta offers us a change of scenery and a chance to stretch our legs today with an adventurous jungle trek filled with birds, butterflies and insects. Starting at a local village, our guides will lead us through the forest on a short walk to the first of two waterfalls, where we can swim and cool off. Those who desire can keep heading upriver where a second, larger cascade awaits. After lunch on the boat, it's an afternoon of snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking before sailing overnight to a beautiful group of uninhabited islands north of the equator.
Accommodation: Ombak Putih Accommodation: Katharina
Activity: Snorkeling
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover a Pearl Farm
Day 6
In the morning, we will visit a pearl farm tucked away in a protected, deep water cove and tour the facilities to learn how this precious commodity is produced and harvested. Pearling is an important industry in the local area and provides employment for many. We will spend the afternoon snorkelling and kayaking amongst three small islands linked together by pristine coral reefs. Relaxing on the beach is always an option.
Accommodation: Ombak Putih Accommodation: Katharina
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Limestone Islands and Underwater Life
Day 7
This morning will explore a small group of limestone islands filled with coves and beautiful reefs. After breakfast we will go ashore for a short climb to a vantage point where we can survey the surrounding area, before heading out to snorkel on the spectacular reefs. During lunch we will sail to a small island located inbetween Gam and Mansuar, where the currents bring rich nutrients to the coral reefs. The three famous jetties offer much underwater life: schools of fish; shy, black tip reef sharks; elegant spadefish and giant clams.
Accommodation: Ombak Putih Accommodation: Katharina
Activity: Snorkeling
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mansuar Island
Day 8
Central Raja Ampat and Mansuar Island stores many magical underwater gems. Today, we explore some of them, starting with a visit to a local village which promotes sustainability through their education center, solar-powered street lights and sustainable fishing practices through local community effort. Its house reef offer an abundance of marine life. We will spend the rest of our morning snorkeling here and, if we're lucky, maybe catch sight of a wobbegong shark. In the afternoon there will be schools of humphead wrasse and a school of giant trevalley swimming next to each other and we may be greeted by the resident hawksbill turtle. Today is capped off with a beach BBQ and party with the crew under the stars.
Accommodation: Ombak Putih Accommodation: Katharina
Activity: Snorkeling
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Red Birds of Paradise, a Local Village and Gam Island Snorkel
Day 9
Today we get a super early start as we head off into the forest in search of the stunning Red Bird of Paradise. The walk takes about 40 minutes and, if we are lucky, we will see the incredible mating displays of these birds in the canopy of the rainforest. We will then walk through a colourful local village and meet the people who call this corner of paradise home and see how they live. Back on the boat we will head off for some more snorkeling at the famous wall on the east side of Gam Island before sailing overnight to an island near Sorong.
Accommodation: Ombak Putih Accommodation: Katharina
Activity: Snorkeling
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Doom Island and Disembark in Sorong
Day 10
We will wake up anchored in Sorong and have one last hearty breakfast on board of the boat before venturing on our very last adventure to Doom Island by a traditional bicycle rickshaw called a becak. During the First World War, the island served as an administrative center for the Dutch Empire in West Papua, and during the Second World War, Japanese forces occupied and fortified the island, building a network of tunnels and bunkers. The island was attacked by American and Australian aircraft throughout the war. After our last adventure, we bid farewell to the ship and her crew, before transferring ashore to your hotel or the airport.
This trip combines exploring the remote Raja Ampat archipelago with very comfortable accommodations on board the boats we use.
The wide variety of activities on this trip is perfect-from snorkeling to swimming to bird watching to paddle boarding to hiking to kayaking - there is something for everyone!
Our team of guides have been leading trips for years and are experts on the flora and fauna of Raja Ampat.
Dreaming of an adventure designed exclusively for you? With insider access and decades of experience, our travel experts create custom tailored adventures that are perfect for families, couples, and large groups. MT Sobek's custom adventures are designed to our exacting standards and led by our award-winning adventure guides.
