In the precolonial era, Ternate was the dominant political and economic power over most of the “Spice Islands” of Maluku. Being the military bases during the World War II because of its strategic location, the islands in north Moluccas were home to many fortresses. But also because of the war, the waters are an underwater museum with wreckage of planes and ships. In this tour, we will take you to explore the islands’ long history and the untouched natural sceneries that will fascinate you in many ways. Jump between uninhabited small islands surrounded by turquoise clear waters and enjoy your lunch at the pristine sandy beach under the swaying coconut trees. Being quite difficult to reach as it takes a few more flights, the islands of Ternate, Tidore & Morotai remain your off-the-beaten-track destinations.
Welcome to Ternate! The largest city in the North of Maluku, the home of the active Volcano Mount of Gamalama (1715m), that has been erupted since 1538. The local grow groves of clove tress and nutmeg at the foothills of the mountain thanks to the fertile soil given by the volcanic.
Upon your arrival at the airport, our guide will pick you up and drive to the hotel for check in. After lunch stop we will begin our journey to discover the city of Ternate and its history. We will be visiting Oranje Fortress, the first and largest Dutch fortress in Ternate, which was built in 1607 by Cornelis Matclief de Jonge. This fortress was originally derived from traces of an old fort built by the Portuguese and inhabited by Malays and being named as Fort Malay, and was once the VOC Spice Trade Centre. Leaving the fortress, we will head to Kedaton Sultan Ternate (Sultanate Palace) to see some magnificent palace built on 1813.
In the afternoon, a short stop will be made at the traditional market of Ternate where you get some sense of how the local community trade and practice their daily live. By late afternoon, you may also make a stop at Tapak Dua, located at the heart of Ternate, where you will find lots of small stalls offering local culinary of North Maluku, made from banana, coconut, and palm. Don’t forget to take a shot of an astonishing sunset with a view of Mount Kie Matubu of Tidore and Maitara Island.
Meals: Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ternate
Breakfast at the hotel and get ready for a long day to discover the island. You will start the day by visiting Tolukko Fort, a small fortification on the east coast of Ternate, built by the Portuguese on the year of 1512 by the named Fort Saint Lucas, before abandoned on 1864. The fort located above the foothill of Sangaji Village overlook the city of Ternate, the island of Tidore, the island of Halmahera, and Mount Gamalama.
From the f ort, you will be visiting Batu Angus in the village of Kulaba. This hardened lava stretch over one kilometre was formed by the one of the biggest eruption of Mount Gamalama in the year of 1673. From Batu Angus, you eill visit the neighboor beach, Sulamadaha, one of the favorite beach of the local where you can relax, swim and snorkel.
After that, you will visit Sulamadaha Beach, which is a favorite place for local tourists to relax, swim, snorkel, etc. You are then taken to Lake Tolire to witness the beauty of the lake with its blue water and exotic scenery around the top of Mount Gamalama. Next, you will be taken to Bobane Ici at which you will enjoy lunch there. After lunch, you then visit Fort Gamalama, the oldest fort in Ternate. During the trip, you may want to make occasional stops to see nutmeg and clove plantations along the way. You will also be taken to a hill near Lake Laguna to take photos of the iconic views of Lake Laguna, Maitara Island, and Tidore Island. After that, you will be taken to the City of Promise Fortress, Kalamata Fortress, and finally back to the hotel. At 7 pm, you will be picked up again for dinner and enjoy the night atmosphere of Ternate City.
The triumph of clove trees on Ternate Island can still be seen from the oldest Afo Clove Tree that stands up to now. This living tree is the second tree from the ancestors of cloves that were planted about 400 years ago which then made Maluku famous overseas. The first tree had died from being struck by lightning
The Afo Clove Tree is located in Tongole Village, Air Tege-Tege, about 15 minutes from Ternate city center. Along the way to Tongole Village, we will be treated by the amazing open sea views. In the distance also appeared Maitara Island, the picture on the back of our Rp1.000 banknote.
Heading to the Afo Clove Tree, we need to hike on the slopes of Gamalama Mountain for 15 minutes. Surrounded by fresh air and along the way we can see overgrown clove and nutmeg trees. If flowering season, you can smell a faint aroma of clove and nutmeg flowers. After handpicked at harvesting time, the seeds of cloves and nutmeg are dried gradually in the sun over a period of six to eight weeks till the color change, black brownish for the cloves and nutmeg and crimson-color for nutmeg mace.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ternate
After breakfast, you will be picked up by our driver and taken to Bastiong Harbour to go to Tidore. It takes about 10-15 minutes by local wooden boat to reach Tidore. Sitting on the top deck may allow you to see the stunning view of the nearby Maitara Island, Gamalama Mount, and Mount Kie Matubu as well as the scenic view of Ternate Downtown.
