Features
- Sleeps 10 or more
- Good phone signal
- Coral
- Calm beach
- Sandy Beach
- Has raised beds
- Western style toilet
- IDR 500,000 to 600,000
- Near village
- IDR 400,000 to 500,000
- Has ensuite bathroom/toilet
Details
Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay has eight bungalows.
There are three VIP bungalow on the beach, and another 3 VIP bungalows on land.
There are also 2 private bungalows (no ensuite bathroom or toilet).
All rooms have light switches and power outlets for charging equipment, glazed windows, and all room doors can be locked.
Bedrooms sleep two on raised beds. Sheets, pillows, bolsters and mosquito nets are provided. An extra mattress can be provided if required.
Meals are served in a spacious beachside dining room.
Private bungalow guests share a two-roomed bathroom building.
Electricity is from Saukabu village supply, and is usually available from 6pm to 6am. Tanjung Mefiyai receives a good phone signal.
Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay is very close to the village of Saukabu, where basic supplies can be purchased from a few small shops.
As everywhere in Raja Ampat, waste disposal is problematic. The only way to avoid being a conributor to the trashing of paradise is to take all your inorganic waste away with you when you leave.
Very little English is spoken at Tanjung Mefiyai, so bring a phrasebook if you don’t speak Bahasa Indonesia.
Transport / Getting there
Transport between Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay and Waisai is by longboat and costs IDR 2,500,000 each way, shared by passengers (max 4).
For transfers to/from other destinations, see Tanjung Mefiyai's March 2026 transfer and tour prices here.
If more than 4 passengers, a speedboat is used. The speedboat can accommodate up to 8 passengers and costs IDR 4,000,000 each way.
Read more about Raja Ampat boat transport prices here.
Public Boat to the Fam Islands
If you have plenty of time, you don't mind a bit of discomfort, and you want spend as little as possible on transport costs, then there are cargo boats that you can use to get to the Fam Islands. (Obviously, if you are going to arrive on the cargo boat, then you don't need to request a Waisai pickup when submitting the booking form above.)
Here's what you need to know about getting the cargo boat to Fam.
Activities
See Tanjung Mefiyai's March 2026 transfer and tour prices here.
Fantastic ocean vistas and a superb, wide, white sandy beach are the attractions at Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay. There's great snorkelling over coral out front of the homestay and low tide provides the opportunity for long beach walks.
A large timber sundeck offers a great place to relax and take in the ocean views. Recliners are provided.
Tanjung Mefiyai can arrange longboat tours to all the famous snorkelling sites and attractions around Pam and Piaynemo. (Pam and Piaynemo are the preferred local names of the islands often marked on maps as Fam and Penemu.) Spectacular karst island panoramas like those of Wayag are available at Piaynemo, and the myriad low sand cays to the south of Pam feature deserted beaches, sapphire seas and great snorkelling.
Village explorations are available from the homestay, which lies a five minute walk to the east of Saukabu. There are a few tracks on the island that also afford longish walks and Yellow Lake in the center of the island reportedly has crocodiles you can observe if you're keen. Ask your hosts about a guide if you want to visit Yellow Lake.
Pam/Fam Islands
See our Pam Islands page for an overview of the Pam/Fam Islands and their attractions.
Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay Location Map
Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay Reviews
The reviews we publish are written by verified guests of Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay. Please do add yours!
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78 Reviews
Llegamos el 1 de marzo, estuvimos 3 noches y la verdad es que el lugar es un paraíso de agua turquesa, Joshua fue el alma de todo (a parte de un artista). Los tours que hicimos fueron geniales. La habitación muy espaciosa, con baño privado (agua fria). Vistas al mar increibles y sunrise espectacular. La comida típica de arroz, verduras y lo que tenían ya fuera pescado o huevos. Si es cierto que cuando hicimos el tour la comida era escasa como si nos hubieran puesto las sobras del pescado del día anterior. Y algo que deberían añadir es una caja para la comida pq hay bichillos por la noche y si llueve le falta protección para no mojarse las cosas. Aun asi, después de 10 dias por las islas de Raja Ampat, como lugar este fue el número 1 de mi lista.
I had a wonderful week at Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay. My VIP bungalow (with private bathroom and toilet) offered a fantastic view of the sea. Snorkeling is also possible on site. The offered snorkeling and viewpoint tours were well-organized and reasonably priced. The food was delicious, especially the fish. The host family is very friendly and helpful! I will definitely come back and highly recommend this homestay! Thank you so much for everything!
We stayed for 5 nights in the VIP bungalow on the beach and we loved it! Our own bathroom felt as luxury after two homestays with bucket shower and toilet. I only missed a mirror 😉 The view is amazing and you feel like you are in paradise. Food was good and we were happy with the snack around 4-5pm. Loved the puppies that were hanging around the homestay. Good snorkling in front of the homestay when you go to the right. We also booked the tour to Piaynemo with them and we liked it very much!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Depending on the tides, we were able to go for excellent snorkeling right from the homestay, where we spotted turtles and blacktip reef sharks. Large pods of dolphins pass by not far from the beach every day at various times. You simply can’t get enough of the turquoise water and the fine white sand. The food was varied and plentiful, and the VIP bungalow was very beautiful and clean. The family offers daily tours without ever being pushy.
We spent two nights in the “On beach – VIP bungalow” and it has been amazing! The bungalow was very comfortable and clean. In particular, the mattress was super comfy and we slept perfectly. The village is, in general, nice and clean. Food was good and enough. We chose the full day trip to Pianyemo and Rufas and it was gorgeous, well arranged and the staff even prepared packed lunch for us! The staff is friendly and speaks English. I would have been stayed much more time!
We spent two nights in the “On beach – VIP bungalow” and it has been amazing! The bungalow was very comfortable and clean. In particular, the mattress was super comfy and we slept perfectly. The village is, in general, nice and clean. Food was good and enough. We chose the full day trip to Pianyemo and Rufas and it was gorgeous, well arranged and the staff even prepared packed lunch for us! The staff is friendly and speaks English. I would have been stayed much more time!
Nous avons séjourné 5 nuits en novembre 2025 et le constat est mitigé
Points positifs : personnel très gentil, nourriture très bonne (sauf 2 petits déjeuners limites en quantité … 1 matin crêpe verte sans sucre ni quoi que ce soit pour mettre dessus et un autre ou seulement 2 petits carrés d’omelette étaient disponibles …)
Le bungalow est grand, le lit est très confortable meilleur matelas du séjour de 3 semaines.
Réseau internet fonctionne bien lorsqu’il y a de l’électricité soir et matin.
Proximité de Pyanemo, Rufas et sites de plongées comme Fam Wall et Melissa Garden
Points négatifs : le lieu ne ressemble en rien aux photos du site il n’y a plus de plage et de langue de sable blanc, impossible de se baigner au niveau du homestay, nous étions au bungalow VIP et travaux juste à côté ils en construisent un autre donc aucune intimité…
Beaucoup de bruit avec marée haute avec les troncs d’arbre qui cognent contre piliers du bungalow.
