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Hand-built bungalows
Each bungalow was raised by the local community using bamboo, palm thatch, and traditional joinery. No power tools, no concrete, no shortcuts.
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Each bungalow was raised by the local community using bamboo, palm thatch, and traditional joinery. No power tools, no concrete, no shortcuts.
Local Papuan cooking at the family table. Vegetarian and allergies accommodated if mentioned at booking.
Electricity runs from dusk to dawn. The rest of the day, you live by daylight — and that's part of the deal.
Single & Double beds, mosquito nets, electric fan in each bungalow. No air conditioning, no room service.
Risyard walks you over when you need to reconnect. Otherwise — silence.
"This experience was truly the experience of a lifetime. We didn't really know what to expect before coming as it is challenging to find any information about Ayau but it couldn't have been any better. Hengky was the best host we could've asked for and the whole family is so caring — you can only feel at peace while staying there. Untouched nature, raw beauty, mesmerising sandbanks. We were completely alone for kilometres around."
"Our stay at Ayau Homestay was a truly special experience and one that we will remember for a very long time. From the very beginning, Richard and the entire team made us feel genuinely welcome and at home. Their warmth, kindness, and dedication were present in everything they did, and you could really feel how much effort they put into making our stay unforgettable."
"Ayau is a wonderful place. Risyard and his team welcomed us into their paradise. We stayed in a charming seaside homestay. The food is delicious, especially for seafood lovers, and the excursions to nearby islands and the reef for snorkelling are very affordable. Susi Air flights from Sorong to Kabare cost less than $20 on Mondays or Thursdays. Risyard handles everything from the airport pickup onward."
Calculate your stay below. We'll open WhatsApp with your booking request ready to send to Risyard. He reads messages personally and replies within 72 hours, then sends a Wise payment link to confirm.
Shorter stays don't justify the food and supply preparations in this remote location.
Bookings must be confirmed at least two weeks before arrival.
Risyard sends a Wise payment link in IDR after confirming your dates.
Ayau is a small Papuan island in the northernmost reach of Raja Ampat, home to a fishing community of a few hundred people.
Risyard built the three bungalows by hand in June 2024 — the first and only place to stay on the island. He organises the boat transfers, handles bookings, and welcomes you into his family's daily life. His wife cooks all three meals — fresh fish, rice, local produce. Risyard is learning English and uses a translation app for daily exchanges; his nephew Hengky helps translate whenever the conversation needs precision.
Beyond Risyard's family, the village speaks Bahasa Indonesia and a local Papuan dialect. A translation app and a smile go a long way. There's a Catholic church, a football pitch where the kids play every evening, and one small shop. That's the entire infrastructure — and it's enough.
By private boat with Risyard, shared by up to four guests. Prices below are per group, not per person.
Full day · pristine reef
Urbabo, Sauinggeres, Meosbekwan, Abor, Mamoriba
Cultural · local marine worm · traditional preparation
Open ocean · own gear required · advanced
Three possible routes to reach Ayau from Sorong. Each ends with a private boat transfer that must be arranged with Risyard at least two weeks in advance.
The questions guests ask most before booking. For the full list including health, packing, and travel insurance, see the FAQ page.
Send your dates and a few words about you. Risyard reads messages from a Pacific island with limited connectivity, so allow up to 72 hours for a reply.
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