Our popular Long trip, kayaking along the whole island chain of Misool followed by the jungle and ending with a fjord. A good combination of homestay and camping. You will see all the best of Misool highlights and experience all of Misools unique wonders.
Difficulty
2 star – For Boat supported trip version. For beginners to experts. Short to medium long day trips with empty kayaks. Need to be a little fit. Camping experience is a plus.
3 star – For Unsupported trip version. For strong beginners to experts. Medium to long day trips. Half are with loaded kayaks. Need to be more fit. Camping experience is good to have.
Overview
- Total 12 days
- 10 days kayaking (or 1 free activity day)
- 9 nights in Misool (5 or 4 homestay nights and 4 or 5 camping nights. Optional only homestay nights)
- 2 nights at a ferry cabin with AC
- Price from 2200 EUR/2410 USD per person
The Long trips always start on Monday afternoons and ends on Friday mornings the week after in Sorong. It is possible to arrive by flight the same day the trip starts. It should be possible to take the first early flights out the last day but NOTE that the ferry might be delayed.
Special with these trips:
- Kayak through the whole North island chain with most of Misool highlights. Also do peak hikes and caves on land or the sea.
- Excellent snorkeling from the outer archipelago the whole way to the inner archipelago and is also possible in 2 jellyfish lakes.
- 2 basecamps, one more comfortable very popular basecamp in the mid archipelago and one basecamp in the Blue River jungle.
- Visit the locals in 2 villages and see a different side to how people live. Its possible to give gifts to the schools.
- After a lot of amazing limestone karst islands, do a restart in a totally different tropical jungle as you kayak up the Blue River.
- These are the perfect trips for those who want to get the most out of kayaking in Misool. To see all the beautiful nature in Misool.
Boat supported Long trips (not boat all days)
Our original Long trip with boat support on the days we are moving from one accommodation to another, plus the first day. No boat support on the days we paddle from basecamps and inner archipelago homestay. You kayak with an empty kayak which is a little faster and more agile, so you can go through lagoons, karst chambers, and secret passages. Misool hides many of its beauty on the details and subtle areas, and we don’t want you to miss this !
On The boat supported long trips we are able to paddle two big islands instead of just one big island like in the unsupported trips. We visit the Muslim village by boat, we also have time for trekking in Papustralia Island and then get close to the Blue River, all by boat so it’s a more convenient trip with a more comfortable first basecamp. Also during boat trips to leave the jungle we are able to visit the Christian Matbat village, visit the fjord with caves and get back to the homestay in much more efficient time than the unsupported Long trips.
The boat supported Long trips works for experts who want more paddling but at the same time can accommodate beginners who want easier paddling. This way we can adapt the trip and we have help from the boats when we paddle longer. No long kayaking distances if not wanted. For families and beginner couples it works with the use of double kayaks. 4 nights camping in 2 basecamps. 5 nights at 2 homestays.
Unsupported Long trips (boat first and last day)
This unsupported version is an expedition style. It is almost the same itinerary as the boat supported Long trips but with a few differences. After the first paddling day we go directly by boat to the basecamp at mid archipelago for an extra day. No long second paddling day along the 2 Big Islands. It’s thus rather easy paddling to go to the Inner archipelago.
The beginning of the 6th paddling day to the Blue River basecamp is a long paddling. Followed by one easy day in the jungle. After the jungle we are kayaking to the fjord but as it is a long day again we need to camp one night in the fjord. We paddle back along fjord openings and grass islands to the inner archipelago for a third long paddling day. Only the Unsupported Long trips and Unsupported Medium End trips do this paddling.
We paddle with loaded kayaks all the days we move from one accommodation to another. Some kayaking and camping experience is good for doing this unsupported Long trips but we had also strong beginners making it. It is also possible to use a double kayak with a guide. From the 6th paddling day, you will have 3 long paddling distances (approx. 20-25km). As the difficulty increases gradually over the days, participants’ abilities will have time to adapt. 5 nights camping in 2 basecamps and 1 camp. 4 nights at 1 homestay.
Itinerary
To be able to follow the places we will visit and stay during the trips please check the map of South-East Misool where we have put in the archipelagos, basecamps, homestays and Yellu.
Boat supported Long trip
Day 1 – Transport to Misool Island by night ferry, shared AC cabin included.
