Experience the best of Indonesia on this 15-day snorkel safari through North Sulawesi and the fabled Raja Ampat. Encounters with manta rays, lots of turtles, all the reef fish you can imagine, and of course some of the richest reefs found anywhere on the planet are some of the expected highlights of this snorkel safari.
We’ll be based at two different resorts, first in Northern Sulawesi and then Raja Ampat. Whilst no two days will be the same, our snorkeling days usually involve a morning and an afternoon at different sites each time. We’ll explore walls, drifts snorkels, sloping reefs, manta cleaning stations, mangroves, village jetties, and so much more! A member of the Snorkel Venture team fully guides this tour and assists with everything from start to finish, just like all of our snorkel safaris.
We will snorkel Sulawesi from Siladen Resort, a favorite of ours. Bungalows are set in a manicured garden set around the pool. The food is wonderful and guests can enjoy meals on the beach. The area is especially well known for its soft coral and boasts one of the healthiest turtle populations in Indonesia. We will embark of two boat snorkel sessions per day to varied sites from walls and drop offs to slopes and sandy bottoms.
Thereafter, we will snorkel Raja Ampat from Papua Explorers Resort, in the Dampier Strait. The resort’s spacious stilted bungalows are set over the expansive house reef. which we can explore at our leisure. Additionally, we will enjoy three boat snorkel sessions per day. The resort offers easy access to some of the areas best reefs, manta cleaning stations and mangroves. The sheer volume and variety of marine life is mind-blowing.
Jim. Oct 2024
‘Our trip to Sulawesi and Raja Ampat was perfect! Our tour leader, Marcus, was outstanding. He communicated very effectively and timely. Not too much information or not too little information. He managed 100% of the details.’
Marine Life Guide
This tour is partnered with No Trash Triangle Initiative. Find out how we support NTTI via this tour here.
Day 1 - Arrive in Jakarta
Arrive at Jakarta International Airport (CGK). Make your way to your hotel in Jakarta. Check-in is available from 2 pm. Relax and recuperate from your long journey. That evening there will be a group dinner at the restaurant in the hotel where you will get to meet the group leader as well as the other members of the group.
Day 2 -Jakarta to Manado
The group will check out and make its way to the departures terminal for our flight to Manado. Upon arrival at Manado International Airport (MDC), you will be met by a Siladen Resort staff member who will accompany you to the resort, which takes about up to two hours, first by car and then by private boat. Here you will check-in, have a resort orientation and briefing, and then relax and enjoy the facilities until dinner where we will all meet and eat together.
Dinner is usually served under the large trees on the beach. Meals are mostly buffet style, prepared under the guidance of an international chef and include several courses of both Indonesian and Western origin.
Day 3 - 6 - Snorkeling from Siladen Resort
Each day will start with a buffet breakfast followed by a snorkel site briefing and a snorkel. Each in-water session will last 60- 90 minutes. The snorkel sites are about 10 – 25 minutes from the resort. We will return in time for lunch and then have some time to relax before our afternoon snorkel. Evenings can be spent in the lounge looking at Fish ID books, having a beverage at the bar, enjoying a massage at the spa or simply relaxing on your veranda.
The snorkeling in Bunaken National Park 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 gently slope to about fifteen feet at the deepest end before they abruptly drop off into a wall. The area has done well with its conservation measures and its robust population of sea turtles is a testament to this fact. On any one snorkel, you can expect to see a dozen or so different turtles paddling around.
One morning will be spent out on the boat looking for the local super-pod of dolphins, sometimes found mingling with melon-head whales!
The resort can cater for most dietary restrictions, but please let us know if you have any in advance so that they can procure the ingredients.
Day 7 - 8 - Manado - Sorong
After checking out of Siladen Resort we will be transferred to Manado City where we check into the Novotel, have dinner, and relax before our flight to Sorong the following morning.
After the hotel’s excellent buffet breakfast, we head to the airport for our flight to Sorong. Upon arrival, we meet a representative from Papua Explorers Resort and transfer to the resort by boat, up to two hours away. Here we check-in, have lunch and a resort orientation, followed by a house reef snorkel if time allows, and then group dinner. Meals are served in their Seaview restaurant, which overlooks the house reef. A variety of Western and Indonesian dishes are served at their extensive buffets.
The resort can cater to dietary restrictions, but please let us know in advance so that they can procure the ingredients.
