Little paradise that we hope will remain like this 🐟🐠🐡🪸🪸🦈🦈 - We were guests on the island of Urai, at Katembe, from 2 to 13 September 2023. After a long journey from Italy we were welcomed in Sorong by the transfer... read more organized by the structure. They took us to the port and then took the ferry to Waisai and from there Benny came to pick us up and then take us
on the island where we were guests for 11 nights.
The emotions felt upon arrival, during our stay and on the day of departure are indescribable, thanks to the beauty and uniqueness of the place but also above all to the staff who pampered us throughout our stay, we felt at home with family.
Guests in the second overwater bungalow, recently renovated, comfortable and spacious, with unparalleled views and a terrace from which to enjoy unforgettable sunsets. Sea, marine fauna and corals have never been seen so varied and beautiful. Among the most beautiful beaches on the island is certainly Pantai Mutiara (the pearl beach) behind the mangrove bay. The nearby small island of Urai is also very beautiful and can be easily reached by kayak.
We went on several excursions, always with our caring and expert guide Ronny and the boat captain Jacky (Jackson). We went to Sawandarek (never seen so many turtles of different species, Napoleon wrasse, sharks, unique reef and countless fish of all sorts), Hidden Bay (arrived by boat and then gave us a kayak and walked around freely in total silence ), Marindal (small version of Piaynemo), Blue River, Piaynemo and Star Lagoon, Friwen, and Kri island from the sandbanks. All different and all unforgettable, to be done and redone a thousand times.
What makes the difference between one structure and another on a holiday is the staff, in this case this term is an understatement because for us it was like being with family. Thanks to Suria, Benny, Fadil (Dil), Burhan, the lady in the kitchen (Burhan's wife), Abdi (second chef), the girls who always discreetly tidied up our room, Kevin, Ronny, Jacky.
A special thanks goes to Yousef, the chef, who every day prepared and delighted us with specialties from the various regions of Indonesia, not only tasty but presented to make the great gourmet restaurants envious, surprising us every day without ever having given us a similar dish in 11 nights and 12 days. THANK YOU very much for how you made us feel at home and above all for the times you took us to swim in the evening after dinner or before dinner to see and discover the luminescence of the plankton that we had never seen, and to see the fish with your powerful flashlight while you protected us with your spear gun from any dangers.
Last but not least, our friend RIDWAN. The person who most of all pampered us like king and queen of the island. we will never forget it. We will not forget the tea time we had at sunset on little Urai, the surprises you made us find at every meal, your taste for beauty and organization, your professionalism, your respect and much more that a day would not be enough to describe. and praise them. Rare qualities.

A place worth returning to again and again.

Thanks to Rika who made all this possible!!!

  Incredible - Katembe is absolutely incredible! My partner and I stayed here a week and both agreed it is our favorite place we’ve ever stayed. First off, the team makes it very... read more easy getting to and from the resort by handling all of the details and being with you every step of the way. Also, the service on-site is top notch and all of the staff are very friendly. You really do feel like a family while you are there.

The island and resort itself are indescribably beautiful. It is jaw dropping arriving to the resort but also waking up and going to bed every night in a beautiful overwater bungalow nestled in a gorgeous little bay. Most of the property is built overwater, which is so unique, and baby sharks inhabit the bay and can be seen everywhere you walk.

The bungalows themselves are beautiful, well kept, spacious, and comfortable. We stayed in one of the new deluxe bungalows and thought they were definitely worth it. They are very nicely updated and more private than the other bungalows. That said, the other bungalows also look very nice.

On top of that, the food is absolutely outstanding and the cocktails are also very good. You will not go hungry!

Our favorite activity was the amazing scuba diving, and the sites we enjoyed most were Mioskon, Sardine’s Reef, Cape Kri, and Sawandarek. We also really enjoyed our day trip to Piaynemo, which is gorgeous, and we were able to do two beautiful dives nearby on the trip. Snorkeling is also a must, and we found the snorkeling around the jetty on the other side of the island to be best. Lastly, you have to try night snorkeling to see bio luminescent plankton and many other creatures.

Do not hesitate to book the place. It is even more beautiful than the pictures show!

An FYI, as I don’t think it’s laid out on the website: some of the further dive sites (Melissa’s Garden, Cape Kri, Manta dive sites) incur additional expense due to high gas prices and the distance of these locations from the resort.

  Our WOW - week on Katembe - As a family of four with two children (3 and 6 years old), we spent seven wonderful days at the Katembe Resort. We really liked the complex and the bungalows,... read more and the experience of sleeping above the water was something very special.

The entire team was incredibly friendly, open and helpful with all our questions and with the organization before our trip to Raja Ampat.

We were particularly impressed by the restaurant and the lovingly prepared dishes. Everything was always delicious, fresh and varied. Individual requests were also happily fulfilled.

