Visiting Fam and Rufas Islands from Gam and Mansuar

hi there I’m planning a trip focused mainly on snorkeling and diving in Raja Ampat, covering two islands: Gam and Mansuar. I’d also like to spend a few days on Fam and Rufas Islands. Is it cheaper to depart from Gam or Mansuar? Do you have any info on the budget I should expect? If you’ve got any great tips, I’d love to hear them! Thanks in advance

How much time do you plan to spend there? Another thing that’ll affect transport costs is whether you can share with other travelers. For example, we were closer to Pyanemo from Batanta, but it ended up being cheaper from Kri.

Thanks for your reply! For Fam, I’m not sure yet, but probably 2 or 3 days since it seems there are “towns.” I’m definitely open to sharing boats, but there’s that bit of uncertainty! Maybe it’s better to stick to more popular islands? Otherwise, for the return trip, I’m considering the weekly cargo boat.

Hello,

I’d also like to spend a few days on the Fam and Rufas islands. Is it cheaper to leave from Gam or Mansuar? Do you have any info on the budget to plan for?

Mansuar is right next to Kri and doesn’t have as many different spots as Kri. But it does have the famous Sawandarek jetty tip spot, with loads of fish, a few turtles, beautiful corals, and napoleon fish (not guaranteed!). Just 50 meters from the spot, you can stay at Erens Guesthouse (also called Napoleon Homestay). From Mansuar, you can also reach a blacktip reef shark spot on a small 300-meter-long island in 30 minutes. Ask the guesthouse. Erens Guesthouse on the reference site stayrajampat is here with rates and photos. Don’t stay more than 3 days in Mansuar—head to Kri instead, where several snorkeling spots are within walking distance.

The Fam Islands (or Pam, both names are accepted) are quite far, numerous, and a few are inhabited. We stayed at Rufas Homestay, an incredible place (photo below): it’s a closed lagoon (except for a 10-meter-wide passage).



You can snorkel (pretty basic) inside the lagoon, good snorkeling outside the lagoon near the bungalows, and also near the passage—but there’s a lot of current. I’d avoid it because if you drift, no one will come to get you.

The homestay is pretty Robinson Crusoe-style, very basic: a shared pipe for showers, shared toilets, and the same food at every meal.... BUT the real reason to stay here is elsewhere: - Reach the stunning Pyanemo site in just a few minutes. - A fabulous wall of soft and hard corals in every color: Fam Wall (snorkeling or diving). - There’s also a great dive site (not great for snorkeling) nearby: Melissa Garden.

I don’t know how long you’re planning to spend in Raja Ampat, but don’t go for less than 2 weeks—3 would be even better. Finally, I’d recommend staying on 3 different islands to see various spots (unless you spend your days on a boat from your homestay to the sites). Last point: getting to Raja Ampat and traveling between the islands is (very) expensive. Boat taxi rates are 5 or 10 times higher than in the Togians, Moluccas, or other Indonesian islands.

Lots of info and photos in my travel journal: https://forumvoyage.forumactif.com/t1778p50-carnet-de-voyage-papouasie-et-raja-ampat starting from page 3 (Papua on pages 1 and 2).