Le homestay manque d’entretien, le bois du ponton est bien pourri, j’y suis passée à travers le patron ne s’en est pas beaucoup inquiété, heureusement un des employés m’a de lui-même massé 3 fois par jour ….
Pour faire du snorkeling il faut aller tout au bout de l’ile (30 mn marche) car beaucoup trop de courant et eau trouble pendant notre séjour.
Nous avons séjourné 5 nuits en novembre 2025 et le constat est mitigé
Points positifs : personnel très gentil, nourriture très bonne (sauf 2 petits déjeuners limites en quantité … 1 matin crêpe verte sans sucre ni quoi que ce soit pour mettre dessus et un autre ou seulement 2 petits carrés d’omelette étaient disponibles …)
Le bungalow est grand, le lit est très confortable meilleur matelas du séjour de 3 semaines.
Réseau internet fonctionne bien lorsqu’il y a de l’électricité soir et matin.
Proximité de Pyanemo, Rufas et sites de plongées comme Fam Wall et Melissa Garden
Points négatifs : le lieu ne ressemble en rien aux photos du site il n’y a plus de plage et de langue de sable blanc, impossible de se baigner au niveau du homestay, nous étions au bungalow VIP et travaux juste à côté ils en construisent un autre donc aucune intimité…
Beaucoup de bruit avec marée haute avec les troncs d’arbre qui cognent contre piliers du bungalow.
Le homestay manque d’entretien, le bois du ponton est bien pourri, j’y suis passée à travers le patron ne s’en est pas beaucoup inquiété, heureusement un des employés m’a de lui-même massé 3 fois par jour ….
Pour faire du snorkeling il faut aller tout au bout de l’ile (30 mn marche) car beaucoup trop de courant et eau trouble pendant notre séjour.
che dire se non grazie. io e la mia famiglia siamo stati a settembre 2025 e abbiamo soggiornato in tre diverse tipologie di bungalow: quello vip, quello con bagno in camera e quello senza bagno. tutti e tre davvero spettacolari, ovvio quello VIP ha questa vetrata magnifica che da direttamente sul mare come in una cartolina. i bagni sono molto puliti. alla sera ci mettevamo sul pontile a pescare (e poi ributtare in mare) i pesci con tutti i bambini e una buona noce di cocco da bere. abbiamo fatto le gite migliori e sempre con simpatia e serietà. ottime guide anche nello snorkiling. le persone sono a dir poco eccezionali!!! Reno, il boss, si ricordava di averci incontrati già nel 2018, ci ha riconosciuto subito. questo vuol proprio dire tenere alle persone che stanno da loro e si uniscono alla sua famiglia condividendo qualcosa per qualche giorno. grazie mille a tutti
un suggerimento che vorrei dare è di servire un pochino di più da mangiare, perché quanto capitava di essere al completo bisognava cercare di arrivare per primi così da poter assaggiare tutto.
invece bellissima sempre la merenda al pomeriggio, una coccola magnifica tornati dalle gite!!
grazie ancora speriamo di tornare presto
che dire se non grazie. io e la mia famiglia siamo stati a settembre 2025 e abbiamo soggiornato in tre diverse tipologie di bungalow: quello vip, quello con bagno in camera e quello senza bagno. tutti e tre davvero spettacolari, ovvio quello VIP ha questa vetrata magnifica che da direttamente sul mare come in una cartolina. i bagni sono molto puliti. alla sera ci mettevamo sul pontile a pescare (e poi ributtare in mare) i pesci con tutti i bambini e una buona noce di cocco da bere. abbiamo fatto le gite migliori e sempre con simpatia e serietà. ottime guide anche nello snorkiling. le persone sono a dir poco eccezionali!!! Reno, il boss, si ricordava di averci incontrati già nel 2018, ci ha riconosciuto subito. questo vuol proprio dire tenere alle persone che stanno da loro e si uniscono alla sua famiglia condividendo qualcosa per qualche giorno. grazie mille a tutti
un suggerimento che vorrei dare è di servire un pochino di più da mangiare, perché quanto capitava di essere al completo bisognava cercare di arrivare per primi così da poter assaggiare tutto.
invece bellissima sempre la merenda al pomeriggio, una coccola magnifica tornati dalle gite!!
grazie ancora speriamo di tornare presto
What an unforgettable experience! This homestay is absolutely lovely. The hosts are very welcoming, and since it’s located in a small village, you will enjoy the life of families and kids around. They organize trips around the island, which is a wonderful touch, and the home-cooked food is absolutely delicious!
What an unforgettable experience! This homestay is absolutely lovely. The hosts are very welcoming, and since it’s located in a small village, you will enjoy the life of families and kids around. They organize trips around the island, which is a wonderful touch, and the home-cooked food is absolutely delicious!
We stayed in Tanjung Mefiyai and it was the best homestay we experienced in Raja Ampat. We honestly wish we could have stayed longer. The family living there is incredibly welcoming and always smiling — they do everything to make you feel at home. The food is absolutely delicious (the best we had in Raja Ampat). The bungalow was very clean and the view was stunning. We felt so good and comfortable there. 100% recommended. Thank you for everything!
Hi Laura
Thank you so much for your excellent review.
We also want to thank you for choosing to stay here 🙏
We stayed in Tanjung Mefiyai and it was the best homestay we experienced in Raja Ampat. We honestly wish we could have stayed longer. The family living there is incredibly welcoming and always smiling — they do everything to make you feel at home. The food is absolutely delicious (the best we had in Raja Ampat). The bungalow was very clean and the view was stunning. We felt so good and comfortable there. 100% recommended. Thank you for everything!
Hi Laura
Thank you so much for your excellent review.
We also want to thank you for choosing to stay here 🙏
Many thanks to family for the wonderful service we received during the day we spent at their homestay. I absolutely recommend this cozy place, the lovely family who welcomed us, and their delicious food. Thank you so much.
muchas gracias a la familia por el maravilloso trato durante el día que pasamos en su homesstay. Recomiendo absolutamente este lugar tan acogedor y a la familia tan encantadora que nos recibió y su deliciosa comida. muchisimas gracias
Many thanks to family for the wonderful service we received during the day we spent at their homestay. I absolutely recommend this cozy place, the lovely family who welcomed us, and their delicious food. Thank you so much.
muchas gracias a la familia por el maravilloso trato durante el día que pasamos en su homesstay. Recomiendo absolutamente este lugar tan acogedor y a la familia tan encantadora que nos recibió y su deliciosa comida. muchisimas gracias
Nous somme restés 2 jours au tanjung mefiyai et notre seul regret c’est de ne pas être restées plus longtemps.
La chambre était très propre avec un matelas neuf (très confortable), nous avions la salle de bain privative qui elle aussi était très propre. La nourriture était très bonne, variée et copieuse !
La plage devant le homestay est magnifique où on peut faire du snorkling (il peut y avoir un peu de courant). L’île est très belle avec un petit village à visiter et les habitants sont vraiment tellement gentils !!
