Features
- English speaking
- Sleeps 10 or more
- Reef dropoff
- Mangroves
- Seagrass
- Good phone signal
- Coral
- Good house reef
- IDR 700,000 to 800,000
- Wayag trips
- Has raised beds
- Western style toilet
- Near village
Details
Ransiwor Homestay occupies the tiny island of the same name that lies between Kri and Mansuar. At low tide, Ransiwor is connected to Kri and Mansuar by sandbanks.
Ransiwor Homestay offers five private bungalows on the beach, all of which are over water at high tide. The bungalows sleep two. Some have raised beds, others only have mattresses on the floor. Extra bedding for a third guest can be provided if required. Sheets, pillows, bolsters and mosquito nets are supplied. Bungalow bedrooms are equipped with light switches and power outlets for charging devices.
Each bungalow has a covered verandah. A small table and chairs are provided, and bungalow verandahs have expansive views across the strait to Gam and Waigeo. Step out on to the boardwalk that joins your bungalow to land and you’ll have fabulous sunset views.
Meals are served at Ransiwor Homestay’s sand-floored dining shelter. A table and bench seating is provided, and drinking water and tea and coffee making supplies are always available there.
Guests share a bathroom building on land. (At night, be sure you have a light source for the short walk there!) A western style toilet and bucket bathing are provided. Note: As far as we know, there is no fresh water supply on Ransiwor. Which means that, if the bathing water supplied is fresh, then it’s been hauled over from Yenbuba for you. Use sparingly!
Electricity is supplied by generator, and is only available from sunset to around midnight. (You can, of course, offer to buy more fuel if you want it on at other times.) Ransiwor Homestay receives a strong 4G signal from the nearby Yenbuba tower.
Basic supplies are available in the village of Yenbuba, which is in easy walking distance at low tide. Be sure to keep an eye on the tide, and time your return journey well.
Please do take all your inorganic rubbish away with you when leaving Ransiwor Homestay. There is no non-polluting means of disposal of such trash in Raja Ampat.
English is spoken at Ransiwor Homestay.
Transport / Getting there
One way transport between Waisai and Ransiwor Homestay costs IDR 800,000 A longboat capable of carrying a maximum of six passengers is used. The transfer cost is shared among passengers.
Activities
If you're looking for downtime, or a place in paradise from which to work remotely, then Ransiwor Homestay would probably be perfect. The only other people on the island will be your fellow guests, but everything Raja Ampat is famous for is right next door.
Be sure to bring snorkelling gear, because the reefs on the southern side of Ransiwor are fabulous. If you are a reasonably competent swimmer (and have fins!), Yenbuba Jetty and the reefs of southern Kri are close enough to swim to. Be sure to do it on the slack of the tide though. Tidal currents in Raja Ampat are very strong, especially when flowing through narrow straits like the one between Mansuar and Kri.
If you want to dive, cross to Kri and ask one of the dive centers there about your options.
Like all homestays, Ransiwor Homestay can organise snorkelling and sightseeing trips to anywhere you want to go.
Wayag and Piaynemo sightseeing
Ransiwor Homestay can organise speedboat trips to these two Raja Ampat icons. The boat used can carry up to 12 passengers, and the prices below are shared by trip participants.
Wayag: IDR 25,000,000
Piaynemo: IDR 6,000,000
Ransiwor Homestay Location Map
Ransiwor Homestay Reviews
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81 Reviews
We loved staying at this homestay , set In crystal clear turquoise water with easy access to Yenbuba jetty and a beautiful drop off for snorkeling . We also took their excursion to Cape Kri, which was just incredible!
We enjoyed the food , which was plentiful and delicious and the huts were clean and comfortable . Thank you to our lovely hosts .
We loved staying at this homestay , set In crystal clear turquoise water with easy access to Yenbuba jetty and a beautiful drop off for snorkeling . We also took their excursion to Cape Kri, which was just incredible!
We enjoyed the food , which was plentiful and delicious and the huts were clean and comfortable . Thank you to our lovely hosts .
– A praia é maravilhosa, tem um banco de areia enorme que em maré baixa te permite caminhar bastante.
– A homestay tem vários cachorros, eles são bem tranquilos e fofos.
– Alimentação bem simples comparado com outras homestay, não muitas opções, principalmente o café da manhã.
– Nos hospedamos por 4 dias e o banheiro não foi limpo nenhuma vez.
– O bungalow novo é ótimo e limpo, mas os antigos são bem velhos e tem rato.
– Staff simpático e solicito.
De forma geral foi ok, só recomendo se for por 2 dias no máximo, mais que isso começa a ser desconfortável demais.
– A praia é maravilhosa, tem um banco de areia enorme que em maré baixa te permite caminhar bastante.
– A homestay tem vários cachorros, eles são bem tranquilos e fofos.
– Alimentação bem simples comparado com outras homestay, não muitas opções, principalmente o café da manhã.
– Nos hospedamos por 4 dias e o banheiro não foi limpo nenhuma vez.
– O bungalow novo é ótimo e limpo, mas os antigos são bem velhos e tem rato.
– Staff simpático e solicito.
De forma geral foi ok, só recomendo se for por 2 dias no máximo, mais que isso começa a ser desconfortável demais.
Lokalizacja absolutnie wspaniała, jedzenie na prawdę dobre, porcje na prawdę ogromne. Jednak pamiętajmy że wybierając homestay jednocześnie wybierasz osobę które będą Ci pokazywały piękno Raja Ampat bo jesteś skazany na jego usługi, a tutaj właściciel zbytnio się nie starał abyśmy cokolwiek zobaczyli i mimo że wiem że to miejsce ma nezwykle bogate życie podwodne to nie zobaczyliśmy niestety go z tym Panem który zwyczajnie wywoził nas w takei miejsca że bujniejsze życie podwodne widziałem na wycieczce w Egipcie. Zdecydowanie miejsce TAK bo jest na prawdę super, ale tylko gdy ogrniecie inną osobę która będzie Waszym przewodnikiem po okolicy, inaczej nic specjalnego nie zobaczycie chociaż na pewno słono zapłacicie i zwyczajnie się zanudzicie w tym pięknym miejscu a szkoda.
Lokalizacja absolutnie wspaniała, jedzenie na prawdę dobre, porcje na prawdę ogromne. Jednak pamiętajmy że wybierając homestay jednocześnie wybierasz osobę które będą Ci pokazywały piękno Raja Ampat bo jesteś skazany na jego usługi, a tutaj właściciel zbytnio się nie starał abyśmy cokolwiek zobaczyli i mimo że wiem że to miejsce ma nezwykle bogate życie podwodne to nie zobaczyliśmy niestety go z tym Panem który zwyczajnie wywoził nas w takei miejsca że bujniejsze życie podwodne widziałem na wycieczce w Egipcie. Zdecydowanie miejsce TAK bo jest na prawdę super, ale tylko gdy ogrniecie inną osobę która będzie Waszym przewodnikiem po okolicy, inaczej nic specjalnego nie zobaczycie chociaż na pewno słono zapłacicie i zwyczajnie się zanudzicie w tym pięknym miejscu a szkoda.
