Discover the best attractions & things to do in the Maluku Islands, Indonesia
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anemptytextllineMade up of approximately 1,027 islands straddling the Equator, the Maluku Islands are situated in the north and east of Indonesia, scattered over an enormous 850 000 km² ranging from east of Sulawesi to the north of Timor and south of West Papua. Once prized as the only source of nutmeg,...
anemptytextllineThe city of Ambon on the island of the same name is the main arrival and departure point for the Maluka archipelago. With plenty of accommodation options and all the facilities you'd expect of a thriving city, Ambon attracts many visitors. For some, it is a stepping stone to...
anemptytextllineLying to the west of Ambon Island, Buru is the third largest island in the Maluku’s. Once a destination for communist political prisoners during the Suharto reign, and therefore off limits it still today attracts few visitors. As with some other islands in the Maluku’s Buru falls between the Australian...
anemptytextllineHaruku Island For a change of scene from Ambon, Haruku Island is located immediately to the east. The island has little in the way of accommodation however for a day trip it has some attractions such as a 1656 built Dutch fort and beautiful beaches. The easiest way to get...
anemptytextllineThe largest island in the region Seram is located north of Ambon Island. A mountainous island Seram is home to the Malukus highest peak, Mount Binaiya. It is also a major karst area and has Indonesia's deepest cave Hatu Saka.Photo © Mark Richards One of the world’s longest underground rivers...
anemptytextllineTernate is the largest town of North Maluku. Located on the island of the same name, with a population of around 200,000 it has plenty of accommodation and dining options and all facilities visitors need. The entire island is an active volcano, Mount Gamalama. Minor eruptions have occurred this century....
anemptytextllineLocated on Ternate Island, with a height of 1715m, Gamalama is not quite as tall as its dormant neighbour Tidore (1750m) but it's an an imposing sight nonetheless. One of a chain of volcanoes to the west of Halmahera Island, Gamalama last erupted in 2015. With so many people...
anemptytextllineFeatured on the 1,000Rp note and standing at 1,750m, the dormant Kiematubu is slightly higher than its active neighbour Mount Gamalama. It is however, easier to climb due to a higher starting point from the village of Gurabunga which is 600m above sea level.Photo © Hike Indonesia The trail commences...- anemptytextllineMakian island is a 10km wide volcano (Kie Besi) with a 1.5km wide summit crater. Located to the south of Ternate Island this is one of Indonesia’s most destructive volcanos. While eruptions are infrequent when they occur they are explosive and cause widespread damage. An eruption in 1998 saw...
- anemptytextllineLocated between Eastern Sulawesi and Central Maluku the Sula Islands are easily accessable when travelling by boat throughout the North Maluku islands or from Sulawesi. The three main islands are Mangole, Talaibu and Sanana. While easily accessed there is not a lot of attractions. If however, it’s beautiful beaches...
anemptytextllineThe largest island in the Maluku archipelago Halmahera is home to the North Maluku capital of Sofifi. Located on the west coast the once small village was chosen to replace Ternate as the capital in 2010.Photo © a_rabin The island has four distinct mountainous peninsulars where rare wildlife and active...
anemptytextllineThe northern most island in the Maluku’s, Morotai lies off the northern tip of Halmahera Island. The island was a Japanese strong hold from 1942 to 1945 during World War II though there is little left to see from that period. One of the last remaining Japanese fighters from...
anemptytextllineBacan is a mountainous, well forested island located to west of south Halmahera. The largest island in the archipelago comprising nearly 80 islands and islets, Bacan has two quite distinct mountainous regions separated by lowlands in the centre. The Maluku’s only monkey, Black Macaques, can be found on the...
anemptytextllineThe sea gypsies of the Joronga Islands are descendants of the Bajo indigenous group, itself a sub-group of the Sama-Bajau nomadic boat dwelling peoples once found scattered throughout the Southeast Asia. Skilled sailors, boat builders and maritime specialists, the Bajo once spent their entire lives aboard their small longboats...- anemptytextllineLocated south of Halmahera and north of Seram Island in the central Maluku's, Obi Island is the largest in the archipelago. Obi’s highest peak is 1611 metres so there may be some hiking possibilities. There are a number of smaller islands which make up the archipelago. Bisa being the...
anemptytextllineOnce the world’s only known source of nutmeg the Banda Islands are a remote, tiny group of volcanic islands located approximately 130kms south east of Ambon Island in the Banda Sea. The total land area is roughly 180 square kilometres with a population of approximately 16,000.Photo © Hike Indonesia During...- anemptytextllineLocated in the far south of the Maluku province, the Tanimbar archipelago is a group of about 65 islands that separate the Banda Sea from the Arafura Sea. The main island is Yamdena where the regional capital Saumlaki is located at the southern end. The islands range from densely forested...
anemptytextllineThe Kei islands are located in the Southeast Maluku Regency in the Maluku province. Numerous islands make up the archipelago with the main islands being Kei Kecil and its neighbour Dullah.Photo © Hike Indonesia The major centres of Tual on Dullah Island and Langgur on Kei Kecil are an attraction...- anemptytextllineThe Aru Islands are as far east as the Maluku province extends. Located east of the Kei Islands and south of West Papua, the approximately 95 islands are a mix of tropical forests, savanna and mangroves with channels running through the larger islands. Connected to both Australia and New Guinea...