Resorts
MISOOL ECO RESORT
Misool Eco Resort (Misool Eco Resort)
The island of Batbitim is fringed with powdery white sandy beaches and the twelve guest cottages are built to European standards of comfort and safety, so far as possible from indigenous natural materials. Every piece of lumber used to build the cottages has been collected from driftwood in the Raja Ampat! There are currently eight deluxe Water Cottages just steps away from the dive centre, plus the deluxe one-bedroom Villa Tabisasu. Water Cottages are built on stilts over the water and feature a private veranda with steps leading down into the sea. The house reef is just a few fin-kicks away. The spacious, air-conditioned Water Cottages are elegant and luxuriously comfortable with natural stone flooring and traditional ‘alang-alang’ roofs. Their amazing and wonderful verandas have a day bed and a unique hammock built in to the floor of the veranda, so you can relax with the feeling of hovering above the water! There is an in-room electronic safe, mosquito net and glass doors at the front to enable you to see the view, even from your bed! Bathrooms are large and luxurious, half-covered in Balinese-style, and have a hot water shower and a western-style flush toilet.
The very spacious, deluxe two-room Villa Tabisasu is located close to the dive centre. The villa has a large, air-conditioned bed room and a fan-cooled living room, an outdoor living area, complete with day bed, and enjoys glorious sunrise views towards the islands on the eastern horizon. There is a large, air-conditioned bedroom and other amenities are similar to those of the Water Cottages. It has steps leading down into the water, making the house reef even easier to get to!
The north facing Villa Utara is located on the outer edge of the North Lagoon. Built on stilts over the water, it features two air conditioned and en suite bedrooms. These can be either double or twin configuration. The two bedrooms share a common area with a half bathroom. Two extra beds are possible in a non-air conditioned but breezy loft (with no en-suite bathroom). This villa requires a minimum of four guests and can take a maximum of six when utilizing the ‘loft’ space.
The Villa Kalanme is located on the South Beach. It features three separate air conditioned bedrooms, all with en suite facilities and can be either double or twin configuration. The three bedrooms share a common living area on the beach. The villa is a five minute walk across a very steep hill so may not be suitable for all guests. There is a twice-daily water taxi service available, (subject to tidal movements). This villa requires a minimum of four guests and can take a maximum of six.
Villa Santai and Villa Tenang, the newest Villas, are located at the far end of the South Beach. Two stunning en suite bedroom units are built under the shady coconut palms, with expansive views over the Southern horizon from the huge terraces. Access to Villa Santai and Villa Tenang is either by water taxi (on call and reachable by radio), or by a scenic but steep paved path.
Imagine the wonder of staying in comfort, literally on top of what is probably the finest house reef in the world (a few steps down from the veranda of the bungalows and you are there in the ocean – a few fin-kicks and you are on the house reef)! This stunning resort is built right in the world epicentre of marine diversity. Miss this at your peril!??Meals are served in the beach-front restaurant and feature both Western and Asian dishes. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style. Evening meal choices are selected from the menu. Afternoon snacks are provided during the surface intervals. Vegetarians and vegans can be catered for. Out of respect for the Muslim island inhabitants, no pork products are served. Misool Eco Resort offer a broad range of Asian and Western cuisine, with a focus on fresh, local, and organic fare. There are four meals per day, plus afternoon tea on the terrace, with freshly baked treats like lemon and cardamom biscotti or island-fresh banana fritters with with chocolate. All non-alcoholic beverages are included in the accommodation package. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. A small range of Spa service are offered and you can try Misool’s signature brand of Spa products using 100% natural and locally grown ingredients.??The construction and operation of the resort have been meticulously engineered to minimise environmental impact. In addition to salvaging driftwood and milling the lumber, energy efficiency is uppermost in the ethos of the resort. Waste water gardens have been installed and experiments are on-going with solar and wind power. Most importantly the resort is dedicated to safeguarding the local community. The labour force is drawn from Yellu, the local village and they are offered excellent working conditions with health benefits, job training and education. A conservation centre is being built on a small beach on the north side of the island. This will be a base for research and conservation projects as well as accommodation for visiting researchers and scientists. One of the first projects will be the assembly of a local team to patrol and enforce the Marine Protected Area.??The dive centre is located in the North Bay and is built in modern style with local materials just like the cottages. The wet area is furnished with plenty of camera tables and work stations. The dry area is where you can kit up and you will also find computer stations, comfortable lounge chairs and a monitor to enjoy images of the day’s diving. There is a sunny veranda for drying out between dives and enjoying the glorious views. Three boat dives are offered each day and shore diving, by day and by night is available from 0700-2100. There will be a maximum of 6 divers to each guide, but the usual number is four. Nitrox is available.??There are 2-3 boat dives available daily. Some days will consist of full day safaris and will include 2 or 3 dives, depending on weather and local conditions. Those on the ‘unlimited diving’ package can take all available boat dives and have unlimited shore diving tanks between the hours of 0700-2100.??Misool Eco Resort is closed from mid-June to mid-September for maintenance and because this is the wettest and windiest season in Raja Ampat. For the rest of the year, the resort offers 7 nights and 12 nights packages. However, as flights out of Sorong depart too early in the day for same-day transfers from the resort, it is necessary to spend a night in an hotel in Sorong after the stay at Batbitim Island. From Sorong, a launch takes you out to Batbitim Island. In typical conditions, the journey takes a little over four hours. The boat has 20 seats and air-conditioning. The first part of the journey is through a mangrove-lined strait with dense jungle on either side. The second part of the trip crosses open water. This is your chance to see dolphins and big schools of bonito feeding at the surface. Keep your eyes open for whales too. The last leg of your journey takes you through breath-taking scenery with myriads of tiny karst islets and lagoons, and the final forty five minutes is through the Marine Protected Area. The usual arrival time on the island is late afternoon or early evening. Return from the resort to Sorong in the morning or morning/early afternoon. Overnight in a Sorong hotel before departure next morning.??As it would be difficult and extremely expensive to charter a boat to the resort if you arrive late, we recommend arriving a day early in Sorong and spending a night there prior to the transfer to the island.
Misool Eco Resort offer 7 or 12 nights stays.
Price from about $2816 for 7 nights; from about $3400 for 12 nights. Includes: Transfers from and to Sorong; 7 or 12 nights on a twin/share basis with full board (tea, coffee, water and some soft drinks are included) in a Water Cottage at Misool Eco Resort; 1 night on a twin/share basis with half-board (dinner and breakfast) at a Sorong hotel at the end of your stay.
Various dive packages are available: an unlimited boat and shore diving package for 7 nights costs about $849, or about $1400 for 12 nights. Lower rates are available for limited diving.
In addition, a Raja Ampat Marine Park entry permit of IDR 1 000 000 (subject to change) must be paid for locally.
Single Occupancy Supplement: from about $1039 for 8 nights (7 nights Misool Eco Resort, 1 night Sorong); from about $1321 for 13 nights (12 nights Misool Eco Resort, 1 night Sorong).