The host is very friendly and is always available if you need anything. The location is absolutely stunning, surrounded by sandbanks on pristine clear water. and you’ll have them all to yourself. The snorkelling behind the island is fantastic too. Overall I would highly recommend staying here, the location and surroundings is very unique in Raja Ampat. Thank you so much to the host and all the staff for a very nice stay.
The host is very friendly and is always available if you need anything. The location is absolutely stunning, surrounded by sandbanks on pristine clear water. and you’ll have them all to yourself. The snorkelling behind the island is fantastic too. Overall I would highly recommend staying here, the location and surroundings is very unique in Raja Ampat. Thank you so much to the host and all the staff for a very nice stay.
Esta homestay fica no meio do paraíso, o que já faz com que a experiência seja maravilhosa! O snorkeling à volta da ilha é perfeito. As pessoas são muito simpáticas, às refeições há sempre bastante comida e boa e as casas-de-banho são limpas. E têm disponibilidade para nos levar onde precisarmos, seja para algum tour ou para o transporte até ao ferry. Recomendo muito!
Esta homestay fica no meio do paraíso, o que já faz com que a experiência seja maravilhosa! O snorkeling à volta da ilha é perfeito. As pessoas são muito simpáticas, às refeições há sempre bastante comida e boa e as casas-de-banho são limpas. E têm disponibilidade para nos levar onde precisarmos, seja para algum tour ou para o transporte até ao ferry. Recomendo muito!
The location is amazing the best we have stayed in Raja Ampat, amazing sunsets and snorkelling and Yenbuba jetti. We had a lovely room and asked for a fan which was given. They advise ‘english speaking’ but none of the staff spoke english which was very difficult and they wasn’t very friendly.
There was an issue when leaving, our next homestay provided transportation for us but one of Ransiwor staff members wanted us to pay him an extra 1,000,00 IDR and wouldn’t let the boat with us on leave the island even though we had paid our driver the money. He wanted the extra 1,000,000 for himself despite us not using him or his boat. Luckily we contacted our new homestay which helped resolved the situation but sadly this end but a downer on our experience at Ransiwor. Food was average and they charged us for drinks which belonged to another guest which we found out at the end. Bucket showers were provided. Dogs barking a lot, kept us awake at night so take ear plugs.
We stayed 3 nights at ransiwor homestay and it felt like heaven. The location is very amazing, the shades of blue from the balcony are amazing. The food was very good and tasty, various and included vegetarian option if noticed. We were spoiled with big fresh grilled fish every night. The hosts speaks enough English for the daily basis and the price for the snorkeling excursions are very affordable. Also we were near yenbuba jetty for great snorkeling. Every morning and sunsets when the tide decreases we saw a lot of baby sharks just under our bungalow. One day we were walking in the sandbank and a group of dolphins swam just fifty meters from us.
We stayed 3 nights at ransiwor homestay and it felt like heaven. The location is very amazing, the shades of blue from the balcony are amazing. The food was very good and tasty, various and included vegetarian option if noticed. We were spoiled with big fresh grilled fish every night. The hosts speaks enough English for the daily basis and the price for the snorkeling excursions are very affordable. Also we were near yenbuba jetty for great snorkeling. Every morning and sunsets when the tide decreases we saw a lot of baby sharks just under our bungalow. One day we were walking in the sandbank and a group of dolphins swam just fifty meters from us.
I loved this homestay. The food was great. The place is quiet and peaceful, though close enough to Kri to get there easily if you wish. It is very close to Yenbuba Jetty, for excellent snorkeling. The bungalows have a great view facing north over the water so you can get both sunrise and sunset views. There are tons of hermit crabs all over the beach, which was so fun.
I loved this homestay. The food was great. The place is quiet and peaceful, though close enough to Kri to get there easily if you wish. It is very close to Yenbuba Jetty, for excellent snorkeling. The bungalows have a great view facing north over the water so you can get both sunrise and sunset views. There are tons of hermit crabs all over the beach, which was so fun.
Great location good reef lots of babysharks in the morning and afternoon swimming under your deck. Staff speaks English enoughfor the daily business.
Good food and great trips at Fair prices. All in all a very nice and relaxing stay over at ransiwor. And it is really nice you are able to walk to the town and kri button stillhave the peace and quietness.
Great location good reef lots of babysharks in the morning and afternoon swimming under your deck. Staff speaks English enoughfor the daily business.
Good food and great trips at Fair prices. All in all a very nice and relaxing stay over at ransiwor. And it is really nice you are able to walk to the town and kri button stillhave the peace and quietness.
We stayed 4 Night’s in Ransiwor Homestay and it was very nice. Good food, nice people, very good snorkeling spots and a beautiful place. We really enjoyed our time here.
Thank you for everything! 🙂
We stayed 4 Night’s in Ransiwor Homestay and it was very nice. Good food, nice people, very good snorkeling spots and a beautiful place. We really enjoyed our time here.
Thank you for everything! 🙂
I spent one night at this homestay, and honestly, I wouldn’t stay another. Despite the incredible location, my experience here was far from pleasant. The bungalows are poorly maintained, the thin mattress on the floor was old and very uncomfortable, and the sheets seemed dirty, covered in dog hair.
On top of that, there was a lot of noise all day because they’re building two more bungalows.
The worst part was the bathroom — it smelled terrible, and I don’t think the toilet was ever cleaned.
The food was nothing special; dinner consisted of three different dishes, but they were all made with the same very spicy sauce.
The price was also too high for what they offer compared to other homestays in Raja Ampat. If I ever come back, I definitely wouldn’t book this homestay again.
I spent one night at this homestay, and honestly, I wouldn’t stay another. Despite the incredible location, my experience here was far from pleasant. The bungalows are poorly maintained, the thin mattress on the floor was old and very uncomfortable, and the sheets seemed dirty, covered in dog hair.
On top of that, there was a lot of noise all day because they’re building two more bungalows.
The worst part was the bathroom — it smelled terrible, and I don’t think the toilet was ever cleaned.
The food was nothing special; dinner consisted of three different dishes, but they were all made with the same very spicy sauce.
The price was also too high for what they offer compared to other homestays in Raja Ampat. If I ever come back, I definitely wouldn’t book this homestay again.
In total we were 6 weeks on 6 different islands and 9 different accommodations. This was our last and by far most expensive homestay.
