The trending Isles

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February 10th 2019

Published: February 10th 2019

I’ve reached the islands that have got travellers mouth wagging for the last few years, the place to be, the name you casually throw in the conversation to show how cool you are, to see others salivating at the thought, wanting to be you, to be there, to have seen what you have seen: Raja Ampat! So Raja Ampat is a hype, but is it also as good as people make it out to be? Is it worth spending yo... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 84, Displayed: 21

Friwen Island

Nice views from the dining room though

Gam Island

Yenros Homestay, the last place I stayed, that's my cottage at the front

Gam Island

Mattress on the floor, but it was clean, and the cottage was fine

Gam Island

View towards Friwen Island from the dining room

Gam Island

Beach at Yenros Homestay

Gam Island

House reef was good, saw a few turtles and sharks

Gam Island

Papuan kids on a little trip

Gam Island

Crocodile fish

Gam Island

Well camouflaged

Friwen Island

Friwen Wall, another popular snorkel/dive spot, it is famous for its abundance of different corals

Friwen Island

Fan coral

Friwen Island

Coral everywhere

Friwen Island

All kind of varieties

Friwen Island

And Nemo was there too!

Underwater feature

Nature's art

Nice

Leaving Friwen Wall

View towards Gam Island

Gam Island

Melik, the owner of Yenros, feeding a cuscus

Gam Island

Sunset in the mangroves about 5 minutes walk from Yenros Homestay

11th February 2019

Yeti
Andy and Ali Bell

Hats off....
Yep, hats off once again to you Ralf for truly getting off the beaten track. Whilst the below-the-surface really appealed we're not so sure about much of the rest. You (very) rarely complain about unfair prices so I can only imagine what our rant might have been like. Hope you don't have to sell your second kidney to finance the experience. Aye, A&A.

11th February 2019

His Dudeness
Ralf Kreuze

I knew what I was getting into...
So, it wasn't that the prices or the facilities were a nasty surprise. That's why it wasn't a rant. I went to Raja Ampat knowing what to expect regarding accommodation and transport, and I chose to go anyway. Which doesn't make the prices any less reasonable of course. You basically seem to be paying for the privilege, not for service. People who go here decide the privilege is worth if, so in that sense it's unfair of me to complain. But it remains a strange thing and I don't think it's a healthy development, or sustainable. Thanks for reading and commenting.

11th February 2019

Matthijs
non-member comment

Thank you :)
Wow Ralf, as we were planning on going there later in our travels, I sincerely thank you for this well written, elaborately argumented piece! Having seen quite a few of these Indonesian paradises ourselves, we think we know exactly what you mean. Ofcourse we'd love to go and see for ourselves anyway, but like I said: you put it extremely well and we're in doubt now! You reckon the Bandas are a better bet then?

11th February 2019

His Dudeness
Ralf Kreuze

I can't answer that question...
Whether you think it's worth the money or not depends on you. There is a website called: stayrajaampat.com, it has loads of information on homestays, transport, things to do, prices etc. I would recommend you look there it will give you a good idea what there is to see and what it costs and it will help you decide. As for Banda, it's certainly cheaper and snorkeling/diving wise it's very good too, but Raja Ampat is more extensive, there is simply put more diversity in landscape, wildlife, and dive/snorkel sites. That's what makes it special if anything. 23 euros per person per night in a simple hut special? I don't know. Sorry for not being able to answer your question.

11th February 2019