Sulawesi & Raja Ampat Safari

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 60-90 minutes, first by car and then by boat. Here you will check in, meet your tour leader, 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.

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, often 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.

After checking out of Siladen Resort we journey to mainland Sulawesi with a lunch stop along the way, and drive towards Tangkoko National Park. Here we will trek in the hopes of finding Tarsiers and Black Macaques, among other animals before enjoying a traditional dinner and then heading to our inn for dinner and the evening at leisure.

The following morning, after breakfast, we travel towards Mount Mahawu where we will go for an hour-long walk around the crater rim. Here we can enjoy stunning views of Manado Tua and Bunaken Islands. We then have an opportunity to see (and smell) a steaming colorful sulphuris lake. We then travel to Manado City where we check into the Novotel, have dinner and relax.

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 Paradise Eco Resort and transfer to the resort by boat. Here we check-in, have a snack and orientation, house reef snorkel if time allows, and then group dinner. Meals are served in the Seaview Restaurant, which overlooks the house reef. A variety of Western and Indonesian dishes are served at their extensive buffets. Almost everything is either homemade or purchased from local producers in nearby villages.

The resort can cater for dietary restrictions, but please let us know in advance so that they can procure the ingredients.

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Day 8 - 14 - Snorkeling from Papua Paradise Eco Resort

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’ss 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.

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 Fam Islands. 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.

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 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 jack fish, 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 he 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.

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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.

Gardenia Country Inn

We spend one night in a gorgeous inn, set in beautiful gardens- Gardenia Country Inn. This is the ideal location to enjoy some of Sulawesi’s lakes, volcanic hikes and natural beauty. This lodge offers rooms with ensuite bathrooms,  private balconies and beautiful views.

Novotel Manado

We then spend one night in the Novotel in Manado, the perfect rest stop after a day exploring some of the regions topside beauty. Located close to Manado Airport, the hotel allows us to get a good night’s rest before traveling to Sorong the following morning.

Papua Paradise Eco Resort

We then fly to West Papua, to Sorong. From here we transfer by speedboat to a spectacular corner of the world- Papua Paradise Eco Resort. Situated in the heart of Raja Ampat, Papua Paradise Resort offers 26 waterfront stilted en-suite bungalows overlooking a long stretch of house reef and backed by lush jungle white sandy beach.

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 toilet and fresh water bins for equipment and cameras are onboard all boats. Average travel time from the resort to the sites is twenty minutes. Exit the water via ladders on the side of the boat.

Papua Paradise: 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.

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.

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22 October - 5 November 20233 - 17 April 20242 - 16 October 2024

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Tour Dates 2023

22 October – 5 November 2023

Price: $6,260 per person (twin/double share)

Tour Dates 2024

3 – 17th April 2024

2 – 16 October 2024

Price: 6,460 per person (twin/double share)

Single Supplement – US$800 per person

How to book your place?

Initial deposit to secure your booking $400 per person

12 Months before departure interim deposit of $600 per person

6 Months before departure interim deposit of $1000 per person

Balance due 3 months before departure

Includes:

• Domestic flights in Economy Class with 20KGs of luggage allowance Manado- Sorong – Jakarta
• Group transfers throughout
• Accommodation and full board (all meals)
• Services of Snorkel Venture guide throughout
• 20 x Snorkel sessions including island tours and excursions
• Dolphin watching trip
• Full day trip to Fam Islands

Excludes:

• International flights & visas (booking available on request)
• Snorkeling equipment rental
• Tips
• Travel & health insurance
• Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, laundry and general sundries
• Spa services
• Raja Ampat Marine park fees (paid locally) – US$100

*Note: Fees and surcharges are subject to change