Kri Island is one of the most popular and accessible islands in Raja Ampat, located just off the coast of Waisai. While this is one of the more frequented islands, it is still known for its laid-back vibe. Besides the incredible beaches, the main attraction is the extraordinary marine life. It has a higher number of homestays then some of the other islands, but it never felt crowded. Kri is the perfect homebase to explore the many world -class diving spots around the island. It has an incredible house reef for snorkeling and is the perfect place to just unwind. Not convinced yet? The waters surrounding Kri boast one of the highest recorded counts of fish species in a single dive—Cape Kri recorded 374 species. The biodiversity is unrivaled! In this guide I’ll tell you all you need to know for visiting Kri Island in Raja Ampat

To see my full travel route for Raja Ampat go here.

Top Things to Do on Kri Island

Diving & Snorkeling

This one is obvious. The main reason travel all the way to Raja Ampat is to dive or snorkel. There are several legendary dive sites like Cape Kri and Sardine reef and chicken reef, but you honestly can’t go wrong with any of the dive sites.

Soul scuba divers is the dive center I went diving with and I can highly recommend them! They know how to read the conditions and pick the right dive spot for that time. You’ll have an incredible experience if you choose to dive with them.

Sunset Viewpoint

Hike up the short trail behind the island to catch a panoramic view of the surrounding sea and island. I’d say the perfect place to end the day is actually the Soul Divers jetty, but you have to climb up to the viewpoint at least once!

Daytrip to Piaynemo

If you’re diving with Soul Divers, you absolutely have to join their trip to Piaynemo. It includes 3 dives and a visit to the famous viewpoint. The dive site: Melissa’s garden is possibly Raja Ampat’s most famous dive site and for good reason. Corals as far as you can see and so many fish, I’ve never seen anything like it. The last dive site we visited was Batu Rufas. This is located just outside the lagoon island. To be fair, you can’t really see the lagoon from the boat, but I flew the drone to get the epic view from above. But the trip would be worth it, even if you only visited Melissa’s garden.

I’m sure staying on the Fam islands/Piaynemo would be wonderful, but since I already did this day trip I choose to stay on different islands.

Daytrip to Batanta

Soul divers also offers a day trip to Batanta, including diving and a visit to two waterfalls. Since I had already planned to stay on Batanta, I didn’t join this trip, but I’ve heard great things from my fellow divers.

Try and find a Cuscus

In Yenbuba Village there’s a large tree that has Cuscus living in it. The cuscus is a nocturnal animal so it’s best to go just before sunset. Make sure you’re early enough to still have enough light, because finding it with just a flashlight is not that easy. However, the locals are very happy to help if you can’t find it.

Snorkel at the house reef

Many accommodations have incredible reefs just offshore, perfect for snorkeling at any time. There’s an incredible reef next to the Soul Diver Jetty that is accessible to everyone.

Watch the sunset from the Soul diver Jetty

After diving, this is the perfect spot to hangout and relax. Most people staying nearby will come and hangout here for the sunset. If you want to enjoy the sunset with a drink, there’s one shop in the village that sells some (expensive) beers.

Where to Stay

Kri Island is home to several local home-stays and some more luxurious dive resorts. Most Accommodations are basic but comfortable, with meals included. If you’re coming to dive, make sure to stay near Soul Divers. The two home-stays next to the dive center would be the most convenient.

• Kri Guesthouse: Basic overwater bungalow with a raised bed. There is shared bathroom with dip mandi bathing, but western style toilet. Relatively clean since there are only 4 bungalows. Kri is known to have a rat problem and Kri guesthouse has a cat, which I found to be a huge plus! I asked to sleep with the cat in my room every night.

• Yenbuba Homestay: This homestay is also right next to Soul Divers. The bungalows have similar setup, but it’s a lot bigger then Kri guesthouse and therefore you’ll meet more people in the dining area.

• Paparisa Homestay: The luxury homestay! Craving a little more comfort and a nicer bungalow, this is the place to be. It’s a newly opened homestay and when I saw it from the boat I was slightly jealous that I wasn’t staying there

How to get to Kri Island in Raja Ampat 

• Step 1: Fly to Sorong (SOQ) via Jakarta or Makassar.

• Step 2: Take the ferry to Waisai (approx. 2 hours).

• Step 3: Arrange a speedboat transfer from Waisai to Kri Island (usually organized by your accommodation).

Travel Tips

• Bring Cash: No ATMs on Kri—withdraw enough in Sorong or in Bali/Jakarta before flying in.

• Bring reef safe sunscreen and mosquito repellent

• Bring your own snorkeling gear, because most home-stays don’t have rentals 

• Connectivity: Limited mobile signal and no reliable Wi-Fi—prepare to disconnect. If internet is important to you get a Telkomsel SIM card. It worked relatively well in most places.

Best Time to Visit Raja Ampat 

Raja Ampat can be visited year-round, but the best conditions for diving and snorkeling are typically from October to April, when the seas are calmer and visibility is excellent.