Upon arrival at Rum Pier in Tidore, you will start your journey by visiting Tahulla fort, which is another Portuguese fort on a foothill near Soajawa village overlooking the city center of Soasio and Halmahera ocean. You will then proceed to visit the nearby Sultanate Tidore Museum, Tore Fortress, as well as the Sultan Tidore Palace. If possible, we will be able to meet the Sultan directly and have a little chat with him. After that, you will be taken to Pasar Sari Malaha, another traditional market in Tidore at which you will have lunch at a nearby restaurant. From here, you will then visit the warm water spring of Akesahu and just relax under the shadow, swim or walk along the beach.
After from here, you will be taken back to Rum Village at which you could see the Landing Monument of Juan Sebastian Del Cano who was the first Spaniard to set foot on the island of Tidore. Finally, head back to Rum Pier and be ready to go back to Ternate. Dinner will be provided at Floridas Restaurant, which is located at the subdistrict of Ngade that offers the beautiful view Tidore and Maitara islands just as recorded in the Indonesian 1000 banknote.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ternate
After breakfast, please ensure that all your belonging is appropriately packed as today you will begin another exciting journey on Morotai Island. You will be picked up by the driver at around 9.30 am and escorted to Ternate Airport for flight check-in. The flight duration from Ternate to Morotai with Wings Air is approximately 45 minutes. Upon arrival at Morotai Leo Wattimena Airport, you will be welcomed by our guide and taken to a local restaurant for lunch. After that, you will be taken to the resort to check in and rest. In the afternoon, you will head to Tanjung Dehegila to relax and enjoy the sunset. You will have dinner at around 7 pm at a local restaurant in Daruba.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Resort on Morotai Island
After breakfast, you will be picked up by your driver to start your Morotai Island journey. The first destination will be Tanjung Gorango. This beach offers a panoramic view of the clean white sand beach, stretching across more than half a kilo, and is only about 2.5-hour drive towards the northern part of Morotai Island. You will enjoy lunch at this beach. After lunch, you will head back towards the south in the village of Bere-Bere, get on a local wooden boat called “ketinting” and explore the island of Tabailenge, which is only about 10 minutes away. The island is untouched and offers a beautiful coastal view and crystal-clear water which is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or just relaxing under the trees on its clean white sand. In the afternoon, you will be picked up again and taken to Nunuhu Beach which is about an hour from Bere-Bere. After taking a picture here, you are then taken back to the capital of Daruba. On the way to Daruba, you can stop at Air Kaca, which was once the bathing place for the US military commander, General Douglas McArthur during the Asia Pacific War. From here, you are then taken back to the resort to rest. Dinner starts at around 7 pm at one of the local restaurants in Daruba.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Resort on Morotai Island
After breakfast, you will be picked up at around 9 a.m. and escorted to the pier of Daruba to start your Island-Hopping adventure. The first spot to visit is Zum-Zum Island. This island was once used by General Commander Douglas McArthur as a strategic base for arranging strategy against the Japanese forces. There is also a statue of General Douglas MacArthur that you can find on the island. From here, you will be taken to Kolorai Island to visit Village-Based tourism community, where you can visit the Center for Local’s Creative Industries, witness the process of making salted fish and seaweed, and interact directly with the local people who are mostly fishermen. The next spot to visit is Pulau Pasir Timbul, which is a smallish uninhabited island floating in the middle of nowhere, but only covered with white sand with very clear water. You can take selfies here or go snorkeling or swimming. Next, you will head to Kokoya Island, which is another uninhabited island, much larger than the previous spot, covering in the exotic white sand and untouched natural scenery, in which you can relax under the trees, do snorkeling/ swimming, or just troll around the island. Also, on this island, you will eat lunch at the beach while enjoying the beauty of its cool and peaceful natural scenery. The last destination for your Island-Hopping journey is Dodola Island which is an icon of Morotai Island tourism, consisting of two small islands called Dodola Besar and Dodola Kecil which are connected by clean white sand during low tide. Here, you can walk along the coast to enjoy its natural scenery, do some swimming or snorkeling in its crystal-clear water or just lay on the beach and enjoy the sun. In the afternoon, you are again picked up with a local wooden boat to return to Morotai Island. After that, you are taken back to the hotel to rest while waiting for dinner time around 7:30 pm. at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Resort on Morotai Island
After breakfast, please be sure that your luggage is packed neatly before starting the morning tour because you will be leaving soon. The first spot to visit is WWII Mini Museum owned by a local resident who has been keeping a collection of World War II relics in his own home. Then you will stop by the PDII Morotai Museum in Pandanga Village built in 2012 to welcome the event of Sail Morotai. After that, you will be escorted to the airport and thus, the end of your entire adventure in this North Maluku tour. Sampai jumpa!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: –
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