Guest Guide

Real by nature
Beautiful quiet, space, sun, and connection
Fresh air, clean water, simple food, deep sleep

ipyum is a small, remote eco-lodge in Raja Ampat designed for guests who value nature, quiet, simplicity, and thoughtful comfort.

What makes ipyum different?

ipyum is not designed around conventional resort luxury. We focus on what feels valuable in a remote natural place: beauty, honesty, connection, and reduced impact.

Our approach is built around four ideas:

Beautiful · Real · Connected · Harm-less

What does “Beautiful” mean at ipyum?

Beauty at ipyum is not staged or over-designed. It comes from the place itself.

• Natural setting
  Ocean, forest, sky, and sunlight without visual clutter.

• Light and atmosphere
  Sunrises, sunsets, dark nights, and changing weather are part of the experience.

• Design that sits within the environment
  Buildings are designed to feel part of the landscape, not separate from it.

• Quiet beauty
  No loud entertainment, no unnecessary noise, no artificial resort atmosphere.

What does “Real” mean at ipyum?

Real means the experience is grounded, direct, and not manufactured.

• Real food
  Fresh, simple meals prepared daily — not buffet-style.

• Real people
  A small team, direct human contact, and a real local context.

• Real nature
  You experience the place as it is: tides, wind, rain, sun, insects, stars, and sea.

• Real sustainability
  Sustainability is not just a label. It is built into how water, energy, food, waste, and supplies are managed.

What does “Connected” mean at ipyum?

Connected means a rare balance: close to nature and yourself, without feeling too isolated.

• Connected to nature
  Open design keeps you aware of ocean, wind, birds, light, and weather.

• Connected to yourself
  Quiet, space, and simplicity give you room to slow down.

• Connected to other people
  Small scale creates natural human interaction, not anonymous crowds.

• Connected to the outside world
  Internet access is available when you need it, without dominating the experience.

What does “Harm-less” mean?

We use Harm-less deliberately.

It does not mean “no impact.” Any human activity has impact, especially in a remote island environment. For us, Harm-less means reducing harm wherever possible and making better choices in a place where that matters.

• Solar power
  We use solar power to reduce generator noise, fuel transport, fumes, and emissions.

• Spring water
  Spring water instead of imported plastic bottles.

• Plastic waste managed well
  Plastic is sorted, weighed, and shipped to the city for municipal handling.

• No toxic waste practices
  Plastic is not burned on-site.

• Reduced packaging at source
  Supplies are brought in reusable containers wherever possible.

• Active ocean cleanup
  Ocean plastic is collected, tracked, and removed from the area.

• Organic waste handled deliberately
  Food scraps are managed carefully to avoid attracting wildlife and changing natural behaviour.

Is ipyum a luxury resort?

ipyum is comfortable, beautiful, and carefully designed — but not luxury in the conventional sense.

We do not define luxury as excess, air conditioning, imported bottled water, buffet dining, or constant service programming.

For us, luxury is:

• quiet

• space

• clean water

• fresh air

• simple food

• good sleep

• nature close by

• fewer things done betterescription

There is no air conditioning at ipyum; instead, each Guest House is designed to work in harmony with its surroundings—open, shaded, and positioned to capture natural airflow from both sea and forest.

Will it be comfortable without air conditioning?

We believe our guests will find the experience not only comfortable, but deeply restful.

During the day, gentle sea breezes move through the space. At night, as the land breeze sets in, cool air descends from the forested slopes of Batanta’s ~1000 m (3000 ft) mountain behind us. This nightly downdraft is expected to create a calm and naturally refreshed sleeping environment.

What bedding do you provide?

Unusually for a tropical setting, we provide light duvets—made possible by the naturally cooler nights without air conditioning.

We also provide cotton waffle blankets, freshly laundered for every guest, allowing you to adjust your comfort:

• Add warmth for a cozy sleep

• Or use a lighter cover without the duvet

This flexibility is part of creating a sleep experience that feels personal and effortless.

Why doesn’t ipyum use air conditioning?

• Natural comfort: The local climate and elevation profile allow for effective passive cooling

• Energy and impact: Air conditioning significantly increases energy use in remote environments, and even when powered by solar energy, introduces continuous noise

• Experience: ipyum is designed to remain open to the rhythm of ocean, air, and forest

Rather than isolating you from the environment, we aim to let it shape the experience.

Are there fans in the rooms?

Yes. Each Guest House includes six large ceiling fans, providing gentle, consistent airflow throughout the space.

What about during the day?

Days are warm, as expected in a tropical island setting. Life at ipyum is designed around this natural rhythm—shade, water, and open space offer comfort, while mornings and late afternoons will likely become the most active and enjoyable times.

What kind of clothing should I bring?

ipyum is relaxed, natural, and informal. We recommend:

• Light, breathable clothing such as cotton or linen

• Swimwear for daily use

• Sandals or simple, easy-to-wear footwear

What about footwear?

Most guests will likely spend much of their time barefoot or in sandals.

For certain situations, simple slip-on flat shoes are useful—especially styles like Crocs, which protect your feet well both in and out of the water.

