Join us on an extraordinary snorkeling safari to two of Indonesia’s most talked about snorkeling destinations, Raja Ampat and Wakatobi.
We’ll start the trip at the stunning Papua Explorers Resort, located in the heart of the Raja Ampat archipelago. Within just a few minutes of the resort there is a variety of snorkeling sites that play host to some of the most diverse marine habitats found anywhere on the planet. Expect stunning coral gardens packed with hard and soft corals that carpet the island slopes all the way up to the surface. Masses of fish life explode from the reefs, with good chances of swimming next to bigger fish such as manta rays, reef sharks, and schools of barracuda and jacks.
Our second stop will be at Wakatobi which is situated at the geographical center of the Coral Triangle, the most bio-diverse marine environment in the world. The islands in the Wakatobi National Park have been preserved from large-scale tourism as the area is only accessed by a private charter flight from Bali. As you snorkel around Wakatobi you can expect stunning reefscapes comprised of hundreds of different coral species that extend for hundreds of meters in all directions. The resort has a truly fantastic house reef easily accessed from the resort’s pier.
Marine Life Guide
This tour is partnered with The Reef-World Foundation. Find out how we support The Reef-World Foundation via this tour here.
Day 1 - Arrive in Jakarta
Arrive at Jakarta International Airport (CGK) and check in to Jakarta Airport Hotel. Relax and recover from the journey.
Day 2 - Travel to Papua Explorers, Raja Ampat
Check out and meet the group in the lobby for our flight to Sorong where we meet the Papua Explorer crew, drive to the pier, and then take the 1.5 hour transfer boat to the resort.
Upon arrival, we will check in to our bungalows, have lunch, an orientation, and, time permitting, a snorkel on the house reef. We will then freshen up for dinner.
The house reef is accessed via the resort’s own private pier which has an easy-to-climb ladder for a comfortable entry or exit. The house reef is pretty spectacular and usually ends up being one of the highlights of the trip as the reef just in front of the resort is home to juvenile blacktip reef sharks, schools of fish, vibrant corals, and loads of cool critters. The beauty of the house reef is that you can snorkel it any time you want.
Day 3 - 8 - Snorkeling from Papua Exolorers Resort
Our mornings will start with a breakfast buffet, serving a variety of home-baked goods, fruits, hot foods, and juices. We then set off on the speed boats accompanied by local snorkel guides to some of the beautiful sites in the area. We will do two different snorkel sites during the course of the morning excursion, each session lasting anywhere from 60- 75 mins, before returning to the resort for lunch. We will have boat and surface support on all our snorkels, as well as in-water local guides to assist and point out interesting marine life.
After lunch, we will head out to another site for our third snorkel session of the day. The house reef is always open for us to snorkel at any time you should choose.
The snorkeling accessible from the resort is highly varied and arguably some of the best in Raja Ampat. In this Dampier Straight region you will find a multitude of beautiful coral reefs with each offering something different. Some may be situated around unique topography with shallow swim-throughs, while others may just extend for hundreds of meters in every direction. This area is also very popular with the manta rays as there are certain bays and islands where they are known to feed and clean at different times of the day. We will also take the opportunity to meander through the famous mangroves where the mangrove tree roots seem to be an extension of the coral reef below.
The marine life is just as diverse as the types of snorkeling sites, the shallow reef tops are a great place to enjoy the rhythmic pulse of the colorful reef fish and admire the determination of the hawkbill sea turtles as they forage for the sponges at the base of corals. In the blue, you never know what you might find, but you can count on larger schools of jackfish, batfish, and the odd tornadoes of barracudas. On other sites, we might get lucky with some cleaning or feeding manta rays. This area has the highest species count of anywhere in the world so really, everywhere you look you’re bound to find something truly amazing.
Night snorkels are highly recommended as the house reef completely transforms at night when the nocturnal creatures come out to hunt. Some night snorkeling highlights typically include eels, cuttlefish, octopus, squid, crabs, shrimps, and even a walking shark that is endemic to the area…. the list is long.
One morning we will head out early to a nearby island for a short trek to see if we can find the Birds of Paradise and even possibly see them doing their mating dance and showing off their amazing plumage. Another day will be spent out on the boats all day, as we tour the “The Passage”. On this day we will have a packed lunch on the boats, and enjoy 3 snorkel sessions before heading back to the resort. The exact days for these outings will be decided according to the weather.
Day 9 - Flight to Bali
After a big breakfast we’ll catch our private transfer boat back to Sorong where we’ll then board our flight back to Bali. Upon arrival, we’ll check into the Novotel Airport hotel and settle in for the night.
Day 10 - Flight to Wakatobi
We’ll have an early morning check-out of the Novotel where we’ll walk next door to the airport, check-in for our private charter flight, and then enjoy a full breakfast buffet at the airport’s executive lounge before boarding our flight to Wakatobi.
Upon arrival at Wakatobi’s private airstrip, we are transferred to the resort to check-in, have lunch, and an orientation and safety briefing, followed by an optional afternoon snorkeling session on the house reef.
