Features
- English speaking
- Reef dropoff
- Mangroves
- Hiking available
- Good phone signal
- Coral
- Good house reef
- IDR 700,000 to 800,000
- Has raised beds
- Western style toilet
- Near village
Details
Binn Betew Homestay has three over-water bungalows next to Kapisawar village on Pulau Gam.
The bungalows have verandahs with tables and chairs and panoramic ocean views to Arborek, Mansuar and Batanta.
Bedrooms sleep two people on raised beds, and pillows, bolsters, sheets and mosquito nets are supplied. Extra mattresses can be provided if required. Both bungalows have power outlets for charging devices and bedroom light switches.
Meals at Binn Betew Homestay are served on the bungalow verandahs. Free drinking water, tea and coffee making supplies are supplied. If you are vegetarian or have any other special dietary requirements, please be sure to let your hosts know upon arrival.
Guests share a bathroom building which has a bathroom with shower and a western style toilet in separate rooms.
A generator supplies electricity between sunset and midnight, and the Kapisawar area receives a fairly strong 4G phone signal from Arborek tower.
Kapisawar village is a few minutes’ walk away and basic supplies are available there. It’s best to arrive with any consumeables you regard as essential though, and please do take all your inorganic rubbish away with you when you leave. The only waste disposal available on Gam (as in all of Raja Ampat) is incapable of safely removing plastics from the environment. Please don’t add to the problem.
English is spoken at Binn Betew Homestay.
Coconut crabs: This protected species is unfortunately hunted and sold at some places in Raja Ampat. Please don’t buy any. Binn Betew Homestay will refuse to cook them for you and will insist you release them instead.
Transport / Getting there
One way transfers between Binn Betew Homestay and Waisai cost IDR 1,000,000 for 1 or 2 passengers, or 1,300,000 for 3 to 4 passengers. Transfers are by a longboat capable of carrying up to 4 people, and the cost is per trip, shared by passengers.
Activities
There is excellent snorkelling available at Binn Betew Homestay.
Rich reefs and a steep dropoff line the shores between the villages of Kapisawar and Sawinggrai to the east. On a rising tide, it's possible to drift from Binn Betew Homestay to Sawinggrai, exiting the water at Sawinggrai jetty. (Be alert and stick close to the dropoff if you try this: The current is fast when the tide is in full flow and if you miss the exit at Sawinggrai you will need rescuing! A concrete path leads back along the shore to Kapisawar from Sawinggrai.
Birds of Paradise inhabit Gam's jungles and can be seen displaying at dawn and dusk, and long walks along coastal paths are available. Be sure to continue eastward past Sawinggrai to the mangrove boardwalk near Mandarin Homestay.
The attractions of Gam Bay are very close by and Binn Betew Homestay can of course arrange any snorkelling or sightseeing trips you might want to do.
Binn Betew Homestay Location Map
Binn Betew Homestay Reviews
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47 Reviews
Wir waren 7 Nächte im Bin Betew und haben es genossen, saubere Toiletten und Duschen, sowie einen gemütlichen Bungalow ( ohne Kakerlaken etc. ), sowie hervorragendes Essen zu haben.
Das Hausriff ist sehr schön und wir konnten Schildkröten, walking Sharks, black tips etc.
sowie speziell schöne Seesterne sehen.
Auch die Tour zu den Mantas ist grossartig.
Wir werden auf jedenfall wieder hierher zurückkehren.
Für Taucher ist das Homestay vieleicht eher weniger geeignet, da kein Equipment vorhanden ist. ( könnte event. auch organisiert werden ?! )
Terimakasih für die gute Zeit die wir bei Euch verbringen durfte.
Wir waren drei Tage im Binn Betew und waren sehr zufrieden. Das Essen war abwechslungsreich und lecker und Früchten. Auch das Frühstück mit Omlett und frischen Brot war super. Das riesige Moskitonetz hat uns sehr positiv überrascht. Einzig die Treppe ohne Geländer war bei Regen etwas beängstigend.
Wir waren drei Tage im Binn Betew und waren sehr zufrieden. Das Essen war abwechslungsreich und lecker und Früchten. Auch das Frühstück mit Omlett und frischen Brot war super. Das riesige Moskitonetz hat uns sehr positiv überrascht. Einzig die Treppe ohne Geländer war bei Regen etwas beängstigend.
We spent 4 days at Binn Betew just before Christmas
The place is nice and they have kayak to explore beser bay
They are all very kind and gentle
As far as now it is the only place providing a nice breakfast
The place is close to arborek and a fantastic point to See mantas
Only one person spoke english…
Good walks around the forest
We spent 4 days at Binn Betew just before Christmas
The place is nice and they have kayak to explore beser bay
They are all very kind and gentle
As far as now it is the only place providing a nice breakfast
The place is close to arborek and a fantastic point to See mantas
Only one person spoke english…
Good walks around the forest
I stayed at Binn Betew from 5 till 9 December. The bungalow was spacious and the veranda comfortable with hammock. The shared bathrooms are good too.
There may be unwanted animals, but if you bring it up with the family, they will take action, in my experience.
The family is very friendly and showed me two times the cuscus when they were close to their home.
The food was good including afternoon snack.
The house reef is very poor: very little coral, probably damaged by boats coming in and going out. Still there are nice fishes to see.
It is a good place for birdwatching, like herons, eagles and kingfisher from the veranda and (in the morning) hornbills, cockatoes and parrots in the canopy when you walk to the village. There is also a tour to birds of paradise.
I stayed at Binn Betew from 5 till 9 December. The bungalow was spacious and the veranda comfortable with hammock. The shared bathrooms are good too.
There may be unwanted animals, but if you bring it up with the family, they will take action, in my experience.