Day 2 – Transport to Panun Island. Rescue practices, explore the Outer archipelago.
Day 3 – Kayak by the 2 Big Islands to Namlol basecamp. Visit the Hidden lagoon.
Day 4 – From basecamp do lagoon hopping on the Big Island and a long snorkeling stop.
Day 5 – Kayak via the Mid archipelago and a jellyfish visit to the inner archipelago.
Day 6 – Kayak from homestay, do a peak hike and explore many karst formations.
Day 7 – Kayak from homestay to the inner karst archipelago. Do peak hikes, rock arts etc.
Day 8 – Boat to Muslim village, Papustralia island. Kayaking up in the Blue River to a base camp.
Day 9 – Kayaking in Blue River with other river arms and trekking in the jungle.
Day 10 – Boat to a Matbat village, fjord, kayak in huge caves and go back to homestay.
Day 11 – Relax day, SUP day or kayak Sunmalalen very dense archipelago. Transport to Sorong with night ferry, shared AC cabin included.
Day 12 – Arrive in Sorong in the early morning.
Unsupported Long trip
Day 1 – Transport to Misool Island by night ferry, shared AC cabin included.
Day 2 – Transport to Panun Island. Rescue practices, explore the Outer archipelago.
Day 3 – From basecamp do lagoon hopping on the Big Island and a long snorkeling stop.
Day 4 – Kayak via the Mid archipelago and a jellyfish visit to the inner archipelago.
Day 5 – Kayak from homestay, do a peak hike and explore many karst formations.
Day 6 – Kayak from homestay to the Inner karst archipelago. Do peak hikes, rock arts etc.
Day 7 – Kayak by Papustralia island up in the Blue River to the jungle base camp.
Day 8 – Kayaking in Blue River with other river arms and trekking in the jungle.
Day 9 – Kayak by a Matbat village to a fjord and huge caves which we kayak. Camp there.
Day 10 – Kayak to homestay in Inner archipelago by grass islands and fjord openings.
Day 11 – Relax day, SUP day or kayak Sunmalalen very dense archipelago. Transport to Sorong with night ferry, shared AC cabin included.
Day 12 – Arrive in Sorong in the early morning.
Detailed itinerary
For normal route with Blue river base camp. This itinerary shows the Boat supported Long trip by default. To see the Unsupported Long trips daily itinerary click below each day. The corresponding pictures are seen in the Boat supported itinerary one day later. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included every day except for day 1 no meals included) and day 12 only breakfast included.
NOTE! This itinerary is preliminary and may vary due to weather conditions or other unforeseen events.
Day 1 (transport day) Monday
The trip starts by meeting at the ticket office in the ferry port at 21:00, 9 PM if you have not chosen the Sorong package or made other agreements with Millekul Adventures. We could go for a joint dinner, shop at the supermarket etc. If so we will meet earlier in the afternoon in our guest house in Sorong. There you can also leave your bags. Contact us to make an agreement. The slow night ferry leaves 22:00, 10 PM from Sorong to Misool. Eat dinner before. The ferry only has a kiosk with snacks, noodle soup, soda and coffee. Sleep at a shared ferry cabin with AC.
Day 2 (paddling day 1) Tuesday
The ferry arrives at Yellu around 7 AM. Breakfast at the ferry. Boat transport to Panun homestay, 1 h. Boat from Panun with the kayaks to the Outer archipelago. Do kayak safety practices at a beach. We paddle a short distance for lunch and great snorkeling at Gamfi beach. Exploring Balbulol in the afternoon and see the huge Christmas tree lagoon. Misool’s most famous icon. If possible a hike to a low ridge/or a small peak. On the way back to the boat we explore the Triple lagoon. Approx. 10 km with kayaks, continue by boat.
Boat supported trip: To Panun, dinner, demo, stay the night at Panun homestay with AC.
Unsupported trip: Go by boat to Namlol, dinner in basecamp, sleep the first night in a tent.
Day 3 (paddling day 2) Wednesday Boat supported trip
We go to Damu Island by boat from Panun. We pack our kayaks for the day and paddle first to Wagmab Big Island. We discover Hidden lagoon, explore a cave with 2 secrets. We have lunch at a beach in the Passage. Here it’s good snorkeling. We continue along Wagmab and Lenkafal Big Islands and put up our base camp in Namlol in front of a Blue hole with spiky Namlol karst rocks behind. Approx. 15 to 18 km with empty kayaks. It’s possible to skip kayaking and go by boat from Passage to Namlol (6 km less). All our equipment is going by boat to Namlol. First night in a tent with fans at base camp Namlol.
