Experience Raja Ampat
Join us in Raja Ampat, Indonesia in 2026
Raja Ampat, Indonesia is home to 75% of the world’s coral species, 1,700 fish species, along with dugongs, whales, and sea turtles. The area has close to 500 species of birds, including some found nowhere else on earth. Raja Ampat is one of the Crown Jewels of the Coral Triangle, a biodiversity hot spot where the Pacific and Indian Oceans collide. Rare has a unique history and relationship with the communities of Raja Ampat that other NGOs or tourism experiences cannot replicate in the same authentic way.
The opportunity:
Rare invites you to explore Raja Ampat on The Seven Seas, a custom-designed 40m (LOA) 12-passenger expedition vessel built in the style of a traditional Buginese schooner complete with ensuite cabins, air conditioning, warm water showers, shaded lounge areas and a spacious dive deck.
Potential activities:
- Spectacular diving and snorkeling with state-of-the-art equipment
- Sensational kayaking in the shallow bays, especially in the mangrove forests
- Slow afternoon cruise – get up-close-and-personal with the stunning land scenery
- Once in a lifetime bird spotting – find the illusive Bird of Paradise
- Hiking into the forest to experience the diversity of birds and animals
- Unforgettable fishing – from unexplored fly-fishing for countless species to deep-water trolling depending on group interest/itinerary
- Community visits and discussions based on your personal preference or thematic focus
Your role as trip host:
Invite up to 10 friends, family, fellow adventurers and nature-lovers.
- Rare CEO Brett Jenks plus one other Rare leader will join.
- We will provide marketing materials to share with your networks.
- Rare can bring other experts or fellow philanthropists as needed.
Co-create the itinerary, selecting which activities are most meaningful to you and your guests.
“Brand” or create thematic focus of your trip (Ex.: Entrepreneurs, Ocean conservationists, etc.).
Underwrite the trip in full, approximately $75,000-$150,000, which includes:
- Cost of all guests, including food, drink, and activities during your hosted week so your guests may focus on enjoying the opportunity with the hope they become committed to Rare’s work afterwards, and;
- A tax-deductible contribution letter for your generosity (save the cost of your own “seat”/benefit onboard) which helps scale Rare’s community-led conservation efforts further.
Example itinerary
Sample itinerary for 10 days / 9 nights*
* Sample itinerary does not reflect all potential activities or locations – while the ideal trip length is ~10 days, shorter trips are also feasible.
- Day 1. Flights arriving in Sorong and guests board the Seven Seas. Briefing and check out dive or snorkel at Pulau Matan. Steam towards Dampier Strait.
- Day 2. Dive or snorkel around North Batanta, and Dayang, and visit Yensawai village.
- Day 3. Dive or snorkel Arborek Manta Rays and Sauwandarek village reef at Mansuar in the morning and Cape Kri in the afternoon.
- Day 4. Play around Mayalibit Bay MPA, including visits to Yensner and Lopintol villages.
- Day 5. Dive or snorkel the stunning reefs around Gam and Yangeffo Islands, and take a kayak or small boat tour around the mangroves.
- Day 6. Dive or snorkel Melissa’s Garden and the passage and Walton Ridge at Penemu. Hike up a hill for amazing views.
- Day 7. Dive and kayak around Balbulol Island group east of Misool at the end of the Wagmab chain of islands.
- Day 8. Dive the “Shadow Reef” seamount and dive or snorkel the Boo islands and colorful sites like “nudi rock” around the islets near Fiabacet.
- Day 9. Dive and snorkel around Wayil and Wayilbatan, at “Wedding Cake”, “Neptune’s Fantasy” and “Barracuda Rock” or the “Four Kings”.
- Day 10. Dive, kayak and tour around Tomolol, visit caves, and/or climb a hill for stunning views and steam towards Sorong in the afternoon.
- Day 11. Disembarkation in Sorong, with domestic flights out.
Background
Rare’s work in Raja Ampat is a prime example of how we use our unique strengths in engaging individuals and communities in innovative solutions to intractable issues. From 2017 to 2019, Rare was invited by the communities and local government partners to Mayalibit Bay and Dampier Strait in what is now Southwest Papua, to establish the world’s largest TURF (Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries) Network. Rare’s expertise in behavior change was critical to helping advance policy to recognize these as MA+Rs and operationalize sustainable fisheries management functions, including sustained behavior change and new norms; data collection and use in decision-making; inclusion of women in management; post-harvest processing, and more. Without Rare’s role in Raja Ampat, there would not be the same degree of efficient and equitable community-led management within the broader Marine Protected Area.
Rare continues to work across Indonesia to support local communities protect biodiversity while boosting their own resiliency in cutting-edge ways – for example, Rare just launched the world’s first small-scale fisheries impact bond to finance sustainable coastal fisheries management. Rare is now in discussion to scale the bond structure 10x in Indonesia and launch another bond in the Philippines.
Interested in learning more or reserving dates with Rare in Raja Ampat? Contact Rare Events (events@rare.org).
Photo credits: Tommy Schultz, Rare, and Wirestock