The family is very friendly and showed me two times the cuscus when they were close to their home.
The food was good including afternoon snack.
The house reef is very poor: very little coral, probably damaged by boats coming in and going out. Still there are nice fishes to see.
It is a good place for birdwatching, like herons, eagles and kingfisher from the veranda and (in the morning) hornbills, cockatoes and parrots in the canopy when you walk to the village. There is also a tour to birds of paradise.
We stayed 4 nights at Homestay Binn Betew and had a very positive experience. Considering the remote location in Raja Ampat, the cleanliness of both the room and the bathrooms is quite good. The room is spacious, with a fan, tables to place luggage and even a mirror. The mosquito net was comfortable and made us feel safe during the night. As this is a tropical destination, it’s normal to see small local animals such as geckos, ants or beetles — but we never saw cockroaches. It’s also important for guests to do their part: avoiding leaving food or even food packaging in the room, as this will attract insects. We brought an airtight container to store snacks, and it worked very well.
The area in front of the homestay is excellent for snorkelling, with a wide variety of fish right at the doorstep. However, we noticed that some of the coral is eutrophic and partially dead, which is worrying in one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. It would be important for the Indonesian government to strengthen conservation measures, promote environmental education, and provide better conditions for local communities so they can protect what is most valuable. Tourism is welcome, but it should always be done responsibly, without harming the environment.
The staff is friendly and helpful; although their English is limited, communication was never a problem. We also appreciated the location near the village, which allowed us to get to know the local customs and interact with the community.
The food was very good, varied and served in generous portions. Breakfast was usually simple (just cake and coffee), but on our last day they kindly prepared a more substantial breakfast, as we were making the long journey back to Sorong. Throughout our stay, we always had water, coffee and tea available, and an afternoon snack was provided daily. We personally prefer a more filling breakfast, but we understand this may vary from person to person.
Overall, we had a very pleasant stay and recommend Homestay Binn Betew to anyone looking for an authentic and peaceful experience in Raja Ampat.
We stayed 4 nights at Homestay Binn Betew and had a very positive experience. Considering the remote location in Raja Ampat, the cleanliness of both the room and the bathrooms is quite good. The room is spacious, with a fan, tables to place luggage and even a mirror. The mosquito net was comfortable and made us feel safe during the night. As this is a tropical destination, it’s normal to see small local animals such as geckos, ants or beetles — but we never saw cockroaches. It’s also important for guests to do their part: avoiding leaving food or even food packaging in the room, as this will attract insects. We brought an airtight container to store snacks, and it worked very well.
The area in front of the homestay is excellent for snorkelling, with a wide variety of fish right at the doorstep. However, we noticed that some of the coral is eutrophic and partially dead, which is worrying in one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. It would be important for the Indonesian government to strengthen conservation measures, promote environmental education, and provide better conditions for local communities so they can protect what is most valuable. Tourism is welcome, but it should always be done responsibly, without harming the environment.
The staff is friendly and helpful; although their English is limited, communication was never a problem. We also appreciated the location near the village, which allowed us to get to know the local customs and interact with the community.
The food was very good, varied and served in generous portions. Breakfast was usually simple (just cake and coffee), but on our last day they kindly prepared a more substantial breakfast, as we were making the long journey back to Sorong. Throughout our stay, we always had water, coffee and tea available, and an afternoon snack was provided daily. We personally prefer a more filling breakfast, but we understand this may vary from person to person.
Overall, we had a very pleasant stay and recommend Homestay Binn Betew to anyone looking for an authentic and peaceful experience in Raja Ampat.
Moja recenzja będzie krótka ale treściwa.
Bungalowy pięknie położone na pomoście z bezpośrednim wejściem do wody, z widokiem na zachód słońca.
Pokój duży, łóżko wygodne, przed wejściem duży taras.
Pościel może ma jakieś plamy ale generalnie czysta.
Gospodyni przynosi trzy razy dziennie różne i najczęściej smaczne posiłki, była nawet pizza 🙂
Gospodarz otwarty na organizację wycieczek według własnego pomysłu. Bardzo ciekawa wycieczka po zatoce Gam…
Do toalety trzeba wejść po schodach, a tam jest prawdziwy prysznic a nie beczka z wodą…
Gospodarze rzeczywiście słabo mówią po angielsku, ale to dla mnie żadna przeszkoda. Mamy ciszę i spokój…
Wady: rafa słaba, zniszczona, dodatkowo odpływ uniemożliwia pływanie w ciągu dnia w godzinach 11-16.
Poza tym jestem bardzo zadowolony z pobytu w tym miejscu!
Moja recenzja będzie krótka ale treściwa.
Bungalowy pięknie położone na pomoście z bezpośrednim wejściem do wody, z widokiem na zachód słońca.
Pokój duży, łóżko wygodne, przed wejściem duży taras.
Pościel może ma jakieś plamy ale generalnie czysta.
Gospodyni przynosi trzy razy dziennie różne i najczęściej smaczne posiłki, była nawet pizza 🙂
Gospodarz otwarty na organizację wycieczek według własnego pomysłu. Bardzo ciekawa wycieczka po zatoce Gam…
Do toalety trzeba wejść po schodach, a tam jest prawdziwy prysznic a nie beczka z wodą…
Gospodarze rzeczywiście słabo mówią po angielsku, ale to dla mnie żadna przeszkoda. Mamy ciszę i spokój…
Wady: rafa słaba, zniszczona, dodatkowo odpływ uniemożliwia pływanie w ciągu dnia w godzinach 11-16.
Poza tym jestem bardzo zadowolony z pobytu w tym miejscu!
We had a good stay at Binn Betew homestay. To be honest we were scared after reading the latest 2 reviews, but we had a good experience.