High-heeled shoes are generally not very practical at ipyum due to sand pathways and wooden decking.

What about evenings?

Evenings will likely feel cooler. A light layer is often appreciated:

• A cardigan

• A long-sleeve shirt

• Light trousers

Is there a dress code?

There is no formal dress code. ipyum is intentionally easygoing, with an emphasis on comfort and simplicity.

That said, we do follow local norms. While the atmosphere is open and relaxed, toplessness for women is not appropriate in any public or publicly visible areas of ipyum. Indonesia’s culture is more conservative on this point than places such as the South of France.

Do I need rain gear?

Not necessarily. ipyum provides umbrellas for use on site and rain ponchos for boat transfers, so rain gear is not strictly required.

That said, a light rain layer can still be useful for occasional tropical showers.

We love having children at ipyum—families are very welcome.

In our Overwater Guest Houses, the sofa can be converted into a 90 × 200 cm (36 × 79 in) bed, suitable for one child or two small children. It includes a child-friendly bed net.

There is no charge for the extra bed.

Children’s rates (based on the double occupancy room rate):

• 0–5 years: free

• 6–11 years: 25% of the room rate

Getting to Sorong

Sorong (SOQ) is the gateway to Raja Ampat.

Fly via Jakarta (CGK), which offers the most reliable connections. Jakarta is currently the only international hub with direct flights to Sorong.

Getting to ipyum

From Sorong, continue by boat to ipyum.

Option A — Ferry + Private Boat (most common)
Fast ferry (2 hours, twice daily) from Sorong to Waisai, followed by a 1.5-hour private boat transfer to ipyum.

Option B — Direct Private Boat
Private boat from Sorong directly to ipyum (approximately 3 hours).

Option C — Overnight Ferry + Short Boat
Friday night ferry (6 hours) from Sorong to Yensawai, arriving early Saturday morning (~2:00).
Followed by a 10-minute private boat transfer to ipyum.

Most guests choose Option A for its reliability and daily schedule.
Option B is the most weather-dependent.
Option C involves a very early morning arrival.

Arrange in Advance

We’re happy to arrange all transfers between Sorong and ipyum.
Please contact us in advance.

Be Prepared

Travel in Raja Ampat is generally safe and predictable.
However, aside from the Sorong–Waisai fast ferry, all boat transfers are weather-dependent.

From EU

Regarding flights, we generally use Etihad from a European hub to Jakarta (CGK). It is reliable and reasonably priced. We also sometimes use other full-service airlines via the Middle East, such as Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines, depending on pricing and routing.

We typically arrive in Jakarta in the evening and then connect to a Garuda Indonesia redeye flight to Sorong (SOQ), which departs just after midnight. You effectively lose a day on the outbound journey, but on the return you gain it back and can usually travel home on the same calendar day.

One important thing to be aware of when booking the connecting Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta (CGK) to Sorong (SOQ): the departure is just after midnight, which often leads to confusion when selecting dates. It can feel like you are still travelling on the same day you arrive in Jakarta, but in reality the flight departs on the following calendar day. This is a very common mistake when booking, and I have personally seen it happen a few times. It is worth double-checking the date carefully during booking to ensure the flight is correctly selected for the next day after arrival in Jakarta, not the same day.

For domestic connections, I would generally recommend avoiding Lion Air, Batik Air, Sriwijaya Air, and TransNusa, as they are often delayed and their websites can be unreliable. Garuda Indonesia is not perfect, but it is usually the more dependable option.

If you experience issues with airline websites, using an Indonesian VPN can sometimes help with access and booking.

Raja Ampat Marine Park Fee

All visitors to Raja Ampat are required to pay a government conservation fee.

Current rates:

• International visitors: ~IDR 700,000 per person

• Indonesian citizens: ~IDR 425,000 per person

• Children under 12: no fee

The permit is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

This fee is set by the local authorities and is not included in your stay at ipyum.

What does this fee support?

Your contribution helps:

• protect the marine ecosystem

• fund conservation and monitoring across the region

• support local communities

• contribute to services such as marine patrols and emergency response

Are there any other fees?

There is also a separate Raja Ampat Visitor Entry Ticket.

In some locations, small local entrance fees may apply.

How do I pay the fee? (Recommended)

We recommend completing this in advance online where possible:

https://kkprajaampat.com/en/marine-park-fees-2/

This helps you avoid delays and confusion in Sorong or Waisai.

After payment, please send us a screenshot so we can confirm everything is in order before your arrival.

If anything is unclear, don’t worry — we’re happy to guide you.

If not paid in advance

The fee can also be paid:

• in Waisai (official office)

• sometimes in Sorong

However, these locations can be busy and time-consuming.

Good to know

• No additional travel permits are required to visit Raja Ampat

• This is the main official conservation fee for visitors

Deposit

A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm your stay.

Cancellation & Refund Policy (based on total booking value)

60+ days before arrival → 25% charge (75% refund)

30–59 days before arrival → 50% charge (50% refund)

14–29 days before arrival → 75% charge (25% refund)

0–13 days before arrival → 100% charge (no refund)

We understand plans can change. Wherever possible, we will do our best to accommodate date changes instead of cancellations.