Raja Ampat, located on the western tip of Papua, not only captivates tourists with its extraordinary marine beauty but also offers a variety of stunning natural tourist destinations.
According to National Geographic, this beauty also makes Raja Ampat in Indonesia one of the best destinations in the world in 2025.
Who doesn’t know National Geographic (Nat Geo)? The American monthly magazine that globally presents information about the world and everything in it recently announced a list of the 25 best tourist destinations in 2025.
National Geographic released a list of the best places to visit in 2025. The most eye-catching thing about the famous American magazine’s release is the inclusion of Raja Ampat, Indonesia. In fact, the main image used as the cover in the article is a photo of Papuan fishermen in Raja Ampat taken by David Doubilet.
@wonderfulid Escape to Wayag Island, Raja Ampat’s jewel, where turquoise seas meet lush cliffs. Explore vibrant reefs and panoramic viewpoints in this tropical haven. 🌴💦 #WonderfulJourney #WonderfulIndonesia #WayagIsland #RajaAmpatBeauty #ParadiseFound 📸 credit: @sadamm.jpg ♬ original sound – Wonderful Indonesia
The coral islands scattered around Raja Ampat offer an unparalleled underwater panorama. Making it a dream destination for nature lovers and divers.
National Geographic 25 best places in the world to travel to in 2025 are:
- Antigua, Guatemala
- Ocala National Forest, Florida
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Raja Ampat, Indonesia
- Guadalajara, Mexico
- Cenobitic Monasteries, Italy
- Los Angeles, California
- Greenland
- Kanazawa, Japan
- Eastern & Oriental Express, Malaysia
- Brasov, Romania
- Cerrado, Brazil
- Northland, New Zealand
- Senegal
- Haida Gwaii, British Colombia
- Barbados
- Suru Valley, India
- Boise, Idaho
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Murray River, Australia
- Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
- Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden
- Cork, Ireland
- Outer Hebrides, Scotland
- Tunisia
These are National Geographic’s 25 best travel destinations of 2025. Alongside the top 25, Nat Geo also included destinations that won readers’ hearts.
Why Raja Ampat?
Raja Ampat in Indonesia is one of the best destinations in the world. Why go to Raja Ampat? According to National Geographic, it has amazing underwater ecotourism. Raja Ampat has around 500 species of coral, more than a thousand species of reef fish, and zebra sharks that have reappeared thanks to conservationists.
In addition to its marine wealth and wonders, Raja Ampat is also geologically unique. The area is part of the Raja Ampat Geopark, an important site recognized by UNESCO.
The area is a cluster of karst islands located on the equator with the oldest rocks in the world. These rocks are estimated to be between 439 and 360 million years old (Silur-Devonian period). This makes Raja Ampat not only a tourist destination but also an important site in the world’s geological history.
Best time to visit Raja Ampat
Although Raja Ampat can be visited at any time, as a tourist, you should still pay attention to weather conditions, waves, and what happens there so that your vacation in the area located in West Papua Regency is more memorable.
September-April
September-April is the best time to travel to Raja Ampat and is often referred to as the “calm months”. During these months, the waves in the Raja Ampat region tend to be calm, so you can travel around by boat from one island to another or island hopping to diving without any worries.
May – August
The waves in Raja Ampat tend to be large in May-August, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a vacation there. Many exciting activities can be done, such as seeing the flora and fauna of the rare birds of paradise, visiting the Arborek Tourism Village, and doing many exciting activities with local residents.
October
In addition to calm waves, this month, a Maritime Festival is held for 2-4 days on Waigeo Island. You can see traditional boats, dive in a number of beautiful locations, visit sago processing attractions, enjoy typical Papuan dance performances, and enjoy Papuan culinary offerings that all tourists can enjoy.