The room is spacious and well equipped: the bed is very large and comfortable, and there is a new fan. The sheets had (permanent) stains but were clean and smelled good. We had power during all the nights, the bathroom was good. There are ants around, but we didn’t see any cockroaches or rats in the room, and also no pig behind the houses. The boardwalk was in very good condition (for the most part) to the point that it wasn’t really an issue whatsoever. Also the stairs to the bathroom are just normal stairs. The food was very good in quality and variety.
The house reef is nowhere near what the older reviews describe. Near the homestay the reef is mostly dead. If you swim 200m in either direction you can reach jetties where the reef is nicer (still not amazing). We saw no sharks or turtles. If this is your first time in RA you’ll be impressed, otherwise you might be underwhelmed. The hosts are reserved and we had minimal interaction with them. However there is always someone around in case you need something or want to plan trips. At our time of staying there were other guests in the homestay and homestays around it, so it was easy to arrange trips together.
We had a good stay at Binn Betew homestay. To be honest we were scared after reading the latest 2 reviews, but we had a good experience.
The room is spacious and well equipped: the bed is very large and comfortable, and there is a new fan. The sheets had (permanent) stains but were clean and smelled good. We had power during all the nights, the bathroom was good. There are ants around, but we didn’t see any cockroaches or rats in the room, and also no pig behind the houses. The boardwalk was in very good condition (for the most part) to the point that it wasn’t really an issue whatsoever. Also the stairs to the bathroom are just normal stairs. The food was very good in quality and variety.
The house reef is nowhere near what the older reviews describe. Near the homestay the reef is mostly dead. If you swim 200m in either direction you can reach jetties where the reef is nicer (still not amazing). We saw no sharks or turtles. If this is your first time in RA you’ll be impressed, otherwise you might be underwhelmed. The hosts are reserved and we had minimal interaction with them. However there is always someone around in case you need something or want to plan trips. At our time of staying there were other guests in the homestay and homestays around it, so it was easy to arrange trips together.
Given the very positive reviews of this Homestay, I was anticipating good things- but sadly our stay did not measure up to others’ experience or our own experience staying in other Raja Ampat homestays- and at a much higher price per night here!
Although our cabin was spacious and had a nice view of the sunset/stars, it was also stiflingly hot (with no fan), rickety, and located down a treacherous and high boardwalk. There was no way to access the water from the cabin or anywhere around it- thankfully we had lovely neighbours who let us use their water access, but we didn’t want to inconvenience them too much so didn’t get to go in the water as much as hoped.
Directly behind our cabin was a cage of sorts in the mangroves with a pig in it, which squealed at all times of day and created a stench of pig feces in the cabin day and night. Close proximity to farm animals is not something we’re unfamiliar with, but this was over the top….
We had no light in our cabin for the duration of our stay- the owner made a small attempt to fix it but when he was unable to, just shrugged and left, no offer of a lamp etc being made. Most of the time there was also no power for charging devices etc (even though there were lights on in other areas of the Homestay, so this was not a generator issue)
The bathrooms were adequately clean and the showers decent, but the steep, slippery steps to the washroom area were scary – I went to bed every night hoping intensely that I would not need to use them in the dark.
I think the hosts were probably nice people and just very reserved, but it felt quite cold and isolating to have literally no information or conversation volunteered – this was a stark contrast to every other place we stayed in Raja Ampat.
If you snorkel a long distance to the right of the cabins, past the neighbouring Homestay, there is a nice reef, but the area around the Homestay itself is mostly ruined – no idea why the other reviews say the reef is beautiful! The eelgrass environment in front does hold some interest, but not enough that I would recommend staying here for that.
There are shops w cold beer in the village, which was a nice treat!
But overall Binn Betew is not a Homestay I’d recommend or return to
Given the very positive reviews of this Homestay, I was anticipating good things- but sadly our stay did not measure up to others’ experience or our own experience staying in other Raja Ampat homestays- and at a much higher price per night here!
Although our cabin was spacious and had a nice view of the sunset/stars, it was also stiflingly hot (with no fan), rickety, and located down a treacherous and high boardwalk. There was no way to access the water from the cabin or anywhere around it- thankfully we had lovely neighbours who let us use their water access, but we didn’t want to inconvenience them too much so didn’t get to go in the water as much as hoped.
Directly behind our cabin was a cage of sorts in the mangroves with a pig in it, which squealed at all times of day and created a stench of pig feces in the cabin day and night. Close proximity to farm animals is not something we’re unfamiliar with, but this was over the top….
We had no light in our cabin for the duration of our stay- the owner made a small attempt to fix it but when he was unable to, just shrugged and left, no offer of a lamp etc being made. Most of the time there was also no power for charging devices etc (even though there were lights on in other areas of the Homestay, so this was not a generator issue)
The bathrooms were adequately clean and the showers decent, but the steep, slippery steps to the washroom area were scary – I went to bed every night hoping intensely that I would not need to use them in the dark.
I think the hosts were probably nice people and just very reserved, but it felt quite cold and isolating to have literally no information or conversation volunteered – this was a stark contrast to every other place we stayed in Raja Ampat.
If you snorkel a long distance to the right of the cabins, past the neighbouring Homestay, there is a nice reef, but the area around the Homestay itself is mostly ruined – no idea why the other reviews say the reef is beautiful! The eelgrass environment in front does hold some interest, but not enough that I would recommend staying here for that.
There are shops w cold beer in the village, which was a nice treat!
But overall Binn Betew is not a Homestay I’d recommend or return to
Spent 5 nights there and overall it was not the greatest experience we had which is something we didn’t expect after seeing the very good reviews the homestay has.
2 stars for the positive things such as the location, the view is nice, you are on the water and can snorkel down there. The bungalows are spacious especially the bed area which is appreciable. Bathroom’s ok and the food even though not varied at all was not the worst.
