Raja Ampat - The Paradise of West Papua

Tour Code: IDN02

A 16-day holiday, including an 11-night cruise, around the remote and beautiful Raja Ampat islands in the far east of Indonesia in search of cetaceans, coral reefs and birds.

16 days from
£10,395 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£8,995

book now

Add to Saved Tours

Highlights

Summary

Just offshore from the western tip of of Papua lies the archipelago of Raja Ampat – more than 1,500 precipitous, jungle-clad islands surrounded by turquoise waters. Staying aboard the very comfortable MV Mermaid I, we travel by day and anchor early each evening, keeping our itinerary very flexible as we meander through the archipelago enjoying the dolphins, whales, flying fish, seabirds and breathtaking scenery. We will make land visits, going in search of birdlife amongst the islands' superb forests, and each day we'll snorkel over pristine reefs, discussing what we've seen each evening with our expert tour leader Dr Chas Anderson. Then after dark, we will enjoy stunning views of the night sky!

Includes an 11-day cruise aboard the exclusively chartered MV Mermaid I
Snorkel over pristine coral reefs each day
Spinner, Spotted & Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins all possible
Look for Pilot Whale & Sperm Whale plus False Killer & Killer Whales
Chance of rarer cetaceans such as Bryde's & Omura's Whales
3,500+ species of fish recorded in Raja Ampat
Look for the stunning Red Bird-of-paradise
Enjoy stunning views of the night sky
Led by renowned marine biologist Dr Chas Anderson

Grading

Grade A. Option island walks and snorkelling excursions only.

Indonesia is a country of superlatives. It is the largest archipelago in the world, comprising over 17,000 islands, with a wonderful variety of cultures and the most diverse marine-life anywhere in the world. Over 3,500 species of fish have been recorded, and recent research around Raja Ampat has highlighted the wealth of tropical whale and dolphin species here. Following the success of our incredible wildlife cruise from Bali to Komodo, we are delighted to offer this exciting cruise on board MV Mermaid I around the stunning islands of Raja Ampat, in the far east of Indonesia.

We begin with a flight to Sorong, on the western tip of the great island of Papua, and an overnight stop. Just offshore lies the archipelago of Raja Ampat, a collection of more than 1,500 steep, jungle-clad islands, with white-sand beaches, secret lagoons and surrounded by luminous turquoise waters. The following day we board our exclusively chartered vessel, MV Mermaid I, which will be our home for the next 11 days whilst we explore the region’s coral-rich waters, travelling by day and anchoring early each evening. MV Mermaid I is extremely comfortable, with an attentive crew, experienced captain and seven en suite and air-conditioned guest cabins. We will keep our itinerary very flexible, meandering through the archipelago and taking our time to enjoy the dolphins, whales, flying fish, seabirds and, of course, stunning scenery. During our lazy days at sea, cetaceans will be our main focus, and we are likely to see several species of whale and dolphin during our cruise. Whilst nothing is certain in the world of whale-watching, possibilities include species such as Spinner, Spotted and Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, Pilot Whale, Sperm Whale and both False Killer and Killer Whales. We also have a reasonable chance of finding some rarer, little-known species such as Bryde’s and Omura’s Whales; the latter was only described as a new species in 2003 but has since been positively recorded several times from Raja Ampat. Other marine-life includes flying fish and tuna which we should see regularly, as well as turtles; if we are very lucky, we might see a Whale Shark or Dugong which are also found in these waters.

Raja Ampat is home to the richest coral reefs in the world, and so we will be certain to make time for snorkelling each day using Mermaid I’s two inflatable tenders and, although these excursions will always be optional, this is likely to be a real highlight of the cruise for many. There is an almost overwhelming diversity of tropical reef fish to be found here, including countless butterflyfish, angelfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish and anemonefish which should keep even the most avid snorkellers enthralled! There is also at least one known site where we can look for, and hopefully swim with, mighty Manta Rays. Many of the islands remain cloaked in forest and are home to a wealth of fantastic birdlife, so we will also enjoy some island visits during our cruise and, in particular, make a special effort to see both Red and Wilson’s Birds-of-paradise.

