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How To Get To Raja Ampat

With direct flights from Jakarta to Sorong, it’s now easier than ever to get to Raja Ampat

Sorong Airport - Domine Eduard Osok Airport (SOQ) - gateway to Raja Ampat

If you’re planning a dive trip to Raja Ampat, it’s now much easier to fly to Sorong, the city that acts as the gateway to Raja Ampat. Virtually all liveaboards depart from Sorong and it’s the nearest airport for most of Raja Ampat’s dive resorts too.

Jakarta to Sorong Direct Flights

Sorong completed its new Domine Eduard Osok Airport in 2017 (airport code: SOQ), allowing bigger jets to land. As such, Indonesia’s national carrier Garuda Indonesia now flys direct from Jakarta to Sorong on a daily basis.

As the national carrier, Garuda Indonesia flights all arrive and depart from the new Terminal 3 at Jakarta Airport (formally known as Soekarno-Hatta Airport – airport code: CGK). See my Terminal 3 Jakarta Airport Quick Guide to help make your transit as stress-free as possible.

Other Indonesian domestic carriers also fly direct from Jakarta to Sorong including Nam Air and Batik Air. Check Skyscanner to compare the timings and pricings of all carriers from Jakarta to Sorong.

The other main route to fly to Raja Ampat is Jakarta to Sorong via Ujang Pandang, also known as Makassar. The airport code for Ujang Pandang aka Makassar is UPG. Be aware that both names are used so that you don’t suddenly worry that you’re flying to the wrong place!

Indonesia Entry Requirements

All Covid-19 related restrictions to entry have been dropped by Indonesian immigration as of June 2023. Here’s a quick rundown of Indonesia’s entry requirements – for most travellers, the only requirement is a visa on arrival which you can now apply and pay for online before your trip.

Jakarta Airport Hotels

If you are flying into Jakarta from overseas before getting your flight to Sorong, you may have a long layover before you board your Sorong flight. You can book a hotel room within Jakarta Airport’s Terminal 3 for some rest and a shower.

  • The main airport hotel is the 4 star Anara Hotel, located directly within Terminal 3. The entrance to the Anara Hotel is located on Level 1 of Terminal 3. (You’ll need to go up a level from International Arrivals).
  • D’primahotel Wellness Centre is a more modest hotel also located in Terminal 3. The rooms here are windowless but clean and adequate, with decent shower pressure. It’s perfectly comfortable for a few hours rest. There are also massage facilities. The narrow entrance to D’primahotel is located on Level 2 of Terminal 3, which is the Departures level. The entrance to the hotel is by the end of Check-in Row E. It’s a very convenient location.
  • Digital Airport Hotel is a capsule hotel which is also located in terminal 3. Just as per the original Japanese concept, these are tiny rooms stacked together with shared toilet and shower facilities.
  • There is also the Jakarta Airport Hotel located in Terminal 2 if you are arriving or exiting from that terminal.If you can, try to enter and exit through Terminal 3. It’s much more convenient.

Indonesia’s Main Diving Locations (and Jakarta)

Indonesia scuba diving locations

Flying from Bali to Sorong

If you are flying from Bali’s Denpasar Airport (airport code: DPS) to Sorong, then you will typically fly via Jakarta or Makassar. Search Skyscanner to see different flight timings and layover lengths to find the shortest journey time.

Makassar Airport Hotel

Makassar has a large, newly built airport (officially known as Sultan Hasanuddin Airport) and has a small budget Ibis hotel if you have a long layover and want to get some rest.

Sorong Airport Hotel

Sorong Airport is quite basic, with few facilities for passengers besides a couple of coffee shops and a small, very modest, business class lounge. There’s no airport hotel directly attached to Sorong airport, but there are several hotels located directly outside the airport entrance, of which the Aston Sorong is the pick of the bunch. There are several other good quality hotels in Sorong if you want to stay on land before or after your Raja Ampat dive trip. The Swiss-Belhotel Sorong is the default hotel to which most liveaboards refer guests.

Wikipedia states there is a another airport in the region called Raja Ampat Airport aka Marinda Airport. It’s just worth pointing out that Raja Ampat Airport and Sorong Airport are two different airports! They’re not synonymous.