Now moving onto what really disappointed us. The staff and especially owners were not welcoming neither helpful nor communicative. Everytime we’d ask Dolly questions through whatsapp we wouldn’t get any answers. The only reason why the man would come tu us was to ask us if we’d do an activity today, they only care about you when you’re down for activities. When my partner had health issues, we didn’t receive help and someone outside the homestay brought us to the hospital because no one from here seemed to care.
Then the cleanliness is another point, the bed sheets and mosquito sheet looked absolutely dirty, all covered with stains. There are a lot of ants around and every morning we’d wake up to coackroaches’ droppings on the desk and sunbed and actually had one walking on us in the middle of the night. Not to forget to mention, you can also hear the rats and mouses during the night so there are probably some.
Last but not least, the activity prices are completely insane, +300€ for a day of snorkeling we’ve never seen that in Indonesia !! We did the Round Gam trip and it was definitely not the best we did and how can you even share with other customers when the homestay’s completely empty in high season ??
I think there are better options around Gam, we don’t recommend staying here.
Spent 5 nights there and overall it was not the greatest experience we had which is something we didn’t expect after seeing the very good reviews the homestay has.
2 stars for the positive things such as the location, the view is nice, you are on the water and can snorkel down there. The bungalows are spacious especially the bed area which is appreciable. Bathroom’s ok and the food even though not varied at all was not the worst.
Now moving onto what really disappointed us. The staff and especially owners were not welcoming neither helpful nor communicative. Everytime we’d ask Dolly questions through whatsapp we wouldn’t get any answers. The only reason why the man would come tu us was to ask us if we’d do an activity today, they only care about you when you’re down for activities. When my partner had health issues, we didn’t receive help and someone outside the homestay brought us to the hospital because no one from here seemed to care.
Then the cleanliness is another point, the bed sheets and mosquito sheet looked absolutely dirty, all covered with stains. There are a lot of ants around and every morning we’d wake up to coackroaches’ droppings on the desk and sunbed and actually had one walking on us in the middle of the night. Not to forget to mention, you can also hear the rats and mouses during the night so there are probably some.
Last but not least, the activity prices are completely insane, +300€ for a day of snorkeling we’ve never seen that in Indonesia !! We did the Round Gam trip and it was definitely not the best we did and how can you even share with other customers when the homestay’s completely empty in high season ??
I think there are better options around Gam, we don’t recommend staying here.
This Homestay was simply excellent. The family are very nice, and communication was easy to arrange the Wasai transfer.
Food was plentiful and varied, with lots of fresh fish and fruit. Delivered right to your own private deck dining area.
The room itself was very comfortable – structurally sound and rain proof with good clean bed and mosquito net, with plenty of space and power points for your 12 hours a day of recharge time. The view from the deck was amazing, with lovely sunset views. The toilet and shower block are separate from the room but very clean with functioning western toilets and overhead shower.
Nature-wise – there is a red bird of paradise spot nearby, the house reef is very good with an abundance of tropical fish, but also turtles, black tip sharks, sea snakes and the walking shark. There was also a resident cuscus that we saw a few times. Landside of the drop-off the current was fine for snorkelling without fins.
The village is lovely for a wander around and a bit of bird spotting – the locals are very friendly. There is a little shop near the homestay that sells ice cold Bintang somehow – given the 6pm to 6am power situation.
Highly recommended!
This Homestay was simply excellent. The family are very nice, and communication was easy to arrange the Wasai transfer.
Food was plentiful and varied, with lots of fresh fish and fruit. Delivered right to your own private deck dining area.
The room itself was very comfortable – structurally sound and rain proof with good clean bed and mosquito net, with plenty of space and power points for your 12 hours a day of recharge time. The view from the deck was amazing, with lovely sunset views. The toilet and shower block are separate from the room but very clean with functioning western toilets and overhead shower.
Nature-wise – there is a red bird of paradise spot nearby, the house reef is very good with an abundance of tropical fish, but also turtles, black tip sharks, sea snakes and the walking shark. There was also a resident cuscus that we saw a few times. Landside of the drop-off the current was fine for snorkelling without fins.
The village is lovely for a wander around and a bit of bird spotting – the locals are very friendly. There is a little shop near the homestay that sells ice cold Bintang somehow – given the 6pm to 6am power situation.
Highly recommended!
Binn Betew was hands down my favourite and best homestay of my two weeks in Raja Ampat. I can’t think of any negatives, everything was wonderful. The bungalow was so huge, with a big, comfortable bed, plenty of tables, hanging space and a huge verandah with a table, hammock and sun lounge. It was an absolute treat to literally sit on my verandah and have delicious meals delivered to my table, and dine whilst looking out over the magnificent water. The bathrooms were luxurious for RA, with running showers, flushing toilets and even bathroom sinks (thanks to Andreas’s engineering ingenuity) to be able to do my washing in! I felt spoilt with the excellent phone coverage from there too. Snorkelling on the house reef was excellent, and the area was rich with turtles, sharks, and all the sea life. I even saw a sea snake! It was also so nice to be able to walk to the villages of Kapisawar and neighbouring Sawinggrai and see what life is really like. Someone in the village had passed away during my stay, so it was really lovely to hear the villagers singing hymns and traditional songs all night in tribute. I also learned about the Child Aid Papua High School, which is highly sought after in the area and has a top reputation. And I haven’t even mentioned the wonderful homestay hosts yet. First there is Dolly, her husband Nelles and their 4 gorgeous kids, Mafan who cooks up a storm, Reny and her husband Andreas who both speak perfect English, and even Eddie, the kayak and ukulele master. Everyone is so friendly, hard working and always with a smile on their face. A couple more highlights were going on a trip with Nelles and his boys to see the small bats, big bats and jellyfish. Amazingly on the way home we fluked two lovely big mantas in Beser Bay, and it was breathtaking to jump in and swim with them! And another day when the weather decided to be grey and rainy, I was able to hire one of the kayaks (100k for the day) and had a fabulous time exploring Beser Bay and all the hidden tributaries and lagoons close by. I got back to find that Eddie had just returned from spearfishing a huge barracuda which was then cooked up for dinner! So in summary, my stay at Binn Betew was six stars and I do not have enough superlatives to describe it. So many thanks to Dolly and the crew and I can’t wait to return!
