London to Sorong

I'm looking into the most cost effective way to get there, our liveaboard doesnt leave Sorong until the Wednesday, but we would like to leave London on the Friday before, and spend a few days somewhere on our way.

I thought Jakarta would be the easiest place to stop for a couple of days, but it doesnt seem to be rated very much for diving. I also looked at Hong Kong or Beijing to stop as a city break but they look expensive routes too, once a stop is involved.

So 2 options I seem to have left are 3 days in Lembeh or 3 days on Papua Paradise at Raja, its $300 for the boat trip to PP, so I was thinking we may as well spend that on stopping at Lembeh instead.

What are peoples' opinions on this?

and what is the cheapest way to get to Manado from London, Singapore Air is looking very expensive lately.

If you must dive, then Lembeh is probably the best way to do it. The black sand critters is something you probably won't see too much off in R4. It's technically on the way but I can't remember the frequency of MDC-SOQ flights but I remember Merpati's flight is like 5am so you really only have maybe 2 days of diving if you following the 24hr rule. So is it worth it?

Some people like Cor spend a few days in Singapore to acclimate and shop. With your VAT @ 20%, I guess you may want to go shopping overseas

Thanks Drew, I did Lembeh on 2 day trips last year from Tasik Ria, so I think we'll head there and I can live in the water while my wife lives in the pool at KBR! I'm not bothered with Singapore, I went in 93, it was ok, but not as "cultered" as I would like, Hong Kong or Beijing would be awesome, but I think Lembeh it would be.

Its the London to Manado options we really are stuck on now, all these compare websites dont seem to help much. IIRC was there a cheaper option via Kuala Lumpur or Manila?

Singapore airlines & Silkair: LHR-SIN-MDC

I know of that one Drew, thanks but I'm trying to find other options as its pretty expensive compared to others for the distance at about £1050 pp

I'm trying to find other airlines who fly to Manado from outside Indonesia

An other alternative is to fly to KL - There is an Air Asia flight from KL to Makassar where you can catch flights to Sorong, and maybe do a bit of tourism in South Sulawesi.

Air Asia dropped KUL-MDC last year. They do have a KUL-UPG which is halfway to getting to Ambon. And there is Ambon SOQ flight once a week I think.

Singapore Airlines comes up as the cheapest on the seach engine - as low as £641pp if you are slightly flexible with days.

May be more if you "have" to fly on a particular day of the week.

Thanks for the answers, Jeff, Singapore Air's flight fly up in Dece,ber to over a grand to Manado, Air Asia may be the best bet to Jakarta or Makassarm, thanks ff

...eta...Air Asia dont fly to Makassar

I used Air Asia over the Xmas period from Perth to London and would highly recommend them. They were almost $4500 cheaper than Emirates or Singapore for 3 adults and a child. The attendants were very quick , efficient and polite. Just make sure you buy as much luggage allowance as you can as they will charge out of London for every gram over. They also do an extra 15kgs for 15 pounds for sporting goods which I overheard at check in. Well worth the money!!

Thanks for the answers, Jeff, Singapore Air's flight fly up in Dece,ber to over a grand to Manado, Air Asia may be the best bet to Jakarta or Makassarm, thanks ff

 

...eta...Air Asia dont fly to Makassar

Just checked on their web site - They do fly KUL - UPG four times a week...

Ah! sorry they do...but I was entering London and seeing what final destinations they take you to, and Makassar didnt come up as one of them for some reason? Still, a couple of options with Air Asia tho, thanks

Probably because you have to overnight in KUL to make the flight times match so the online UI doesn't show it. You can easily split up the ticket purchases or call Air Asia direct to book.

Travel agents may be obsolete for simple travel, but for complicated routes, they are still an essential service, especially good ones. Saves having to research 20 websites and endless hours of hairpulling

Yeah just checked Drew, it would be about an 18 hr wait before transfer to Makassar, but to Jakarta its just a 3 hour wait

I could leave a Friday night at 22:55 into KL @ 19:10, leave KL @ 22:25, land in Jakarta @ 23:25, and leave for Manado at 0500 with Lion Air, sounds ok

Lembeh has become an expensive place to travel to. Just make sure that you allow plenty of days prior to your boat Paul in case you get caught up in any of the crappy weather that we have experienced over the last couple of years.

Stew

Yes Stew, thats half the reason we want to stop somewhere beforehand, we should be in Manado on a Saturday and our boat doesnt leave Sorong until Wednesday. We'll toass it up between Air Asia/Lion Air and SingaporeAir/Silk Air when the flights become available

Yes Stew, thats half the reason we want to stop somewhere beforehand, we should be in Manado on a Saturday and our boat doesnt leave Sorong until Wednesday. We'll toass it up between Air Asia/Lion Air and SingaporeAir/Silk Air when the flights become available

dear Paul ,

As a travel agent living in Jakarta and organizing frequent groups from Turkey to the whole archipelago i would recommend you not to trust on flight schedules here in indonesia too much and always leave a couple of days before and after your vacation to handle flight delays and cancelations ,And even missing luggage . Thats why i always leave at least 24 hours before & after the original stay which was big help couple of times . i would recommend connecting from Jakarta or from Makassar as all flights fly out from Jakarta & connect in Makassar. Manado to R4 could be a little risky , Merpati is the most reliable in terms of flight schedule ( tough have expierienced delays with them) , not safety

Best Regards,

Tunc Yavuzdogan

Thanks for your advice Tunc, thats very kind of you

Got back again from Raja Ampat just before Christmas. This time I had the journey from hell via Dubai, Jakarta, Makasser and Sorong. Before, I've always flown to Singapore then on to Manado with Silk (Singapore's domestic) before doing the last bit with Lion Air. As advised, flight timings in Indonesia are very informal. I travelled back with two Austrians who missed their connection in Jakarta and had to pay 1500 Euros extra each to get home. I'd left a day in Jakarta for delays but enjoyed two because my Emirates plane broke down in Jakarta and we had to wait a day while a part was flown from Dubai. When I got to Dubai, they said there were no more seats until after Christmas. (I came back that leg in the front of a plane.)

Oh, I forgot to mention that our luggage was delayed at Jakarta on the way out and Merpati took SIX days to get it to Sorong.

I was travelling with a bloke called Tony Backhurst. He won't be using that route again!

Dam. Air Asia KUL - MDC was a great alternative to Singapore/Silk for getting to Lembeh and Bunaken. Like many I've heard so many horror stories about Indonesian airlines that I'd always try to avoid wherever possible, but if you are heading to Sorong then I guess you don't have a lot of options!

Cheers, Simon