Raja Ampat Diving Guides and Info

For an overview of what to expect when diving Raja Ampat and useful tips on how to get there and what to bring with you, see our Diving Raja Ampat: A Quick Guide and listen to the Divehappy podcast episodes on Raja Ampat. Misool Eco Resort and Triton Bay. For practicalities on getting there, see How To Get To Raja Ampat, Sorong Airport Guide and the Liveaboard Packing List

Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Reports

  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Report June 2023
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Report December 2022
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Report December 2019
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay Liveaboard Trip Report February 2017
  • Raja Ampat to Banda Islands and Ambon Trip Liveaboard Report February 2016
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay Liveaboard Trip Report February 2008

Triton Bay Trip Reports (as part of Raja Ampat liveaboard trips)

  • Diving Triton Bay 2017
  • Triton Bay Whale Sharks
  • Triton Bay podcast with Triton Bay Divers resort

Booking Raja Ampat Liveaboards

Browse Raja Ampat liveaboards by price level and month of departure:
  • Luxury Raja Ampat Liveaboards
  • Mid Range Raja Ampat Liveaboards
  • Budget Raja Ampat Liveaboards
  • Check Last Minute Raja Ampat Liveaboard Deals for big discounts on Raja Ampat liveaboard trips that are departing in the next couple of months

See availability for all Indonesia liveaboards departing
September 2025 | October 2025 | November 2025 | December 2025 | January 2026 | February 2026



Diving And Travel Insurance

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities including scuba diving, as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Start Planning Your Indonesia Dive Trip Now!

:: Check the availability and pricing of liveaboards in Indonesia and book online.


:: Find the cheapest flights to Indonesia - one search will show you the prices and times from scores of airlines for your trip. A real timesaver. You'll typically need to fly into Jakarta and then get a connecting flight to Sorong (SOQ) for Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo (LBJ) for Komodo, Biak for Cenderawasih Bay (BIK) - but check with your liveaboard operator on optimum flights


:: Make sure you don't forget to bring any of the essentials for your scuba diving trip with our comprehensive Liveaboard Packing List


:: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.


:: Find available places to stay in Indonesia on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too. The Jakarta Airport Hotel, located in Terminal 2, is convenient for a transit stayover.


:: Need inspiration? See our Best Places To Dive In Indonesia for ideas of where to go and what to do.


Dive Happy Podcast Newsletter

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Listen to previous Dive Happy podcast episodes.

Last Minute Liveaboard Deals

  • Last Minute Liveaboard Deals June 2025

More Indonesia Diving Stories

  • Indonesia Entry Requirements June 2025
  • Where To See Manta Rays In Indonesia
  • Where To See Whale Sharks In Indonesia
  • Komodo Dive Sites Overview
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    • Cannibal Rock, Komodo
    • Yellow Wall, Komodo
    • Batu Bolong, Komodo
    • Pengah Kecil, Komodo
    • Castle Rock, Komodo
    • Crystal Rock, Komodo
    • Sebayur Kecil, Komodo
    • Siaba Besar, Komodo
    • Tanjung Batu Besar, Komodo
    • Saleh Bay Whale Sharks
  • Gangga Island Diving Trip Report December 2023
  • Menjangan Island Diving November 2023
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard June 2023 Trip Report
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Deals 2025
  • Diving Raja Ampat – A Quick Guide
  • How To Get To Raja Ampat
  • Raja Ampat Christmas Liveaboard Trip Report December 2022
  • Sorong Airport Guide
  • Komodo Liveaboard Trip Report August 2022
  • Diving The USAT Liberty Shipwreck, Bali June 2022
  • Bali Muck Diving June 2022
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Report 2020
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard May 2018 Trip Report
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay Liveaboard Trip Report 2017
  • Raja Ampat to the Banda Islands Liveaboard Trip Report
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay 2008
  • Diving Triton Bay 2017
  • Triton Bay Whale Sharks
  • Indonesia’s Best Scuba Diving
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  • Bali Scuba Diving
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  • Lembeh
  • Bangka
  • Kalimantan
  • Palau Weh
  • Banda Sea
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    • Ambon
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My Recent Dive Trips