Binn Betew was hands down my favourite and best homestay of my two weeks in Raja Ampat. I can’t think of any negatives, everything was wonderful. The bungalow was so huge, with a big, comfortable bed, plenty of tables, hanging space and a huge verandah with a table, hammock and sun lounge. It was an absolute treat to literally sit on my verandah and have delicious meals delivered to my table, and dine whilst looking out over the magnificent water. The bathrooms were luxurious for RA, with running showers, flushing toilets and even bathroom sinks (thanks to Andreas’s engineering ingenuity) to be able to do my washing in! I felt spoilt with the excellent phone coverage from there too. Snorkelling on the house reef was excellent, and the area was rich with turtles, sharks, and all the sea life. I even saw a sea snake! It was also so nice to be able to walk to the villages of Kapisawar and neighbouring Sawinggrai and see what life is really like. Someone in the village had passed away during my stay, so it was really lovely to hear the villagers singing hymns and traditional songs all night in tribute. I also learned about the Child Aid Papua High School, which is highly sought after in the area and has a top reputation. And I haven’t even mentioned the wonderful homestay hosts yet. First there is Dolly, her husband Nelles and their 4 gorgeous kids, Mafan who cooks up a storm, Reny and her husband Andreas who both speak perfect English, and even Eddie, the kayak and ukulele master. Everyone is so friendly, hard working and always with a smile on their face. A couple more highlights were going on a trip with Nelles and his boys to see the small bats, big bats and jellyfish. Amazingly on the way home we fluked two lovely big mantas in Beser Bay, and it was breathtaking to jump in and swim with them! And another day when the weather decided to be grey and rainy, I was able to hire one of the kayaks (100k for the day) and had a fabulous time exploring Beser Bay and all the hidden tributaries and lagoons close by. I got back to find that Eddie had just returned from spearfishing a huge barracuda which was then cooked up for dinner! So in summary, my stay at Binn Betew was six stars and I do not have enough superlatives to describe it. So many thanks to Dolly and the crew and I can’t wait to return!
My fiancé and I had a lovely time at the homestay, the hosts were very friendly and accomodating.
There was plenty of food, always something new each meal. The fresh mackerel was delicious as was the fresh fruit with every meal (not sure if that’s the norm).
The view from the bungalows is second to none and the house reef is teeming with sea life.
From our bungalow deck we could see multiple anemones with clown fish, squid, small reef sharks and a million different fish. Better than TV to watch anytime of the day or night (worth bringing a flashlight).
The jungle bathroom with shower and flushing toilets were great.
While he didn’t want us to say, Andres was great company, full of insight into Raja Ampat and a handy translator at times. If he’s not out on an expedition he’s a valuable addition to the homestay family.
Mosquitos and rats were not a problem here, we brought along a backup mosquito net which wasn’t needed.
Great place to rent kayaks and explore the crystal clear waters of the Gam Bay Area!
Already planning our next adventure to Raja Ampat and stay at Binn Betew homestay!
My fiancé and I had a lovely time at the homestay, the hosts were very friendly and accomodating.
There was plenty of food, always something new each meal. The fresh mackerel was delicious as was the fresh fruit with every meal (not sure if that’s the norm).
The view from the bungalows is second to none and the house reef is teeming with sea life.
From our bungalow deck we could see multiple anemones with clown fish, squid, small reef sharks and a million different fish. Better than TV to watch anytime of the day or night (worth bringing a flashlight).
The jungle bathroom with shower and flushing toilets were great.
While he didn’t want us to say, Andres was great company, full of insight into Raja Ampat and a handy translator at times. If he’s not out on an expedition he’s a valuable addition to the homestay family.
Mosquitos and rats were not a problem here, we brought along a backup mosquito net which wasn’t needed.
Great place to rent kayaks and explore the crystal clear waters of the Gam Bay Area!
Already planning our next adventure to Raja Ampat and stay at Binn Betew homestay!
The spacious terrace was one of the highlights, with a large dining table, deck chairs, and a hammock – perfect for relaxing and enjoying the view. We loved having our meals there while looking out over the sea, and at low tide we could even watch birds hunting for fish right in front of us.
Inside, the room had a big bed and two tables, which made everything very convenient. The bathrooms were clean, and I especially appreciated the sinks with soap just outside the toilet – a small detail that made a big difference.
The hosts were very kind, and the meals were not only delicious but also generous in portion. They really did their best to cater to our tastes.
One of the highlights of our stay was renting a kayak to explore Besar Bay – such a fun and memorable experience. It was also possible to walk to two nearby villages, and from the farther one there is a trail where you can see the Red Bird-of-Paradise.
The house reef snorkeling was also very enjoyable. While some areas of coral showed damage, there were still plenty of beautiful, healthy patches. A favorite moment was drifting with the current all the way to the farther village while snorkeling, then walking back along the paved path – a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.
The spacious terrace was one of the highlights, with a large dining table, deck chairs, and a hammock – perfect for relaxing and enjoying the view. We loved having our meals there while looking out over the sea, and at low tide we could even watch birds hunting for fish right in front of us.