Deliberately overbooked, we were supposed to be moved out. A group of 10 people also had too few bungalows even though they had already booked in August 2024. Another couple was then spontaneously moved out in the evening. Some of the group slept in tents they had brought with them. We were able to stay after all. After the first night we moved to the back bungalow so the group no longer walked past us. Mattress good, mosquito net had lots of holes, I repaired them with needle and thread. Hammock and shade terrace good. Beautiful sunset and long walks possible at low tide. Plenty of food but always too late and mostly the same. 2 p.m. instead of 12 p.m., 9 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m. Sawing and hammering all day to build more bungalows. Short-term trips were always possible. We still didn’t feel as welcome here as in the other 8 homestays. The dogs should be given something to eat more often. A fence on the jetty would prevent dogs from going into the bungalows. At least there are no rats and the reef behind the homestay and behind the island is beautiful with lots of corals, big fish, reef sharks and turtles. Yenbuba Jetty is a predominantly brown coral garden with big Napoleon fish. For snorkelers I would recommend Gam, Arborek, Fam, Batanta and Mansuar. There you get much better value for money and the underwater world is even more colorful and richer in species. Even Cape Kri cannot keep up with the other islands underwater. We wouldn’t book at Kri or Ransiwor again. Thanks to the family anyway.
In total we were 6 weeks on 6 different islands and 9 different accommodations. This was our last and by far most expensive homestay.
Deliberately overbooked, we were supposed to be moved out. A group of 10 people also had too few bungalows even though they had already booked in August 2024. Another couple was then spontaneously moved out in the evening. Some of the group slept in tents they had brought with them. We were able to stay after all. After the first night we moved to the back bungalow so the group no longer walked past us. Mattress good, mosquito net had lots of holes, I repaired them with needle and thread. Hammock and shade terrace good. Beautiful sunset and long walks possible at low tide. Plenty of food but always too late and mostly the same. 2 p.m. instead of 12 p.m., 9 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m. Sawing and hammering all day to build more bungalows. Short-term trips were always possible. We still didn’t feel as welcome here as in the other 8 homestays. The dogs should be given something to eat more often. A fence on the jetty would prevent dogs from going into the bungalows. At least there are no rats and the reef behind the homestay and behind the island is beautiful with lots of corals, big fish, reef sharks and turtles. Yenbuba Jetty is a predominantly brown coral garden with big Napoleon fish. For snorkelers I would recommend Gam, Arborek, Fam, Batanta and Mansuar. There you get much better value for money and the underwater world is even more colorful and richer in species. Even Cape Kri cannot keep up with the other islands underwater. We wouldn’t book at Kri or Ransiwor again. Thanks to the family anyway.
Such a piece of heaven!! Loved this place, the hosting familiy (which is cooking genuine and fresh delicious food everyday). The tiny island was under development and some convenient features are almost ready. This looked a bit messy but part of the integration so, very happy anyway. Do not miss snorkeling the back side of the island and the yetty next to it, just great. The views, peace and nature is surrounding this little island is perfect. Definitely recommended. Enjoy
Such a piece of heaven!! Loved this place, the hosting familiy (which is cooking genuine and fresh delicious food everyday). The tiny island was under development and some convenient features are almost ready. This looked a bit messy but part of the integration so, very happy anyway. Do not miss snorkeling the back side of the island and the yetty next to it, just great. The views, peace and nature is surrounding this little island is perfect. Definitely recommended. Enjoy
We spend 5 nights there. We were staying in three bungalows on the beach.
First night we weren’t sure about the place as was dark when we arrived and didn’t see much but then we adapted very quickly, fallen in love with it and didn’t want to leave. You have to understand that this place is run by local people, so do not expect European/western style of accommodation, but everything was clean and ready for guests. Once you get to know the people, owners and locals, mainly Yoram, who helped us with all sorts of things like cleaning up the bungalows during our stay such as – mosquitoe spray, organising diving trips, trip to Pianemo and Bintang view for good prices! Just don’t hesitate to ask, they are helpful.
Ps. We also went to the church with locals on Saturday and cleaned the beach with kids one day! Unforgettable memories.
L’endroit est paradisiaque (même s’il y avait quand même quelques déchets en fonction des marées..) et parfait pour le snorkelling ou même plongée bouteille (requins pointes noires, tortues vertes et imbriquées, banc de maquereaux qui chassent, orphies, poissons clown, bref, la vie sous marine est magnifique !!! Et le spot pour les raies mantas est tout proche et les personnes (Noldi) au club de plongée sont des crèmes.
Néanmoins, nous avons eu un bungalow sur le ponton, vétuste et très modeste, nous étions sensés avoir notre propre salle d’eau mais vu l’état et la propreté nous avons préféré abandonner cette option.
Le bungalow n’était pas vraiment étanche lors de fortes pluies, et en plus de nous, il abritait des rats, qui devaient loger dans notre matelas au vu des trous présents, qui ont grignoter nos affaires et dansaient la java la nuit en même temps que les moustiques qui passaient par les nombreux trous de la moustiquaire en se délectant de notre sang..
Également, l’attitude de Yoram, désagréable et nonchalant n’a rien arrangée en plus du fait qu’il nous a fait payé le trajet Sawandarek/Wasai bien plus cher que d’autres voisins (1,5 millions au lieu de 1million)..
Mon amie Lou qui voyageait avec nous est restée une nuit et est repartie le lendemain tellement elle ne pouvait supporter ces conditions, surtout sanitaires.. Yoram a refusé de rembourser ou de nous aider à nous faire rembourser les 3 nuits qu’elle n’a pas passées à nos côtés.
N’hésitez pas à venir à cet endroit car le site est merveilleux et proche d’autres spots de plongée tels que Manta Point mais pas à Napoléon Homestay !
N’hésitez pas à demander conseil à Noldy Karundeng qui tient le club de plongée et a un facebook et répondra à toutes vos questions et est la gentillesse incarnée.
We’re sorry to hear of this experience, Vo Fanny. How very disappointing 🙁
We do wish you had contacted us about these problems when you encountered them, because then we could have done our best to negotiate an acceptable solution for you.
We are very responsive by email, and booking confirmation emails contain local support numbers to call in the event of problems like these at homestays.
Great place to stay! The housereef is in good condition and you see a lot of turtles, sharks and big fish everytime we went snorkeling. Would highly recommend.