At the end of each day we will relax, reflect on our sightings and discuss the bewildering diversity of reef animals with our expert tour leader and marine biologist, Dr. Chas Anderson. Then, after dark, far from the city lights, we will enjoy the stunning views of the night sky before retiring to bed.

After 11 days at sea it will sadly be time to return to Sorong, where we will disembark after breakfast on Day 15 and transfer to the airport ahead of our flights back to the UK. Indonesia is, of course, a long way from Europe, so your holiday does not have to end here. Should you wish to extend your stay, either in Raja Ampat or elsewhere in Indonesia, such as North Sulawesi, we would be very happy to assist with your plans.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Depart UK

Day 2

In flight

Day 3

Arrive Sorong and overnight

Day 4/14

Cruising through Raja Ampat

Day 15

Disembark and depart Sorong

Day 16

Arrive UK

What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation:
For this cruise we have exclusively chartered the 14-berth ‘MV Mermaid I’, a 28-metre motor-yacht featuring seven en suite and air-conditioned guest cabins. For additional information on the vessel, and details of the different cabin grades available, please refer to the tour itinerary. In Sorong we stay in a comfortable tourist hotel (all rooms are en suite).
Food:
All meals are included once on board MV Mermaid I. Lunches and dinners are not included in Sorong. We recommend allowing around £40.

Reviews

Naturally the snorkelling on pristine reefs was the highlight. In addition, watching Wilson's and red birds of paradise was wonderful. Equally memorable was sitting at the front of Mermaid with Chas whilst looking for cetaceans and birds (especially as the sun sank to the horizon). Chas was outstanding as our onboard naturalist. His talks in the evenings were a real highlight of the entire tour (especially the one on Alfred Russell Wallace). The snorkelling team were equally great, as well as the panga drivers. Mermaid 1 was a truly wonderful boat. The cabin was spacious, clean and very comfortable. The entire crew were excellent in every respect. The food was fantastic.
R.L. Argyll, Mar24
Snorkelling in the most beautiful reefs we have ever been to. The crew on Mermaid 1 were superb and looked after us brilliantly on land and sea (in the boat and in the water). Charles was an excellent expert and gave really interesting, engaging and amusing lectures every evening.
G.L. Warwickshire, Mar 24
Life on board the Mermaid was fabulous. So many highlights including seeing a huge Manta Ray leap from the water so close to the boat it almost landed on the bow and a magical time spent with a cuttlefish while snorkelling. It goes without saying that any day spent watching a whale is a great day!
L.R. Devon, Mar 24

We loved it all! The crew on the ship were particularly helpful in every respect and couldn't do enough to make it a brilliant experience for us all.
D.S. Norfolk, Mar 24

I thought the Mermaid ran like clockwork and both guides were excellent checking for birds or cetaceans. The staff was so friendly and helpful, and having a videographer there made the holiday even more special with a great video to remember an amazing experience.
J.M. Essex, Mar 24

Raja Ampat proved to be everything the holiday information promised. The area is one of the world's most pristine coral reefs & was home to an equally spectacular range of reef fish. The waters are mainly clear, so visibility whilst snorkelling was generally excellent, it was like swimming in the best coral aquarium you could ever imagine & then some. Between snorkelling there was the possibility of seeing Cetaceans, marine birds & some fabulous scenery. The trip to see the Birds of Paradise was well worth the early start & provided yet another highlight. The "Mermaid 1" provided great base for the trip, it was spotlessly clean, the cabins were very comfortable, communal areas large enough for all, food was plentiful, being a good mix of Indonesian & European dishes. Nothing seemed too much trouble for the crew, they accommodated the needs of the group, along with individual needs treating everyone with kindness & respect. Whilst snorkelling we felt extremely safe & the dive crew were attentive at all times & very helpful in helping us spot less obvious inhabitants of the reef we may have otherwise missed. They approached their work with enthusiasm, were friendly, very knowledgeable & were able to adapt their plans to suit conditions as we travelled. The whole trip was enjoyable & unique.
S.J. Buckinghamshire, Mar 20

