Sorong
Sorong is the largest city of Southwest Papua province, on the western tip of the bird's head peninsula in Papua, Indonesia.
Understand
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).
Get in
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.
By plane
By ferry
There are 10 weekly ferries between the Sorong ferry port 🌍 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 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.
Get around
You can get around by taksi (minivan) or ojek (motorcycle taxi).
See
- 🌍 Doom Island (Pulau Doom).
- 🌍 Lake Framu Ayamaru (Danau Framu Ayamaru).
- 🌍 Lake Uter (Danau Uter).
- 🌍 Matan Island (Pulau Matan). There is a white sand beach.
- 🌍 Sasnek Waterfall (Air Terjun Sasnek).
- 🌍 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.
- 🌍 Tanjung Batu Beach (Pantai Tanjung Batu).
- 🌍 Tanjung Kasuari Beach (Pantai Tanjung Kasuari).
- 🌍 Tembok Berlin Beach (Pantai Tembok Berlin).
- 🌍 Um Island (Pulau Um). An island with white sand beach.
Do
Diving
Although Raja Ampat is more popular for diving, the waters of Sorong itself abound in beautiful marine life.
Mangrove trekking
- 🌍 Taman Wisata Mangrove Klawalu, Klamana, East Sorong.
Swimming in the river
- 🌍 Kali Sembra Teminabuan. A clear and clean river. You may see blue coloured New Guinea crayfish, cherax.
Buy
Food souvenirs
Keripik keladi is a Sorong taro chip, the famous one is the sweet spicy variant.
Textile
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.
- 🌍 Aneka Batik Papua (Toko Batik Papua), Jl. Selat Sagawin No. 2. Range Rp100,000-Rp1,000,000.
Eat
At Tembok Berlin beach area, many seafood hawkers open in the evening.
Indonesian
- 🌍 Warung Makan Gado Gado Bapak Taman, Malawei, Sorong Manoi. Serves gado-gado and es cendol alpukat.
Drink
There are many coffee shops around the city.
- 🌍 Roemah Kopi Coffee Roastery Sorong, Klawuyuk, East Sorong, ☏ +62 813 442 82200. 08:00-24:00.
Sleep
- 🌍 Hotel Paparisa Manise. A decent and clean (though charmless) option in the city, reasonably close to the airport and harbour.
- 🌍 Swiss-Belhotel Sorong, Jl. Jendral Sudirman, Sorong, ☏ +62 951 321199. Luxurious hotel located between the airport and the ferry port.
- 🌍 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.
Connect
The telephone area code of Sorong is 0951.
Go next
East
- Manokwari. 12 hr by land.
- Maybrat. 6 hr by land.
- Tambrauw. 5 hr by land.
Northwest
- Raja Ampat. 2 hr away by ship.