Snorkeling and trekking in Raja Ampat and mainland West Papua

Raja Ampat has got hundreds of islands with thousands of coral reef areas. They are scattered from Ayau islands in the north to Pele islands in the south. The marine bio-diversity was recorded by scientiests as the richest in the world. If we travel throughout Raja Ampat, we will see that the scenery above the water is as beautiful as the one under the water. That's why this archipelago attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Raja Ampat in the morning

As a tour guide, I can organize a holiday trip for you to Raja Ampat where you can enjoy snorkeling over many of its coral reef and then trekking and wildlife watching in the jungle of mainland West Papua. It will be a 9-day trip for anybody who is interested in exploring the unique environment of marine life and tropical rainforest. The minum number of participants is 4 and the maximum is 8 people.
You need a good snorkeling set to see the tropical fish and marine animal that live in coral reef. There are thousands of fish species that you can see underwater from a small damsel fish and butterflyfish to a giant whaleshark. Please, consider buying the following book: Reeffish Identification - Tropical Pacific.

In the first part of the trip, we will visit several islands of Raja Ampat from the Waigeo, to Gam, Kri, Mansuar, and Piaynemo and then to Kabui bay by boat. After that we will return to Sorong city to continue our trip into the jungle of Klasow valley. Walking in the jungle, we will be able to watch sulphur crested cockatoo, blyth's hornbill, and lesser birds of paradise. Tropical rainforest is a unique environment that is worth seeing by visitors are nature lovers.
Please, contact me by email: peace4wp@gmail.com if you want to book for the tour.
Also read my article: Raja Ampat Tour for further information

Jungle Tour in Sorong of West Papua

I have been organizing tours for tourists to tropical rainforest of  Sorong regency since last year. The destination is Klasow valley located approximately two hours by 4WD car and 2 hours walk through tropical jungle to reach a village in the valley.

a Swiss tourist with the background of
tropical jungle of Klasow valley

Tourists
So far most of the guests who visited the valley were from western countries such as the United States, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Germany and etc. Some came as a single travelers while others came as couples or as groups of three up to six people. More visitors are coming as more information is uploaded into the internet about the Klasow valley and Tambrauw mountains.
The Rainforest
The plants that grow in Klasow valley are typical vegetation that is usually found in the lowland and coastal area of New Guinea. Big trees such as ficus, large conifer Agathis, and iron wood, and various species of palms live side by side with rattan and other vines or climbing plants.
There are also sago trees which the indigenous people process to make flour. Sago is the staple food of Moi tribe who live in the region.
Wildlife Watching
Tourists go to Malagufuk village of Klasow valley to see the rich bio-diversity of tropical rainforest that is the natural habitat of wallaby (a kind of small ground kangaroo, bandicoot, cassowary, wild pigs, sulphur crested cockatoo, goliath cockatoo, blyh's hornbill, goshawk, kingfisher, golden myna, dollar bird, pinon imperial pigeon and a lot of other birds. Colorful butterflies can also be seen in the area too. Birdwatching can usually be done from mornings until evening. Nocturnal bird such as Papuan Frogmouth can sometimes be heard calling from distant trees. At night, jungle walk can be carried out to see wallaby.

Where to stay
Most of the tourists who visited Klasow valley stayed in a small guesthouse built by the villagers of Malagufuk. It is made of wood and covered with palm roof. There is clean water installation and a simple toilet.

Cost: On the average the cost is 5 million rupiahs per person for 3 days/ 2 nights traveling. It includes transportation by 4WD car, local guide, food, and basic accommodation in the jungle village.

Booking:
Please, contact my email: peace4wp@gmail.com for detailed info about the tour.

Wildlife Tour in Lowland Rainforest Sorong Regency

From 14 to 16 November, I had a special guest from the USA. Her name was Shreeya. She was a 12 year old girl who took a long flight with her father from San Francisco of the USA to Singapore, to Manado and finally landed in Sorong city. I met them at the airport and arranged their transfer to the rainforest of Klasow valley. We spent 3 days exploring the tropical jungle of Sorong lowland region in search of birds of paradise, and other wild animals of West Papua. Her father, Rad, told me that Shreeya would make an article about birds of paradise for her school assignment. That's why she was very interested in watching the birds in their natural habitat.

Grey-headed Goshawk

We really enjoyed the birding and wildlife tour in the forest. Birds were not the only animals that we could watch in the village. We were lucky to see a Monitor Lizard that was crawling on a fallen tree just outside the village and a large varieties of butterflies. Some of them belong to the genera of Ornithoptera or birdwing butterflies. 