On board "Mermaid 1" the crew were fantastic, food wonderful and plentiful, cabins comfortable with bedding and towels regularly changed every three days. We had two snorkel dives per day over different coral environments including one to a mangrove. There were three trips ashore, one to visit a hide overlooking a bird of paradise that was in full display trying to attract a female, the second to a pearl manufacturing facility and the third to the iconic bay of islands of Piaynemo. During the sailing time transferring between islands the marine biologist on board led whale and dolphin watching, his expertise knowing where the cetaceans were likely to be and the skill of the captain in navigating the boat led to some wonderful and memorable sites. There were interesting presentations given each evening by the resident marine biologist and the Naturetrek guide. Also in the evenings if interested there were group sessions to review and identify the wildlife (birds, fish and cetaceans) that had been spotted during the day.
C.J. Buckinghamshire, Mar 20

Show More Reviews Show fewer reviews

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Sat 1st Mar – Sun 16th Mar 3 £10,395

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£8,995

Tour Leader:

Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary

Mark Wood

Tour Leader: Mark Wood

After spending much of his early childhood exploring the woods and fields around his house in Fife, Scotland, Mark quickly developed a curiosity for the natural world around him. With the closest nature reserve being RSPB Loch Leven it did not take long for a keen interest in birds to follow. Going on to study Conservation Biology at Aberdeen University Mark’s passion for wildlife in its many facets and a desire to protect it would only continue to grow.

Much of his working life has been spent as an Ecologist in Scotland but the desire to travel and find exotic bird species is a constant draw. This has led to many long overseas adventures including Australia and New Zealand, where he was able to work on the Kakapo project and see this endangered parrot. Driving from Scotland to Mongolia and back in 2019, exploring much of central Asia and Russia along the way, a lifelong dream! As well as many other fantastic, nature rich locations across North and South America, Africa, Europe and East Asia.

Mark started leading tours to Shetland for Naturetrek in 2022.

Please note that cabin grades are subject to availability. We recommend phoning the office before booking to confirm that your preference is available.

  Array
(
    [172] => stdClass Object
        (
            [id] => 172
            [parent_id] => 165
            [level] => 2
            [path] => tour-focus/whales
            [title] => Whale Watching
            [alias] => whales
            [description] => Whale Watching Cruises – See Whales in their Wild Habitat
Seeing whales in the wild is one of the top 10 things most people want to do during their lifetime. Scanning the water, waiting to hear a blow or see a dorsal fin, is one of the top wildlife experiences in the world, and it can get addictive! A sighting of whales in their natural habitat is consistently rated in the top 10 wildlife experiences in the world. These gentle giants of the ocean hold a special place in our hearts. Our dedicated small group tours offer the thrilling opportunity of an up-close-and-personal encounter in the wild; scanning the water, waiting for the sound of a blow or the sight of a dorsal fin is both thrilling and addictive.
Naturetrek Whale Watching Tours
Our dedicated small group whale-watching holidays encompass a range of destinations all over the world to offer the best chance of sightings on short trips or longer cruises. Whether it’s a day excursion in the UK or an extended 14-day cruise to an exotic far-flung location, we offer the chance to encounter these giant cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from the tropics to the Polar regions. 
Depending on the location, our itineraries can focus on one or several of the planet’s 86 key species, including Blue and Killer Whales, or form part of a broader wildlife-watching experience to encounter dolphins, birdlife and other marine species. Led by expert biologist or naturalist guides, our tours often allow participants to get thrillingly close to one of the most fascinating animals on Earth. We've been organising specialist wildlife tours for 32 years and our experience, passion and knowledge have earned us a reputation as the best in the business. Our range of whale-watching holidays is so popular that we are rapidly expanding our programme to include some of the most exciting, wildlife-rich places in the world.
Why book a Naturetrek whale & dolphin watching holiday?

