How to Get to Kri, Raja Ampat

Have you ever dreamed of diving into crystal-clear waters, full of vibrant marine life, surrounded by tropical islands?

Raja Ampat, an archipelago off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula in Indonesia’s West Papua province, is that dream come true. But what is the best way to get to Kri Island in Raja Ampat, this last true scuba diving paradise? The journey can be challenging, but the rewards are beyond worth it.

How to Get to Kri Island in Raja Ampat: Quick Guide

• Book an international flight to Jakarta or Bali
• Take a domestic flight from Jakarta or Bali to Sorong
• Stay overnight in Sorong if needed (not necessary, but highly recommended)
• Purchase ferry tickets to Waisai at Pelabuhan Rakyat in Sorong
• Take the 2 hour ferry from Sorong to Waisai
• Arrange transportation from Waisai to your accommodation
• Consider Yenbuba Homestay on Kri Island for a local experience
• Dive with Soul Scuba, situated on a jetty in front of Yenbuba Homestay

How to get to Kri, Raja Ampat

Step 1: Understanding Raja Ampat and Why It’s Worth the Trip

Raja Ampat, which means “Four Kings,” is a collection of over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals. Renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and remoteness, it’s a top destination for divers worldwide. However, reaching this paradise isn’t as straightforward as booking a direct flight (fortunately and unfortunately haha). Here’s a closer look at why Raja Ampat is worth the effort.

The Untouched Beauty

Unlike more commercialized destinations, Raja Ampat remains relatively untouched, probably because it is so hard to get to. The islands boast pristine beaches, dense jungles, and vibrant marine ecosystems. It’s not just a diving destination; it’s an adventure into one of the most beautiful and remote parts of the world.

Sunset view from an outlook on Kri Island in Raja Ampat

The Marine Biodiversity

Raja Ampat is often referred to as the crown jewel of the Coral Triangle, home to 75% of the world’s known coral species. During my trip, I remember the sheer diversity of fish and corals – it felt like diving in a natural aquarium. You can expect to see everything from tiny pygmy seahorses to majestic manta rays, though I didn’t see manta rays on my visit because I went during the off-season.

Is Raja Ampat worth visiting?

On my trip to Raja Ampat in mid-June, the journey was a long one. My partner and I basically spent an entire day travelling, and we were flying from Bali. Multiple flights, boat rides, and connections.

However, I have never seen anything like Raja Ampat in all of my travels. The water is absolutely pristine, truly comparable to an aquarium. You could see a huge colorful reef right from the jetty. The travel days were absolutely worth it for that experience.

Despite the rainy weather, my partner and I had a wonderful time. The rain would start and stop and the clouds helped prevent awful sunburns. Lack of plankton in the water made the visibility insane, and there were far less people than during peak season at the homestay and the dive sites.

Step 2: Planning Your Journey – How to Get to Raja Ampat

So, you’ve decided to read on? Buckle up because this is going to be a long blog post lol. The phrase “how to get to Raja Ampat” might seem straightforward, but the journey involves several stages, each requiring careful planning.

Booking Your Flights

International Flight to Indonesia

Your adventure begins with an international flight to Indonesia unless you are already in the area. Most travelers fly into Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta International Airport) or Bali (Ngurah Rai International Airport).

From these major hubs, you’ll need to book a domestic flight to Sorong. My partner and I were situated in Ubud, Bali, so even though were were on the right island, we had the extra step of taking a 1 hour long cab to the airport in Canggu, Bali.

Domestic Flight to Sorong

Beach sunset before our flight in Canggu, Bali

Pretty much everyone says that Sorong is the gateway to Raja Ampat.

Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Sriwijaya Air offer regular flights from Jakarta and Bali to Sorong. My partner and I had a direct flight with Garuda Indonesia operated by Virgin Atlantic on the way there (we used a Virgin Atlantic point transfer bonus to save some money, total cost came out to be about $300USD for the two of us). The flight departed at 2:15AM and landed at 6:20AM. Safe to say we were very tired.