Nathaniel (le gérant) et sa famille ont été d’une gentillesse exceptionnelle avec en particulier Rene qui parle anglais et avec qui nous avons pu sympathiser !
Merci Nathaniel et Rene pour ce séjour au paradis
Nous somme restés 2 jours au tanjung mefiyai et notre seul regret c’est de ne pas être restées plus longtemps.
La chambre était très propre avec un matelas neuf (très confortable), nous avions la salle de bain privative qui elle aussi était très propre. La nourriture était très bonne, variée et copieuse !
La plage devant le homestay est magnifique où on peut faire du snorkling (il peut y avoir un peu de courant). L’île est très belle avec un petit village à visiter et les habitants sont vraiment tellement gentils !!
Nathaniel (le gérant) et sa famille ont été d’une gentillesse exceptionnelle avec en particulier Rene qui parle anglais et avec qui nous avons pu sympathiser !
Merci Nathaniel et Rene pour ce séjour au paradis
Très joli homestay sur la plage à faam
Accueil chaleureux une personne parle anglais donc pour l’organisation des activités c’est parfait
Bungalow avec sdb perso moustiquaire charmant tout neuf
Joli plage activités snorkeling pyanemo juste en face
Pas de centre de plongée
Très bel accueil bon repas à base de poisson
Merci bcp
Très joli homestay sur la plage à faam
Accueil chaleureux une personne parle anglais donc pour l’organisation des activités c’est parfait
Bungalow avec sdb perso moustiquaire charmant tout neuf
Joli plage activités snorkeling pyanemo juste en face
Pas de centre de plongée
Très bel accueil bon repas à base de poisson
Merci bcp
We stayed for a week in Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay. Here we had the best food from our whole Raja Ampat trip. You can make many boat trips from this place to the islands around and you will see fantastic places. Also from your Homestay you can walk very far at the beach and see different places of the island. The people from the homestay were very friendly and helpful. We did several boat trips to amazing snorkeling points and we even saw a manta. From our Homestay we saw many dolphins every day which hunted in front of the homestay.
The only problem here was, that there were lot ofn plastic and jellyfish in the water, so sometimes the snorkeling was not so nice, but this depends on the currents of the sea and this situation is not the fault of the people in the homestay. The reefs where the best in our trip and were definitely worth some stings of the jellyfishs.
Thank you for everything!
We stayed for a week in Tanjung Mefiyai Homestay. Here we had the best food from our whole Raja Ampat trip. You can make many boat trips from this place to the islands around and you will see fantastic places. Also from your Homestay you can walk very far at the beach and see different places of the island. The people from the homestay were very friendly and helpful. We did several boat trips to amazing snorkeling points and we even saw a manta. From our Homestay we saw many dolphins every day which hunted in front of the homestay.
The only problem here was, that there were lot ofn plastic and jellyfish in the water, so sometimes the snorkeling was not so nice, but this depends on the currents of the sea and this situation is not the fault of the people in the homestay. The reefs where the best in our trip and were definitely worth some stings of the jellyfishs.
Thank you for everything!
Nous avons passé un merveilleux séjour de 5 nuits dans cet Homestay. Nous avons bénéficié de la chambre VIP qui est absolument magnifique avec sa propre salle de bain.
Les repas étaient les meilleurs que nous avons dans tous nos homestays et les hôtes étaient parfaits!
Lors de notre séjour nous avons pu faire des excursions via le propriétaire du Homestay, encore une fois rien à redire, lorsque nous sommes allés observer les mantas, elles n’étaient pas au rendez-vous et le batelier nous a alors proposé un autre spot pour faire du snorkeling. Super Sympa!
Je recommande fortement!
Nous avons passé un merveilleux séjour de 5 nuits dans cet Homestay. Nous avons bénéficié de la chambre VIP qui est absolument magnifique avec sa propre salle de bain.
Les repas étaient les meilleurs que nous avons dans tous nos homestays et les hôtes étaient parfaits!
Lors de notre séjour nous avons pu faire des excursions via le propriétaire du Homestay, encore une fois rien à redire, lorsque nous sommes allés observer les mantas, elles n’étaient pas au rendez-vous et le batelier nous a alors proposé un autre spot pour faire du snorkeling. Super Sympa!
Je recommande fortement!
J’ai passé le plus beau séjour de ma vie, un paradis sur terre et une famille incroyable que je n’oublierai jamais! Merci pour tous ces merveilleux moments
J’ai passé le plus beau séjour de ma vie, un paradis sur terre et une famille incroyable que je n’oublierai jamais! Merci pour tous ces merveilleux moments
3 nuits/2 jours au Tanjung en bungalow WC&douche. Très belle plage jusqu’à la jetée(mais rien à y voir en snorkeling et attention au courant). Snorkeling intéressant au-dessus, de la fin du village jusqu’à la jetée. Ponton agréable pour se prélasser avec vue mer.Nourriture bonne et en quantité suffisante. Bonne collation de milieu d’après-midi. Prix sortie Pyanemo/Mélissa garden/Fam wall raisonnable. Manta point pas loin
3 nuits/2 jours au Tanjung en bungalow WC&douche. Très belle plage jusqu’à la jetée(mais rien à y voir en snorkeling et attention au courant). Snorkeling intéressant au-dessus, de la fin du village jusqu’à la jetée. Ponton agréable pour se prélasser avec vue mer.Nourriture bonne et en quantité suffisante. Bonne collation de milieu d’après-midi. Prix sortie Pyanemo/Mélissa garden/Fam wall raisonnable. Manta point pas loin
Nous avons passé qu’une seule nuit au Tanjung Mefiyai dans un bungalow VIP. Le bungalow était propre, la salle de bain privative impeccable et très agréable.
Le cadre du homestay est vraiment très joli au bord de la plage avec une belle terrasse face a la mer très bien aménagée. Les transats pourraient juste être plus confortables avec des matelas mais c’est un détail, le snorkeling le long du deck est assez joli. Nous avons pu bien nous reposer.
Nous avons effectué une excursion organisé par le homestay voisin (sunrise homestay). Et heureusement que le homestay voisin s’en est occupé car à notre arrivée au Tanjung homestay on a demandé des renseignements oour les excursions personne n’a été capable de nous répondre.si nous comprenons la barrière de la langue, aucun effort n’a été fait. Ni même un sourire ou un bonjour.
Nous avons trouvé la famille présente au homestay très peu accueillante, et nous avons été déposé à arborek dans notre autre homestay sans un mot ni au revoir, en nous laissant nous débrouiller sur l île d’arborek à notre arrivée.
C’est bien dommage car sinon le homestay est vraiment agréable.
Les échanges avec Reno qui semble être le gérant mais qui n’est pas sur place ont cependant été fluide et faciles.
Nous avons passé qu’une seule nuit au Tanjung Mefiyai dans un bungalow VIP. Le bungalow était propre, la salle de bain privative impeccable et très agréable.
