12 Nights · Two Marine Parks
Raja Ampat +
Cenderawasih Bay
What follows seven nights on the richest coral reef on the planet? Swimming beside the largest fish in the ocean — whale sharks of six to ten metres, feeding calmly at the surface, close enough to read the patterns on their skin. There is nothing else like it anywhere.
One Voyage, Two Worlds
The Expedition in Two Parts
I
Days 1–7
Raja Ampat — the richest reef on Earth
You board in Sorong and go straight into the Dampier Strait, where the concentration of marine life per square metre exceeds anywhere else that has been measured. Cape Kri, where 374 fish species were counted on a single dive. Manta Ridge, where oceanic mantas turn their feeding spirals. Melissa’s Garden, which visiting photographers routinely call the most beautiful coral formation they have documented.
The week covers both north and central Raja Ampat before the vessel turns east. By then you have had what most travellers would call the trip of a lifetime — and the second half has not started.
- —Cape Kri and the Dampier Strait core sites
- —Wayag karst panorama and Piaynemo viewpoint
- —Arborek village and the Aljui Bay pearl farm
- —Bird-of-paradise trek at dawn
II
Days 8–12
Cenderawasih Bay — whale shark capital
Encounters here are unlike anywhere else. In most whale shark destinations sightings are seasonal and unpredictable. At Cenderawasih Bay resident whale sharks feed year-round around the bagan fishing platforms, where small fish escaping the nets provide a reliable food source. This is not baiting — it is a relationship between traditional fishing and the sharks that has existed for generations.
Over five days you get multiple sessions, typically two a day. By the third day the initial shock becomes something closer to familiarity: you start recognising individual sharks by their spot patterns and learning their movement rhythms.
- —Indonesia’s largest marine park — 14,500 km²
- —Resident whale sharks, year-round
- —Two sessions daily, 30–60 minutes each
- —No dive resorts, no day boats, no other tourists
Between the Two
The Overnight Crossing
The captain times departure for the evening, so you sleep through the transit and wake to a completely different landscape: the protected waters of Cenderawasih Bay National Marine Park, flanked by the north coast of Papua and the volcanic peaks of the Bird’s Head Peninsula.
It feels different immediately. The water is deeper and darker blue, the coastline more remote. The only vessels you meet are traditional bagan fishing platforms, wooden structures rising from the water like sentinels. Around them, the whale sharks wait.
Non-Negotiable
Ethical Encounter Standards
The Cenderawasih Bay whale shark population appears stable and healthy, and research by conservation organisations and local marine biologists indicates the bagan feeding relationship has not adversely affected shark behaviour or health. We monitor new research and adjust our practice in response to it.
Maximum four swimmers in the water at any one time
Minimum one metre distance — the sharks often close it themselves
No touching, under any circumstances
No flash photography
A dedicated spotter monitors the sharks for signs of stress
If a shark shows avoidance behaviour the session ends immediately, regardless of time remaining
First Light
The best encounters happen between 06:00 and 08:00, when the sharks are most active at the platforms and the light is at its best for photography. Our captain positions the vessel near a bagan overnight so your group is in the water at first light, before anyone else arrives.
Private Charter · 12 Nights
Expedition Pricing
Premium phinisi
8–10 guests
$90,000
$7,500 per night · 12 nights
Luxury phinisi
10–12 guests
$114,000
$9,500 per night · 12 nights
Super-phinisi
12–14 guests
$156,000
$13,000 per night · 12 nights
For a group of ten on a luxury phinisi that works out at roughly $11,400 per person for twelve nights combining two once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Against booking Raja Ampat and a dedicated whale shark destination separately, the single-voyage approach saves both cost and travel days.
Logistics & Flight Connections
Fly into Sorong (SOQ) to board. At the end of the expedition the vessel returns to Sorong or continues to Manokwari — both have commercial connections to Jakarta, Makassar and Bali. We coordinate all domestic flights and ground transfers.
Most international guests connect through Jakarta or Singapore. Total travel time from Singapore to standing on deck is around eight hours including the domestic connection and transfer.
Before You Commit
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see whale sharks in Raja Ampat itself?
Occasionally, but not reliably. Cenderawasih Bay, twelve hours east, has resident populations feeding at traditional fishing platforms year-round, which is why the expedition goes there rather than hoping for a chance encounter closer in.
How close do you get?
One to three metres is standard. The sharks are habituated to human presence and feed calmly at the surface through sessions of thirty to sixty minutes. They frequently close the distance themselves — which is why the rule is on us, not on them.
Is swimming with them ethical here?
Yes. The sharks feed voluntarily around traditional fishing platforms and no baiting is used. Our code of conduct caps swimmer numbers, prohibits touching and ends a session the moment a shark shows avoidance behaviour.
What is the best season?
October through April gives optimal conditions for both halves — Raja Ampat diving and Cenderawasih Bay encounters. The whale sharks are resident year-round, so the season is dictated by sea state rather than by the animals.
Do I need to be a certified diver?
For the whale shark sessions, no — they are snorkel encounters at the surface. The Raja Ampat half is considerably richer if you dive, but non-divers snorkel the same sites and miss less than you would expect.
Indonesia’s Ultimate Marine Safari
Enquire About the Grand Expedition
Twelve nights, two marine parks, one vessel. Tell us your group size and window and we will check which hulls can actually run the full route on your dates.
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