My mum and I stayed at Ransiwor for 4 nights and loved it! The beach is beautiful, the water is lovely and the house reef at the back of the island is fantastic with lots of turtles, fish, reef sharks, and dugongs (spotted by other visitors, sadly not by me). We usually got the family to drop us at the reef so that we didn’t have to swim against the current, snorkelled to our hearts content and then rode the current back to our beach. We had two over-water bungalows and while basic like most other places in RA, they were comfortable and we didn’t feel like anything was missing. Pick up went smoothly and while the hosts have limited English we were able to communicate well enough. Phone signal is really good, electricity was via generator at night usually running until sunrise. Lunch and dinner were usually nice local home cooked meals (fish or chicken, with rice and some kind of vegetable usually), and we enjoyed trying new foods. As others have stated, breakfast is really small and usually sweet. We gave some extra money to buy fruit, but definitely bring your own snacks/extra food if you need a large breakfast to kickstart your day.
A few updates for this website – there’s actually 6 bungalows now with a couple more being built, so the secluded private feel of this place might soon change. There are now two bathroom buildings both with western style toilet and bucket shower. The newer ones which we stayed in are not on raised beds. Everything else in the description was accurate.
Our main complaint were the semi-domestic pets. Each meal time we were struggling to keep the cat away from the food which was quite frustrating. Secondly there was a small puppy (in a really bad state of health which was really sad to see) that was constantly getting into the rooms at night (even with a closed door) and also going through the bins in the day. We ended up using our tables to barricade the balcony.
Overall we would definitely recommend this homestay, especially if you’re after a peaceful and secluded spot where you can be left to your own devices. The hosts will respect your relaxation but if you’re proactive to ask for activities they will of course be super accommodating and helpful!
Thanks for the update Lauren 🙏😊
Ransiwor has five bungalows now. The sixth bungalow (and the ones under construction, and the second bathroom) are actually a separate homestay that is not yet on Stay Raja Ampat.
It’s a shame to hear of the mistreatment of the animals there. It sounds like they are never fed and are starving. 😢
My mum and I stayed at Ransiwor for 4 nights and loved it! The beach is beautiful, the water is lovely and the house reef at the back of the island is fantastic with lots of turtles, fish, reef sharks, and dugongs (spotted by other visitors, sadly not by me). We usually got the family to drop us at the reef so that we didn’t have to swim against the current, snorkelled to our hearts content and then rode the current back to our beach. We had two over-water bungalows and while basic like most other places in RA, they were comfortable and we didn’t feel like anything was missing. Pick up went smoothly and while the hosts have limited English we were able to communicate well enough. Phone signal is really good, electricity was via generator at night usually running until sunrise. Lunch and dinner were usually nice local home cooked meals (fish or chicken, with rice and some kind of vegetable usually), and we enjoyed trying new foods. As others have stated, breakfast is really small and usually sweet. We gave some extra money to buy fruit, but definitely bring your own snacks/extra food if you need a large breakfast to kickstart your day.
A few updates for this website – there’s actually 6 bungalows now with a couple more being built, so the secluded private feel of this place might soon change. There are now two bathroom buildings both with western style toilet and bucket shower. The newer ones which we stayed in are not on raised beds. Everything else in the description was accurate.
Our main complaint were the semi-domestic pets. Each meal time we were struggling to keep the cat away from the food which was quite frustrating. Secondly there was a small puppy (in a really bad state of health which was really sad to see) that was constantly getting into the rooms at night (even with a closed door) and also going through the bins in the day. We ended up using our tables to barricade the balcony.
Overall we would definitely recommend this homestay, especially if you’re after a peaceful and secluded spot where you can be left to your own devices. The hosts will respect your relaxation but if you’re proactive to ask for activities they will of course be super accommodating and helpful!
Thanks for the update Lauren 🙏😊
Ransiwor has five bungalows now. The sixth bungalow (and the ones under construction, and the second bathroom) are actually a separate homestay that is not yet on Stay Raja Ampat.
It’s a shame to hear of the mistreatment of the animals there. It sounds like they are never fed and are starving. 😢
I stayed there for 3 nights. The owners are very nice. Food was good. I really liked the fact they let you do your thing without pestering you to do a snorkling trip etc…
One I didn’t like was that I asked how much transport to another island would cost, and the owner first told me one price and then tried to charge me more. So make sure you agree on a price beforehand. Apart from that, everything else was good. The island is really beautiful. Simple accommodation but you get everything you need 🙂
I stayed there for 3 nights. The owners are very nice. Food was good. I really liked the fact they let you do your thing without pestering you to do a snorkling trip etc…
One I didn’t like was that I asked how much transport to another island would cost, and the owner first told me one price and then tried to charge me more. So make sure you agree on a price beforehand. Apart from that, everything else was good. The island is really beautiful. Simple accommodation but you get everything you need 🙂
Highly recommended! Read this if you are in a *Diving Trip*
Napoleon Homestay is named after the Napoleon fish that swims around the area and is owned and run by Yorum (dive master) and his lovely family (Ludya in the kitchen, Xeloo as the boat captain).
Before I jump into details, you have to understand that the lifestyle in Mansuar island is different from anywhere else and you have to adapt yourself to it and embrace the culture.
Also, Mansuar is surrounded by many diving/snorkeling spots , and you can easily travel by speedboat to other islands which makes it a strategic location to start.
With that said, let’s start:
The place is clean, cabins are well constructed, and there are two options: One with the cabin in the pier (toilet and shower in land) or the land cabin, with its own bathroom. I had this one and was pretty comfortable. Note that it’s a bucket shower.
Food is super tasty and it’s served 3 times a day. The schedules are somewhat flexible, so breakfast between 6:30-7:30 am, lunch 12:30 – 2pm and dinner 6:30-7:30pm.
Locals are used to have a sweet breakfast so they usually serve any combination of these: Donuts, pink pancakes with sprinkles, toast with chocolate or fried banana.
Lunch and Dinner: Best tuna fish ever or boiled eggs in a sweet garlic spicy sauce with veggies, morning glory, rice or fried noodles and fruit.
It’s usually enough food but if you are a good eater as I am, you might consider asking paying an extra to have your own meals served with more food.
There are also 3 or 4 little stores around that sell the basic things (shampoo, soap, juice, cookies, noodles, etc).
This part of the island has a nice village (with a primary school, a church, a big lake) with some locals living there, so it’s nice to see people around. They are extremely friendly and make you feel at home. Other parts of the island don’t have locals living there but just the home stays and the staff working there.
The electricity in the island only comes after 6pm. Charge your batteries during the night.
And finally, this spot is great for snorkeling and diving. You can see the coral after 10-15m from the shore. The water is crystalline and has a great visibility.
If you wake up by 5:30-6 am, you might see the turtles and blacktip sharks swimming close to the shore chasing and fishing. It’s a delightful experience.
Then, from 7:30am, many boats start heading to this spot to go diving. Usually 3-8 boats.
The coral and variety of fishes is amazing. It’s worth the trip. There are multiple diving spots around Mansuar. You pay 500K IDR per dive but if you go further, you need to pay 600K per dive plus the boat ride cost.