Day 4 (paddling day 3) Thursday Boat supported trip
Wake up at the favorite base camp in beautiful Namlol and take a morning swim in the Blue hole. An easy start this morning. Snorkel the coral reefs around Namlol. Before lunch we start to paddle, go around Namlol spiky rocks first and then continue back to Big Island for lagoon exploring. Lunch at a good snorkeling beach. Do lagoon hooping and karst rocks on the way back. We buy fish for dinner. We arrange night kayaking with strong UW lamps under the kayaks on the coral reef. Approx. 10 to 18 km in kayak if more lagoons. 1 km night kayaking. Second night in a tent with fans at base camp Namlol.
Day 5 (paddling day 4) Friday Boat supported trip
First we break down the base camp and pack. Second island hopping and via Mid archipelago to Lenmakana Christmas tree lagoon, rock art and bat cave. We will visit Lenmakana jellyfish lake for snorkeling by trekking up and down over karst rocks. An amazing experience swimming with stingless jellyfish. Some more rock art before lunch at Lenmakana beach with snorkeling possibilities. We kayak further and walk up to the double cave with the “Contemplating lady” on land. We do rock jumping all the way to Yapap homestay. Approx. 10-12 km by kayaks. The boat takes our luggage. First night at Yapap homestay.
Day 6 (paddling day 5) Saturday Boat supported trip
We kayak to Dafalen jetty and hike to the peak (stairs almost the whole way and good to do before it gets too hot). There we see the famous Heart lagoon. We go down and do snorkeling and swimming at Dafalen jetty, then kayak around the area. Lunch at Yapap. After lunch we’ll explore the 6 amazing karst formation areas in Yapap including “Yapap One” or a natural ”Stonehenge”. This is one of the famous icons of Misool. It’s also possible to hike up a small peak from the kayaks there. Return to Yapap homestay for dinner. Approx. 7 km kayaking. Second night at Yapap homestay.
Day 7 (paddling day 6) Sunday Boat supported trip
Explore Dapunlol area and the kayak playground, amazing karst labyrinths that we kayak through. To the most famous rock art in Misool that are just over our heads in the kayaks. We continue to Dapunlol jetty for lunch. After we climb the Dapunlol peak for amazing view (stairs the whole way). Kayak back from Dapunlol to Yapap by a starfish passage, karst formations in Dafalen as the two heads. Evening for a different night light art kayaking. We illuminate the karst landscape in Yapap in any colors! Approx. 11 km in kayak plus eventual night kayaking 1 km. Stay third night at Yapap homestay.
Day 8 (paddling day 7) Monday Boat supported trip
We take the boat to the Muslim village Usaha Jaya and visit the village chief, school and walk around with many Papuan kids. Continue by boat to an enormous cave wall/overhang that we admire and take pics. Boat to the lunch island Papustralia with eucalyptus trees, orchids etc. Boat to the Sugar Peak islands and pack the kayaks with all we need for camping. We start kayaking from outside the river delta. Kayak up in the Blue river and paddle to its tiny. Set up the base camp in the jungle and have a fresh swim? Approx. 8-9 km with loaded kayaks. First night in a tent at base camp Blue river.
Day 9 (paddling day 8) Tuesday Boat supported trip
Before breakfast climb our base camp mountain hill. When ready, do some trekking in the jungle. After lunch, explore the Blue river, Curly Blue river and Clear river arms by kayaks. If time and high tide we may kayak in the forest standing in water if not done the day before. The schedule could be opposite if the tide is better in the morning for kayaking. Cool ourselves in the freshwater and cool the beers for dinner. Approx. 10-15 km with empty kayaks depending how far we go. Second night in the cooler jungle camp.
Matbat option: The hunters guide and also hunt for dinner? See Options below!