Inside, the room had a big bed and two tables, which made everything very convenient. The bathrooms were clean, and I especially appreciated the sinks with soap just outside the toilet – a small detail that made a big difference.
The hosts were very kind, and the meals were not only delicious but also generous in portion. They really did their best to cater to our tastes.
One of the highlights of our stay was renting a kayak to explore Besar Bay – such a fun and memorable experience. It was also possible to walk to two nearby villages, and from the farther one there is a trail where you can see the Red Bird-of-Paradise.
The house reef snorkeling was also very enjoyable. While some areas of coral showed damage, there were still plenty of beautiful, healthy patches. A favorite moment was drifting with the current all the way to the farther village while snorkeling, then walking back along the paved path – a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.
This was the 3rd homestay we stayed at, and it was the best one, both with regard to the accommodation and the food. The owners were very friendly and helpful. The toilet and bathroom were clean and well equipped, with a flushing toilet, working shower and hand washing basin with soap.
We went on several trips from here. First to Gam Bay to see the bat caves and go snorkelling. It was a fantastic trip with a lovely lunch stop on the way. Then to Western Gam for 2 excellent reef snorkels and another lovely picnic.
We went to see the birds of paradise with 2 local guides. Didn’t actually see the birds of paradise but the dawn jungle walk was very interesting and we also saw 3 species of parrots. The snorkelling between the piers was good, but watch out for the currents.
We rented the house double kayak and went into Gam Bay.
Altogether a highly recommended place.
This was the 3rd homestay we stayed at, and it was the best one, both with regard to the accommodation and the food. The owners were very friendly and helpful. The toilet and bathroom were clean and well equipped, with a flushing toilet, working shower and hand washing basin with soap.
We went on several trips from here. First to Gam Bay to see the bat caves and go snorkelling. It was a fantastic trip with a lovely lunch stop on the way. Then to Western Gam for 2 excellent reef snorkels and another lovely picnic.
We went to see the birds of paradise with 2 local guides. Didn’t actually see the birds of paradise but the dawn jungle walk was very interesting and we also saw 3 species of parrots. The snorkelling between the piers was good, but watch out for the currents.
We rented the house double kayak and went into Gam Bay.
Altogether a highly recommended place.
I stayed 5 nights in June 2025 – such a kind, peaceful retreat. The owner even arranged some cooking classes for me in the kitchen hut, studying both the local ingredients and Bahasa Indonesia. I snorkeled in high tide and followed the kids’ careful steps tidepooling in low tide. Great place to unwind!
I stayed 5 nights in June 2025 – such a kind, peaceful retreat. The owner even arranged some cooking classes for me in the kitchen hut, studying both the local ingredients and Bahasa Indonesia. I snorkeled in high tide and followed the kids’ careful steps tidepooling in low tide. Great place to unwind!
We stayed 5 days at Binnbetew homestay. It was absolutely wonderful, the family is so nice, very friendly and careful People. The food was amazing, you can also go snorkeling with them and go for à walk in the jungle/batcave it was also really nice. We dived also with another dive center it was easy to pick us up there .
Thanks to all of them ! We enjoyed ours stay a lot
We stayed 5 days at Binnbetew homestay. It was absolutely wonderful, the family is so nice, very friendly and careful People. The food was amazing, you can also go snorkeling with them and go for à walk in the jungle/batcave it was also really nice. We dived also with another dive center it was easy to pick us up there .
Thanks to all of them ! We enjoyed ours stay a lot
Wonderful caring family. Incredibly delicious food. The most delicious (we lived in 5 families)!
There is a sink for washing! This is a rarity on the islands of Raja Ampat!!!
Very clean and pleasant toilet and shower.
It is possible to take a kayak and explore the coastline by swimming in mangroves with turquoise water.
During low tide, luxurious coral thickets are visible from the kayak.
Happy that we ended up in this family.
It was an unforgettable experience.
Wonderful caring family. Incredibly delicious food. The most delicious (we lived in 5 families)!
There is a sink for washing! This is a rarity on the islands of Raja Ampat!!!
Very clean and pleasant toilet and shower.
It is possible to take a kayak and explore the coastline by swimming in mangroves with turquoise water.
During low tide, luxurious coral thickets are visible from the kayak.
Happy that we ended up in this family.
It was an unforgettable experience.
Binn Betew was the best homestay of my trip thru Raja Ampat. I couldn’t agree more with all the other comments, and the description & pictures are all very accurate.
The bungalows are clean & large, very functional, with a bed frame, elegant mosquito net, tables, mirror and power sockets (only missing item is a fan, although being over water allows the breeze to keep it cool). The terrace is ideal, it’s spacious, it has steps to go down in the water, a lounge chair, a hammock, and a table with water, thermos, coffee & tea, and it’s where all meals are served.
Talking about food, it was excellent, varied & generous. Overall the best food of my trip too.
The bathrooms are quite new as of early 2025. They are very well designed & built: spacious, elevated, made of wood, with white walls, so it makes them look clean, fresh & bright. I preferred these over “ensuite” bathrooms at other homestays.
The family host (Nelles & Dolly) are genuinely very nice & caring. Always available, and easy to speak with, in a mix of English & Bahasa. Prices for boat trips were fair.
Lastly, the environment of Binn Betew in Gam South was spectacular: from the ocean facing view, to the house reef, the walk thru Kapisawar & Sawinggrai villages… Huge bonus, Binn Betew has a kayak (100k/day), which i used to explore Gam bay (~barely 30 mins away) and snorkel around.
Binn Betew was the best homestay of my trip thru Raja Ampat. I couldn’t agree more with all the other comments, and the description & pictures are all very accurate.