When to start planning? Earlier is always better when designing a custom trip. More time allows for better availability of preferred accommodations, guides and your desired activities. Ideally, start the conversation with us at least 6 months before you want to travel. If you are looking for a custom trip that departs within three months, chances are greatly diminished in securing requested accommodations and the best guides.
*Custom trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit once an itinerary is agreed upon.
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.
Dani .
Originally from Bandung, West Java, Dani has been a resident of Bali since 2016. He is a professional free diver and member of the Indonesian National Freediving safety team. With his calm manner, he will teach you a trick or two to enhance your confidence in the water. He loves photography and is very passionate about the environment. He is actively involved in a number of non-profit organizations such as Trash Hero.
Nita .
Growing up, Nita lived nomadically, traveling from one Indonesian island to another and was able to learn four Indonesian local languages. She is trained in marine ecology and is a certified rescue diver with over 1,000 dives logged. Nita is passionate about marine life and conservation, spending her free time volunteering to help coral restoration. She was awarded the 2020 Inspiring Change Maker award through her non-profit work at Peek Under the Surface, which distributes swim goggles to children living on the coasts of Indonesia and educates them on ocean conservation.
Meet your guide at the hotel this morning and travel to the harbor to board the boat. Settle into your new home for the next ten days as we set course for the southernmost islands of Raja Ampat National Park. Enjoy an alfresco lunch and then stop for our first swim and snorkel of the voyage on a coral reef. Celebratory pre-dinner cocktails will be served on the back deck as the sun goes down and brings an end to our first day on the boat.
Today we wake up at the eastern end of the Misool Archipelago, a picturesque chain of jungle-covered limestone islets with spectacular corals reefs, which offer some fantastic snorkeling. We will spend the day exploring the many inlets and bays and beaches with some hiking, swimming and snorkeling. We will also break out the kayaks and paddle boards for some seaborne adventuring. Spend a quiet night at anchor under the stars.
After an early breakfast, start our day with a swim and a snorkel through a giant dome-roofed sea cave filled with massive stalagmites and stalactites. We will then travel to mysterious, stingless jellyfish lake, one of only 20 such lakes in the world where these amazing creatures exist, and swim amongst the many thousands of stingless sea creatures. Using our tenders, we will visit some mysterious skull cairns in sea-cave cemeteries, and prehistoric cave paintings, estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old.
Today we will set out to catch sight of the Lesser Birds of Paradise in the wild, an unforgettable experience. We will rise early and walk through the forest to hopefully see the birds as they dance around in their \'lekking\' trees. In the afternoon, we will explore underwater as we snorkel around one of the best coral reefs in the world with school of fish hanging out in the deep and colorful sea fans sticking poking out of the walls. Watch the sunset as we sail towards Batanta Island.
The island of Batanta offers us a change of scenery and a chance to stretch our legs today with an adventurous jungle trek filled with birds, butterflies and insects. Starting at a local village, our guides will lead us through the forest on a short walk to the first of two waterfalls, where we can swim and cool off. Those who desire can keep heading upriver where a second, larger cascade awaits. After lunch on the boat, it\'s an afternoon of snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking before sailing overnight to a beautiful group of uninhabited islands north of the equator.
In the morning, we will visit a pearl farm tucked away in a protected, deep water cove and tour the facilities to learn how this precious commodity is produced and harvested. Pearling is an important industry in the local area and provides employment for many. We will spend the afternoon snorkelling and kayaking amongst three small islands linked together by pristine coral reefs. Relaxing on the beach is always an option.
This morning will explore a small group of limestone islands filled with coves and beautiful reefs. After breakfast we will go ashore for a short climb to a vantage point where we can survey the surrounding area, before heading out to snorkel on the spectacular reefs. During lunch we will sail to a small island located inbetween Gam and Mansuar, where the currents bring rich nutrients to the coral reefs. The three famous jetties offer much underwater life: schools of fish; shy, black tip reef sharks; elegant spadefish and giant clams.
