How to go to Raja Ampat
How to go to Raja Ampat in West Papua
First of all, where is Raja Ampat? Have you heard of the exotic island of Papua? In that case, Raja Ampat is located on the Indonesian side of Papua, known as West Papua, and is an island towards the Northwest side.
In summary, the best way to go to Raja Ampat is;
3. Ferry from Waisai to Raja Ampat
![]() |
Where is Raja Ampat? The map above shows that it is in the far east of Indonesia. |
![]() |
The Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong, West Papua. |
![]() |
Currently, Wings Abadi Airlines flies the Sorong to Waisai route. |
Flying to Raja Ampat
Makassar in Sulawesi, Indonesia, is the connecting city where you can catch a direct flight into West Papua. This means you need to fly from Jakarta or Bali into Makassar. From here, there is a direct flight to Sorong in West Papua.
The airport in Sorong is called Domine Eduard Osok (Airport code: SOQ) and is relatively modern with up-to-date facilities. Just before the main departure hall, there are cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, and foot massages.
You have two options from Sorong for getting to Wai Sai, the main island of Raja Ampat in the west of Papua, Indonesia. From Waisai, you can either fly or take a fast boat to Raja Ampat.
![]() |
Garuda Airlines flies only from Makassar to Sorong in West Papua. |
Airlines that fly to Raja Ampat
From Jakarta To Sorong, West Papua – 4 Hour Direct Flight
Airlines:
- Batik Air
- PT Nam Air
- Wings Abadi Air (1 Stop)
- Batik Air
- Sriwijaya Air
- Garuda Airlines
- Lion Air (1 Stop)
- Lion Air
- PT Nam Air
- Garuda Airlines
- Batik Air (1 Stop)
- Sriwijaya Air (1 Stop)
I do not recommend flying to Bali and Raja Ampat for those coming out of Indonesia. It will be tricky. It is better to fly to the cities mentioned above and then to Raja Ampat.
My group and I took the late morning flight for my trip and stayed a night at the Makassar Novotel Hotel in the airport. The following morning, we caught the Sorong flight, so we were relaxed and not in a rush.
![]() |
View of Sorong from the aircraft landing. |
How to get from Sorong to Raja Ampat
Once you arrive in Sorong, you will have two main travel options for Raja Ampat. Depending on your time and budget, I will list both ways down, as I tried them both on my recent trip in September 2017.
1. Flight from Sorong to WaiSai (Marinda Raja Ampat Airport RJM)
This is the fastest option, and it takes only 30 minutes to fly to Raja Ampat, but it can easily cost around US$25 to $30 one way. You need to observe the window between your connecting flight from Makassar or Jakarta, as sometimes delays could cause you to miss your flight.
Wings Air is the only airline that flies this route, and once a day at 1.45 PM. The plane they use is an ART-72, meaning only 72 passengers for one flight. Sometimes, minor delays, like waiting for the connecting flight to land or weather conditions, can occur.
![]() |
The fast boat from Sorong to Waisai, Raja Ampat. |
2. Fast Boat or Ferry from Sorong to Waisai, Raja Ampat
This is the most common way. It is much cheaper and more efficient, but it takes about two hours to travel one way.
Once you arrive in Sorong, you must take a 15-minute taxi ride to Sorong Harbour and catch the ferry to Raja Ampat on Waisai Island.
A few ferry companies operate this route, but I would recommend using the Bahari Express ferry to Raja Ampat as they are the most reliable. The Bahari Ferry Timetable for 2017 is;
- Daily – 2.00 PM
- Mon, Wed, Friday – 9.00 AM & 2.00 PM
- Time: 2.5 Hours Journey
- Normal Ticket: IDR 130,000 per person
- VIP Ticket: IDR 220,000 per person (Recommended)
- Go a little early
- It does not operate on Indonesian public holidays (please check with them).
- The time and prices may change slightly from time to time. So, if you plan to use the ferry both ways, you must buy your return ticket from the Waisai Harbour or Port. They have a ticket counter at the port.
![]() |
Some of the types of private speed boats in Raja Ampat. |
Private Speedboat from Sorong to Raja Ampat
This is the most expensive way. However, if all else fails and you have no other option, a privately chartered speedboat can easily cost around USD 600 to USD 1000 per boat from Sorong to Waisai.
This also depends on the engine size, so for the well-heeled or those strapped for time, this would be a quicker way to get directly to your dive resort in Raja Ampat.
How to go from Waisai to Raja Ampat
From the Raja Ampat Airport or Marinda Airport in Waisai, you can take a taxi to Waisai Harbor or Port to catch your arranged resort boat, which usually comes and picks you up.
You need to inform the resort of your arrival as it may take 10 to 20 minutes to and from the resort by boat.
This also depends on which resort you are booked for. The closer resorts take only five to ten minutes, while further resorts may take 10 to even 45 minutes. I recommend you arrange this part of the final travel to your homestay or resort.
![]() |
Raja Ampat in West Papua, Indonesia. |
![]() |
The tiny Marinda Airport or Raja Ampat Airport in Waisai, West Papua. |
The best and Fastest Way to get to Raja Ampat
Because there are no direct flights to Raja Ampat, everyone must do at least one transit and boat ride to get here. There is no shortcut to this. I have spoken to many locals, and everyone says that Makassar is still the best connecting city.
They may eventually have a direct flight, but I doubt it. Unless they revamp and renovate the Raja Ampat airport in Waisai, larger planes will be able to land here. Currently, only the Wings Abadi ATR-72 propeller planes land here.
![]() |
Passengers at the Sorong port in West Papua. |
![]() |
Bahari Express fast boat ticket counter at Waisai Harbour in West Papua. |
Raja Ampat Marine Park Entry For Visitors
For those of you heading here, please remember that every local or foreign tourist requires a special marine park permit or Raja Ampat PIN.
I have written about it, and you can find the information on how to get the Raja Ampat Marine Park Permit from Sorong or Waisai. Many people are aware of this once they reach the harbour area. Some of the locals or ticket counters may ask you if you have the permit.
Please note that this is mandatory for anyone visiting Raja Ampat on the west side of Papua. The permit fee for international travellers is IDR 1,000,000, and for local Indonesians, it is IRD 500,000.
The fees collected go directly to the Raja Ampat Marine Park conservation and is managed by the ministry here. There are no third parties that sell the permits.
![]() |
The Raja Ampat Marine Park entrance permit fees. |
Conclusion
As Raja Ampat is one of the desired destinations for many travellers, this information provides valuable, up-to-date details on how to get there. Over the years, much of the information has been changed over and over, hence this was obtained in September of 2017, which is very recent.
Many scuba divers are planning to visit here as well, and if you are one of them, you can check out this article on the best guide for scuba diving in Indonesia, which covers most of the popular places.
One of the most iconic places to visit in Raja Ampat is Piaynemo, a beautiful island karst in a lagoon. The view from the top of the hill makes this place one of the must-visit places here. I have also written an article on how to get to Piaynemo when you are here.
Share this content:
0 comments