This amazing cluster of 1,500+ islands makes up what can only be described as one of the world's last truly unspoiled marine reserves. Due its relative remoteness, spending a week sailing these waters is simply not enough. If you can spare more than a week, a 12-day Raja Ampat yacht charter itinerary will make you privy to a bevy of bucket list experiences, both of nature and enticing culture.

• Day 1 Sorong to Palau Gam

  Sorong is the ideal base to join your chartered yacht and crew. You’ll set sail shortly after boarding. Within mere hours of boarding your luxury yacht, you’ll be snorkeling or SCUBA diving in this marine wonderland, home to more than 1,300 different species of fish. Get acquainted with your yacht’s water toys and start perfecting your kayaking and paddle boarding skills this afternoon. Join the colonies of manta rays in the balmy waters. On land, you can walk to visit a local indigenous village on Palau Gam, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive Red Bird of Paradise along the way. Happy Hour on deck at sunset will become part and parcel of your daily itinerary…so best you start practicing already!

• Day 2 Mioskon Island

  On a Raja Ampat yacht charter itinerary, you’ll want to rise early and admire the multi-hued sunrise amidst the islands, a stunning spectacle that’ll be impossible to forget. After a delectable and hearty breakfast, you’’ll cast off on a leisurely cruise to Mioskin Island. Don your snorkel mask and dive right into the crystal clear waters off Mioskon Island, often rated Raja Ampat’s most precious gem. We’d hate to play favorites of course but, just between us, we do have a soft spot for this place as well. How could we not? Mioskon is a fleck of tropical perfection…just a compact pocket of thick forest home to a tremendous colony of bats, framed by pristine sandy shores and endowed by magnificent reefs just bursting with colorful fish, all thriving in waters the colors of precious gleaming gems. Ridiculously beautiful would be the only way to describe it, so spend a whole day here and, if you’re lucky, you’ll have it all to yourself.

• Day 3 Wayag Lagoon

  This region is still relatively new to foreigners and reveals treasures at every turn. Wayag Lagoon is one such splendor. Like a vibrant maze of sprouting karst islets interspersed among sapphire waters filled to the brim with fish and coral, Wayag offers a world of flora and fauna, both underwater and on land. Spending two days here is highly recommended, for the vast bands of barracudas, sharks, wobbegongs, and parrotfish couldn’t possibly all be counted in just a single snorkel excursion. Enjoy forest hikes to the top of peaks to take in the absolutely breathtaking sight which only altitude can grant.

• Day 5 Alyui Bay

  You could sail for entire days on Raj Ampat without ever running into another tourist. In this regard, this archipelago is quite priceless and ideal for anyone who dreams to really ‘get away from the rest of the world’. By Day 5, you should be well and truly immersed in the culture and nature filled atmosphere of Western Indonesia and ready for more action on Alyui Bay. Stunning caves and luscious forests make up the geology of most of the islands here, providing many options for land explorations. This is perfect for those who don’t wish to spend every waking moment in the water. A happy medium can always be found when exploring crevices by zodiac or kayak, delving deep into mangroves and in channels between uninhabited islands. Hundreds of spectacular uninhabited islands. In Alyui Bay, you can also visit a pearl farm and, underwater, you’ll find an incredible backdrop for underwater photography, among the very best. Don’t forget to pack the wide angle lens!

• Day 6 Manta Sandy

  One of the most famous dive sites of all, Manta Sandy will be the highlight of Day 6 of your Raja Ampat yacht charter itinerary. For free divers, snorkelers and SCUBA lovers, this is the epitome Indonesian mecca. Manta Sandy is the perfect ‘cleaning station’ for manta rays, and here they have currents which entice them to linger longer than anywhere else. The best time to see mantas is between October and April so if they are right up there at the top of your must-see list, make sure to plan your yacht charter accordingly.

• Day 7 Batanta Island and Dampier Straits

  Jumping out of your comfortable bed and diving straight into the water is most guests’ ritual on a Raja Ampat yacht charter itinerary. But this morning, you may wish to take it easy and enjoy a leisurely gourmet breakfast with no rush. Head ashore on Batanta Island and take a heart-pumping hike to admire the coastal view and splendid waterfalls on the northern end of the isle. In the afternoon, it will be time to hit the water again, as you discover the amazing sites at Dampier Straits. The tidal surges here carry massive amounts of plankton that are a veritable feast for the manta rays.

• Day 8 Kofiau

  The volcanic hills of Kofiau islands grant unsurpassed vistas over the archipelago and getting up and on shore early for a hike up to the top is definitely a worthwhile sacrifice to make. The rare Kofiau Paradise Kingfisher and Kofiau Monarchs inhabit the islands’ rain forests. Kofiau is arguably the least visited of all the secondary archipelagos in Raja Ampat and one of the most off-the-beaten-track stopovers of all, so enjoy it in all its glory. This place is home to some of the highest marine wildlife density on our planet.

• Day 9 Blue Water Mangroves

  Spectacularly colored mangroves are on the menu today, in what is considered one of our planet’s most unique features. The Blue Water Mangroves of northern Raja Ampat are a combination of narrow channels and fast-moving undercurrents, which make for exceptionally transparent waters as sediment is flushed out constantly. Home of soft corals and colorful fish, kayaking along the mangroves is a photographers dream. Play with light and be amazed by the translucent underwater world here.

• Day 10 Tomolol

  Indigenous Papuans used to bury their dead in the hollowed out caves of limestone pinnacles and today, in the outstanding karst canyon at Tomolol, you can explore them at length. Enormous Gua Sacral is the most famous cave of all. A sacred cave that is over 10 stories tall. Diving and snorkeling in these waters, and discovering hidden caves, makes for a fun day of exploration.

• Day 11 South East Misool

  Yet another Raja Ampat spectacle, Misool is beloved by nesting turtles, so much care must be taken during nesting season when walking along the beach. Find a hidden anchorage and dive right in, for your chance to spot pygmy seahorses that are stunningly tiny, living among vibrant beds of coral. Spending a day here is a fantastic way to bring your Raja Ampat yacht charter itinerary to a close.

• Day 12 Sorong

  Disembarkation at Sorong.