Jewels of Raja Ampat

Day 1 : Sorong > Raja Ampat National Park

This morning you will be greeted  at the airport in Sorong and transferred to the port where you will meet your SeaTrek tour leader who will accompany you to the boat.  Welcome aboard! Settle into your cabin which will be your new home for the next ten days, and meet your travelling companions, as you set course for the southernmost islands of the Raja Ampat National Park.

After an alfresco lunch, stop off for your first swim and snorkel of the voyage on a coral reef, before continuing south. All snorkelling equipment is supplied, and any beginner snorkellers are assisted to feel  comfortable in the water.  The stunning coral and creatures of this underwater world will have you hooked! Back on deck enjoy your first dinner as the sun goes down and you cruise on into the night.

Day 2 : Misool Archipelago

Wake up at the eastern end of the Misool archipelago, a picturesque chain of jungle-covered limestone islets with spectacular corals reefs offering some fantastic snorkelling. You will spend the day exploring the many inlets and bays and beaches with some trekking, swimming and snorkelling. You can also break out the kayaks and paddle boards for some seaborne adventuring. After a full day of island-hopping you will spend a quiet night at anchor under the stars.

Day 3 :   Misool Archipelago

After an early breakfast, your day starts with a swim and a snorkel through a giant dome-roofed sea cave filled with massive stalagmites and stalactites, undoubtedly one of the area’s most memorable experiences. You will then move on to the mysterious stingless jellyfish lake, one of only 20 in the world where these amazing creatures exist and swim amongst the many thousands of stingless animals. Using  tenders, visit  prehistoric cave paintings, estimated to be anything between 3,000 to 5,000 years old and depicting various human figures and huge human hands, fish and flowers.

Day 4 :   Misool Archipelago

Today you will hope to see the Lesser Birds of Paradise in the wild, an unforgettable experience for anyone lucky enough to see them. Rise early and walk through the forest to hopefully see the birds as they dance around in their ‘lekking’ trees. In the afternoon, an underwater exploration will take place as snorkelling around one of the best coral reefs in the world. Schools of fish hanging out in the deep and colourful sea fans stick out of the wall. Late in the afternoon, you will be watching the sunset while sailing to Batanta Island. Look out for dolphins who may accompany the ship at the bow, darting and leaping with joy.

Day 5 :  Batanta Island

Today, the island of Batanta offers you a change of scenery and a chance to stretch your legs with an adventurous jungle trek filled with birds, butterflies and insects. Starting at a local village, your guides will lead you through the forest. After getting back to the boat and having lunch, enjoying snorkelling, paddle boarding and kayaking, before heading north later in the afternoon and cruise overnight to a beautiful group of islands.

Day 6 :  Piyainemo Island

This morning 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 and provides employment for many people in the local area. Spend the afternoon snorkelling and kayaking amongst three small islands linked together by some pristine coral reefs, or simply choose to relax on the beach.

Day 7 :  Gam & Mansuar Islands

This morning, explore a small group of limestone islands filled with coves and beautiful reefs.  After breakfast, go ashore for a short climb to a vantage point where you can survey the beautiful surroundings, before heading out to snorkel on the incredible reefs. During lunch, head to a small island located between Gam and Mansuar where the currents bring rich nutrients to the coral reefs. The three famous jetties offer so much underwater life scenery – schools of fish, the shy black tip reef sharks, the elegant spadefish and the magnificent giant clams.

Day 8 : Gam & Mansuar Islands

Central Raja Ampat is home to many magical underwater gems, which you will explore. Starting with a visit to a local village in the central of Mansuar Island which promotes sustainability through their education centre, solar-powered street lights, and sustainable fishing practice through local community effort. Its house reef offers an abundance of marine life where you can spend the rest of your morning snorkelling and if you’re lucky, maybe sight a wobbegong shark.

Another underwater adventure awaits in the afternoon as you make your way to the eastern point of Mansuar. Famous for its school of big fish, you can see humphead wrasse and school of giant trevalley swimming next to each other. You may also be greeted by the resident hawksbill turtle. Tonight, enjoy a beach BBQ and party with the crew under the stars.

Day 9 :  Waigeo Island

Today sees a super early start as you head off into the forest in search of the incredible Red Bird of Paradise. The walk takes about 40 minutes, and as you arrive at the bird site at dawn, if you are lucky, you will see the incredible mating displays of these birds in the canopy of the rainforest. This is a David Attenborough moment if ever there was one. Walk through a colourful local village and meet the people who call this wonderful corner of paradise home and see how they live their daily lives. Back on the boat enjoy more great snorkelling in the famous wall on the east of Gam island before sailing overnight to an island nearby Sorong.

Day 10 :  Sorong

Wake up anchored in Sorong for one last hearty breakfast on board before venturing out for one last adventure in the Doom Island with traditional transportation called Becak. During the First World War, the island served as an administrative centre of Dutch Empire administration in West Papua and continued to become the core of Sorong for some time before the city grew in mainland Papua. 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. Following the war, a fishing station was briefly established on the island before it was moved to Manokwari.

Then sadly bid farewell to the ship and crew as tenders take you ashore for your transfer to Sorong Airport where the tour ends.