Day 11 - 16 - Snorkeling from Wakatobi
Each day we will wake up to a fabulous breakfast, followed by a site briefing and a morning snorkel session. Each snorkel session will last 75 – 90 minutes, have boat surface support, and in-water snorkel guides who will point out interesting creatures. We return to the resort for a sumptuous lunch and then head out to another site for an afternoon snorkel session. We can access the extensive house reef at our leisure from the resort’s pier.
There are 2 boat snorkels each day, with an optional night snorkel or two during the week, all of which are facilitated by our own private boats. Towels, snacks, and water are provided on the boats for use after our snorkel sessions.
The snorkeling in Wakatobi is really quite amazing. Currents are mild, the reefs are vibrant and expansive, and marine life is in abundance. The reefs are typically characterized by hard coral plateaus which start right at the shoreline and fan out around the island and gently slope to about fifteen feet before they abruptly drop off into a wall. The area has done well with its conservation measures and pristine reefs and the diverse array of marine life is a testament to their efforts. Some of the highlights from past trips have been dozens of crocodile fish, schools of snappers and fusileers, sea snakes, nudibranchs, Spanish mackerel, and even a blue ring octopus spotted right on the house reef.
Most meals are served buffet style and include an Asian Fusion cuisine with fresh, chef-prepared options- daily roasts, salads and soups, and a variety of enticing desserts. The resort prides itself in offering a fine dining experience, so we can expect delicious food, served in the Beach Restaurant. Evening cocktails can be enjoyed at the Jetty Bar, sitting over the water and enjoying the stunning view of the night sky.
The resort can cater to most dietary requirements, please let us know if you have any with some notice to ensure they can get the necessary ingredients.
Day 17 - Depart from Wakatobi
On the last morning, we check out after breakfast and take a mid-morning flight back to Bali where the tour ends.
Papua Explorers Resort
The water bungalows blend traditional Papuan style with the comfort of modern design features. They are built using local, natural materials collected from the surrounding villages. All bungalows are equipped with en-suite toilet and shower, hot water, ceiling fan, mosquito net, working desk and a comfortable seating area. The spacious veranda with direct access to the sea, allows you to enjoy the sun and sea in your own privacy.
You will never miss a sunrise or sunset with the unique, round shape of the restaurant. On offer is traditional Indonesian cuisine as well as international comfort foods – all freshly prepared by the kitchen team. The resort has some kayaks available for guests to use and also offers a wide range of land tours to local villages, other islands, and bird watching. There is a resident yoga teacher and 2 free classes are offered per week with more available on request. The spa offers a range of treatments in an open-air relaxing setting.
Resort Guide
Papua Explorers Snorkel Boat
Spacious fiberglass speedboats with enough room to easily store snorkeling equipment. The boats do not have a toilet onboard but do offer a full canopy for sun protection and a ladder to help exit the water. Average distance from the resort to the site is about 20 minutes.
Wakatobi Resort
Wakatobi is completely secluded, reached by charted flights from Bali which land on a private airstrip followed by a short speed boat ride.
Despite its location, the resort has beautiful luxurious accommodations built in tune with the environment using ethically and locally sourced materials and labor. The resort offers other creature comforts like a full-service spa, a jetty cocktail bar with amazing sunset views, a small library and audio-visual room, and a souvenir shop.
The food at the resort is refined, and the professional chefs combine fresh ingredients to create a variety of Indonesian, Asian and International dishes. All special dietary requirements will be catered for (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free etc).
Resort Guide
Wakatobi Snorkel Boat
Large wooden boats complete with gear up areas and full canopy for sun protection. Marine toilet with shower are on all boats as well as fresh water bins for equipment and cameras. The average travel time from the resort to the sites is fifteen minutes. Exit the water via ladders on the side of the boat.
On this page you will find our Tour Dates & Pricing (see below contact form), a Booking Form and Details of Payment schedule including deposit and final balance. If you have any further questions please complete the form and we will reply within 24-48hrs.
Make an Enquiry or Book this Tour
Tour Dates 2024
2 – 18 November 2024
Tour Price: $9195
How to book your place?
Initial deposit: US$400 per person
12-months from departure: US$600 per person interim deposit
6-months from departure: US$1000 per person interim deposit
Final balance: Due 12-weeks before departure
Inclusions:
- 1 Night Jakarta Airport Hotel
- 7 nights Papua Explorers Resort superior over-water bungalow, full board, 3 boat snorkels per day, unlimited house reef access, bird of paradise land tour-weather permitting
- Domestic flights with 20kg checked baggage per person
- 1 Night Novotel Bali Airport
- 7 nights in Wakatobi, ocean front bungalow, full board, 3x boat snorkels a day, unlimited house reef access
- Escorted by Snorkel Venture tour leader
Exclusions:
- International flights & visas
- Raja Ampat marine park permit – $100 USD, subject to change
- Snorkel equipment rental
- Gratuities
- Travel and health insurance
- General Sundries, beverages, laundry, etc
