Sher She Goes

Thanks Mike! Appreciate you stopping by. Hope we see each other again soon!

Hi Maria, I’m happy you’re planning to visit Indonesia. The best place to check flights is either google.com/flights or skyscanner – both will give you great options and allow you to set price alerts for the best deals. Happy to help!

Hi Suzanne – so glad you enjoy the content! To answer your question, I spent 3 full days on the islands of Raja Ampat and the travel time to and from was additional time. If you’re coming from Jakarta or Denpasar, it’s a hair more straight forward as it cuts out one flight, but you should budget at least a full day, possibly a day and a half, for travel time each way.

I covered the full logistical details of getting to Raja Ampat in this post: https://shershegoes.com/how-to-get-to-raja-ampat/

I do recommend booking ahead for a couple reasons. First, it’s quite expensive. Raja Ampat is remote so everything about the trip is pricey – the flights, the ferries/speedboats and the hotels themselves, not to mention diving. If you book ahead you’ll avoid the sticker shock. Secondly, Raja Ampat is a series of islands and the main island where you ferry into, Wasei, is just a industrial port/hub without any tourist infrastructure. Most people choose one of the smaller, more private islands to stay at and to get to the smaller island you need a speedboat which the hotel will arrange for you in advance (at extra cost). If you just show up, you’ll be a bit stranded. You can’t relaly walk around ha. Finally, there aren’t many lodging options. There’s a dive eco center closest to Wasei, the Raja Ampat Dive Lodge I stayed at which is probably the most “luxury”, local home stays on some islands (but these aren’t well advertised unless you are already on the smaller islands) and perhaps 5-8 other hotels so supply is limiting.

Do you speak Indonesian? If so, I think showing up and asking around could be potentially ok. I have to admit I never show up without a hotel booked, even if just as a backup. It sounds like you are comfortable doing it so maybe you may feel differently. I do like booking with booking.com bc you can then cancel without charge if you change your mind.

a final note – Raja Ampat sees very few tourists out in West Papua except “luxury” tourists and die hard scuba divers so there isn’t much infrastructure to cater to Westerners.

Hope that helps and please check the Raja Ampat post for all the logistical details. I put it in there for anyone looking for dedicated info on Raja Ampat! Let me know if you have any other questions, happy to help.

Hi Sumaiya, hmm personally I would pick Koh Samui thailand for your honeymoon! That was my favorite place, and I loved where stayed (conrad koh samui). Its not super beachy bc the villas are built into the cliffs but each room has its own infinity pool that overlooks the ocean, and the hotel has a small private island if you want to snorkel and explore!

Hi Teddie – thanks! If I remember correctly we connected in makassar. Doesn’t make sense to go all the way to jakarta, as its further west!

Hi Chloe – Thanks for the kind words, but I’m not sure what you mean. I don’t use a plugin for photos