The Raja Ampat Islands are an Indonesian archipelago in West Papua. Raja Ampat is made up of over 1500 jungle-covered islands, beautiful beaches and world class diving. It’s still relatively undiscovered by the crowds, because of its remote locations, and is often called the last paradise on earth. Many visitors arrive at this destination by live aboard, but the other option is to stay in either the resort or homestays on the islands. This is much more affordable and you get to experience the different islands! However, planning a trip around Raja Ampat can be overwhelming. With this travel route you’ll be sure to visit all the best spots in Raja Ampat!

How many days do you need for Raja Ampat?

Of course, this is highly dependent on what you’d like to see and do. Some people fly past the highlights in a week and other stay for a month getting a dive certification and relaxing. I love this place a lot and could’ve stayed for months on end, but I’d say 2 weeks is a good amount of time to see a variety of islands at an enjoyable pace.

Choosing between Homestays, a Liveaboard or a dive resort

There’s a couple of ways to move around Raja Ampat. I’ll discuss each of the options below.

Homestays

This is by far the most affordable option and in my opinion also the most fun. The homestays are mostly owned by locals and while basic, they provide overwater bungalows at incredible locations. They always include three meals a day. There’s not much variety in the meals, at a price of €30-50 a night I’d say it’s a good deal. You can find the homestays on Stay Raja Ampat.

Liveaboard

One of the most popular ways of visiting Raja Ampat is by live aboard. Especially if you’re a diver, this is a great way to do many dives in a short amount of time and everything is taken care of. The downside is that they are expensive and you don’t get to see as much of the islands. If diving is your main objective, this is a great way to get to many dive sites. You can find the different liveaboards around Raja Ampat here.

Dive Resorts

If you find the homestays too basic and you’d like a bit more comfort you can consider staying at a dive resort. Count on at least €200 a night.

My travel route for Island hopping in Raja Ampat

Sorong/Waisai

If you’re visiting Raja Ampat, you’ll fly into Sorong. There are direct flights from Jakarta and Bali. The flight from Bali leaves 01:40 am and arrives at 05:40, which I normally wouldn’t love, but it allows you to make it onto the first ferry! This way you don’t have to spend the night in Sorong. As there is not much to do in Sorong, it’s preferable to move on quickly. From Sorong you will take the ferry to Waisai, where a speedboat will take you to one of the island. You can arrange this through your homestay. The boats between islands are expensive, so try to find someone on the ferry to share the speedboat, or you can try to find people to share in a Facebook group.

If you have to stay overnight in Sorong the Swiss-Belhotel is a good choice.

Kri

After arriving in Waisai, hop on a small boat to reach your first island destination. Kri island is the perfect first stop! Dive center ‘Soul Divers’ is located on this island and can take you to all the best dive spots in the area. This area is home to some of Raja Ampat’s most renowned dive and snorkel sites, including the legendary Cape Kri. Remarkably, a single dive at Cape Kri revealed 374 different fish species—a world record that speaks volumes about the marine biodiversity. Although Kri is among the more visited islands in the region, it still retains a laid-back and welcoming vibe. As a solo traveler I loved the evenings watching the sunset on the jetty of Soul Divers.

Where to stay in Kri?

If you are diving with Soul Divers, I highly recommend staying close by and staying at either Kri Guesthouse or Yenbuba homestay.  You’ll stay in an overwater bungalow in a beautiful spot, but expect it to be basic. While some of the homestays have a normal shower, often you’ll have to use a bucket. Nonetheless, for the price it’s incredible value. All the homestays include breakfast lunch and dinner and you get to wake up in the most beautiful place on earth. However, if you’re looking for a bit more comfort, stay at paparisa homestay. This is the luxury version of the homestay and Soul divers will be able to pick you up for your dives.

Find my full guide to Kri here.

Fam Islands & Piayemo

These islands have to be on your list! However, if you’re short on time you can also visit them as a day trip from Soul Divers (or from another homestay or dive center). The stunning Fam Islands, also known as the Pam Islands, are known for the top-tier snorkeling and diving locations, such as Melissa’s Garden, Fam Wall, and Rufas Island. These spots can be conveniently combined with a trip to the iconic Piaynemo—a breathtaking cluster of limestone islands surrounded by vibrant turquoise lagoons. There are two main viewpoints, both offering unforgettable panoramic views of this unique landscape.

Find my full guide to the Fam Islands & Piaynemo here.

Batanta

About 1.5 hours by boat from Kri and Mansuar lies Batanta—one of Raja Ampat’s larger, more untamed islands. Its lush interior is covered in dense jungle, with only a handful of small fishing villages scattered along the shoreline. The island is home to unique wildlife, including the striking cassowary, a flightless bird standing up to 1.7 meters tall with a vivid blue head. In the surrounding waters, you might even spot a dugong, a gentle marine mammal. Visitors can trek through the rainforest, discover hidden waterfalls, and snorkel alongside majestic manta rays. The Manta point is only accessible to the local homestays and liveaboards and other dive centers are not allowed at the moment. You’ll be able to get a super private manta ray experience!

Find my full guide to Batanta here.

Where to stay on Batanta?

I stayed at Dayan Dive Homestay. It was simple, but beautiful! They are one of the few homestays offering diving and I knew I wanted to dive with the Manta’s. Therefore it was an easy choice.

If you’re looking for luxury, I can recommend Papua Paradise Eco Resort. 

Gam