As a example of this, I break down the following tour:
I met a couple that wanted to go to Pyanemo as I do, so we went to Melissa Garden and Famola to dive and we split the cost of the boat ride in 3, so at the end, I paid 1.2Million IDR for both dives, plus 500k IDR for the boat. Best deal ever! Place was a 5+
There’s also an option of doing night dives but we didn’t do it cause none of us have a torch and Yorum doesn’t have one neither.
Finally, the only down side of the experience is that the diving planning was a little bit slow. After breakfast it could pass 2 up to 3 hours until the master and his team is ready to leave. So, be prepared for waiting or take a break and go snorkeling before.
Also, people here speak a different dialect so it might be a little bit difficult to communicate with them or get a lot of information during the briefings. Yorum and his brother Eddy known very well the area and the marine diversity found here, in 10 dives I saw many gigantic turtles, nudibranch fishes, 2 types of clown fish, barracuda, napoleon fish, jack fish, sweet lips fish, lobster, angel fish, 4 types of pufferfish, 4 types of starfish, even a dolphin and more…
I felt very welcomed here and peaceful. I’d love to be back someday.
Note: Use coral reef sunscreen adapted and Bring mosquitoes repellent.
Since it’s a remote island, you need to arrange the boat ride with Yorum, 1Million IDR to go and 1M to get back. If there are other passengers traveling to the same place, you can split cost with the rest of them, but be aware that sometimes you need to pay the total amount since ppl come and go in different days during the week and nobody might do it in the same day you do. If you don’t request Yorum to pick you up, you can see at the office where you pay the international visitor tax if there’s someone going to Mansuar or the next door island (Kri) so you share the boat price and once there you call him for him to pick you up there.
Also consider the 1Million IDR you need to pay as an international visitor at the port for the sustainability program of Raja Ampat.
Le cadre de l’homestay est idyllique, une vue incroyable, une petite île privée au cœur du meilleur spot de snorkelling de Kri.
Toutefois le confort est très sommaire, mais cela en vaut largement la peine.
Le cadre de l’homestay est idyllique, une vue incroyable, une petite île privée au cœur du meilleur spot de snorkelling de Kri.
Toutefois le confort est très sommaire, mais cela en vaut largement la peine.
Pour le prix, nous avons été déçus. C’est un homestay clairement plus cher que la plupart des autres homestays à Raja Ampat. Nous n’avons pas compris pourquoi il est plus cher.
Le point positif :
– c’est magique quand la marée est haute, sous les pilotis, il y a de l’eau. On peut apercevoir des petits requins dans l’eau.
Les points négatifs :
– La famille ne parle pas du tout anglais, il est compliqué de communiquer avec eux.
– Nous avons été malade suite à la nourriture d’un dîner, on soupçonne le poisson.
– Pas de wifi, mais vous pouvez demander au fils un partage de connexion
– les cabanes sur l’eau sont petites
L’île est très petite mais facile à traverser à marée basse.
Pour le prix, nous avons été déçus. C’est un homestay clairement plus cher que la plupart des autres homestays à Raja Ampat. Nous n’avons pas compris pourquoi il est plus cher.
Le point positif :
– c’est magique quand la marée est haute, sous les pilotis, il y a de l’eau. On peut apercevoir des petits requins dans l’eau.
Les points négatifs :
– La famille ne parle pas du tout anglais, il est compliqué de communiquer avec eux.
– Nous avons été malade suite à la nourriture d’un dîner, on soupçonne le poisson.
– Pas de wifi, mais vous pouvez demander au fils un partage de connexion
– les cabanes sur l’eau sont petites
L’île est très petite mais facile à traverser à marée basse.
Wow ..what a place ❤️ i was there for a week. The reason i choose this location because of the location and want the privacy and rest.
It is all worth it and beyond ❤️
Location the best: low tide you can go to Mansuar and Kri. Kri for their house Coral and the dive companys.
When high tide you can still going back by swimming but the current can be strong.
The owners were very nice and the food was great.
There are 1500 islands but this is one of the first and in my opinion you dont have to search further….stay here.
You feel the quitness and the rest immediately.
Sleeping in those bungalow at the water and when high tide you are in the water…lovely ❤️
So yeah a def to stay when there ❤️
🙏Miguel from Holland
Wow ..what a place ❤️ i was there for a week. The reason i choose this location because of the location and want the privacy and rest.
It is all worth it and beyond ❤️
Location the best: low tide you can go to Mansuar and Kri. Kri for their house Coral and the dive companys.
When high tide you can still going back by swimming but the current can be strong.
The owners were very nice and the food was great.
There are 1500 islands but this is one of the first and in my opinion you dont have to search further….stay here.
You feel the quitness and the rest immediately.
Sleeping in those bungalow at the water and when high tide you are in the water…lovely ❤️
So yeah a def to stay when there ❤️
🙏Miguel from Holland
I enjoyed match the week I spent there. The beauty of this place is amazing. All logistics from and to Sorong did function well. The landlady is very lovely. The bungalows and other facilities are very simple but the nature around is fabulous. My Telkomsel internet did function very well all the time. On the way to Arborek I saw many Mantas. Snorkeling around the Island is not the best because of the strong currents. In a whole I recommend to visit this wonderful place.
I enjoyed match the week I spent there. The beauty of this place is amazing. All logistics from and to Sorong did function well. The landlady is very lovely. The bungalows and other facilities are very simple but the nature around is fabulous. My Telkomsel internet did function very well all the time. On the way to Arborek I saw many Mantas. Snorkeling around the Island is not the best because of the strong currents. In a whole I recommend to visit this wonderful place.
In a word heaven! Just 5 bungalows on your own private island (although they are building more). At high tide the water is right up to your bungalow. Never seen water this colour before & when the tide is on its way out & there is a sliver of white sand bank it’s stunning. Bungalow clean & loved my hammock. Shared bathroom basic but fine.
Hot water for tea & coffee always available and cold water too. As noted in other reviews breakfast small & sweet. Usually cake! Lunch & dinner delicious every day and always more than enough to go round. And when I opened my lunchbox at Piaynemo I was the envy of all!
Dived with Soul Scuba (literally across the bay). Depending on tide you can wade there or back but beware sharp bits of coral in places. Easier to let SS pick you up & drop you back.
Stayed 9 days and loved every second. I am already planning my return. Thank you Aio for the most wonderful time.
In a word heaven! Just 5 bungalows on your own private island (although they are building more). At high tide the water is right up to your bungalow. Never seen water this colour before & when the tide is on its way out & there is a sliver of white sand bank it’s stunning. Bungalow clean & loved my hammock. Shared bathroom basic but fine.
Hot water for tea & coffee always available and cold water too. As noted in other reviews breakfast small & sweet. Usually cake! Lunch & dinner delicious every day and always more than enough to go round. And when I opened my lunchbox at Piaynemo I was the envy of all!