The bungalows are clean & large, very functional, with a bed frame, elegant mosquito net, tables, mirror and power sockets (only missing item is a fan, although being over water allows the breeze to keep it cool). The terrace is ideal, it’s spacious, it has steps to go down in the water, a lounge chair, a hammock, and a table with water, thermos, coffee & tea, and it’s where all meals are served.
Talking about food, it was excellent, varied & generous. Overall the best food of my trip too.
The bathrooms are quite new as of early 2025. They are very well designed & built: spacious, elevated, made of wood, with white walls, so it makes them look clean, fresh & bright. I preferred these over “ensuite” bathrooms at other homestays.
The family host (Nelles & Dolly) are genuinely very nice & caring. Always available, and easy to speak with, in a mix of English & Bahasa. Prices for boat trips were fair.
Lastly, the environment of Binn Betew in Gam South was spectacular: from the ocean facing view, to the house reef, the walk thru Kapisawar & Sawinggrai villages… Huge bonus, Binn Betew has a kayak (100k/day), which i used to explore Gam bay (~barely 30 mins away) and snorkel around.
I can’t recommend Binn Betew enough.
I spent 6 days here and it was truly so relaxing and enjoyable.
The accomodation is great. Classic overwater bungalows. The beds are firm but comfortable and have a mosquito net, although there wasn’t many mosquitos to speak of unless you go into the jungle.
The bungalows are built over a shallow lagoon that has a plethora of marina life. Giant clams, endemic epaulette sharks, countless clownfish in their anemones, baby sharks, corals, fish and a real highlight which was a small cuttlefish who resides under the first and second cabins. It was a pleasure to watch it every day, changing colours and textures and interacting with the other marine life.
Nellis (one of the hosts) took me to see the Birds of Paradise at sunrise which can be found a short walk into the jungle behind Sawinggrai. It’s out of breeding season at the moment so we heard them but unfortunately they were not putting on their classic display. Saw plenty of other beautiful birds though and Nellis is very in-tune with the jungle. There are A LOT of mosquitos in there so if you plan on going into the jungle, wear appropriate clothing and mosquito spray.
I was also lucky enough to go fishing with Nellis and some of the locals, as well as diving with the plentiful manta rays, a short boats drive from the homestay.
The food was the absolute highlight of the stay. Every meal was nothing short of amazing and they are very generous with portion sizes and dishes. Rice, vegetables, noodles, fresh fish or chicken, tofu or tempeh, pickles and fruit were standard for each dinner but always varied in flavours or cooking methods. Breakfast was usually some type of sweet, bready dish. My personal favourite was their banana bread (cake) – possibly the best i’ve ever had.
Some recommendations for your stay –
-The mid-day to afternoons and night times can get hot – a portable battery powered fan would be a good idea.
-The shower water is salt water – don’t be surprised when it comes out of the tap salty.
– If you want to do activities and go on adventures, you have to ask. No one will offer it to you otherwise.
Enjoy!
I can’t recommend Binn Betew enough.
I spent 6 days here and it was truly so relaxing and enjoyable.
The accomodation is great. Classic overwater bungalows. The beds are firm but comfortable and have a mosquito net, although there wasn’t many mosquitos to speak of unless you go into the jungle.
The bungalows are built over a shallow lagoon that has a plethora of marina life. Giant clams, endemic epaulette sharks, countless clownfish in their anemones, baby sharks, corals, fish and a real highlight which was a small cuttlefish who resides under the first and second cabins. It was a pleasure to watch it every day, changing colours and textures and interacting with the other marine life.
Nellis (one of the hosts) took me to see the Birds of Paradise at sunrise which can be found a short walk into the jungle behind Sawinggrai. It’s out of breeding season at the moment so we heard them but unfortunately they were not putting on their classic display. Saw plenty of other beautiful birds though and Nellis is very in-tune with the jungle. There are A LOT of mosquitos in there so if you plan on going into the jungle, wear appropriate clothing and mosquito spray.
I was also lucky enough to go fishing with Nellis and some of the locals, as well as diving with the plentiful manta rays, a short boats drive from the homestay.
The food was the absolute highlight of the stay. Every meal was nothing short of amazing and they are very generous with portion sizes and dishes. Rice, vegetables, noodles, fresh fish or chicken, tofu or tempeh, pickles and fruit were standard for each dinner but always varied in flavours or cooking methods. Breakfast was usually some type of sweet, bready dish. My personal favourite was their banana bread (cake) – possibly the best i’ve ever had.
Some recommendations for your stay –
-The mid-day to afternoons and night times can get hot – a portable battery powered fan would be a good idea.
-The shower water is salt water – don’t be surprised when it comes out of the tap salty.
– If you want to do activities and go on adventures, you have to ask. No one will offer it to you otherwise.
Enjoy!
Lovely family. They accommodated me with whatever I asked for. Excellent bungalow with raised bed and many amenities. The bathrooms are super clean.
I highly recommend this homestay. Ideal for couples.
Lovely family. They accommodated me with whatever I asked for. Excellent bungalow with raised bed and many amenities. The bathrooms are super clean.
I highly recommend this homestay. Ideal for couples.
Lovely family. They accommodated me with whatever I asked for. Excellent bungalow with raised bed and many amenities. The bathrooms are super clean.
I highly recommend this homestay. Ideal for couples.
Lovely family. They accommodated me with whatever I asked for. Excellent bungalow with raised bed and many amenities. The bathrooms are super clean.
I highly recommend this homestay. Ideal for couples.
My friend and I had an incredible time at Binn Betew homestay!
The family was so welcoming and kind, and we really felt at ease with them.
The bungalow was spacious, clean and very well kept, with a really comfortable bed. The view from the terrace was incredible, and we could enjoy a beautiful sunset in plain view every evening. Toilet and shower was clean and well kept, and towels were supplied.