Le cadre du homestay est vraiment très joli au bord de la plage avec une belle terrasse face a la mer très bien aménagée. Les transats pourraient juste être plus confortables avec des matelas mais c’est un détail, le snorkeling le long du deck est assez joli. Nous avons pu bien nous reposer.
Nous avons effectué une excursion organisé par le homestay voisin (sunrise homestay). Et heureusement que le homestay voisin s’en est occupé car à notre arrivée au Tanjung homestay on a demandé des renseignements oour les excursions personne n’a été capable de nous répondre.si nous comprenons la barrière de la langue, aucun effort n’a été fait. Ni même un sourire ou un bonjour.
Nous avons trouvé la famille présente au homestay très peu accueillante, et nous avons été déposé à arborek dans notre autre homestay sans un mot ni au revoir, en nous laissant nous débrouiller sur l île d’arborek à notre arrivée.
C’est bien dommage car sinon le homestay est vraiment agréable.
Les échanges avec Reno qui semble être le gérant mais qui n’est pas sur place ont cependant été fluide et faciles.
We had a great stay at Tanjung Mefiyai because of the wonderful people who took care of us, even if there was little english spoken. (Which you shouldnt expect anyway)
As many people said, there is not much to see underwater in front of the homestay. Therefore you get jumps from the Pier, regular dolphin visits, local village life and good priced tours to nearby Piaynemo and snorkeling spots.
The only downside was the online Communication with somebody at sorong regarding the transport to our next homestay. Within minutes the price changed 3 Times and the Communication went very rude when we asked for the original price listed at stayraja. The price changed not just inbetween longboat vs. Speedboat, but for the Longboat itself. This is a problem we discovered a lot during our visit. It seams that people want to get the most money out of you at a moment where you dont have another choice. As this is mostly the last impression you get from a homestay, its a very silly practice.
We had a great stay at Tanjung Mefiyai because of the wonderful people who took care of us, even if there was little english spoken. (Which you shouldnt expect anyway)
As many people said, there is not much to see underwater in front of the homestay. Therefore you get jumps from the Pier, regular dolphin visits, local village life and good priced tours to nearby Piaynemo and snorkeling spots.
The only downside was the online Communication with somebody at sorong regarding the transport to our next homestay. Within minutes the price changed 3 Times and the Communication went very rude when we asked for the original price listed at stayraja. The price changed not just inbetween longboat vs. Speedboat, but for the Longboat itself. This is a problem we discovered a lot during our visit. It seams that people want to get the most money out of you at a moment where you dont have another choice. As this is mostly the last impression you get from a homestay, its a very silly practice.
This place is paradise.
Nice new bungalows, big sun deck, great food and lovely hosts.
Basically no corals or fish to make snorkeling interesting but the turquoise water invites for a swim.
I would definitely stay here again.
The ride from the homestay to Waisai only took 1.5 hours (perfect weather conditions) and Piaynemo is just 30 minutes away.
This place is paradise.
Nice new bungalows, big sun deck, great food and lovely hosts.
Basically no corals or fish to make snorkeling interesting but the turquoise water invites for a swim.
I would definitely stay here again.
The ride from the homestay to Waisai only took 1.5 hours (perfect weather conditions) and Piaynemo is just 30 minutes away.
We stayed one week in Tanjung Mefiaj homestay.
Food is plentiful, always veggies, fish, chicken or eggs. In the afternoon there were always fried bananas or cake.
The snorkeling at the end of the village is excellent.
Reno is a nice and honest guy, he speaks very little English, but Josua speaks much better English and he can help. We both speak Indonesian, so we never had any problems.
The accomodation is simple but ok. Electricity from 6 pm to 6am.
It‘s quite a long trip to/from Waisai: 2,5 to 3 hours.
We stayed one week in Tanjung Mefiaj homestay.
Food is plentiful, always veggies, fish, chicken or eggs. In the afternoon there were always fried bananas or cake.
The snorkeling at the end of the village is excellent.
Reno is a nice and honest guy, he speaks very little English, but Josua speaks much better English and he can help. We both speak Indonesian, so we never had any problems.
The accomodation is simple but ok. Electricity from 6 pm to 6am.
It‘s quite a long trip to/from Waisai: 2,5 to 3 hours.
Good ensuite room.
The food was also great.
More busy than other homestays I was in Gam, but still without crowds.
The family was shy but very welcoming.
The village is lovely and walk around is a true life experience.
The bad english of Reno created some difficulty in pick us up from other homestay, but without any issues.
Good ensuite room.
The food was also great.
More busy than other homestays I was in Gam, but still without crowds.
The family was shy but very welcoming.
The village is lovely and walk around is a true life experience.
The bad english of Reno created some difficulty in pick us up from other homestay, but without any issues.
My partner and I stayed at Tanjung Mefiyai for 4 nights in August. Initially we booked 3 nights, but when we realised they’d have to transport us on Sunday, their rest day, we asked if they preferred us to stay until monday. They did, so we added an extra night. The family was very shy so we did not see them much. However, they were very friendly and they made us feel welcome as we got a fresh coconut soon after they showed us our room. The food was very delicious and around 16:00 they always served a tasty afternoon snack. The homestay area was nicely decorated and neatly maintained, we had a nice balcony and we were happy to have an attached bathroom to our cabin. The matress and the mosquito net could use an update. We loved the nice sundeck right by the sea and we spent a lot of time there. Make sure to bring enough mosquito repellent!
We arrived at 07:00 so we planned on doing activities that first day but they told us no guide was available yet, he would arrive in the evening. Eventually a guide from another homestay arrived the day after at the end of the afternoon, so no tours for the first 2 days. We were a little sad about this, especially since the weather was better these days. On the third day we did a Piaynemo tour + snorkling in the area with Reno and the guide and we had a great time, with beautiful views!
On check out day we were ready to leave for Gam early in the morning (safer, less windy) but we couldn’t leave yet as the captain was still on another island. Later, the wind picked up (not their fault of course) and we ended up waiting until 15:00 before it was safe enough to leave. Even though we had a nice time there, with very friendly hosts, good food, a nice cabin and a fun daytrip we still felt a little disappointed about some things that could have been arranged better as we already booked a few weeks in advance. We changed our plans to extend a night because we respect their traditions, so we maybe hoped they would have taken our time into consideration a little bit more as well.
All in all, they were lovely people with a really beautiful homestay and we have made some good memories!
My partner and I stayed at Tanjung Mefiyai for 4 nights in August. Initially we booked 3 nights, but when we realised they’d have to transport us on Sunday, their rest day, we asked if they preferred us to stay until monday. They did, so we added an extra night. The family was very shy so we did not see them much. However, they were very friendly and they made us feel welcome as we got a fresh coconut soon after they showed us our room. The food was very delicious and around 16:00 they always served a tasty afternoon snack. The homestay area was nicely decorated and neatly maintained, we had a nice balcony and we were happy to have an attached bathroom to our cabin. The matress and the mosquito net could use an update. We loved the nice sundeck right by the sea and we spent a lot of time there. Make sure to bring enough mosquito repellent!