Dived with Soul Scuba (literally across the bay). Depending on tide you can wade there or back but beware sharp bits of coral in places. Easier to let SS pick you up & drop you back.
Stayed 9 days and loved every second. I am already planning my return. Thank you Aio for the most wonderful time.
We stayed from Jan 19 till 21, 2024. It was fantastic, white sand beach with Robinson feeling. The food was great as well and the family is very, very friendly.
We stayed from Jan 19 till 21, 2024. It was fantastic, white sand beach with Robinson feeling. The food was great as well and the family is very, very friendly.
While Sawandarek was a nice village to stay in, I would not recommend this particular homestay. The snorkelling is excellent; we regularly swam with sharks, turtles and large schools of fish, though during the day – as others have mentioned – the bay is a liveaboard factory, so it is best to enjoy the water before and after they arrive. The lake was also a nice walk and an enjoyable swim.
The owner of Napoleon, Yoram, was almost permanently absent from the facilities, making it very difficult to organize anything with him. When we did manage to organize things, he cancelled at the last minute every time, leaving us in a lurch.
The facilities are run by a few women who do all the work. It feels that very little of the money we spent went into maintaining or improving the homestay, both for guests as well as the infrastructure for the women, who were working out of a very broken, and difficult kitchen space.
Out of 4 rooms that our group rented, 3 were not of an acceptable standard. The ones over the water were rickety and moved with the waves. One on land reeked of dead fish and uncleaned toilet upon arrival. The larger house was nice, but the bathroom appeared to never be cleaned. Our shower drained directly into the sea, without going through even a basic rock filter, sending our waste water and soap out the door.
It also felt that very little of the money was spent on food, which was often not enough for our group and the others staying there. One evening we had cabbage, rice and half a boiled egg each.
All in all, it feels that Yoram is in business to get money and keep it, not to do anything to provide a nice experience for either guests or staff. There are several other nice homestays worth looking at as alternatives.
So sorry to hear of your experience here Noelle, and thank you for taking the time to leave a review alerting us and other guests. We guarantee basic standards at homestays, and if you had reported these conditions to us when you encountered them, we could have organised suitable alternate accommodation and transport at no cost to you, or offered a full refund. Hopefully receiving this feedback will prompt Napoleon Sawandarek to rectify these problems.
I can confirm everything you mentioned
My friends and I spent 7 nights in beach front cottages and had a comfortable and memorable experience. It was a joy to be able to snorkel the drop off reef just in front of our cottages several times a day even as early as 6 am. The reef is filled with healthy colorful coral and thousands of fish and sea creatures. One of the resident turtles took me on a 30 minute tour of the reef allowing me to swim with a meter of it. The cottages face east and the sun rises are spectacular. Our cottages had a en-suite mandi shower with a Western style toilet. The food is tasty and plentiful. The cooks can easily cater to vegetarian diets. There is electricity starting at 6 pm throughout the night. This place is a bit of paradise.
I had 4 nights at Napoleon and it was very good. Comfy cabin, Yoram was very helpful and I did day trips on the boat which was good. There was great phone signal there so don’t worry about no communication. Having my own bathroom was a treat. I had a real love/hate relationship with the Sawandarek reef. Lots of sharks, turtles, big fish, friendly fish but the corals were not as colourful. The worst part was the day trippers, boatloads of them dropping off snorkelers and picking up divers and hogging the jetty. But I learnt to work around them and be in the water before and after they got there and have the amazing marine life to myself. You really do see a lot of sharks there and the fish are bigger overall. It does upset me that there does not seem to be regulation about how may day trippers/ liveaboards can arrive Do they pay enough to the village? The food at Napoleon’s was great, huge amounts and the women looked after us very well. The dining room is fabulous being over the water. Sawandarek village is very clean and lovely and I had an amazing experience being part of a Biak ceremony there, given lovely shell beads, straw hat and dancing. So I definitely recommend a stay here. You will be well rewarded and every time you snorkel here you will be surprised.
We had an enjoyable four night stay here in spite of a mix-up with the booking. We ended up in an over water cabin without a bathroom but enjoyed it nonetheless. Electricity from sunset until sunrise. The house reef is wonderful, with turtles and sharks. Yenbuba is an easy must-do snorkeling excursion.
Can fully echo Alfred and Michelle’s review. Great bungalows and an amazing reef. For me the Sawandarak village was the best part of the stay, people are so friendly and loved playing football with the kids in the afternoon.
Would love to come back!
We just left after a WONDERFUL five day stay at Napoleon Sawandarek. We stayed in one of the two beach bungalows that are located closest to the village. They are of quality construction with an excellent clean private bathroom including shower. The reef was absolutely AMAZING! Snorkeled twice a day and saw something new each time. Lots of sharks, giant sea turtles, hundreds of species of fish, dolphins, and a huge oceanic manta ray. We felt no need to go elsewhere. The owner, Yoram and his staff were responsive to WhatsApp messages and anything we needed. We walked around the village several times. Very friendly people. There are two small stores if you’d like to get something. The village was very tidy. Far cleaner than what we experienced in Kri. We came across the garbage in the forest that the previous comment referenced. Not ideal but there are no services taking it away. I wonder if she took away her personal garbage as tourists only contribute to the problem. As far as dogs. The only one we came across was an older puppy. We experienced playfulness. No aggression whatsoever. So glad we got to experience this place. We wished we could have stayed longer.
We think that 2 nights are enough to stay at the Homestay which unfortunately, at this stage, does not offer snorkeling trips around Mansuar for example. Same thing in the village. No Internet to try to find solution to enjoy more ! Finally people arrive by boat in Sawandarek and leave after snorkeling or diving. Snorkeling near the jetty is excellent.
We were supposed to stay 4 nights (paid) but we cut our stay short and returned to Kri.
The snorkling at Sawandarek jetty was excellent. Enormous Napoleon Fish, many black tip sharks and huge turtles.
However being close to the village we explored into the jungle and hiked across Mansaur to the other side. We witnessed the villagers dumping wheelbarrows filled with trash in the rainforest. The entire rain forest is a trash heap.
There was also a lot of pine nut trading, chewing and selling happening in the kitchen of the homestay which made it uncomfortable to be in a swimsuit or to change in our bungalow.
I got bitten by an agressive dog that came out of nowhere in the village and had a major legion in my calf. Additionally the hammock on our verandah snapped leaving me with a broken coccyx and no medical care.
This was one of three areas of Raja Ampat we visited and by far my least favourite. We left the homestay 3 days earlier than planned because it was not a safe/comfortable space to be in. When we asked to leave the owner came to introduce himself for the first time in 3 days. Luckily we got off the island and had a wonderful 5 days in Kri.
