Expedition like royalty around Indonesia’s ‘Four Kings’

While there are hundreds of vessels plying Raja Ampat’s pristine waters, only one offers a cruise dedicated entirely to conservation, without compromising on luxury

The music is flowing in harmony with the rhythm of waves rolling over the reef, while I am plonked on a plump bean bag under the canopy of a broad umbrella, feet firmly planted in sand so white it glares almost accusingly at me.

To my left lies a line of lounge beds awaiting languid tourists. To my right, a bar. I am on the Wofoh Islands at Indonesia’s newest beach club – but not as you know it.

I am aboard Rascal Voyages’ inaugural conservation cruise on its vessel Rebel and have been deposited on this remote slice of sand for the day to do, well, nothing but ponder the universe. Even the coconut upon which I sip is branded in the company logo. Bali beach clubs, eat your heart out.

I have flown from Bali into the West Papuan port city of Sorong to join Rebel – a 30-metre-long traditional timber Phinisi yacht built in Indonesia’s Sulawesi.

This conservation expedition will take eight days and seven nights and will visit northern Raja Ampat and its islands such as Friwinbonda, Wagag, Batanta and Mansuar.

But first, I must clamber up steep stairs to Cabin 4, which is more stateroom than boat cabin and comes replete with its own mini library. There’s batik patterned soft furnishings and a carved timber turtle on my wall. If the turtle could talk it would speak of modern laid-back luxe with a tribal vibe throughout the entire vessel. It’s deliciously apt for the journey ahead.

A new expedition

Rascal Voyages’ Head of Experience and Conservation Yeray Moreno Antonio describes the new conservation expedition as one of “restoration and resilience”. Not to mention the romance of cruising Raja Ampat. considered the most biodiverse region in the world for its coral and fish species.

“This is not just a trip, it is a call-to-action. We have the opportunity to witness the fragility of the corals of Raja Ampat. We really hope you connect with the part of this mission that is the people. They are the heart and as vital as the conservation efforts themselves,” Moreno Antonio says.

“This trip is focusing on the northern area of Raja Ampat, through the Dampier Strait, which is famous for snorkelling, and across the Equator to myriad islands. You’ll see lush jungles, isolated islands and tropical palm trees.

“There is more and more of this desire for people, even when they are on holiday, to see if there is a positive impact. When we visit a village we consult with them about what they need. In one village it was books, in another it was reading glasses for the elderly and in another we donated 100 swimming goggles for the kids.”

The design elements

Australian/UK citizen Chloe Barreto, who runs Paradise Road Designs on the Indonesian island of Lombok, was tasked with outfitting Rebel after working on Rascal Voyages’ sister vessel Rascal, which was fitted out Hamptons beach house style.

“Both are traditional Phinisi yachts. Typically these yachts have a sail and very small cabins mostly below deck. We wanted to create a different experience for guests with larger cabins, all above deck and with a more modern feeling while keeping the charm of a traditional boat,” Barreto says.

“I worked with local craftspeople to use traditional materials but applied them in a modern way. I used shell and resin and crushed bamboo inlays; local textiles, art and carvings; handmade brass accents; and custom teak furniture…everything was sourced and custom-made within Indonesia.

“All the carvings are from East Timor and they feature sea animals and birds a lot. I was told of an old traditional story of a bird helping a farmer plant the first crops. The turtle was unique and right away I knew I wanted it for Rebel. The fish on a rope in Cabin 2 I had custom made by a carpenter and it reminded me of the fisherman in Lombok.”

The onboard experience

In keeping with its conservation commitment, wherever possible food is sourced locally from Sorong or Bali and includes everything from lobster omelettes for breakfast to a traditional Indonesian Rijsttafel feast for dinner. There’s cocktails and canapes on the top deck every evening and the wine cellar houses 250 different drops from around the world.

On each journey, guests are joined by Rebel’s onboard Marine Biologist Lisa D’Silva, who delivers presentations on the likes of manta rays and the importance of coral reefs.

“Coral is important to low lying communities in Raja Ampat because it dissipates waves. A lot of communities rely on coral for fishing and their livelihoods, and for tourism,” she says. “El Nino coming in from the Pacific Ocean is currently causing bleaching and we have been seeing water temperatures of 29 to 30 degrees where the average temperature is 28 degrees.

“Raja Ampat has had this before and it is quite good at recovering. Indonesia is a bit more resilient in general because of currents and tidal change.”

Where conservation is king

As part of the conservation series, guests aboard Rebel meet local NGO The SEA People (Orang Laut), founded by Australian-born Lynn Lawrance and her French partner Arnaud Brival. Visitors can assist in restoration projects including halting “the avalanche phenomenon” in which healthy reef below is being smothered by coral rubble.

Lawrance and her team use low-tech methods and materials such as wire mesh fences at the top of an “avalanche” to stabilise the rubble and attempt to rebuild and replant the reef below. Healthy coral is then transplanted onto the reef to create coral gardens.

Since it was established, The SEA People have transplanted 65,788 corals; restored 20,716 square metres of surface; participated in 671 dives including 81 monitoring dives; and supported 12 livelihoods, including seven coral gardeners.

“There is a lot of evidence to say that the reefs of Raja Ampat have global influence. By guarding corals here you are going to have a knock on effect of oceans on either side,” Lawrance says.

“Coral is a hard sell because so much of the world’s population has never been under water. People can be sitting in a city and not realise the things in their medical cabinet come from a coral reef or what they are eating comes from a coral reef. “If coral reefs are gone, we all suffer.”

Journey Notes

Rascal Voyages runs marine conservation-focused expeditions in Raja Ampat, available for private charter or as part of a cabin voyage. Rates start from US$2,500 (about AU$3,990) per cabin per night plus taxes. Rates for private charter start from US$12,000 per night (about AU$19,100) plus taxes. Spaces are still available for the next departure on November 1-6, 2025. rascalvoyages.com

To discover more about The SEA People or to donate or sponsor their conservation efforts go to theseapeople.org/