Mysteries of Misool
Day 1: Arrival in Jakarta
Arrival in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, make your way to your accommodations for a night’s rest.
Days 2-8: Journey to Sorong – Misool Eco Resort – Raja Ampat
Return to the airport for the flight to Sorong. The first leg of our journey leads us out of the busy Sorong harbor and through a mangrove-lined strait with unbroken swathes of jungle on either side. As you approach the mouth of the strait, you'll see some traditional Papuan villages along the banks.
The sea slowly shifts from brown to green and finally to vibrant cerulean blue during the second part of the journey. We'll be crossing open water, and you will likely see massive schools of bonito tuna feeding at the surface. Whale sightings are common as well as playful dolphin. The last leg of our journey brings us through the breathtaking scenery particular to southern Raja Ampat and the Misool area. There are myriad tiny karst islets and lagoons. About 45 minutes before we reach the island, you will enter the Misool Marine Reserve. Spend 7 blissful nights at this award winning Misool Eco Resort with all meals included.
The eight rustic luxurious Water Cottages are located in the North Lagoon, just steps from the Dive Center and restaurant. The Water Cottages are built on stilts over the water and accommodate a maximum of 40 guests with a staff-to-guest ratio of 3 to 1. For lazy afternoons, there is a hammock built right into the veranda. The view from your veranda is framed by a traditional grass roof, offering a high degree of privacy as well as shade. Stairs lead down from to the North Lagoon, and the House Reef is just a few fin kicks away. All the villas are built entirely of reclaimed tropical hardwoods which are milled on site. The villas are designed for comfort, privacy and sustainability featuring Balinese-style open air bathrooms, air-conditioning, fresh hot and cold showers, mini-bars, in-room safes, and handcrafted furniture and fittings.
Raja Ampat's reefs are home to over 700 species of mollusks and over 1,400 species of fish. Counted among those is the newly discovered 'walking' epaulette shark, commonly seen on night dives on the House Reef. You can expect to dive a wide variety of sites during your stay at Misool. This corner of southern Raja Ampat is particularly famous for its untouched reefs festooned with wildly colorful soft corals, expansive hard coral gardens, massive gorgonian sea fans, and rich reef life. Scuba diving sites are surrounded by the Raja Ampat Shark and Manta Sanctuary which Misool helped to create. This area is so remote that the nearest port is over 100 miles away and the nearest village 14 miles by boat.
Your stay at Misool directly supports numerous conservation initiatives and provides sustainable employment opportunities for the local people, entirely decoupled from the extraction of marine resources. The resort also offers several excursions designed to bring you closer to Raja Ampat's flora, fauna, and people.
Day 9: Sorong
After breakfast, return by boat to Sorong for an overnight stay to off-gas. Overnight in Sorong.
Day 10: Departure
Return to the airport in Sorong for flight to Jakarta and flights home.
Please inquire for availability, rates and your customized itinerary.
