Travel advisory · IndonesiaRaja Ampat Islands is in or near an area where governments advise against all but essential travel: Indonesian Papua, West Papua province.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Central Papua · avoid all travel · Germany, New Zealand, US
Highland Papua · avoid all travel · Germany, New Zealand, US
Indonesian Papua · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, Italy
Papua province · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, New Zealand
South Papua province · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, New Zealand
West Papua province · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, New Zealand

Also named by one government: Border with Malaysia (France), Border with Philippines (France), Border with Singapore (Strait of Malacca) (France), Inland waters (Banda, Java and Celebes seas) (France), Jayawijaya (France), Mount Ibu (7 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki (7 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Marapi (3 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Ruang (7 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Semeru (5 km around crater) (Italy), Mount Sinabung (5 km around crater) (Italy), Paniai (France), Poso regency (New Zealand), Puncak Jaya (France), Timika (France)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution	Jul 7, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	Oct 15, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution in Indonesia (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs)	High Degree of Caution	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

an aerial view of a body of water surrounded by rocks

Raja Ampat Islands

Divers and snorkelers come for the reefs, which hold one of the highest counts of fish and coral species recorded anywhere, and for boat trips from homestays or dive resorts.

Find a room in Raja Ampat Islands Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Raja Ampat Islands

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Raja Ampat is an island group in West Papua, the Indonesian province on the western half of New Guinea. It has more than 1,500 islands, many of them small limestone islets rising steeply from clear water. Lookouts above the water give views over the islands, and the reefs below draw divers and snorkelers. Waigeo, the largest island, has Waisai, the regency seat and the main boat point for the marine park.

Plan at least a week, since boat travel between islands takes time. Flights land in Sorong on the Papua mainland, and a ferry or boat carries you from there to Waisai or to the resorts and homestays. Where you sleep sets which reefs you can reach, so compare homestays, dive resorts and liveaboards before you book. The drier months, roughly October to April, are the usual choice for calmer seas.

Raja Ampat Islands in five

Fly to Sorong, then take a boatMost trips start with a flight to Sorong, then a ferry to Waisai or a pre-booked boat to your stay. Do not book a same-day international flight after leaving the islands.Sorong
Choose homestay, dive resort or liveaboardHomestays are the cheapest and best for snorkeling near shore. Dive resorts reach set sites daily. Liveaboards cover the far reefs and viewpoints, but need more time.
Budget for the marine park feeForeign visitors pay a marine park entry fee, usually arranged through the operator, plus other local charges. Confirm the current amounts and validity before you book.
Go from October to April for calm seasSeas are generally calmer and visibility better from about October to April. June to August can bring choppier water in parts, so ask your operator about the area you will visit.
Bring cash and a spare dayCash machines are rare outside Sorong and Waisai, and phone signal is patchy. Bring enough rupiah for homestays and supplies, and build slack into every transfer.Travel insurance guides

Things to do in Raja Ampat Islands

See all attractions in Raja Ampat Islands

white boat on sea near green mountains during daytime

Landmark · Raja Ampat IslandsPiaynemo

Sight · Raja Ampat IslandsWajag Island

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Raja Ampat IslandsPut the places you like in Raja Ampat Islands on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Sorong (SOQ), then a boat to the islands
Getting there: Flight to Sorong, then public ferry to Waisai or a private boat
Getting around: Boats only: homestay, dive and liveaboard boats
Best base: Homestays near shore; dive resorts; liveaboards for the far reefs
Time needed: 5–7 nights; 4 minimum with transfers

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Calm, showers
FebruaryRain23 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Calm, showers
MarchRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Calm seas
AprilRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Calm seas
MayRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Transition
JuneRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Choppy seas
JulyRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Rough, rain
AugustRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Rough seas
SeptemberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Transition
OctoberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Calm, clear
NovemberRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Calm, clear
DecemberRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Calm, rain

Average daily high and low in Waisai, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Raja Ampat Islands

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 29°
Humidity: 92%
Wind: 7 km/h
Chance of rain: 98%

Raja Ampat Islands

05:41 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+9

Today31°23°98%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 98%.
Wed31°23°98%Wednesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 98%.
Thu31°23°92%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 92%.
Fri32°23°98%Friday: Rain. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 98%.
Sat31°23°98%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 98%.
Sun31°23°96%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 96%.
Mon32°23°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.

Updated 01:48 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR

Amount

Converted to

IDR · Indonesian Rupiah

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Sorongabout 2 hours by ferry to WaisaiThe gateway; most travelers pass through for a night.Read the guide
West Papuaseparate trip by flightThe wider province, including Sorong and the Bird's Head peninsula.Read the guide
Wayag and Misoolmulti-day boat tripsFar reefs and karst lagoons, best by liveaboard or long boat trips.

Before you go to Raja Ampat Islands

Dive and snorkel packagesHomestay, resort and liveaboard optionsCompare day trips

Stays on the islandsHomestays and dive resortsCheck availability

eSIM for Raja AmpatPatchy signal; save tickets offlineRead the guide

Dive and remote-trip coverEvacuation, boats and flight delaysRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Raja Ampat Islands, checked

Check passport validity and visa requirements for Indonesia on the Directorate General of Immigration site, imigrasi.go.id, before you fly.
Pay the marine park entry fee at the official counter, keep the receipt, and confirm current rates with the Raja Ampat Regency government.
Check whether West Papua requires a travel permit for foreign visitors, and confirm the current rule with the Indonesian embassy or kemlu.go.id before you fly.
Do not touch or stand on coral, and do not take shells, sea stars or other marine life from the reefs or beaches.
Homestays and small boats commonly take cash, so carry enough rupiah from Sorong or Waisai before you go out to the islands.

Plan around Raja Ampat Islands

All of Indonesia

Entry, regions and the rest of the country

Read the guide Sorong

The gateway port and ferry town

Read the guide West Papua

The province that includes Raja Ampat

Read the guide Papua

Highlands and the north coast, with safety notes

Read the guide Komodo National Park

Another dive and snorkel region in the south

Read the guide Travel insurance

Dive cover and trip delay protection

Read the guide

Raja Ampat Islands FAQ

How do you get to Raja Ampat?

Fly to Sorong, then take the public ferry to Waisai (about two hours) or a boat arranged by your homestay or resort. Book the transfer in advance, and allow buffer days around international flights.

How many days do you need in Raja Ampat?

Four nights is the practical minimum with transfers; five to seven lets you dive or snorkel several areas. Liveaboards usually run seven to ten days.

Is Raja Ampat worth the cost?

For divers and snorkelers, yes: the reef life is exceptional. For general sightseers, there is less to do, and the transport costs and time are high.

What is the best time to visit Raja Ampat?

Roughly October to April for calmer seas and visibility, though conditions vary by area. Ask your operator about the specific sites you want.

Is Raja Ampat in Papua?

It is in West Papua, a separate province from Papua. The access route runs through Sorong, and conditions on the islands differ from those in the highlands, but check government advice before you book.