There is no shortage of magic in this far off place – everywhere you go is mesmerising. Here you can have a unique experience and meet the Komodo Dragons in their natural environment; the world’s largest lizard. A rare species to see in its natural habitat, over 2500 live across the Komodo National Park which is made up of three main islands – Komodo, Rinca and Padar.

The famous Pink Beach of Komodo is another rare sight that you can visit when travelling the region, in fact, it is one of only seven places in the world where you can visit a pink sand beach and it is perfect for swimming and snorkelling. For scuba divers, Komodo attracts divers from all over the world who want to explore and swim alongside giant mantas, sea turtles, dolphins, dugongs and some of the oceans most overwhelmingly beautiful corals.  

The people of Komodo come from across many regions including Sape, Madura, South Sulawesi and Manggari and bring with them a variety of cultural influences and backgrounds. Many men make a living as a fisherman and it is known as a place of simplicity and you may experience women who are weaving or a traditional village welcome dance. It is important that visitors are sensitive in regards to the local people when walking around the island and in the villages. Tourists can be comfortable with covering up knees and shoulders and by using a beautiful sarong to cover swimwear. Visitors are warmly welcomed and whilst not mandatory it is greatly appreciated.  

Sailing this region will make sure you have the best possible view as you blissfully take in every sunrise and sunset with a tropical paradise as your backdrop. This is an adventure you won’t forget.

Travelling to Raja Ampat is best accessed by the major city of West Papua in Sorong by flight, commonly via Jakarta or Surabaya. You can then make your way to the port and transfer from Sorong Harbour by Ferry to Waisai, the main city on the island of Waigeo. This is the gateway for you to enter the islands of Raja Ampat and it’s remote location makes it even more beautiful than you could ever truly imagine. The best way to truly explore Raja Ampat is by boat.

The culture of Raja Ampat is diversified, like most of Indonesia, there is a fusion of ethnic groups, religious beliefs, languages and amazing cuisine. The English language is not yet widely spoken across this region and many communicate in their native language which is derived from Papua or Bahasa Indonesia. It is important that visitors are sensitive in regards to the local people when walking around the island and in the villages. Tourists can be comfortable with covering up knees and shoulders and by using a beautiful sarong to cover swimwear. Visitors are warmly welcomed and whilst not mandatory it is greatly appreciated.  

Typical food of Raja Ampat offers guests a wide array of incredible spices and flavour and some of the main ingredients are cassava, sago and rice. If you are interested in trying a local dish the main menu would be a breakfast of bananas, plantains or yams often fried in a dough and then served hot, for lunch it might be a rice based meal served with vegetables and fish or perhaps a soup made with local herbs, and dinner is commonly similar to lunch as many meals across Indonesia feature rice. The local food is one of the best ways to connect with the destination. 

The highlight of Raja Ampat is of course – mother nature! Here in the remote jungle islands in the far east you can really marvel at the landscape, the fresh air and the unbelievably clear waters. It is difficult to explain just how vast the islands really are; exceeding 9.8 million hectares of land. The area is known for its rich diversity on both land and sea, but also, its rich hospitality where visitors are commonly met with a traditional welcome dance. Sailing throughout Raja Ampat is where just a few tourists will ever go, a special expedition for anyone who journeys through here. A friendly paradise that will have you never wanting to leave.