Sorong Voyage Tips and guide

Sorong is the largest city of Southwest Papua province, on the western tip of the bird's head peninsula in Papua, Indonesia.

Most people fly to Sorong to go to Raja Ampat. One usually must transit in Sorong, and most people take an early flight so they can catch the ferry to Waisai (see below).

Map of Sorong

There are some roads into Sorong from nearby villages, but in practice the only ways to get into the city are by plane or by ferry.

• -0.89191131.290471 Dominique Edward Osok Airport (SOQ  ^IATA) (1 km south of the city centre and about 3 km east of the ferry port). There are daily flights the national capital Jakarta, as well as from the major cities of Eastern Indonesia including Makassar, Manado, Ambon and Jayapura.  

There are 10 weekly ferries between the Sorong ferry port -0.88811131.268642 Pelabuhan Rakyat (People's Port, to distinguish it from the container port) and Waisai, the district capital of Raja Ampat. From Sorong to Waisai, daily ferries depart at 14:00, with in addition ferries at 9:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. From Waisai to Sorong, ferries depart daily (except Saturday) at 14:00, with additional ferries at 11:00 on Mondays, 9:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays, and 12:00 on Saturdays. The journey time is about 2 hours.

In addition to the frequent ferries to and from Waisai, Sorong's ferry port is part of the national PELNI^{[dead link]} ferry network. There are weekly ferries (at irregular times) in westerly (to Fakfak and further to Maluku and Sulawesi) and easterly (to Manokwari and further to Biak and/or Jayapura) directions. Virtually all destinations along the PELNI ferry routes can be reached much more easily by plane.

You can get around by taksi (minivan) or ojek (motorcycle taxi).

• -0.886688131.2393121 Doom Island (Pulau Doom). (updated Sep 2022)
• -1.259562132.1830632 Lake Framu Ayamaru (Danau Framu Ayamaru). (updated Aug 2022)
• -1.433063132.3874373 Lake Uter (Danau Uter). (updated Aug 2022)
• -0.956187131.1480624 Matan Island (Pulau Matan). There is a white sand beach. (updated Sep 2022)
• -1.235688131.9259375 Sasnek Waterfall (Air Terjun Sasnek). (updated Aug 2022)
• -0.956813131.3525626 Taman Burung Aimas, Jl. Osok, Aimas, ☏ +62 853 436 65977. 7AM-7PM. A bird park. You may see Australasian birds like the cassowary, crowned pigeon, and the cockatoo. (updated Sep 2022)
• -0.816188131.2535627 Tanjung Batu Beach (Pantai Tanjung Batu). (updated Aug 2022)
• -0.822937131.2259378 Tanjung Kasuari Beach (Pantai Tanjung Kasuari). (updated Aug 2022)
• -0.872313131.2456879 Tembok Berlin Beach (Pantai Tembok Berlin). (updated Aug 2022)
• -0.737688131.58293810 Um Island (Pulau Um). An island with white sand beach. (updated Aug 2022)

Although Raja Ampat is more popular for diving, the waters of Sorong itself abound in beautiful marine life.

• -0.912937131.3075631 Taman Wisata Mangrove Klawalu, Klamana, East Sorong. (updated Sep 2022)

• -1.410938131.9876872 Kali Sembra Teminabuan. A clear and clean river. You may see blue coloured New Guinea crayfish, cherax. (updated Aug 2022)

Keripik keladi is a Sorong taro chip, the famous one is the sweet spicy variant.

• -0.900562131.3289371 Keripik Keladi Karmila, Jl. Dworowati, Klasaman, East Sorong. (updated Sep 2022)
• -0.879938131.2915622 Keripik Keladi Sayo, Jl. Bangau II, Malaingkedi, Sorong Manoi. (updated Sep 2022)

Batik Papua is a batik with Papuan uniqueness from the aspect of the motif, because it was developed from the rich culture and uniqueness of the exotic nature of Papua.

• -0.886188131.2883133 Aneka Batik Papua (Toko Batik Papua), Jl. Selat Sagawin No. 2. Range Rp100,000-Rp1,000,000. (updated Sep 2022)

At Tembok Berlin beach area, many seafood hawkers open in the evening.

• -0.889063131.2785631 Warung Makan Gado Gado Bapak Taman, Malawei, Sorong Manoi. Serves gado-gado and es cendol alpukat. (updated Sep 2022)

There are many coffee shops around the city.

• -0.898438131.3296871 Roemah Kopi Coffee Roastery Sorong, Klawuyuk, East Sorong, ☏ +62 813 442 82200. 08:00-24:00. (updated Sep 2022)

• -0.882313131.2644371 Hotel Paparisa Manise. A decent and clean (though charmless) option in the city, reasonably close to the airport and harbour. (updated Feb 2016)
• -0.88981131.274932 Swiss-Belhotel Sorong, Jl. Jendral Sudirman, Sorong, ☏ +62 951 321199. Luxurious hotel located between the airport and the ferry port. (updated Sep 2016)
• -0.888562131.2925623 The Ignislo (Rebranding from Je Meridien), Jl. Basuki Rahmat KM 7.5 (opposite Domine Eduard Osok (DEO) Airport.), ☏ +62 823 970 90602. From Rp530,000. (updated Aug 2022)

The telephone area code of Sorong is 0951.

• Manokwari. 12 hr by land.
• Maybrat. 6 hr by land.
• Tambrauw. 5 hr by land.

• Raja Ampat. 2 hr away by ship.

• Fakfak. An hour by plane.