Central Raja Ampat and Mansuar Island stores many magical underwater gems. Today, we explore some of them, starting with a visit to a local village which promotes sustainability through their education center, solar-powered street lights and sustainable fishing practices through local community effort. Its house reef offer an abundance of marine life. We will spend the rest of our morning snorkeling here and, if we\'re lucky, maybe catch sight of a wobbegong shark. In the afternoon there will be schools of humphead wrasse and a school of giant trevalley swimming next to each other and we may be greeted by the resident hawksbill turtle. Today is capped off with a beach BBQ and party with the crew under the stars.
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Today we get a super early start as we head off into the forest in search of the stunning Red Bird of Paradise. The walk takes about 40 minutes and, if we are lucky, we will see the incredible mating displays of these birds in the canopy of the rainforest. We will then walk through a colourful local village and meet the people who call this corner of paradise home and see how they live. Back on the boat we will head off for some more snorkeling at the famous wall on the east side of Gam Island before sailing overnight to an island near Sorong.
We will wake up anchored in Sorong and have one last hearty breakfast on board of the boat before venturing on our very last adventure to Doom Island by a traditional bicycle rickshaw called a becak. During the First World War, the island served as an administrative center for the Dutch Empire in West Papua, and during the Second World War, Japanese forces occupied and fortified the island, building a network of tunnels and bunkers. The island was attacked by American and Australian aircraft throughout the war. After our last adventure, we bid farewell to the ship and her crew, before transferring ashore to your hotel or the airport.
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Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 2. 10 days of swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking and hiking on terrain that is varied and uneven. Learn more about activity levels here.
Activity Snapshot
Day 2
Kayaking and snorkeling
Day 3
Snorkeling
Day 4
Snorkeling
Day 5
Snorkeling
Day 7
Snorkeling
Day 8
Snorkeling
Day 9
Snorkeling
Accommodations
Daytime temperatures average 89°F year round and nighttime temperatures average 78°F. The ocean is warm year round with an average surface water temperature of 84°F.
Ombak Putih means 'White Wave' in the Indonesian language. At 140 feet long, the ship has 4,300 sq. ft. with two main decks, including a salon, bar, dining area and rooftop lounge. Each comfortable cabin has an en-suite bathroom. With plenty of room to spread out, relax in solitude or with company under covered or open areas as you sail through the picturesque archipelago of Raja Ampat.
Built with simple lines and a sleek structure, the Katharina is an elegant 125 foot boat with two sun decks, a salon, bar, an outdoor dining area and rooftop lounge. Each of its superior six cabins has an en-suite bathroom.
Weather
Comfortable traditional wooden phinisi boat
Jan
Oct
Dec
Batanta Island
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
Batanta Island
86
79
86
79
88
79
Sorong
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
Sorong
88
76
89
76
88
78
Know Before You Book
This cruise is not privately chartered for MT Sobek travelers. In order to offer the widest selection of travel dates and flexibility for our guests, MT Sobek works directly with the ship owner to book MT Sobek travelers on scheduled departures throughout the year, and we are pleased to offer our in-house expertise and services to assist you every step of the way.
FAQs
Do I need a visa for Indonesia?
No. American citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Indonesia if visiting for tourism for 30 days or less.
Who will meet me on arrival?
Our representative will meet you on arrival at the Sorong Airport or your hotel and transfer you to the boat.
How do I get to Raja Ampat?
Connect through Hong Kong, Singapore, Doha or Narita. The main airlines that fly to Indonesia from the U.S. are Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Eva Airways, ANA, Qatar Airways and United.
What boat do you use for the cruise?
We use the beautiful Katharina and Ombak Putih traditional phinisi boats (built by a centuries-old practice recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage).
What is the minimum age for this trip?
The standard minimum age for this trip is 18, but check out our private trip options for families and groups with younger guests.