Personally I feel, nearby Kri was much cleaner, more professional and prettier under the water too.
Very good stay at Napoleon, comfortable house with bathroom, tasty and plenty food, very kind staff and host, who allowed us to change our arriving date. Everything was ok, thanks a lot!
Nous avons adoré notre séjour de 3 jours à Napoléon sawandarek. Le bugalow au dessus de l’eau est magique. Le récif au pied du bungalow est incroyable !! Tortues, requins, petites raies, des tonnes de poissons et de magnifiques coraux.
Nous n’avons pas eu besoin de faire de sorties, tellement nous ne nous laissions pas du lieu.
C est également très chouette d’être proche du village, pour la découverte de la vie locale… Et les parties de foot endiablées.
Les chambres sont grandes… Et la nourriture variées et excellente.
Il ne reste plus qu’à revenir !!
Abbiamo trascorso 8 notti al Napoleon. Eravamo nel bungalow sulla spiaggia. Alloggio molto spartano. Se ci andate portatevi una pila. E uno specchio per farvi la barba. Letto comodo con zanzariera. Posizione incantevole con ottimo snorkelling di fronte. Abbiamo fatto delle escursioni a piaynemo, manta sandy e cape kri con il padre di yoram e suo fratello. Tutti molto gentili e sorridenti. Cibo un poco monotono ma buono e sufficiente, non abbiamo avuto disturbi intestinali. Grazie yoram
On our first day at this homestay we dropped our bags at the bungalow and jumped into the water for a snorkel and…. OMG WOW!!!! The snorkeling at Sawandarek is out of this world! The best for us from all that we saw in Raja Ampat. 😉 Lots of turtles (big ones as well), sharks, huge barracuda, lots and lots of big fish everywhere!
And the homestay is right there! And all in all we had a great time at Napoleon Sawandarek. Yoram and his dad helped us with everything we needed (snorkel rental, transfer to Waisai and snorkeling trip) and the women cooked delicious food. We however recommend to take an Indonesian dictionary or app with you as the owner and his family does not speak so much English.
We stayed at the over-water Bungalow and really enjoyed it as it was quite big and we could see so many sharks and turtles and fish just looking down into the water from our room.
We really enjoyed the village life here as well. Everyone greets you when you walk through the village and there is a nice little shop with a fridge to buy some drinks and snacks.
We also tried walking to other villages via the path through the forest but without success as the path has become really destroyed and at some point we lost the way.
All in all we loved this homestay (in terms of location probably our favourite so far in Raja Ampat) and can really recommend it!
Encore un endroit idyllique que nous avons découvert dans notre périple au Raja Ampat…Nous avons eu le privilège de loger dans le grand bungalow ombragé sur pilotis face à la mer avec les sanitaires à l’interieur. Juste un bémol, le matelas n’était vraiment pas top mais après en avoir parlé à Yoram, je sais qu’il fera le nécessaire pour le bien être de ses hôtes à venir.
Nous avons adoré être à Sawandarek pour sa vie de village, les enfants…nous avons même participé au culte du samedi avec ses chants émouvants. À la sortie tout le monde s’est serré la main, s’est remercié d’être présent…et nous avons même eu droit à la photo de famille.
Yoram et sa famille sont vraiment adorables, à l’écoute…
Nous avons très bien mangé.
En partant du ponton, il était très facile de découvrir la multitude de poissons avec masque et tuba. Nous avons même nagé avec une énorme tortue.
Cet endroit est réputé pour la plongée, de nombreux bateaux à voiles viennent y mouiller et les zodiacs amènent leurs clients plonger.
Le père de Yoram nous a accompagnées une après midi découvrir le lac qui se trouve à l’intérieur de l’île. Très belle ballade!
Nous avons séjourné au Napoleon 3
nuits à partir du 10 fevrier 2023.
Nous savons que si l’occasion nous en est donnée, nous retournerons avec grand plaisir saluer Yoram et sa belle petite famille.
Dany et Anna
This homestay is a great place to experience life in a small village and get in contact with the local people. Napoleon Homestay is just a short walk from Sauwandarek village at the end of the bay. Yoram and his family are very friendly and are great hosts. They take very good care of the place, everything is clean. Yoram’s English is good, so talking to him is really easy. He helps with everything (e.g. snorkelling trip). His wife Ina and all the women in the kitchen do a great job. Food was always delicious and plenty, Lots of different vegetables, fish and chicken, and even fresh fruits were served.
Thank you Yoram and Ina for your hospitality!
I stayed here 3 nights on my third trip to R4. I would say my experience was mixed. This is a great homestay if you
– really like the feeling of staying on your own private island with a very beautiful view
– want to stay near Kri but are looking for a “homestay” experience rather than having 10 bungalows left and right next to you
– are a somewhat experienced snorkeler and want to have the best snorkelling in front of you that Kri/Mansuar has to offer
Here I am talking about the stretch from South of Ransiwor to Yenbuba jetty then down to Cape Mansuar until current gets strong. It has even more fish than what you see near Kri. Including turtles, sharks, barracudas. I even saw a dugong. Coral sometimes great, some patches destroyed (by storm?). From Ransiwor homestay you can enter to the left but tricky at low tide. Or enter to the right (facing Kri) but sometimes current too strong. If you dont have fins or dont have experience with current please take a boat.
You can also access all the above if you are staying west end of Kri and swim across the channel.
Back to the homestay, there are some issues as well
– it is overpriced. On Kri or in Sawandarek/Mansuar you can get a much better hut with attached bathroom for cheaper. Shared bathroom is basic I have seen better
– there is a lot of trash (though not in front of the bungalow). I think it comes from the sea not from the homestay.
– they do not list boat prices, which turn out more expensive than other homestays. E.g. they want from Gam/Sawinggrai 600, to Sawandarek 500. I cut my stay one night short, asked them to exchange one paid night with one boat transfer. First they said yes (I thought) then they insisted on full payment for both.
Anyway I did have nice stay! The family is nice. The food is good! The location is fantastic. Just know the pros and cons.
I stayed here 3 nights on my third trip to R4. I would say my experience was mixed. This is a great homestay if you
– really like the feeling of staying on your own private island with a very beautiful view
– want to stay near Kri but are looking for a “homestay” experience rather than having 10 bungalows left and right next to you
– are a somewhat experienced snorkeler and want to have the best snorkelling in front of you that Kri/Mansuar has to offer
Here I am talking about the stretch from South of Ransiwor to Yenbuba jetty then down to Cape Mansuar until current gets strong. It has even more fish than what you see near Kri. Including turtles, sharks, barracudas. I even saw a dugong. Coral sometimes great, some patches destroyed (by storm?). From Ransiwor homestay you can enter to the left but tricky at low tide. Or enter to the right (facing Kri) but sometimes current too strong. If you dont have fins or dont have experience with current please take a boat.