The food was delicious, varied and always plentiful, with fresh fruit as dessert for both lunch and dinner.
It was super easy to walk to the nearby villages from the homestay, and our host Nellis helped us with any trips we wanted to go on and guided us around the reef that is literally right in front of the homestay. With his help, we saw manta rays only a short boat ride away – a big bucket list wish for both of us.
All in all we had a wonderful stay, and we highly recommend staying with Nellis and Dolly and their sweet family.
My friend and I had an incredible time at Binn Betew homestay!
The family was so welcoming and kind, and we really felt at ease with them.
The bungalow was spacious, clean and very well kept, with a really comfortable bed. The view from the terrace was incredible, and we could enjoy a beautiful sunset in plain view every evening. Toilet and shower was clean and well kept, and towels were supplied.
The food was delicious, varied and always plentiful, with fresh fruit as dessert for both lunch and dinner.
It was super easy to walk to the nearby villages from the homestay, and our host Nellis helped us with any trips we wanted to go on and guided us around the reef that is literally right in front of the homestay. With his help, we saw manta rays only a short boat ride away – a big bucket list wish for both of us.
All in all we had a wonderful stay, and we highly recommend staying with Nellis and Dolly and their sweet family.
We absolutely loved our time at Binn Betew. The family were all so welcoming, kind and friendly. Despite language differences, they made every effort to communicate with us in advance of our arrival and coordinated perfectly for picking us up from Kri.
We went to Arborek for a couple of day trips during our time there and it was easy to coordinate boats as well as takeaway food.
Our hosts were always fair, honest and communicative as well as just being really nice people. They were very committed to small touches that made our stay feel special and thoughtful. When we came back late from a night dive on Arborek, our dinner was still hot, so they had stayed late to make it fresh for us. We each had water and hot water in our rooms for coffee or tea any time.
The food was the best we had in Raja Ampat. Not only were the portions very sufficient, there was a great variety and fabulous quality. Not to mention the delicious fruit for dessert.
Although initially we thought the reef might not have that much going on, we ended up seeing a great variety of life, including turtles, giant cuttlefish, octupus and walking sharks (right by the steps of our jetty).
We also enjoyed a trip to the birds of paradise, which was about a 40 minute walk from the guest house. It was easy to arrange and all coordinated with kids from the village, so it felt nice to be able to give money to the community instead of to tour companies.
The bathroom was also the best standard we had in Raja Ampat. An actual shower and a flushing toilet (which, again, isn’t necessary, but is a really nice touch).
The kids are cute, the dogs are sweet, the family are charming and natural hosts. Absolutely stay if you have a chance.
We absolutely loved our time at Binn Betew. The family were all so welcoming, kind and friendly. Despite language differences, they made every effort to communicate with us in advance of our arrival and coordinated perfectly for picking us up from Kri.
We went to Arborek for a couple of day trips during our time there and it was easy to coordinate boats as well as takeaway food.
Our hosts were always fair, honest and communicative as well as just being really nice people. They were very committed to small touches that made our stay feel special and thoughtful. When we came back late from a night dive on Arborek, our dinner was still hot, so they had stayed late to make it fresh for us. We each had water and hot water in our rooms for coffee or tea any time.
The food was the best we had in Raja Ampat. Not only were the portions very sufficient, there was a great variety and fabulous quality. Not to mention the delicious fruit for dessert.
Although initially we thought the reef might not have that much going on, we ended up seeing a great variety of life, including turtles, giant cuttlefish, octupus and walking sharks (right by the steps of our jetty).
We also enjoyed a trip to the birds of paradise, which was about a 40 minute walk from the guest house. It was easy to arrange and all coordinated with kids from the village, so it felt nice to be able to give money to the community instead of to tour companies.
The bathroom was also the best standard we had in Raja Ampat. An actual shower and a flushing toilet (which, again, isn’t necessary, but is a really nice touch).
The kids are cute, the dogs are sweet, the family are charming and natural hosts. Absolutely stay if you have a chance.
We loved staying at Binn Betew!!!
The family was super nice, the food was great and plenty, the view was amazing, especially the sunset, and the snorkeling was “wow!”!!!!
Cornelius (Zaka) was a great host and arranged a view small excursions for us, and was very knowledgeable about the sealife and everything in Raja Ampat. He knows a bit of English but it’s good to have a dictionary or translation app with you if you do not speak Indonesian ;). Him and his family also helped us out a lot as we had some issues with internet (wrong sim card)!
The reef in front of the bungalow was amazing. Lots of nice corals and many fish, squid, a turtle, and even sea horses right underneath the bungalow. We also really enjoyed the proximity to the village which means you can go on a quick stroll and meet lots of locals and kids and play and hang out with them. There is even a small kiosk about 2 minutes from the homestay.
Overall we loved staying at Binn Betew and will definitely come back next time we come to Raja Ampat!
We loved staying at Binn Betew!!!
The family was super nice, the food was great and plenty, the view was amazing, especially the sunset, and the snorkeling was “wow!”!!!!
Cornelius (Zaka) was a great host and arranged a view small excursions for us, and was very knowledgeable about the sealife and everything in Raja Ampat. He knows a bit of English but it’s good to have a dictionary or translation app with you if you do not speak Indonesian ;). Him and his family also helped us out a lot as we had some issues with internet (wrong sim card)!
The reef in front of the bungalow was amazing. Lots of nice corals and many fish, squid, a turtle, and even sea horses right underneath the bungalow. We also really enjoyed the proximity to the village which means you can go on a quick stroll and meet lots of locals and kids and play and hang out with them. There is even a small kiosk about 2 minutes from the homestay.
Overall we loved staying at Binn Betew and will definitely come back next time we come to Raja Ampat!