North Batanta Itinerary (12 Days, 11 Nights)

After being picked up from your hotel, begin to settle into your traditional Phinisi boat where your adventure begins! Head to Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat and while sailing you can relax, prepare your diving equipment and enjoy a meal on board. Depending on the weather conditions the journey may start from the north or south. In this sample itinerary we will head south first. Enjoy an evening drink while watching the ballet of fruit bats as they fly away to feed at sunset.

Expect shining waters and dozens of islets and sand banks where it is easy to find manta rays or even witness history in the form of a well-barnacled World War II Japanese aircraft. On land, take a short walk to a beautiful and refreshing waterfall. Finish your day relaxing and dreaming on the sun deck as you continue sailing south to Misool Island.

The Daram Islands are the easternmost island group in the Misool area. Here you will be able to see some impressive sea fan forests and corals known in the world, thanks to a strict no-fishing policy. With easy snorkelling and diving, sites such as Andiamo or Candy Store are truly psychedelic underwater wonderlands where barracudas gliding above the pygmy seahorses are a common sight.

Swim round the famous dive sites with some of the highest concentrations of biodiversity in the world: Boo Window and Magic Mountain. This is a true story of successful conservation, thanks to the local park rangers who happily meet you on the white sandy beaches of Yillet Island. South East Misool is one of these extremely rare places where dreams and reality merge, with scenery as lush and dramatic above the water as below.

The famous heart-shaped blue lagoon! Climb to the top for a bird's eye view. Or you have the option to take a kayak or speed boat tour to explore the Wayil Islands. Here you will find some of the best dive sites in Raja Ampat; Wedding Cake, Four Kings or Neptune’s Fantasea. End your day with your flashlight on to explore the dark side of the reef on an exciting night dive!

Misool North Eastern line of islands is a natural labyrinth made of cone- shaped rocks, sheer cliffs and hidden pools. At the right time of year, some of the inner lagoons play host to thousands of stingless jellyfish, offering fantastic photo opportunities for undersea photo lovers. Explore the above and underwater caves of the area where nudibranchs, rare mollusks and crustaceans crawl on the rich soft coral cover.

At this Western tip of Central Raja Ampat you can discover Keruo Channel and Melissa’s Garden, where you can observe the most impressive shallow coral gardens on the planet. Today you can also enjoy activities like kayaking, or take a hike to the top of the hill above Star Lagoon to admire the view of the hundreds of limestone rocks below.

South Kawe is one of Raja Ampat’s greatest treasures. Here, you will probably see manta rays grooming in one of their many cleaning stations or feeding on the surface of the channel between the two Eagle Rocks. One of Raja Ampats treasures, South Kawe is an amazing place to visit. Expect to see manta rays grooming in one of their many cleaning stations or even between the two Eagle Rocks, feeding on the surface of the channel. There is a chance to visit Alyui Bay where you will have the opportunity to learn about pearl farming, from seeding to harvest. The AljuyBay waters are also perfect for a night dive and seeing rare sea creatures.

On the way to the Wayag Islands, we cross the Equator to the Northern hemisphere! We then reach a large bay with hundreds of mushroom-like islets, gorgeous white sandy beaches, black tip reef sharks and manta rays. Spend a day exploring this slice of heaven or climb the rocky Mount Pindito for an unforgettable view at the top.

Continue your charter adventure with a day at Yanggefo. Explore the mangroves on your kayak and take in the views. This area is home to as many birds as fish, so keep your eyes peeled! Colourful coral grows within the roots of the trees making snorkelling and diving in Citrus and Mangrove Ridge an incredible experience.

Visit Airborek or Sawandarek Jetty to experience some world-class diving, probably watched by some of the local children! Then cruise on to more fish- rich waters like Sardine Reef or Cape Kri and enjoy a fantastic night dive at Batu Lima where you are likely to spot the elusive walking shark!

After saying your goodbyes our crew will arrange your transfer to your hotel or airport and your return trip back home. Reflect on all the photos and memories you made on this unforgettabele trip!