You should download the taxi application “Grab” before you land in Sorong, as this will be much more affordable than taking an airport taxi. One downside of Grab in this area is that you will have to walk 5 minutes outside of the airport to be able to order a taxi. This is because local taxi drivers hate the Grab application and it is not allowed to be used right outside of the airport.

Arriving in Sorong

Overnight Stay

Depending on your flight schedule, you might need to stay overnight in Sorong, as the ferry to Waisai only operates at 9AM and 2PM. There are several hotels near the airport which offer comfortable accommodations and easy access to the ferry terminal.

Should I stay a night in Sorong?

My partner and I chose to take a red-eye flight from Bali to Sorong, because we didn’t want to spend an extra day in Sorong. We were very tired, but figured that there is not much to do in Sorong, it is a very small city, and folks are not very used to tourists. If you are flying from another country, such as the United States, staying the night in Sorong might be a nice break from travelling.

Step 3: Reaching Raja Ampat – The Final Stretch

Taking the Ferry from Sorong to Waisai

Ferry Schedule

The most common way to reach Raja Ampat from Sorong is by ferry to Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat Regency.

Ferries operate twice daily, usually around 9AM and 2PM, and take about 2 hours. It’s always a good idea to check the latest ferry schedule if you can. Sometimes the ferry does not operate because of a national holiday.

Source: https://raja.meridianadventuredive.com/ferry-schedule/

Ticket Purchase

You can purchase ferry tickets at the Pelabuhan Rakyat (public port) in Sorong.

Prices vary, but a one-way ticket typically costs around IDR 150,000 (approximately USD 9). My partner and I paid $7.74 USD.  I recommend that you arrive at the port early to secure your ticket, as the process becomes increasingly hectic the closer it gets to departure time. I noticed that locals often cut the line and pay in cash, without receiving a receipt.

You can purchase an economy ticket or a VIP ticket.

For the economy ticket, you will be sitting pretty closely to other passengers on a plastic bench, without air conditioning. VIP seats resemble nice airplane seats and are located in air-conditioned areas of the ferry. Please note that when you buy a ticket, you will have an assigned seat. This was confusing at first because a lot of locals did not have assigned seats and were standing or sitting in available areas (like the stairs to the bathroom).

Where is the Sorong – Waisai ferry ticket office?

Please see the image at the top of this blog to reference what I am talking about.

Finding the place where you had to buy ferry tickets was quite difficult. There were no signs in English, and, when we arrived early in the morning everything was closed. This may have been because it was off season, but it surprised me nonetheless. Before visiting Raja Ampat I read online that people with boats will offer to take you to your homestay. My partner and I did not experience this when we visited in June. Nonetheless, I would not recommend this, it is better to arrange transportation directly with your homestay before the start of your trip.

A side note for women on the Waisai ferry experience. As a woman I felt uncomfortable wearing shorts in this area. I would recommend wearing pants or some sort of cover up, as a lot of folks are Muslim and dress more modestly than say people in the United States.

Arriving in Waisai

Transportation to Your Accommodation

Once in Waisai, you will need to arrange transportation to your accommodation. Many resorts and homestays offer pick-up services from the ferry terminal. It’s essential to coordinate this in advance to ensure a smooth transfer.

How to get to Kri Island in Raja Ampat?

Step 4: Choosing the Right Accommodation in Raja Ampat

Where you stay can significantly impact your Raja Ampat experience. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best place to stay in the area. The region offers a range of accommodations, from budget-friendly homestays to luxurious resorts.

Types of Accommodation

Homestays

Homestays offer an affordable way to experience local culture. These family-run establishments provide basic amenities and an opportunity to immerse yourself in the local way of life. Yenbuba Homestay on Kri Island is a great option, where you can enjoy a more authentic experience.