We arrived at 07:00 so we planned on doing activities that first day but they told us no guide was available yet, he would arrive in the evening. Eventually a guide from another homestay arrived the day after at the end of the afternoon, so no tours for the first 2 days. We were a little sad about this, especially since the weather was better these days. On the third day we did a Piaynemo tour + snorkling in the area with Reno and the guide and we had a great time, with beautiful views!
On check out day we were ready to leave for Gam early in the morning (safer, less windy) but we couldn’t leave yet as the captain was still on another island. Later, the wind picked up (not their fault of course) and we ended up waiting until 15:00 before it was safe enough to leave. Even though we had a nice time there, with very friendly hosts, good food, a nice cabin and a fun daytrip we still felt a little disappointed about some things that could have been arranged better as we already booked a few weeks in advance. We changed our plans to extend a night because we respect their traditions, so we maybe hoped they would have taken our time into consideration a little bit more as well.
All in all, they were lovely people with a really beautiful homestay and we have made some good memories!
October 2022 we stayed 5 nights at Tanjung Mefiyai.
We were the only guests.
Most things we had to find out ourselves…no explaing when we arrived.
We didn’t feel welcome.
Drinking water we had to ask for, also water to wash our hands at the dining area, was refilled after asking each time.
Food was poor. Time for lunch and diner were never clear…changing all the time.
Hygien wat poor.
Jonas the snorkeling guide spoke a little English and he provided nice snorkeling trips, not cheap.
We think the price for this poor accomodation is to high.
Hello, Thank you for your comment, we apologize in advance for your inconvenience. At that time we weren’t at the homestay because one of our siblings was seriously ill and needed treatment at Sorong Hospital and we had to take him to Sorong Hospital, so when you came we weren’t with you, only my sister was there. We apologize,Hopefully it won’t be like this in the future
October 2022 we stayed 5 nights at Tanjung Mefiyai.
We were the only guests.
Most things we had to find out ourselves…no explaing when we arrived.
We didn’t feel welcome.
Drinking water we had to ask for, also water to wash our hands at the dining area, was refilled after asking each time.
Food was poor. Time for lunch and diner were never clear…changing all the time.
Hygien wat poor.
Jonas the snorkeling guide spoke a little English and he provided nice snorkeling trips, not cheap.
We think the price for this poor accomodation is to high.
Hello, Thank you for your comment, we apologize in advance for your inconvenience. At that time we weren’t at the homestay because one of our siblings was seriously ill and needed treatment at Sorong Hospital and we had to take him to Sorong Hospital, so when you came we weren’t with you, only my sister was there. We apologize,Hopefully it won’t be like this in the future
l’endroit est super agréable. Nataniel, le propriétaire, a crée un très bel endroit et en prend soin. On y vie les pieds dans le sable, fin ! Petit bémol pour la plage qui est un peu moins paradisiaque qu’on peut l’imaginer sur les photos. A marée basse, le matin, c’est très bien, mais à marée haute il n’y a pas beaucoup de plage et en plus le sable est recouvert de morceaux de corail, de bouts de bois et de quelques plastiques (mais ça reste super agréable de s’y baigner ou juste de regarder l’eau turquoise) . Ceci dit, c’est super agréable de se promener le long de la plage, le matin en particulier, et de voir la vie locale (les bateaux qui transportent les locaux, les enfants qui jouent dans l’eau et les hommes qui partent pêcher). On peut aussi apercevoir divers oiseaux colorés dont des perroquets depuis la plage ou en empruntant les sentiers qui vont dans la forêt. Pour ce qui de la nourriture, c’est le top ! Des poissons délicieux à chaque repas ! Eau en libre service et coco en bonus parfois. Je ne peux pas donner d’avis sur les activités, je me suis surtout reposé et baladé dans les alentours (je n’ai jamais trouvé le lac jaune d’ailleurs).
the place is super nice. Nataniel, the owner, has created a very beautiful place and takes care of it. We live there with our feet in the fine sand! Small flat for the beach, which is a little less heavenly than one can imagine in the photos. At low tide, in the morning, it’s fine, but at high tide there isn’t much beach and in addition the sand is covered with pieces of coral, bits of wood and some plastic (but it’s still super nice to swim there or just watch the turquoise water). Having said that, it’s super nice to walk along the beach, in the morning in particular, and see the local life (the boats that carry the locals, the children playing in the water and the men going fishing. ). You can also see various colorful birds including parrots from the beach or by taking the paths that go into the forest. When it comes to food, that’s the best! Delicious fish at every meal! Self-service water and coconut as a bonus sometimes. I can’t comment on the activities, I mostly rested and wandered around (I never found the yellow lake by the way).
l’endroit est super agréable. Nataniel, le propriétaire, a crée un très bel endroit et en prend soin. On y vie les pieds dans le sable, fin ! Petit bémol pour la plage qui est un peu moins paradisiaque qu’on peut l’imaginer sur les photos. A marée basse, le matin, c’est très bien, mais à marée haute il n’y a pas beaucoup de plage et en plus le sable est recouvert de morceaux de corail, de bouts de bois et de quelques plastiques (mais ça reste super agréable de s’y baigner ou juste de regarder l’eau turquoise) . Ceci dit, c’est super agréable de se promener le long de la plage, le matin en particulier, et de voir la vie locale (les bateaux qui transportent les locaux, les enfants qui jouent dans l’eau et les hommes qui partent pêcher). On peut aussi apercevoir divers oiseaux colorés dont des perroquets depuis la plage ou en empruntant les sentiers qui vont dans la forêt. Pour ce qui de la nourriture, c’est le top ! Des poissons délicieux à chaque repas ! Eau en libre service et coco en bonus parfois. Je ne peux pas donner d’avis sur les activités, je me suis surtout reposé et baladé dans les alentours (je n’ai jamais trouvé le lac jaune d’ailleurs).
the place is super nice. Nataniel, the owner, has created a very beautiful place and takes care of it. We live there with our feet in the fine sand! Small flat for the beach, which is a little less heavenly than one can imagine in the photos. At low tide, in the morning, it’s fine, but at high tide there isn’t much beach and in addition the sand is covered with pieces of coral, bits of wood and some plastic (but it’s still super nice to swim there or just watch the turquoise water). Having said that, it’s super nice to walk along the beach, in the morning in particular, and see the local life (the boats that carry the locals, the children playing in the water and the men going fishing. ). You can also see various colorful birds including parrots from the beach or by taking the paths that go into the forest. When it comes to food, that’s the best! Delicious fish at every meal! Self-service water and coconut as a bonus sometimes. I can’t comment on the activities, I mostly rested and wandered around (I never found the yellow lake by the way).
My partner and I spent 7 nights on this tropical Island paradise.
The homestay itself was in great condition, the toilets/shower were clean and the dining room was located adjacent to the white sandy beach which provided a great setting for each meal.