You can also access all the above if you are staying west end of Kri and swim across the channel.
Back to the homestay, there are some issues as well
– it is overpriced. On Kri or in Sawandarek/Mansuar you can get a much better hut with attached bathroom for cheaper. Shared bathroom is basic I have seen better
– there is a lot of trash (though not in front of the bungalow). I think it comes from the sea not from the homestay.
– they do not list boat prices, which turn out more expensive than other homestays. E.g. they want from Gam/Sawinggrai 600, to Sawandarek 500. I cut my stay one night short, asked them to exchange one paid night with one boat transfer. First they said yes (I thought) then they insisted on full payment for both.
Anyway I did have nice stay! The family is nice. The food is good! The location is fantastic. Just know the pros and cons.
I stayed 4 days at Napoleon Sauwandarek Homestay and enjoyed my stay verry much. The 4 Bungalows have all ensuit bathrooms, wich is very nice to have. The Rooms are clean and big, might be you have to ask for a hamock wich you will get. As the owner is very helpfull his doing his best to feel you make comfortabel and his english is good. The Food was allways good and plenty. The village and the locals are all very nice and smiling.
There is no phone signal ore internet even with Telcomsel Card, but I`m shure the owner is going to help you with other reservations, because he has a older mobile wich works.
The owner is also dive instructor (but no scuba diving available), but he knows the best spots for snorkelling and finding Mantas.
You will anyway will find big groups of big and small fish just in front of your bungallow. So yes, I will come back to this very nice homestay.
Hello! We are interested to know if the boat to the nearest (Kri and Mansuar) islands in high tide has additional cost or it’s included for guest?
Hi Carolina
Fairly sure that the owners would give you a ride for free anytime they were making the trip between Yenbuba and Ransiwor, but you’d have to pay if you wanted them to make extra trips at your convenience.
Hello! We are interested to know if the boat to the nearest (Kri and Mansuar) islands in high tide has additional cost or it’s included for guest?
Hi Carolina
Fairly sure that the owners would give you a ride for free anytime they were making the trip between Yenbuba and Ransiwor, but you’d have to pay if you wanted them to make extra trips at your convenience.
There‘s not much to add to the previous comments!!!
Stayed @ this lovely place 8 nights and we had a really good time…
There‘s not much to add to the previous comments!!!
Stayed @ this lovely place 8 nights and we had a really good time…
Ransiwor is idyllically located right between Mansuar and Kri. This beautiful little island is connected by sandbanks at low tide and peacefully isolated at high tide. The water is brilliantly blue with lovely white sand and beautiful ocean views. There was something quite special about feeling like we had this gorgeous tropical island to ourselves! Our hosts Harry and Eche and their family are absolutely delightful, and did everything they could to make us feel relaxed and welcome.
We stayed here for a week and went diving daily at Soul Scuba on Kri. There was no problem at all accessing the dive shop. In the morning Harry would take us across in his boat. He would have also been happy to pick us up after diving, but when the tide was low we would just wade back. The diving was spectacular!
Eche is a fabulous cook. We had some great food in Raja Ampat, but Eche’s food was the best! Every day we had something amazing and delicious. The dining area was lovely.
We loved our bungalow, watching the sandspit stretch out in front of us as the tide went out, and listening to the waves underneath us at high tide.
What a perfect and magical place to end our Raja Ampat adventure.
Ransiwor is idyllically located right between Mansuar and Kri. This beautiful little island is connected by sandbanks at low tide and peacefully isolated at high tide. The water is brilliantly blue with lovely white sand and beautiful ocean views. There was something quite special about feeling like we had this gorgeous tropical island to ourselves! Our hosts Harry and Eche and their family are absolutely delightful, and did everything they could to make us feel relaxed and welcome.
We stayed here for a week and went diving daily at Soul Scuba on Kri. There was no problem at all accessing the dive shop. In the morning Harry would take us across in his boat. He would have also been happy to pick us up after diving, but when the tide was low we would just wade back. The diving was spectacular!
Eche is a fabulous cook. We had some great food in Raja Ampat, but Eche’s food was the best! Every day we had something amazing and delicious. The dining area was lovely.
We loved our bungalow, watching the sandspit stretch out in front of us as the tide went out, and listening to the waves underneath us at high tide.
What a perfect and magical place to end our Raja Ampat adventure.
I just got back from here, this place is special. If you want secluded, peace and quiet this is it. Lovely beach, amazing water. A quick 200m swim with fins takes you across to yenbuba jetty just follow the slope of the reef across to ransiwor island. The huts are lovely too, I was the only guest here. Harry and his wife own the place and are very gracious hosts. Harry’s brother is available to take you on any boat trips. I would recommend you bring your own snorkeling equipment, I also brought my own hammock which is highly recommended for the views here however the veranda do have a small table and plastic chairs. Like most homestays the breakfast is not great sweet and small. Bring instant noodles or other snacks for brekkie. Lunch and dinner are basic Indonesian food usually rice with fish and a green spinach type vegetable.
At low tide it is very easy to get across to southern Kri or yenbuba village on mansuar. My stay was lovely and highly recommended.
I just got back from here, this place is special. If you want secluded, peace and quiet this is it. Lovely beach, amazing water. A quick 200m swim with fins takes you across to yenbuba jetty just follow the slope of the reef across to ransiwor island. The huts are lovely too, I was the only guest here. Harry and his wife own the place and are very gracious hosts. Harry’s brother is available to take you on any boat trips. I would recommend you bring your own snorkeling equipment, I also brought my own hammock which is highly recommended for the views here however the veranda do have a small table and plastic chairs. Like most homestays the breakfast is not great sweet and small. Bring instant noodles or other snacks for brekkie. Lunch and dinner are basic Indonesian food usually rice with fish and a green spinach type vegetable.
At low tide it is very easy to get across to southern Kri or yenbuba village on mansuar. My stay was lovely and highly recommended.
Would you be basically stuck on this island at high tide or if you were to visit Kri or Mansuar at low tide would it be too difficult to make it back to here because of the current?
The short answer to that question is ‘yes’, John.
If you have fins, are a competent swimmer and know how to read and compensate for currents, then it’s a different story.
If you don’t mind deep wading, then the window for crossing is actually quite large. There is also always a boat available.
Would you be basically stuck on this island at high tide or if you were to visit Kri or Mansuar at low tide would it be too difficult to make it back to here because of the current?
The short answer to that question is ‘yes’, John.
If you have fins, are a competent swimmer and know how to read and compensate for currents, then it’s a different story.
If you don’t mind deep wading, then the window for crossing is actually quite large. There is also always a boat available.