Sorong or also known as Kota Sorong is the second biggest city in Papua and the biggest city in the West Papua, is located on the western tip of the island of New Guinea. The city is named as such as a derivative of the word Soren, which means deep and wavy oceans in Biak language. With it's land borders being with Sorong Regency, the city of Sorong is typically a main gateway and entry point to Raja Ampat Islands, which is a species-rich coral reef island. In addition to that, it is also known as a logistics hub for eastern Indonesia's oil and gas activities. Since 2010, Sorong has experienced exponential growth due to the tourism and port industries, with the growth expected to go further when roads are built to connect to other frontier towns in the Birds Head's Peninsula.

Airports in Sorong

1. Domine Eduard Osok Airport

Domine Eduard Osok Airport is among the largest and busiest airports in Bird Head’s Peninsula that is meant to serve Raja Ampat Islands, Sorong as well as the nearby areas, is located 5 kilometers away from the city. It is a public airport owned by the Government of Indonesia and operated by the Ministry of Transport. The airport gets its name from a Sorong pastor Domine Eduard Osok which is remembered for his missionary works and spreading Christianity in Sorong. It is meant to replace a much smaller Jefman Airport which was a World War II airfield with runways extended to 2,500 meters and made of asphalt. Residing at an elevation of 3 meters above sea level, the upgraded airport is now the second-largest of its kind in Indonesian Papua after Sentani International Airport. Among the serviced airlines include Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Nam Air, Sriwijaya Air, Susi Air, Wings Air and XpressAir.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Sorong?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Sorong and the nearby areas within the Bird’s Head Peninsula.All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Sorong.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Sorong?

The off-peak season to visit Sorong, as well as the nearby regions, is usually around March and April which is the most humid month in Sorong with the highest precipitation. As such, one can expect travel costs to be much lesser if you are travelling around this month. The peak time to visit Sorong is usually around June to October when the weather is terrific, therefore expect prices to rise around this time. If you plan your trip well, you can undoubtedly save your money because the price for hotels and flights during these peak seasons will cost you a lot of money.

Sorong, just like other regions around Indonesia and neighboring countries, has a tropical rainforest climate which dry season is shorter, and rainfall is normally heavy throughout the year. In a way, the dry season does not exist here. The annual precipitation is about 2969 millimeters with the wettest being June with the average rainfall of 373 millimeters. The average maximum temperature in Sorong would typically reach around 32 and 35 degree Celsius while the average minimum would go to 23.4 and 24.4 degree Celsius. This minimal temperature variation is usually normal and is expected to go in that manner throughout the year. The hottest month is usually November with an average temperature of 27.8 degree Celsius, while the coldest month is in July with an average temperature of 26.6 degree Celsius.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Sorong?

1. Sapta Ratna Pagoda – Sapta Ratna Pagoda is a relatively new Chinese pagoda which has just been around for about two decades ago. Initially, the pagoda was meant to be a burial center for all the Buddhist ashes, but due to its location, it is now an increasingly popular attraction. It is located on a hill which offers terrific views of the city.

2. Doom Island – Doom Island is a small island which is administratively part of the city of Sorong. Once a Dutch Empire administration center in West Papua, there are remains of Dutch influence around the island which is worthwhile to visit while in Sorong. It is accessible from the city by boat and only takes about 10 minutes to reach.

3. Raja Ampat Marine Park – Raja Ampat Marine Park is the most popular attraction here in Sorong, being the highly visited among others. This is because the marine park has one of the most diverse marine environments on the planet with majestic views of the water and rich biodiversity of hundreds of species of coral reefs.