Day 10 (paddling day 9) Wednesday Boat supported trip
Break the jungle camp in the early morning, load the kayaks and paddle down the river. If high tide, boats meet us high up. Go by boat to the Christian Matbat village, meet the villagers, visit the village chief, the school etc. Go by boat into the fjord to a huge land cave for lunch. We walk the huge land cave or hike to the Blue jellyfish lake. Continue the fjord to a huge sea cave where we kayak with lamps. A cathedral sized cave! We go by boat back and have dinner at Yapap homestay. Approx. 5 km kayaking if the boat meets high up, otherwise 12 km. Stay the fourth night at Yapap homestay.
Day 11 (alternative paddling day 10/transport day) Thursday
We have breakfast at Yapap homestay and after relaxing, do your own activities such as snorkeling, paddle SUP boards or kayaking. If last we kayak further west and to south Sunmalalen and back. The last very dense island group before mainland of Misool. We will visit 2 caves just next to each other. We may do a peak climb of Waba peak to see the inner archipelago if we have the time. But Waba is an advanced peak! We also visit rock art. Lunch in the caves. Approx. 15 km paddling.
Boat transport to ferry in Yellu and dinner. The ferry goes at 7 PM to Sorong. Sleep at a shared ferry cabin with AC.
Day 12 (transport day) Friday
We will arrive at Sorong around 04:00, 4 AM. It’s possible to sleep longer in the cabin with AC after an agreement with the ferry crew, so sleeping until 7:00 or 08:00 is possible. It should be possible to catch the first morning flights from Sorong airport and also take the 09:00, 9 AM Express ferry to Wasai. NOTE! The ferry might sometimes be delayed so risk of miss flights!
The trip ends after departing the ferry or ends with a breakfast in Millekul guesthouse in Sorong. If no other agreements are made with Millekul Adventures.
Schedules
Here are our schedules and availability of the Long trips for 3 seasons ahead.
B = Boat supported Long trip
U = Unsupported Long trip
NOTE! If a majority of the participants want to change the version of the trip, it’s possible. Please contact us!
NOTE! The number of participants of the trip is set to 6 participants for Medium Start, Medium End and Long trips but each kind of trip could have more than 6 spots. If there are more participants on a Long trip there will be less slots on the Medium trip and vice versa. We aim for 10 participants but could in some special cases stretch to maximum 12 participants.
It’s the first to book who determines the number of spots in each kind of trip. So if a Long trip is fully booked there will be no Medium trips and vice versa.
What is included
The trip price covers all costs from the day the trip starts and to the last day of the trip in accordance with our trip specification.
Included in the price:
- Ferry transfer from Sorong to Misool and back
- Accommodation in homestay and basecamps during the trip
- Food, fruit, water & snacks during the whole trip
- All the boat transport in the trip inside Misool
- All kayaking gear (kayak, sprayskirt, paddle, PFD etc.)
- All camping equipment (tents with small fans, sleeping mats, batteries for charging cameras, stoves etc.)
- Raja Ampat Marine Park entry permit and all fees/permits for kayaking in Misool
- English speaking Indonesian kayaking guides
- Biodegradable soap, shampoo, cleaning agents, mosquito repellent and 100% marine safe sunscreen
- Satellite phones, first aid kits, complete medicine bags, jellyfish sting treatment, emergency plan and evacuation by speedboat
Not included in the price:
- Personal travel insurance
- Air fares/travel to the meeting point in Sorong
- Visa and passport charges
- Airport transfers and airport departure taxes
- Excess baggage charges
- Vaccinations and medicines for your trip
- Hotel nights on the trip to/from Sorong. Hotel nights in Sorong
- Alcoholic beverages
- Extra meals or drinks not included in the itinerary
- Expenses of personal character as single room supplement, laundry and other personal items as snorkeling equipment, headlamp etc.
Detailed specifications are sent out at time for booking.
We negotiate the best prices for the logistics of the trips and the permissions for camping with the local villages that own the islands and guide you to the most memorable spots and places to camp. As you book your flights yourself, you have the freedom to plan some more activities before or after our trip. We are happy to give you advice on what to see before and after our trips and help you with the bookings if needed.
Short trips
Kayaking in Misool’s inner Archipelago of karst castles, towers and coral wonder.
Difficulty
medium start trips
Kayaking on the majestic outer archipelago and its stunning lagoons, snorkel the best corals.
Difficulty
Medium End trips
Kayaking in the karst labyrinths of the inner archipelago and the lush jungle of Misool.
Difficulty
Long trips
Kayaking on the whole length of Misool’s inspiring chain of islands and the great jungle.
Difficulty