  • November 2024: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • October 2024: Forgotten Islands and Banda Sea liveaboard, Indonesia
  • August 2024: Komodo and Saleh Bay liveaboard, Indonesia
  • May 2024: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • April 2024: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • February 2024: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • January 2024:Gangga Island Resort, Indonesia
  • December 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • Mejangan Island, Bali
  • October 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • June 2023: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • April 2023: Maldives liveaboard
  • April 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • February 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2022: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • December 2022: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2022: Komodo liveaboard, Indonesia
  • June 2022: USAT Liberty shipwreck, Bali, Indonesia
  • April 2022: Stonehenge, Koh Lipe, Thailand
  • March 2022: Manta Rays at Koh Bon, Thailand
  • January 2022: Richelieu Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • March 2021: HTMS Chang and Alahambra Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • February 2020: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2019: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2019: Malapascua, Philippines
  • June 2019: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • April 2019: Tulamben, Bali
  • December 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • December 2018: Anilao, Philippines
  • October 2018: Moalboal, Philippines
  • October 2018: Malapascua, Philippines
  • July 2018: Tulamben, Bali
  • May 2018: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • April 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines

My Less Recent Dive Trips

  • May 2017: Apo Island and Dumaguete, Philippines
  • April 2017: Tubbataha Reef, Philippines
  • April 2017: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • March 2017: Triton Bay, Indonesia
  • March 2017: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • September 2016: Tulamben, Bali at Alba Dive Resort
  • August 2016: Cenderawasih Bay on Damai 1
  • April 2016: Sogod Bay at Sogod Bay Scuba Resort
  • February 2016: Raja Ampat and Banda Islands on Damai 1
  • April 2015: Anilao at Crystal Dive Resort
  • March 2015: Myanmar and Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • May 2013: Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • April 2013: Tubbataha Reef on Discovery Palawan
  • January 2013: Komodo, Indonesia on MSY Damai
  • August 2012: Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • April 2012: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • January 2012: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2011: Hanifaru, Maldives
  • June 2011: Tubbataha Liveaboard Hans Christian Andersen
  • April 2011: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • April 2011: Carpe Vita Liveaboard, Maldives
  • March 2011: Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
  • December 2010: Menjangan, Bali
  • July 2010: Tofo, Mozambique
  • July 2010: Sardine Run, South Africa
  • May 2010: Sangalaki / Derawan, Tambora
  • March 2010: MV Flying Seahorse, Similan Islands
  • March 2010: MV Orion, Southern Maldives
  • January 2010: Big Blue Explorer, Palau
  • November 2009: MSY Damai, Banda Sea Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MSY Damai, Komodo Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MV Orion, Maldives Liveaboard
  • September 2009: MV Scubanet, Koh Losin, Thailand
  • May 2009: MSY Seahorse, Banda Sea liveaboard, Indonesia
  • March 2009: Sachika Liveaboard, Maldives
  • February 2009: Daytrips, Koh Lanta, Thailand
  • January 2009: MV Jazz, Burma (Myanmar) Liveaboard

Back In The Day Bragging Rights Dive Trips

  • November 2008: Borneo Explorer, Visayas Liveaboard
  • September 2008: S/Y Siren, Komodo Liveaboard
  • August 2008: Ocean Rover, Sulawesi Liveaboard
  • August 2008: NAD Lembeh Resort, Indonesia
  • June 2008: Koh Tao
  • March 2008: Maldives, Bandos Island
  • February 2008: MSY Seahorse, Raja Ampat Liveaboard
  • January 2008: MV Jazz, Burma Liveaboard
  • October 2007: Bali Dive Safari
  • September 2007: Davao, Philippines
  • July 2007: Great White Sharks, Rodney Fox Liveaboard
  • June 2007: Big Blue, Palau Liveaboard
  • May 2007: Whale Sharks at Exmouth, Australia
  • April 2007: Borneo Explorer, Tubbataha Reef Liveaboard
  • December 2006: Komodo Dancer, Komodo Liveaboard

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