Eco-Resorts

For a more comfortable stay, eco-resorts like Raja Ampat Biodiversity Eco Resort, and Papua Paradise Eco Resort offer a balance of comfort and sustainability. These resorts typically provide full-board packages, including transportation, meals, and diving excursions.

Luxury Resorts

If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, consider resorts like Raja4Divers Resort, Sorido bay Resort, Misool Eco Resort, and Raja Ampat Biodiversity Eco Resort. These resorts offer premium accommodations, gourmet dining, and personalized dive trips. I found them to cost about double that of a homestay based trip.

Where should I stay in Raja Ampat?

Yenbuba Homestay on Kri Island

Homestays provide a budget-friendly way to immerse yourself in local culture and visit one of the most amazing diving spots in the world. My partner and I decided to stay at the Yenbuba Homestay on Kri Island because of the positive reviews online and it’s proximity to the Soul Scuba Dive Shop.

Premium beach bungalow

Private toilet (cold shower & sink not shown)

Village dog hanging out at our beach bungalow

Rainbows over the Yenbuba Homestay

Over the water bungalows

Shared toilets and hot showers

Raja Ampat Homestay Food

The food was typically rice, fish, and vegetables, with occasional tofu, eggs, or chicken. Fresh fruit and sometimes donuts were also served for dessert.

Breakfast included bread (which apparently other homestays don’t offer bread at breakfast) with peanut butter, jam, honey, or chocolate spread, along with fruit. Tea and coffee were always available, though the hot water did run out sometimes.

Meals at Yenbuba are communal, which is a great way to meet other guests. However, if you arrive late, you might miss out on some of the food.

The homestay coordinator is accommodating regarding food restrictions, but he can only do so much. My partner and I befriended a woman with Celiac (no gluten) on our trip. She had to eat eggs and rice pretty much the entire time we were there, since most food is prepared with soy sauce which often contains gluten.

View of the Yenbuba Homestay dining area

Food trays at the Yenbuba Homestay

Rice, fish, vegetables, and corn fritters

Small bananas at most meals

Donuts with chocolate sprinkles

Breakfast spreads

Raja Ampat Accommodation

Yenbuba Homestay maintains their grounds very well. Every morning the beach and surrounding areas would be swept. The communal (hot) showers and (flushing) toilets, which were recently built, are very clean. Electricity is available from around 1PM until midnight and again for an hour or two at 5AM.

On the island, it’s typical to wear shorts and a T-shirt. However, I did read that it’s considered disrespectful to walk around the village in just your bathing suit, so be sure to change into proper clothing when you’re not at the beach. My partner and I only stayed at Yenbuba for 4 nights, so we didn’t do laundry, but I am pretty sure you can pay to have it done.

The Best Dive Shop in Raja Ampat

Soul Scuba, the dive shop situated right on a jetty in front of the homestay, offered incredible diving experiences. The view off of the jetty was insane – I saw a baby octopus, little sharks, and plenty of fish. At night, my partner and I would walk out onto the illuminated jetty to watch all of the activity; for example we saw a really cool squid hunting for fish.

Illuminated fish off of the Soul Scuba jetty

One thing to note is that pretty much everyone on the island of Kri has the day off on Sundays. This included Soul Scuba being closed and no transportation being available to get off of the island. I think this is the same at other resorts in the area, but I am not 100% certain. Just something to take note of when you’re building out your traveling and diving schedules.

Soul Scuba Diving Center on Kri Island, Raja Ampat

Step 5: Diving and Exploring Raja Ampat

I won’t dive (pun intended) into all of the different dive sites and excursions you can take on your trip, as there are hundreds and each dive center decides what sites have the best conditions on any particular day.

I will say, that if you do not scuba dive, you can still thoroughly enjoy snorkeling in Raja Ampat. The water is so beautiful and full of life! My partner and I snorkeled for 2 days straight right off of the jetty. Even though it was very close to the shore, it was the best snorkeling that I have ever done!

Conclusion