Day 9 - 15 - Snorkeling from Papua Explorers
Our days here will start with a delicious breakfast buffet followed by a briefing and snorkel session, lasting anywhere from 60-90 minutes, and are always accompanied by local guides. We then return to the resort for lunch and some downtime before heading out for an afternoon snorkel. The house reef is incredible and well worth several visits. It is accessed via the resort’s own private pier which has an easy to climb ladder for a comfortable entry and 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.
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 that 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.
Day 16 - Transfer to Jakarta via Sorong
We leave the resort on a morning boat transfer, in time to get our flight from Sorong to Jakarta where we bid farewell to our new friends. Tour ends here.
We will spend the first part of the tour at a wonderfully secluded resort on a small island in the heart of Bunaken National Park, Siladen Resort.
Siladen Resort
Siladen Resort and Spa is set around a large pool, with bungalows dotted around the manicured garden and beachfront, each with ensuite facilities, air conditioning and private patio. The resort faces west towards Manado Tua, and we will be treated to gorgeous sunset views.
Meals include a variety of local and international fare prepared by professional chefs. Meals are served at a beachfront restaurant, tables are available under the rooftop or outside under the trees. The beach bar serves a variety of beverages and is a wonderful place to meet before dinner for a drink after a long day of snorkeling. The full-service spa offers a wide variety of treatments by experienced therapists.
Novotel Manado
Located close to Manado Airport, the hotel allows us to get a good night’s rest before traveling to Sorong the following morning.
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 toilets and showers, hot water, ceiling fans, mosquito nets, working desks, and a comfortable seating area and spacious veranda with direct access to the sea, allowing us to enjoy the sun and sea in privacy.
The Seaview Restaurant serves a variety of European and Indonesian cuisine on an elaborate buffet. Meals are prepared using homegrown veggies, and other locally sourced produce wherever possible.
Resort Guide
Snorkel Boats
Siladen Resort: Large wooden boats complete with covered gear-up area and sun deck. Marine toilets and freshwater bins for equipment and cameras are onboard all boats. The average travel time from the resort to the sites is five to twenty minutes. Exit the water via ladders on the side of the boat.
Papua Explorers: 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. The average distance from the resort to the site is about 20 minutes.
On this page you will find our Tour Dates & Pricing, a Request to Book Form and Details of Payment schedule including deposit and final balance.
My name is Graham and I’ll be your personal consultant for this tour, I’ll manage your booking right up until you meet our tour leader in destination. I’ll be on hand to assist with everything from additional nights before and after your tour and making sure you are on time for our ‘Welcome Dinner’ to guidance on what to bring and the snorkeling conditions you are likely to experience. We share an email inbox at Snorkel Venture, you can fill out the form below or drop me an email at hello@snorkelventure.com. I look forward to assisting you on this tour.
Make an Enquiry or Book this Tour
Tour Dates 2026
3 – 18 October
Tour Price:
$7,750 USD per person (twin/double share)
Tour Dates 2027
20 April – 5 May
02 – 17 October
Tour Price:
$8,250 USD per person (twin/double share)
$2,000 USD single-person supplement
Tour Dates 2028
3 – 18 October
Tour Price:
How to book your place:
Initial deposit to secure your booking is $400 per person
12 months before departure interim payment of $600 per person
6 months before departure interim payment of $1,000 per person
Balance due 3 months before departure
Please note for single supplement bookings we ask for 2x the deposit for each payment.
Inclusions:
- Domestic flights in Economy Class with 20KGs of luggage allowance Jakarta – Manado- Sorong – Jakarta
- Group transfers throughout
- 1 night in a Jakarta hotel with breakfast and dinner included
- 6 nights at Siladen Resort in a Garden View Bungalow, full board, and 15 boat snorkel sessions
- 1 night Novotel Manado, breakfast and dinner included
- 7 nights Papua Explorers in water bungalow, full board, and 18 boat snorkel sessions
- Services of Snorkel Venture guide throughout
- Dolphin watching trip
- Full-day trip to Fam Islands
- Jakarta to Manado flight
- Manado to Sorong flight
- Sorong to Jakarta flight
- Raja Ampat Marine Park Fee
Exclusions:
- International flights & visas
- Snorkeling equipment rental
- Tips
- Travel & health insurance
- Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, laundry, and general sundries
- Spa services
*Note: Fees and surcharges are subject to change
Please note our cancelation policy: All deposits are non-refundable.
1 Year or more: 150 USD penalty per person, the balance will be given as a credit note for use within 2 years
12 months or less: Loss of deposit and interim payment
90 – 28 days: 25% Refund (includes your final balance payment)
28 – 0 days: No Refund
*We recommend that you purchase travel insurance to protect your deposit in the event that you have to cancel your trip.