Fantastic snorkeling was available directly in front of our bungalow or guests could choose from the many options to explore and snorkel/ dive the other reefs of the Pam Archipelago.
The Island itself was fun to explore and our host Nathanal, was happy to answer any questions that we had or give us little tours highlighting the attractions.
The small villages on Pam Islands were also very interesting and the locals were friendly.
I highly recommend this homestay to anybody who wants to experience a quiet tropical island getaway with a host who makes every effort to ensure that his guests have a good time.
My partner and I spent 7 nights on this tropical Island paradise.
The homestay itself was in great condition, the toilets/shower were clean and the dining room was located adjacent to the white sandy beach which provided a great setting for each meal.
Fantastic snorkeling was available directly in front of our bungalow or guests could choose from the many options to explore and snorkel/ dive the other reefs of the Pam Archipelago.
The Island itself was fun to explore and our host Nathanal, was happy to answer any questions that we had or give us little tours highlighting the attractions.
The small villages on Pam Islands were also very interesting and the locals were friendly.
I highly recommend this homestay to anybody who wants to experience a quiet tropical island getaway with a host who makes every effort to ensure that his guests have a good time.
We highly recommend to stay at this family-run homestay. It’s a very positive atmosphere and you feel that everything is made with love: the beautifully decorated location, bungalows and sanitary, the restaurant with a fantastic sea view as well as the delicious food.
The beach is fine and perfect to relax. For snorkeling better book a trip with the owner, Natanel. He always give a helping hand and you can count on him (even for transfers in the stormy sea, as we found out 🙂
For a phone incl data connection we recommend a 10 minutes walk up to the white cross on the hill. 😉
Thanks again to Natanel and his family for this unforgettable time!
Stefan & Manuela
We highly recommend to stay at this family-run homestay. It’s a very positive atmosphere and you feel that everything is made with love: the beautifully decorated location, bungalows and sanitary, the restaurant with a fantastic sea view as well as the delicious food.
The beach is fine and perfect to relax. For snorkeling better book a trip with the owner, Natanel. He always give a helping hand and you can count on him (even for transfers in the stormy sea, as we found out 🙂
For a phone incl data connection we recommend a 10 minutes walk up to the white cross on the hill. 😉
Thanks again to Natanel and his family for this unforgettable time!
Stefan & Manuela
Just back from Mefiyai homestay where we had a great time. Great people, who welcome us and helped us every way they could, excellent food, great place on a dream beach, great and cheap tours around the islands (snorkeling, mantas), and they also took us for a very good price to our next island. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Hello, do you know if Mefiyai and Tanjung Mefiyai have the same owner? On google map they look like they are located at two different locations.
Thank you.
Mefiyai’s photos suggest that they are the same homestay Trang. If that’s the case, then Mefiyai’s location is incorrectly marked on Google Maps. Tanjung Mefiyai is the correct location.
Just back from Mefiyai homestay where we had a great time. Great people, who welcome us and helped us every way they could, excellent food, great place on a dream beach, great and cheap tours around the islands (snorkeling, mantas), and they also took us for a very good price to our next island. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Hello, do you know if Mefiyai and Tanjung Mefiyai have the same owner? On google map they look like they are located at two different locations.
Thank you.
Mefiyai’s photos suggest that they are the same homestay Trang. If that’s the case, then Mefiyai’s location is incorrectly marked on Google Maps. Tanjung Mefiyai is the correct location.
We stayed 4 nights at Tanjung Mefiyai in January 2019 and can highly recommend it! And we were even so lucky to be the only ones there!
The homestay itself is so, so cute and well kept, with little walking paths, green plants, deck chairs on the area facing the beach and the bungalows are spacious and clean, with really nice verandas with a table and chairs.
The food was really good and the family was very accommodating to us being vegetarian.
Yori (not sure how to spell his name) was the only person speaking English, but was so accommodating to us and went on a great trip to Piaynemo with us, with several beautiful snorkel stops on the way. He snorkeled in front of us and pointed out lobsters, sharks and other things for us.
The family were all so kind, but especially the little Merti totally charmed us! Such a fun little guy who we played with and who spread a lot of joy and laughs!
Taking a stroll through the little village is a lovely way to get an insight into daily life in a little island village.
The Sunrise homestay is right next door and is owned by the same family, but in our opinion Tanjung is so much cuter 🙂
The only negative thing we can say about the homestay is the way the dogs were treated.
There we at least 3 adult dogs around the homestay, one with 3 small pups.
They were all so so skinny. On several occasions we saw both children and adults hitting the dogs, and we often heard the heartbreaking screams from them.
We are aware that dogs in this part of the world might not hold the same status as we are used to, but seeing an adult throwing a fist sized rock hard at a dog right in front of us is a behaviour we find unacceptable.
We do wish for all the success for this homestay but when they choose to have dogs and make them a part of the homestay, they really should change their behaviour towards them as it is really uncomfortable for guests and might damage their business and scare guests off.
Which would be such a shame as they are doing an excellent job and have such a beautiful place,
Thank you for sharing your beautiful island with us, Tanjung Mefiyai!
Dear Iben,thank you very much for your report,do you know if they have western style toilets?
Yes, they do! Their toilet and shower facilities are very nice and clean too 🙂
We stayed 4 nights at Tanjung Mefiyai in January 2019 and can highly recommend it! And we were even so lucky to be the only ones there!
The homestay itself is so, so cute and well kept, with little walking paths, green plants, deck chairs on the area facing the beach and the bungalows are spacious and clean, with really nice verandas with a table and chairs.
The food was really good and the family was very accommodating to us being vegetarian.
Yori (not sure how to spell his name) was the only person speaking English, but was so accommodating to us and went on a great trip to Piaynemo with us, with several beautiful snorkel stops on the way. He snorkeled in front of us and pointed out lobsters, sharks and other things for us.
The family were all so kind, but especially the little Merti totally charmed us! Such a fun little guy who we played with and who spread a lot of joy and laughs!
Taking a stroll through the little village is a lovely way to get an insight into daily life in a little island village.
The Sunrise homestay is right next door and is owned by the same family, but in our opinion Tanjung is so much cuter 🙂
The only negative thing we can say about the homestay is the way the dogs were treated.
There we at least 3 adult dogs around the homestay, one with 3 small pups.
They were all so so skinny. On several occasions we saw both children and adults hitting the dogs, and we often heard the heartbreaking screams from them.
We are aware that dogs in this part of the world might not hold the same status as we are used to, but seeing an adult throwing a fist sized rock hard at a dog right in front of us is a behaviour we find unacceptable.
We do wish for all the success for this homestay but when they choose to have dogs and make them a part of the homestay, they really should change their behaviour towards them as it is really uncomfortable for guests and might damage their business and scare guests off.
Which would be such a shame as they are doing an excellent job and have such a beautiful place,
Thank you for sharing your beautiful island with us, Tanjung Mefiyai!
Dear Iben,thank you very much for your report,do you know if they have western style toilets?
