A Raja Ampat yacht charter puts an entire crewed boat, anywhere from an intimate two-cabin sailing yacht to a 30-guest expedition ship, at your own use for the length of your trip. You choose the boat from live availability, the crew runs it, and the route bends around your group rather than a fixed schedule shared with strangers. This guide covers what is included, when to go, what it costs and how to choose between the boats on our board. A private Raja Ampat cruise gives you the whole archipelago on your own schedule.
What a Raja Ampat yacht charter includes
Rates are quoted "from," per night, for the whole boat rather than per person. Most cover the crew, three meals a day, soft drinks and coffee, fuel for the standard route, the tender and snorkelling gear, and many boats also include kayaks or paddleboards. Extras that are usually charged separately include the Raja Ampat marine park permit, wine and spirits, diving on boats without their own dive programme, and flights. Every page on the fleet lists what a particular boat's rate does and does not cover.
When to sail
The season runs roughly October to April, when our fleet is based in Raja Ampat and conditions around the Dampier Strait and Wayag are calmest. Around April and October the boats reposition to and from Komodo, a long crossing a handful of guests book as a trip in its own right. Inside that window, November to March tends to offer the widest choice of boats and dates.
Getting there
Charters embark in Sorong, on the western tip of West Papua. Most guests fly in through Jakarta or Makassar, and arriving a day before boarding is the safest way to protect the first night on board from a delayed connection. From the airport it is a short transfer to the harbour, where the crew takes over.
What it costs
Raja Ampat boats on our board start from around US$1,750 a night for the whole boat, with the median close to US$10,000 and the largest expedition yachts near US$55,000. Guest capacity across the fleet runs from 2 to 30 and lengths from 20 to 65 metres, so cabin count and range are as much a factor in price as the boat's finish. A phinisi built for six to ten guests across three to five cabins is the most common size on the board, which is also usually the easiest range to fill with a single family or two travelling together. Our cost breakdown goes through what moves that number.
Choosing a route: north, south and beyond
Most first-time charters stay in the north: the Dampier Strait, Arborek village and the karst lagoons of Wayag, all reachable inside a week from Sorong. Misool, in the south, has some of the healthiest reefs in the region but sits far enough away that it usually wants a longer charter of ten nights or more. A smaller number of longer charters also push on towards the Spice Islands during the crossing months, for guests who want to see somewhere almost no other yacht visits. Our 7-night itinerary sets out a route built around the north.
Phinisi or expedition yacht
Most of the fleet here is the traditional wooden phinisi: big open decks, warm timber and sails that motor between islands as often as they fill. A smaller number are steel expedition vessels built for longer range and bigger dive programmes, better suited to groups wanting more cabins or a route that pushes further south.
What a week on board actually feels like
Days on a Raja Ampat charter tend to follow a loose rhythm rather than a packed schedule: an early swim or dive before breakfast while the light is still soft, a slow cruise to the next anchorage over lunch, and a second dive, snorkel or shore excursion in the afternoon. Evenings are unhurried, a sundowner on deck as the crew lays out dinner, often grilled fish or Indonesian dishes cooked fresh each day. Because the boat is yours alone, the pace bends around your group: families with younger children often prefer shorter mornings and long lazy afternoons in the water, while keen divers can ask the crew to fit in an extra dive or an early start for a particular site. There is no set itinerary printed months in advance the way a shared liveaboard would run; the captain reads the day's wind and current and adjusts the plan, while still working towards the highlights you have asked for. Wifi on board varies by boat, from none at all to a paid satellite connection, so it is worth checking what a specific yacht offers if staying connected matters for your trip.
Plan your charter
If your dates are fixed, send your dates and we will match them against the fleet. If you are still deciding when to go, see which yachts are open to get a feel for the range before committing to a week.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Raja Ampat yacht charter cost?
Boats on our board start from around US$1,750 a night for the whole boat, with most falling between roughly US$6,000 and US$20,000, and a handful of large expedition yachts above that. Rates depend on size, cabin count and season.
How many nights do I need in Raja Ampat?
Six to ten nights is normal, since the distances between the Dampier Strait, Wayag and Misool are bigger than in Komodo. A week covers the north comfortably; Misool needs extra time.
When is the best time for a Raja Ampat yacht charter?
Roughly October to April, when the fleet is based here and the seas are calmest. The crossing months of April and October see the boats reposition to or from Komodo.
Do I need to be a diver?
No. Raja Ampat's reefs are shallow enough in many spots for excellent snorkelling, and itineraries can be built around villages, birdwatching and beaches as easily as diving.