Expert biologist-led & wildlife photographer-led holidays
Dedicated whale-watching tours focusing on one or a few key species
Many of our whale-watching tours offer the chance to see dolphins as well (and vice versa)
A range of tours from day trips out on small boats to week-long liveaboard cruises
A chance to look for cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from polar waters to the tropics
A wide range of the world’s 86 species are seen on our whale-watching holidays, including Blue Whales & Killer Whales
A wide range of the world's dolphin species have also been seen, from Bottlenose and Risso’s, to Spinner, Striped and Heaviside’s


Our specialist recommends...


"In the UK I'd recommend our full-day dolphin tours to look for White-beaked dolphins off Lyme Bay. Madeira offers a good variety of dolphins close to shore including Risso's, Atlantic Spotted and Common, while if you fancy warm tropical waters Sri Lanka or the Maldives offer a good range of acrobatic species in sunny conditions!" 

Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager

All Whale Watching Tours
            [params] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [category_layout] => 
                    [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/Ewtrcgx7A6xc/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg
                    [image_alt] => 
                )

            [metakey] => Whales
            [note] => 15
            [parent] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [id] => 165
                    [parent_id] => 1
                    [level] => 1
                    [path] => tour-focus
                    [title] => Tour Focus
                    [alias] => tour-focus
                    [description] => 
                    [params] => stdClass Object
                        (
                            [category_layout] => 
                            [image_az] => 
                            [image_alt] => 
                        )

                    [metakey] => 
                    [note] => 
                )

        )

    [180] => stdClass Object
        (
            [id] => 180
            [parent_id] => 165
            [level] => 2
            [path] => tour-focus/birds
            [title] => Birdwatching
            [alias] => birds
            [description] => Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:

Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar

Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
 

Our specialist recommends...


"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader

  
 
All Birdwatching Tours
            [params] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [category_layout] => 
                    [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/Ewtrcgx7A6xc/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg
                    [image_alt] => 
                )

            [metakey] => Birds
            [note] => 02
            [parent] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [id] => 165
                    [parent_id] => 1
                    [level] => 1
                    [path] => tour-focus
                    [title] => Tour Focus
                    [alias] => tour-focus
                    [description] => 
                    [params] => stdClass Object
                        (
                            [category_layout] => 
                            [image_az] => 
                            [image_alt] => 
                        )

                    [metakey] => 
                    [note] => 
                )

        )

    [182] => stdClass Object
        (
            [id] => 182
            [parent_id] => 165
            [level] => 2
            [path] => tour-focus/wildlife-cruises
            [title] => Wildlife Cruise
            [alias] => wildlife-cruises
            [description] => Wildlife Cruise Holidays
The oceans are one of the last great wilderness areas left on our planet.  Travelling by sea on a nature cruise represents the best way to see many of the world’s wildlife spectacles, as there are still wildlife paradises that are accessible by sea but cannot yet be reached by air. 
Naturetrek wildlife cruises offer:

A range of cruising experiences, from exclusively chartered 50-berth expedition ships to smaller motor yachts & schooners
Arctic & Antarctic nature cruises in ships with specially strengthened hulls
Each voyage is accompanied by expert naturalists
Wide range of wildlife cruises from five continents

We have been running wildlife cruises for over 30 years and if your image of cruising is endless deck quoits or bingo, think again! A life on the ocean waves can be a permit to witness scenes of natural splendour that most people will only ever see on their television screens.
A selection of our most popular wildlife cruises:

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands – Unique 2-week Galapagos nature cruise aboard a 16-berth schooner in search of the confiding birds, mammals & reptiles that inhabit these islands made so famous by Darwin
The Sub-Antartic Islands of New Zealand – Penguins, marine mammals & seabirds (Tailormade) 
Spitsbergen - Realm of the Polar Bear – Polar Bears, Walruses & seabirds
Baja California – Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, thousands of dolphins & other marine life, plus San Ignacio’s friendly Grey Whales
Kamchatka Peninsula – Pacific Ocean seabird colonies, spectacular volcanic scenery & over a dozen species of auks, plus Steller’s Sea Eagle, Siberian Rubythroats & much more (Tailormade)
Brahmaputra Cruise, India – Unique nature cruise visiting Kaziranga & other National Parks


Our specialist recommends...




