Raja Ampat - The Paradise of West Papua

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. We will have a day of bird watching around Sorong then the following day we board our exclusively chartered vessel, MV Mermaid I, which will be our home for the next 10 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 10 days at sea it will sadly be time to return to Sorong, where we will disembark after breakfast on Day 14 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.