Indonesia’s Coral Triangle Highlights: Komodo, Sulawesi & Raja Ampat
Tour Introduction
Since it is designed to bring together the best Indonesian coral reef locations in one itinerary, keen divers should love this tour – and it’s equally as attractive to avid snorkellers. Because Indonesia has such a wealth of marine sites, it is a long tour but could be shortened by omitting one of the locations or shortening your stay at Misool. Near to the various reef spots are plentiful terrestrial delights to discover too, such as myriad pristine beaches, sinister Komodo dragons and the charming crested macaques of Tangkoko National Park in northern Sulawesi. Enjoy the best of Indonesia’s submarine world and, when on the surface, indulge in plenty of captivating terrestrial activities too.
Full Itinerary
Fly to Denpasar (Bali). On arrival take flight to Labuan Bajo, on Flores. Met on arrival and transfer to Angel Island Resort on the edge of the Komodo National Park. Located on a beautiful private island on the edge of the National Park, the resort offers luxury accommodation, three white sand beaches, doorstep snorkelling and diving, and speedboat access to the see the dragons of Komodo and Rinca Islands.
Staying at Angel Island Resort. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Free day at leisure for relaxing, snorkelling, scuba diving or other OPTIONAL activities. You can snorkel directly from all three beaches on the island where the underwater highlights include pygmy seashores, manta and eagle rays, black and white-tipped reef sharks, nurse sharks, hawksbill turtles and colourful reef fish.
Staying at Angel Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Free day at leisure for relaxing, snorkelling, scuba diving or other OPTIONAL activities.
Staying at Angel Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Free day at leisure for relaxing, snorkelling and scuba diving, or perhaps take an OPTIONAL excursion by speedboat to Rinca Island to see the famous Komodo dragons.
Staying at Angel Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Transfer back to Flores and Labuan Bajo and take flight to Denpasar. On arrival connect with flight to Manado. Met on arrival and transfer by road and boat to Gangga Island, a small island in the heart of Sulawesi’s coral triangle with the key underwater sites of Bangka Island, Bunaken National Marine Park and Lembeh Strait all within easy reach by speedboat.
Staying at Gangga Island Resort. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Day at leisure for relaxation or OPTIONAL scuba diving and snorkelling on the house reef or sites nearby. Underwater highlights include turtles, sea snakes, octopus, nudibranchs, hump head wrasse, clownfish, batfish, frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, devil scorpionfish and many more. Another OPTIONAL activity is a full or half day excursion to Tangkoko National Park to see its iconic wildlife including spectral tarsiers, Sulawesi macaques, bear cuscus and red-knobbed hornbills.
Staying at Gangga Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Day at leisure for relaxation or OPTIONAL scuba diving and snorkelling on the house reef or sites nearby.
Staying at Gangga Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Morning at leisure for relaxation or OPTIONAL scuba diving and snorkelling on the house reef or sites nearby. In the afternoon return to Manado and check in to hotel.
Staying at Novotel. Includes Breakfast.
Morning transfer to airport and take flight to Sorong (West Papua). Met on arrival and transfer to jetty in time to catch boat transfer to Misool Island in the remote southern edge of the Raja Ampat archipelago. Rest of the day at leisure.
Staying at Misool Island Resort. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Morning at leisure for relaxation or OPTIONAL scuba diving and snorkelling on the house reef or sites nearby. Raja Ampat is widely regarded as the most biodiverse reef in the world with a staggering diversity and abundance of fish. The house reef at Misool Island offers world class snorkelling and diving in good visibility with local specialities including the epaulette walking shark.
Staying at Misool Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Full day at leisure for diving or snorkelling (dive packages available) or take other OPTIONAL excursions from the lodge.
Staying at Misool Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Full day at leisure for diving or snorkelling or take other OPTIONAL excursions from the lodge.
Staying at Misool Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Full day at leisure for diving or snorkelling or take other OPTIONAL excursions from the lodge.
Staying at Misool Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Full day at leisure for diving or snorkelling or take other OPTIONAL excursions from the lodge.
Staying at Misool Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Full day at leisure for diving or snorkelling or take other OPTIONAL excursions from the lodge.
Staying at Misool Island Resort. Includes All Meals.
Pick up from the lodge and transfer by boat back to Sorong. Evening at leisure.
Staying at Sorong Hotel. Includes Breakfast.
Take flight to Manado. Fly home.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Angel Island Resort
Overview
Easily accessible from Labuan Bajo on Flores, Angel Island Resort is the only accommodation on this private island near Komodo and Rinca, offering peace and seclusion and a good base from which to visit those islands for the Komodo dragons.
Accommodation is provide ten spacious villas dotted amongst 15 hectares of tropical garden. Each benefits from full air-conditioning Malongo Pod system Espresso Machine, mini bar, safe, TV and DVD. Your stay includes all-inclusive a la carte meals, soft drinks, refreshing fruit juices, and a hand-picked selection of teas and coffees from around the world.