We also really enjoyed the numerous excursions. We were lucky to have our permanent "diving team" for the week, as we went diving every day and made the trip to Pyanemo once. This was particularly great during the dives, as we had someone who could look after our children responsibly during the dive. Our children loved it, and so were we.

We'll be happy to come back on our next trip to Indonesia!

  Best vacation - Katembe was fantastic!
The staff was always happy to help with a big smile on their faces. Unbelievable experience. Diving was also very nice. The Dive Instructor is very professional... read more and a great guy. Overall great experience would recommend diving there 100%.

  I love it - Good service, excellent, cordial and friendly staff. Help with any problem that may arise on your trip.
Keep in mind that the amenities are not those of a normal hotel... read more (mixed sweet-salt water, electricity only in the afternoon, there is no restaurant menu)
But the charm of the landscape, its residents, and the staff of Katembe make it wonderful.

  The heart to Katembe - All natural and all nature. You can't want more. In Katembe there is more. Staff that welcomes you with care from the airport, excellent cuisine with very good chefs who... read more accompany you in the experience of Indonesian cuisines and beyond. Diving staff assisting you ad personam. My son achieved L open water with the instructor Jonathan and his dives were unique and fantastic and always with the utmost assistance. Everything is seasoned with cordiality, smiles .. Katembe is left with a piece of heart.

  Yes, it is paradise! - The long-awaited trip to Raja Ampat began with illness and dark rain clouds, which somewhat clouded our first impression of paradise. But as soon as we arrived at the resort,... read more we were catapulted into another world - a true dream destination with shimmering turquoise water and lovely natural stilt bungalows.
Exhausted from a 30-hour journey, our joy was dampened when we entered the bungalow, which didn’t quite look as we had imagined. At this point, a big thank you to Dylan for his uncomplicated and courteous response to our request.

The resort impresses with its intimate atmosphere, very good service, few bungalows and therefore limited number of guests, which we like personally, three varied and delicious meals and, last but not least, its central location to the best dive sites. You can reach almost all of them in a maximum of 45 minutes boatride.
The food was extremely varied and offered dishes from all regions of Indonesia, including vegetarian options. I enjoyed trying the different local dishes, whereas others were happy with all the other dishes on offer due to the spiciness. Thanks to the chefs for their culinary skills and the “sweet” desserts! And yes - Katembe - no diet! hahaha

The team surprised me with a wonderful table decoration and a birthday cake, plus a serenade from the team + guests and a little surprise in the bungalow - all of which made my birthday in Raja Ampat extra special. Thanks to everyone from the bottom of my heart!
Thanks also to Ridan, who so lovingly provided me with ginger tea during my illness. With lemon and honey 🙂

We saw everything our hearts desired on the dives. As an angelfish fan, I couldn’t get enough of the many different species, the size of the fish compared to other dive sites in SOA is enormous, not to mention the incredible abundance of fish, shoals and masses of damselfish, fusiliers, snappers, bannerfish, barracudas, mackerel, napoleons, giant sweetlips, turtles, octopods, manta rays, sharks, Raja Ampat got it all and gave us all.
Thanks to the dive guides who showed us the most beautiful dive spots in the short time we had left, thanks for the MANTAS!!!! Thanks also to the guys for the beautiful, entertaining and safe boat trips, even if I really would have liked a side wall when it rained! And last but not least, thanks to the many invisible hands that made it so easy to feel at home.

Standard bungalow:
The beds are comfortable, not too hard and equipped with good mosquito nets. Our bungalow was equipped with 4 beds (2x2 single beds next to each other). The bathroom is functionally furnished with a small shelf and a beautiful large shell as a washbasin. The shower is cold water half sweet/half salty. The floor of the bungalows is covered with wide wooden panels, some of the gaps allow a view of the sea below. The bungalow can be closed off from the sea with bamboo doors. A filled water dispenser is available and filled every day. Two sun beds on the spacious terrace.
Deluxe bungalow:
A large double bed (queen-size) stands generously in the room, very comfortable and equipped with a good mosquito net. There is a clothes rack with hangers as well as tables with a bench and seating. The bathroom is nicely done, the walls are paneled, the washbasin also has a large shell as a washbasin, a large mirror with lighting, glass partition between the shower and toilet. Overall, the bathroom here is not as draughty as in the standard bungalow. The floor here is sealed. The bungalow has a lockable glass front. The glass water dispenser is filled every day. Two sun beds and a lounge hammock on the spacious terrace.

Despite these many positive aspects, there was one small inconvenience for us. During the first week in the rainy period, the beds were quite clammy, which combined with illness, cold water and lack of sun was a little uncomfortable.

The limited power supply from 5pm to midnight encourages you to enjoy your time offline. Diving, snorkeling, kayaking, playing volleyball, board games, reading, looking out to sea, taking photos, lazing around and looking forward to the next meal .
Overall, we enjoyed our two weeks at the resort and are grateful for the unforgettable experiences we had here. The Katembe team and the beauty of the surroundings have won our hearts and we are glad we were able to be here.
Hopefully see you again!