Children from Malagufuk village

We left Klasow valley in the morning of 16 November 2015 for Swissbel hotel of Sorong town. They would continue their trip by speedboat to Papua Paradise Eco Resort in Raja Ampat. It was a nice nature trip for all of us including the villagers. I hope that more visitors would be interested in visiting the jungle village of Malagufuk in Sorong regency.

During the wildlife and rainforest tour in Klasow valley, we were able to spot Lesser Birds of Paradise, and Twelve Wired Paradise Bird at some display trees near Klasow river. It was my first experience spotting the twelve wired bird. Besides watching the birds, we did a night walk to find wallaby. We saw two of them. The trees that grow in the vicinity of Malagufuk village were our favorite birding targets for the whole duration of our wildlife tour in Sorong regency. We saw Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Blyth's hornbills, Friarbird, Drongo, Golden Myna, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Dollarbird, and a lot more.
On our final day of staying in the forest, I was able to spot a young Grey-headed Goshawk (Accipiter poliochepalus) that landed on a branch of a tree near our guesthouse. It was there for several minutes and I was able to take some pictures of the bird.

Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com to book your rainforest tour in lowland forest of Sorong regency. 

Rainforest Tour organized from Sorong Town

Trekking in the forest of Sorong regency of West Papua

I often receive emails from visitors who want to go trekking in the rainforest near Sorong town. Usually they want to combine their diving trip in Raja Ampat with jungle tour in the mainland New Guinea particularly near Sorong city.
I can organize a land tour or jungle tour to several destinations in West Papua.

• For visitors who only have got 2 to 3 days in Sorong, the destination that I offer is Klasow valley. 
• If they have got more than 3 days, the rainforest that I will offer is Tambrauw mountains (lowland forest along Syuan river or pristine forest in Ases valley).

Klasow Valley

This valley is only 1 hour away from Sorong town and another hour on foot to reach the jungle village of Malagufuk. Visitors who book the tour to Klasow valley can start the tour early in the morning. Wild animals that live in the valley are wallaby, cassowary, deer, wild pigs, soa-soa, and various species of birds including lesser birds of paradise, blyth's hornbills, sulphur crested cockatoo, western crowned pigeon, golden myna, yellow faced myna and a lot more. Visitors are advised to bring D-SLR camera with telephoto lens or a bridge camera with super telephoto capability such as Nikon Coolpix P900. The rainforest of Klasow valley is flat. So, it is suitable for anybody who cannot go trekking in sloppy mountains.

Tambrauw Mountains

Camping site in the jungle of Tambrauw mountains

This is the destination for visitors who have got more than 3 days to spend in the jungle. Tambrauw mountains are covered by huge tropical rainforest from its coastal area up to the mountainous regions. For coastal region, the usual destination where I bring my guests to is Syuan river. It is suitable for camping and trekking. Tents will be built at the bank of the river. During the tour, visitors can enjoy swimming and birdwatching as well as learning the medicinal functions of herbal plants that grow in the jungle.
Another destination in Tambrauw mountains is Ases valley. To reach the valley, visitors need to go by a 4WD car for 6 hours. After that the trip will be continued on foot for 2 hours. Deers, wallaby, cassowary bird, tree kangaroo, and a lot of species of birds live in the valley.

Western Crowned Pigeon in
the jungle of Klasow valley

As a tourist guide I have arranged a lot of rainforest trips for visitors who want to explore the tropical jungle of West Papua for several days. That's why I have got tents, air mattresses, rechargeable lights, cooking, eating, and other logistical gear that are needed for the tour. I also have contacts with local villagers and 4WD car drivers that I need to organize a jungle tour or expedition.
So, if you are interested in taking a rainforest tour that is organized from Sorong town, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Trekking and Camping in the Rainforest of Tambrauw Mountains

Starting from this year, I offer tours to Tambrauw mountains. Most of the activities are trekking, camping, swimming, and exploring the forest to know more about its wild animals and herbs. Tambrauw regency has got a lot of coastal areas that covered by coral reef where visitors can enjoy snorkeling particulary from April to September.

Rainforest tour in Tambrauw mountains can be done for at least 4 days/ 3 nights or longer. As a tourist guide, I can arrange tours for you to the tropical jungle in coastal area or in mountainous region. 

Our Camp Site in the jungle of Tambrauw Mountains

During the tour you will walk through the jungle that is the natural habitat of blyth's hornbill, sulphur crested cockatoo, lesser birds of paradise, cuscus possum, wild pigs, and deer. You can swim in the crystal clear water of the river and enjoy sunbathing while reading your favorite novel.

To book your rainforest tour in Tambrauw mountains, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com for customized itinerary and price.