All the food is 100% organic and freshly sourced from local suppliers. They can offer an extensive Western, Asian and vegetarian menu. Meals are served throughout the day in the beach front restaurant with inspiring views of Flores and the surrounding archipelago, and positioned to catch the amazing sunset over the National Park, you can listen to waves lapping at the shore while birdlife can be watched going about their daily life.
There are two private beaches from which you can swim safely, although there is coral to keep an eye on. That coral forms the house reef and provides great snorkelling straight from the shore.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
10 spacious villas, restaurant, dive centre, private beaches, en suite open air bathrooms, air-conditioning, excellent house reef,
Optional Activities
Snorkelling on the house reef; diving; kayaking around the island; day trips to visit Rinca and Komodo National Park.
Gangga Island Resort
Overview
Beautifully situated on the tip of a small island off the coast of northern Sulawesi, Gangga Island Resort is an excellent base from which to discover the myriad delights of the surrounding coral reefs.
With five dive boats and a fully equipped HQ, the PADI five-star dive centre will help you explore the 30+ world-class dive sites found in the Bangka archipelago, Bunaken National Marine Park and Lembeh Strait. This area attracts marine scientists from all over the world who come to see multiple marine species from both the Pacific and Indian Ocean biospheres. For those who want to snorkel, there is a reef just off the beach, and the resort has a dedicated boat with guide who will show you the marine life to be found at neighbouring islands.
All the tastefully furnished, wooden bungalows are built in the local vernacular and have TV, air-conditioning and ceiling fans, mosquito nets, minibar, tea and coffee making facilities and a verandah overlooking the beach.
Being at the meeting point of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Gangga Island is a great base from which to discover the remarkable breadth of marine life found in both those seas. It’s also perfect for a relaxing beach break.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Bar, two restaurants serving western and local food, PADI five-star dive centre, spa, salt water infinity swimming pool, babysitting, gift shop.
Local Wildlife
Tarsiers, crested macaques and various birds in Tangkoko Nature Reserve. Marine life includes eagle rays, jackfish, tuna, sharks, turtles, barracudas, pygmy and giant seahorses, giant frog-fish, hairy frog-fish, cockatoo wasp-fish, Pegasus sea moth, eels and leaf scorpion-fishes.
Optional Activities
Day trip to Tangkoko Nature Reserve for the wonderfully expressive crested macaques; snorkelling or diving nearby islands; visit the highlands beyond Manado including hot springs and local villages.
Novotel Manado Golf Resort
Overview
The four-star Novotel hotel is just 15 minutes’ drive from Manado International Airport and sits on the edge of a large golf course with views towards the nearby mountains.
The 199 air-conditioned rooms and suites are smart and spacious and are all equipped with a flat-screen TV, minibar safety deposit box and attached modern private bathroom. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, gym, sauna and hot tub and free Wi-Fi can be found in the public areas. The attractive restaurant offers a range of local Indonesian cuisine with plenty of western and French influenced choices also available.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, sauna, gym, golf course, Wi-Fi in public areas, TV, minibar, safety deposit box and room and laundry services.
Misool Eco Resort
Overview
The five-star Misool Eco Resort occupies its own private island in the remote Raja Ampat Archipelago in West Papua, Indonesia’s most easterly province and the Indonesian half of New Guinea island. The island is 20km from the nearest village, and features white sand beaches, pristine reefs and several lagoons.
The spacious and well-designed water cottages are built on stilts and have hammocks over the water and access to the reef just off your doorstep. The villas are very private and well appointed, with either two or three bedrooms each.
Misool is surrounded by its own 1220 sq km “no take zone” so there is an abundance of fish everywhere. Both snorkellers and divers are well catered for with a fine house reef as well as over 25 dive sites within 15 minutes’ boat ride. The diving is truly world class: many wildlife documentaries have been filmed here. Famous dive sites include Nudi Rock, Magic Mountain, Yillet and Boo Windows.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
8 water cottages; 4 villas of two and three bedrooms, spa, on-site dive centre, beach restaurant. All the wooden cottages and villas feature air-conditioning, mini bar, safe and open air bathrooms.
Local Wildlife
Barracuda, white tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, pygmy seahorses, cowries, big eyed travelly, manta rays – Oceanic birostris and alfredi. barramundi, hawksbill turtles, wobbegong sharks, batfish, hairy squat lobsters, cling fish, crinoid scrimp, arrowhead crabs, Mandarin fish, blue-ringed octopus, flasher wrasse, epaulette shark.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Domestic flights within Indonesia are included.
Best Visited:
March to December
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
Crossing both climate zones, this itinerary can be visited at any time of the year. April to October will be driest for Angel Island and Gangga whereas November to March would be the best time for Misool. The very best months are September, October and November which fall between the two rainy seasons. There are big shoals of bait fish at Misool at this time of year plus some of the best visibility. Avoid July and August when the weather is roughest in Raja Ampat and Misool often closes for maintenance.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Misool exceeded all expectations – location, diving, resort, staff, food all wonderful and staff so friendly and efficient. The marine life was spectacular! So again another great trip from Reef and Rainforest and well worth the very long travel!
