Maluku Islands

The historic "Spice Islands": nutmeg and Dutch forts in the Banda Islands, and the bays and coral reefs of Ambon. Hard to reach, but with few tourists.

This region follows Indonesia's official geographic unit of Maluku, assigned by whole province: Maluku and North Maluku. It covers Ambon, Seram, Buru, the Banda Islands, the Kei Islands, the Aru Islands, the Tanimbar Islands and, to the north, islands such as Halmahera, Ternate, Tidore and Morotai.

Highlights: the Banda Islands were once the only source of nutmeg in the world. Visit Fort Belgica from the Dutch East India Company era and the nutmeg plantations, climb the volcanic island for sunrise, and dive the nearby waters for coral walls. Ambon has clear bays, colonial monuments and dive sites. Ternate and Tidore in North Maluku were the sultanates of the clove trade era, and the Kei Islands are known for their white-sand beaches.

Classic itineraries: fly in and out of Ambon, with 1–2 days in Ambon and 4–5 days in the Banda Islands, about a week in total. With more time, add the Kei Islands or Ternate.

Getting there: Jakarta and Makassar have flights to Ambon and Ternate. From Ambon to Banda, you take a fast boat or a small plane with very few departures, and schedules often change with the weather, so leave some slack in your plans.

Good to know: the monsoon pattern here is the opposite of most of Indonesia, with rough seas in the middle of the year, so choosing the right season is critical. Accommodation on the islands is mostly in homestays, and you should arrange cash and internet access in advance.

Destinations

Itineraries