Yes, they do! Their toilet and shower facilities are very nice and clean too 🙂
We showed up unexpectedly @ this Homestay and Nathaniel + family organised everything as quick as possible to make our stay comfortable.
The food was always plenty. They also have 2 single Bungalows close to Beach now.
The location of this Homestay is amazing and clean.
Terimah kasih banyak!
Nice to know that the 2 single bungalows closer to the beach are done. We plan to go back to this lovely place. Did you go snorkeling with them? If yes, where to and how was it?
We showed up unexpectedly @ this Homestay and Nathaniel + family organised everything as quick as possible to make our stay comfortable.
The food was always plenty. They also have 2 single Bungalows close to Beach now.
The location of this Homestay is amazing and clean.
Terimah kasih banyak!
Nice to know that the 2 single bungalows closer to the beach are done. We plan to go back to this lovely place. Did you go snorkeling with them? If yes, where to and how was it?
Hubby and I had a lovely 3 night stay as the only guests at the Mefiyai homestay in March 2017. It was part of our 18 night island hopping adventure in Raja Ampat. We came here after Kri island (Warahnus homestay), Arborek (Kayafyof homestay) and prior to Manyaifun (Sea Fans homestay) and Waigeo (Yengkawe homestay).
Of all the 5 homestays we stayed at during the trip, Mefiyai had the most amazing beach with white powder-like sands and shades of turquoise blue sea stretched to the right toward the peninsula tip and little Saukabu village to the left. Early morning when the wind was calm and the sun was about to rise creating yellowish reflection, it was a paradise – and we were the only ones at the scene. We enjoyed strolling the beach, watching children playing in the village’s jetty and the beautiful, peaceful sunrise and sunset moments.
The 3-room homestay was many meters away from the beach but very clean, nicely built (finished only last year) with extra spacious rooms, shared lounge and yard shaded by coconut trees. At night the lights were bright and there was a big table in the lounge allowing us to work comfortably on our laptop reviewing and transferring photos (bring mosquitoes repellent though).
Food, especially at lunch and dinner, was simple but tasty (Wati and Ruth were good cooks) and more than enough for the two of us. We were lucky as bapa (means Mr.) Natanael Fakdawer (Mefiyai’s owner) managed to catch a delicious Tenggiri fish just before we arrived.
There were various snorkelling sites in the nearby Pam (Fam) islands costing Rp 300K-700K or approx. US$ 25-55 by boat as stated on the white board at the homestay together with the map. Unfortunately we only had time to try the nearest one (Manaru island, Rp 300K) with healthy hard corals and some fishes but it was not quite special. However, we really had a great time picnicking to the uninhabited Manggi Nan island, the most remote of all (Rp 700K, over an hour by boat each way thus leaving earliest is best) with expansive white sandy beach and a little lagoon. As the current was strong, we did not feel like snorkelling there instead spending time enjoying the beach, swimming in the lagoon and taking photos. On the way back, we stopped for lunch at Nafsi island and swam in the awesome turquoise blue water in the small strait facing Mioskor island. Together with bapa Natanael and his sons, we were the only people around.
Mefiyai’s published rate here was Rp 450K/night/person (higher than most other homestays) but bapa Natanael charged us only Rp 400K/person/night in accordance with what he put on the board at the homestay. I suggested him to adjust the published rate here accordingly. To take us to Manyaifun island (Sea Fans homestay) with a stop at Piaynemo he charged us Rp 1.5M (US$ 115).
Bapa Natanael and his family were simple, kind, honest and helpful people – unfortunately they don’t speak English (a dictionary may help you to communicate). His wife passed away just over a year ago right after they finished building this lovely homestay.
When having guests, the family stay at the small building at the back where the kitchen is instead of at the Saukabu village (10 minute walk) to enable better service. We were provided with clean towels and nice moisturizing soaps made of coconut oil by people in the village for sale. They also produced VCO (virgin coconut oil) taught by the late Ibu Hellen, an American lady active in helping the locals to protect and care for the environment.
Network was almost non existent when we were in Mefiyai and communication with bapa Natanael was difficult. Luckily our text message got through just before we were leaving Arborek. Bapa Natanael had a son studying in Waisai named Renoldi Fakdawer, mobile number 081354153830. May be good to put him as a contact person in addition to his father.
The remoteness of Pam (Fam) often discourage people from coming to Mefiyai homestay but for us it was what made it more attractive. We hope we can come back, stay longer and explore more of the surrounding islands.
Have put our Raja Ampat photos in “Gaby Motuloh – Google Plus” and a review in Trip Advisor.
Dear Gaby, I find the trip you did in raja ampat very interesting and, since I’m trying to organiza my own islands hopping around there, I’d like to ask you some information, especially about how to reach the different islands… According to the info I find on the internet, private transport organized directly with the homestays seems to be the only way to get to the places, but it is VERY expensive and I’ll have no one to share the expences with… Do you have suggestion about how to menage it? May be it’s possible not to book the transport in advance and find someone to share it once I’m there? Or is the risk to get stuck very hight? Or perhaps, once there, i can find some fishman who can take me to the different islands at some price cheaper than the homstay’s transfer?
Any help on transfer issue and any other suggestion, even about which islands to choose will be very appreciated, thank you
Chiara
Dear Chiara,
Sorry for my late response.
Yes, transportation cost in Raja Ampat is heavy when you don’t have others to share it with. Arranging the transportation with the homestay seemed to be the most doable way and you can choose either to be delivered (by the current homestay) to or picked up by the next homestay.
To minimize the cost, you may want to:
– Plan your itinerary so that you move from island to island efficiently (not backtracking). In my case we did Waisai – Kri – Arborek – Pam/Fam – Manyaifun – Waigeo – Waisai.
– Plan to cover the dive/snorkelling and other attraction sites efficiently (a few spots close to each other in one trip and negotiate the price ahead)
– Talk with the homestay owner so that when moving to another island you can dive/snorkel on the great sites in between and they are included in the cost.
– For comparisons, study the listed transport & excursion costs of the different homestays and you can also throw questions in stayrajaampat facebook as to the reasonableness of the amounts quoted in case you need to bargain.
– In your budget planning it’s safest to assume the full cost. In our case, of the many trips we did, only on 2 occasions we were able to share the cost.
– It’s also safest to book the island transportation & excursions soonest, at the latest when you arrive in the island especially during high seasons, although I think the risk of getting stuck is remote. Homestay owner should be able to arrange it with other parties in case his boat is already booked.
Happy planning and wishing you a great trip.
Hubby and I had a lovely 3 night stay as the only guests at the Mefiyai homestay in March 2017. It was part of our 18 night island hopping adventure in Raja Ampat. We came here after Kri island (Warahnus homestay), Arborek (Kayafyof homestay) and prior to Manyaifun (Sea Fans homestay) and Waigeo (Yengkawe homestay).