"If you love whales and dolphins I’d recommend our Baja & Sea of Cortez nature cruise. The world’s largest concentration of cetaceans is found here, but book early as this tour sells out fast. I’d also suggest ‘Spitsbergen – Realm of the Polar Bear’ for a spectacular combination of wildlife and scenery.” 

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager 

All Wildlife Cruises
            [params] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [category_layout] => 
                    [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/Ewtrcgx7A6xc/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg
                    [image_alt] => 
                )

            [metakey] => Wildlife Cruises
            [note] => 04
            [parent] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [id] => 165
                    [parent_id] => 1
                    [level] => 1
                    [path] => tour-focus
                    [title] => Tour Focus
                    [alias] => tour-focus
                    [description] => 
                    [params] => stdClass Object
                        (
                            [category_layout] => 
                            [image_az] => 
                            [image_alt] => 
                        )

                    [metakey] => 
                    [note] => 
                )

        )

    [190] => stdClass Object
        (
            [id] => 190
            [parent_id] => 165
            [level] => 2
            [path] => tour-focus/dolphin-watching
            [title] => Dolphin Watching
            [alias] => dolphin-watching
            [description] => Dolphin Watching – See Dolphins in the Wild
Seeing dolphins in the wild consistently ranks high on people’s lists of ’10 Things To See Before I Die’. Dolphins have captured the public imagination arguably more than any other animal – we marvel at their intelligence, grace and agility, as well as their apparent curiosity of their human observers.
Naturetrek Dolphin Watching Tours
Naturetrek offers the chance to watch dolphins all over the world, from the UK to the tropics and polar regions. Many of our dolphin tours also offer the opportunity to see whales. We offer:

Dedicated dolphin tours focusing on one or a few key species
Dolphin watching as part of a broader wildlife watching tour
A range of tours from day trips out on small boats to week-long liveaboard cruises
Expert biologist-led, photographer-led and researcher-led tours
A wide range of the world’s dolphin species seen, from Bottlenose and Risso’s, to Spinner, Striped and Heaviside’s

Our range of dolphin watching holidays includes:

A Maldives Cruise – a cruise through the turquoise waters surrounding the Maldives, searching for dolphins and whales as well as snorkeling over the reefs
Monterey Bay – enjoying the dolphins, whales and bird life of California’s Monterey Bay 
The Azores – Look for Sperm Whales and other cetaceans
Madeira – a 5-day holiday focusing on dolphin watching


Our specialist recommends...


"In the UK I'd recommend our full-day dolphin tours to look for White-beaked dolphins off Lyme Bay. Madeira offers a good variety of dolphins close to shore including Risso's, Atlantic Spotted and Common, while if you fancy warm tropical waters Sri Lanka or the Maldives offer a good range of acrobatic species in sunny conditions!" 

Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager

 
ALL DOLPHIN TOURS
            [params] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [category_layout] => 
                    [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/Ewtrcgx7A6xc/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg
                    [image_alt] => 
                )

            [metakey] => Dolphin Watching
            [note] => 24
            [parent] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [id] => 165
                    [parent_id] => 1
                    [level] => 1
                    [path] => tour-focus
                    [title] => Tour Focus
                    [alias] => tour-focus
                    [description] => 
                    [params] => stdClass Object
                        (
                            [category_layout] => 
                            [image_az] => 
                            [image_alt] => 
                        )

                    [metakey] => 
                    [note] => 
                )

        )

)

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire

Tour Reports

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!