Raja Ampat or literally 'Four Kings' is an archipelago of more than 1,500 small islands, canyons and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati and Misool.

How to get to Raja Ampat

To get to Raja Ampat you must first take a flight from Jakarta or Makassar to Sorong. There are small planes to take you to Waisai, the capital of the Raja Ampat district, or alternatively, you can take a ferry from the port of Sorong to the island you want to go to.

Underwater beauty

For underwater enthusiasts, Raja Ampat offers some of the world's best experiences. The territory within the Four Kings Archipelago is vast, covering 9.8 million hectares of land and sea, home to 540 types of coral, more than 1,000 types of reef fish, and 700 types of mollusks. This makes it the most diverse living library for the world's coral reefs and underwater life.

There are many diving and snorkeling spots to choose from in these vast waters. These include the Kabui Passage (a very narrow passage between Waigeo and Gam Island which the famous British explorer Alfred Russell Wallace crossed in 1860), around Arborek Island Pier, Sawandarek, Yenbuba, Friwen Wall, and many more.

Magnificent View

While the underwater splendor is magnificent, the views above the surface are also stunning. As if designed and so aesthetically positioned, the coral islands amidst the clear blue waters and clear blue skies of Piaynemo offer some of the most spectacular views on earth.

Where to stay in Raja Ampat?