Of all the 5 homestays we stayed at during the trip, Mefiyai had the most amazing beach with white powder-like sands and shades of turquoise blue sea stretched to the right toward the peninsula tip and little Saukabu village to the left. Early morning when the wind was calm and the sun was about to rise creating yellowish reflection, it was a paradise – and we were the only ones at the scene. We enjoyed strolling the beach, watching children playing in the village’s jetty and the beautiful, peaceful sunrise and sunset moments.
The 3-room homestay was many meters away from the beach but very clean, nicely built (finished only last year) with extra spacious rooms, shared lounge and yard shaded by coconut trees. At night the lights were bright and there was a big table in the lounge allowing us to work comfortably on our laptop reviewing and transferring photos (bring mosquitoes repellent though).
Food, especially at lunch and dinner, was simple but tasty (Wati and Ruth were good cooks) and more than enough for the two of us. We were lucky as bapa (means Mr.) Natanael Fakdawer (Mefiyai’s owner) managed to catch a delicious Tenggiri fish just before we arrived.
There were various snorkelling sites in the nearby Pam (Fam) islands costing Rp 300K-700K or approx. US$ 25-55 by boat as stated on the white board at the homestay together with the map. Unfortunately we only had time to try the nearest one (Manaru island, Rp 300K) with healthy hard corals and some fishes but it was not quite special. However, we really had a great time picnicking to the uninhabited Manggi Nan island, the most remote of all (Rp 700K, over an hour by boat each way thus leaving earliest is best) with expansive white sandy beach and a little lagoon. As the current was strong, we did not feel like snorkelling there instead spending time enjoying the beach, swimming in the lagoon and taking photos. On the way back, we stopped for lunch at Nafsi island and swam in the awesome turquoise blue water in the small strait facing Mioskor island. Together with bapa Natanael and his sons, we were the only people around.
Mefiyai’s published rate here was Rp 450K/night/person (higher than most other homestays) but bapa Natanael charged us only Rp 400K/person/night in accordance with what he put on the board at the homestay. I suggested him to adjust the published rate here accordingly. To take us to Manyaifun island (Sea Fans homestay) with a stop at Piaynemo he charged us Rp 1.5M (US$ 115).
Bapa Natanael and his family were simple, kind, honest and helpful people – unfortunately they don’t speak English (a dictionary may help you to communicate). His wife passed away just over a year ago right after they finished building this lovely homestay.
When having guests, the family stay at the small building at the back where the kitchen is instead of at the Saukabu village (10 minute walk) to enable better service. We were provided with clean towels and nice moisturizing soaps made of coconut oil by people in the village for sale. They also produced VCO (virgin coconut oil) taught by the late Ibu Hellen, an American lady active in helping the locals to protect and care for the environment.
Network was almost non existent when we were in Mefiyai and communication with bapa Natanael was difficult. Luckily our text message got through just before we were leaving Arborek. Bapa Natanael had a son studying in Waisai named Renoldi Fakdawer, mobile number 081354153830. May be good to put him as a contact person in addition to his father.
The remoteness of Pam (Fam) often discourage people from coming to Mefiyai homestay but for us it was what made it more attractive. We hope we can come back, stay longer and explore more of the surrounding islands.
Have put our Raja Ampat photos in “Gaby Motuloh – Google Plus” and a review in Trip Advisor.
Dear Gaby, I find the trip you did in raja ampat very interesting and, since I’m trying to organiza my own islands hopping around there, I’d like to ask you some information, especially about how to reach the different islands… According to the info I find on the internet, private transport organized directly with the homestays seems to be the only way to get to the places, but it is VERY expensive and I’ll have no one to share the expences with… Do you have suggestion about how to menage it? May be it’s possible not to book the transport in advance and find someone to share it once I’m there? Or is the risk to get stuck very hight? Or perhaps, once there, i can find some fishman who can take me to the different islands at some price cheaper than the homstay’s transfer?
Any help on transfer issue and any other suggestion, even about which islands to choose will be very appreciated, thank you
Chiara
Dear Chiara,
Sorry for my late response.
Yes, transportation cost in Raja Ampat is heavy when you don’t have others to share it with. Arranging the transportation with the homestay seemed to be the most doable way and you can choose either to be delivered (by the current homestay) to or picked up by the next homestay.
To minimize the cost, you may want to:
– Plan your itinerary so that you move from island to island efficiently (not backtracking). In my case we did Waisai – Kri – Arborek – Pam/Fam – Manyaifun – Waigeo – Waisai.
– Plan to cover the dive/snorkelling and other attraction sites efficiently (a few spots close to each other in one trip and negotiate the price ahead)
– Talk with the homestay owner so that when moving to another island you can dive/snorkel on the great sites in between and they are included in the cost.
– For comparisons, study the listed transport & excursion costs of the different homestays and you can also throw questions in stayrajaampat facebook as to the reasonableness of the amounts quoted in case you need to bargain.
– In your budget planning it’s safest to assume the full cost. In our case, of the many trips we did, only on 2 occasions we were able to share the cost.
– It’s also safest to book the island transportation & excursions soonest, at the latest when you arrive in the island especially during high seasons, although I think the risk of getting stuck is remote. Homestay owner should be able to arrange it with other parties in case his boat is already booked.
Happy planning and wishing you a great trip.
i stayed in tanjung mefiyai on Sau kabu island in Fam archipelago for 3 nights in April 2016. i can recommend this wonderful homestay who open for 2 of us especially. seems that few tourists make their way up to this island. english is not spoken. Nathanael the owner and his family did all he could to please us. we hired his boat to Melissa’s garden and neighbouring Fam. the food was great, rooms are spacious located in a long house. sau kabu is not very far from Arborek where you can hire a boat for pyanemo then Sau kabu for around 1 400 000 IDR. snorkeling is best at Melissa’s garden a must in the area.
i stayed in tanjung mefiyai on Sau kabu island in Fam archipelago for 3 nights in April 2016. i can recommend this wonderful homestay who open for 2 of us especially. seems that few tourists make their way up to this island. english is not spoken. Nathanael the owner and his family did all he could to please us. we hired his boat to Melissa’s garden and neighbouring Fam. the food was great, rooms are spacious located in a long house. sau kabu is not very far from Arborek where you can hire a boat for pyanemo then Sau kabu for around 1 400 000 IDR. snorkeling is best at Melissa’s garden a must in the area.
I was in Tanjung Mefiyai in November for a few days. The family is very shy. At first they didn’t answer when I spoke to them. But after some time I could talk with them (only bahasa indonesia). They thry to do everything they think you like and are afraid to do something wrong. But they really do their best. The food was good and always enough. The place was very clean. The snorkeling was very nice with good corals and a lot of fish. There is some current which changes suddenly to the other side.
I was in Tanjung Mefiyai in November for a few days. The family is very shy. At first they didn’t answer when I spoke to them. But after some time I could talk with them (only bahasa indonesia). They thry to do everything they think you like and are afraid to do something wrong. But they really do their best. The food was good and always enough. The place was very clean. The snorkeling was very nice with good corals and a lot of fish. There is some current which changes suddenly to the other side.