Travel time: September 2016
Travel as a couple
Arrival from Switzerland
We flew from Zurich via Singapore to Jakarta and from there with Lion Air to Sorong. The coastal town on the Indonesian island part of New Guinea is the starting point for all ships and boats to Raja Ampat. Many of the island resorts have partner hotels on site to spend a night there first after the long journey. Or to plan a reserve night before returning home, as the boats to and from the islands only operate when the sea is calm.
Kri Eco Resort
We spent our first week at the Kri Eco Resort. To get there, we first took a ferry from Sorong to a larger island, where we were picked up by a smaller boat that took us to Kri Island. Our entire journey from Switzerland to Kris Island took about 30 hours. So a longer stay in Raja Ampat is definitely recommended.
The Kri Eco Resort is very inexpensive, but does not offer luxury. If you want to save money, stay in the cheapest accommodation price class, one of the four Papuan Water Cottages. The bungalows are built over the water and consist of one bedroom and a small terrace with direct access to the sea. The toilets and showers are a short walk from the bungalow. If you prefer to have your own bathroom, you can rent one of the seven Superior Water Cottages or one of the two Deluxe Water Cottages. Dinner is in a large bungalow with all the other guests. This creates a very familiar atmosphere. Every evening there is a small buffet with the catch of the day. During the day you can spend your time diving. The diving school is located within the resort and offers all rental equipment. All kinds of courses are also offered. The dive sites are close and fantastic. Especially Arborek Jetty, Sardines Reef and Blue Magic.
Those who don't dive will probably be bored on the island. You can snorkel, rent a stand up paddle or kayak or relax in the hammocks and beanbags.
From Kri Eco Resort, after a week, we take the speedboat back to Sorong (approx. 2h ride) and from there another snowboat to Misool Island (approx. 4-5h, depending on the swell).
Misool Eco Resort
The Misool Eco Resort is relatively far away from Sorong. However, the long boat ride is definitely worth it. Misool is, without exaggeration, one of the most beautiful places in the world. The small island consists of two connected lagoons, which house around 20 water and beach bungalows. The accommodation is spacious and luxurious. In the evenings, meals are served in the island's only restaurant, the selection is small but fine, and much of the food is now grown on the island itself. The resort attaches great importance to sustainability and has set itself the goal of protecting the beautiful reefs of Raja Ampat. To this end, they work closely with the locals and are strongly committed to education. Where sharks were once hunted on a large scale and killed for their fins, there are now nature reserves and no-catch zones. The dive sites are incredibly beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that during our stay a team from National Geographic was on site filming a documentary. Especially recommended is the Magic Mountain spot, where several huge manta rays cavort every day (at least when we were there in September).
The resort's own diving school is excellently equipped with all rental equipment and competent dive guides. We did our Nitrox course on site.
The two bays are also excellent for snorkelling, stand-up paddling or kayaking. If you prefer something a little quieter, you can book a spa treatment. The massages can be done in your own bungalow or in the beautiful spa bungalow at the end of the lagoon, above a cliff.
After a week at Misool Eco Resort, our journey continued to the next island, which is again a little closer to Sorong.
Papua Paradise Eco Resort
The Papua Paradise Eco Resort is less luxurious than the Misool Eco Resort, but a lot more luxurious than the Kri Eco Resort. It consists of a total of 26 water bungalows (10 Deluxe and 16 Superior Rooms), an exchange school, a large lounge bungalow with a small library and a large restaurant. We chose a Deluxe Bungalow with a large terrace and were not disappointed.
Again, the dive school was impeccable. After two weeks of diving almost every day, we decided to do our Advanced Open Water Course here. The first night dive and the 30m dive to a sunken military aircraft (Divespot P47 Plane Wreck) remain in our memories.
