Snorkeling the remote and historic Banda Islands

The Bandas are a tiny cluster of ten volcanic islands located about 150 km south of the island of Seram in the Banda Sea. The Banda Islands are part of a larger group of islands called the Maluku Islands (Moluccas), but perhaps a more familiar name for them would be the Spice Islands.
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The romantic era of sailing to explore the world, often referred to as the ‘Age of Exploration’ (16th – 19th centuries), a time when the Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch ruled the seas, was, in no small part, promoted by Europe’s desire for a spice that could only be found on select islands in central Indonesia. Nutmeg and mace grew exclusively in the Maluku Islands, collectively known as the Spice Islands. For several centuries some of these tiny islands; particularly the Banda Islands, were the focus of wars, trans-oceanic races, global trade, and even land deals that affected the colonies of the U.S. in a quest to monopolize the highly valued spice. As soon as nutmeg was successfully grown on islands closer to Europe and the tastes of modern civilization changed, the ‘Spice Islands’, once the center of maritime activity, soon became all but forgotten.
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Today, the islands remain largely left alone and are far from the beaten path for travelers. Though once prized for their nutmeg, they are now prized for their pristine coral reefs and amazing diversity as they reside in the geographic epicenter of the Coral Triangle. Fields of colorful corals host thousands of reef fish including many of the big predators such as large groupers, snappers, sharks, and Napoleon wrasses. Celebrated explorer and naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace wrote of the Banda Islands,
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“Banda is a lovely little spot, its three islands enclosing a secure harbour from whence no outlet is visible, and with water so transparent, that living corals and even the minutest objects are plainly seen on the volcanic sand at a depth of seven or eight fathoms.”

Our 14-day cruise begins and ends in Ambon. Along the way we will spend our days snorkeling on many of the spectacular reefs that can be found in the Banda Islands and around Ambon including sites such as Hatta, Pulau Koon, and Lava Flow. We will also have a chance to see, in our opinion, some of the largest mandarinfish in the world! We may also have the opportunity to visit a nutmeg plantation and some of the historical sites such as Fort Belgica, bringing us back to a time when sailing ships ruled seas in search of discovery and trade.

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ITINERARY

The snorkeling tour begins and ends in Jakarta, Indonesia. One round-trip internal flight from Jakarta to Ambon. From Ambon, we will cruise southeast towards the Banda Islands and after spending five days there, we will head north towards Nusa Laut and Ceram. Please note that the following is a general itinerary and that weather, tides, and other unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances may affect the schedule at any time.

Day 1: Jakarta / Sheraton Jakarta Soekarno Hatta Airport
Meals provided: D
Meet in Jakarta, Indonesia at our group resort, the Sheraton Bandara for the orientation and welcome dinner. Overnight Sheraton Jakarta.

Day 2: Ambon / Gaia Love 
Meals provided: B,L,D
We have a morning flight to Ambon and upon our arrival will transfer directly to the M/V Gaia Love, our home for the next 12 days. After our boat orientation and trip introduction, we’ll begin our cruise to the Banda Islands. Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 3: Nusa Laut
Meals provided: B,L,D
The island of Nusa Laut lies off the southwestern region of Ceram and possesses a magnificent seaward reef where a large diversity of coral and fish can be found. Gentle currents sweep along the shallow reef margin, attracting thousands of reef fish to feed over the vibrant reef below. Protected bays offer the chance to snorkel over sheltered coral gardens where more delicate growth forms make up the composition of the reef. Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 4: Banda Islands / Pulau Run
Meals provided: B,L,D
After an evening crossing we arrive at Pulau Run the western-most island in the group of ten islands that make up the Banda archipelago. Famous for its historical role between the English and Dutch in the 1667, Pulau is now a quiet tropical island with amazing seaward reefs. Sometimes vertical walls covered with soft corals and seasons and sometimes with series of shallow, coral-rich platforms, the reef is also home to some of the largest aggregations of red tooth triggerfish we have ever seen. Schools of emperors, snappers, and surgeon- and unicorn fishes often accompany the triggerfish creating a mosaic wall of fish. Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 5: Banda Islands / Pulau Hatta
Meals provided: B,L,D
Pulau Hatta is limestone in origin, the result of an ancient reef uplifted due to tectonic interactions in the area. It is surrounded by a steep reef that encloses a shallow tidal lagoon. Depending on weather and tides we will spend one session exploring the reef crest and above the steeper slope where enormous coral bommies that support thousands of reef fish can be found, the other closer to shore looking for interesting fish and invertebrates that dwell in lush fields of sea grass. Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 6: Manuk Island
Meals provided: B,L,D
Weather permitting! While it is included as a planned destination, it is entirely dependent upon weather conditions due to how remote it is from just about anywhere. After an overnight crossing from Hatta to Manuk we wake to the tiny volcanic island named for the colony of boobies and frigate birds that nest there. Without any inhabitants or influences from human activity, undisturbed reefs are home to huge schools of fish as well as one of the more curious creature in the area; the olive sea snake. This is a great location for nudibranchs and other mollusks, especially against the black sand reefscape. Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 7: Banda Islands / Pulau Hatta / Lonthor
Meals provided: B,L,D
We return to Hatta with the goal to snorkel the another section of reef where the shallow margin gives us access to many of the fish that are usually found a bit deeper on the wall. Pyramid butterflyfish, clown triggerfish and lots of groupers, anthias, and turtles are common sightings along the wall. In the shallows is a nice mixture of rubble and sea grass, making it a great place for wrasse-lovers. In the afternoon we will snorkel the convoluted bays and beautiful beachfront of Lonthor (Banda Besar) Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 8 – 9: Banda Islands / Banda Neira / Gunung Api / Fort Belgica / Mandarinfish
Meals provided: B,L,D
In 1988 Gunung Api erupted, sending volcanic lahar down the steep slopes and into the nearby water where it vaporized shallow reefs in its path. 50 years later, the reefs have returned with such vigor and color, making it hard to believe there was ever a catastrophic event. We will also snorkel the reefs at Lighthouse and Pisang, both with fringing reefs that extend from the shore.

Over the course of our two-day moorage, we will incorporate a visit to Fort Belgica, the Dutch fort used to defend their interests in Nutmeg and Mace, the local museum and a nutmeg plantation to get the full appreciation for why these tiny islands were so popular during the 16th and 17th centuries. Along the constructed breakwaters and docks in the harbor reside perhaps one of the most colorful fishes in the family of dragonets, the mandarinfish. They are most active in the late afternoon where males court females every night in hopes of spawning a new generation. Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 10: Banda Islands / Pulau Ai  / Suanggi
Meals provided: B,L,D
Our remaining days in the Banda Islands will take us to some of the smaller islands that make up the archipelago. Pulau Ai is surrounded by clear tropical water and has shallow fringing reefs with reef margins that teem with life. The tiny island of Suanggi offers another chance at a seaward reef with a volcanic substrate. That evening we cruise back to the southern coast of Ambon. Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 11:  Mamala Island
Meals provided: B,L,D
The rugged coastline of Mamala Island does more than create an amazing backdrop to our snorkeling activities, it contributes to our experience by having deep grottos and intimate passages between the fields of boulders along the intertidal zone. This mixed communities and varied habitats around the island are always good for octopuses, nudibranchs, juvenile fishes, and scorpionfishes. Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 12: Ambon / Laha
Meals provided: B,L,D
The reef outside of Ambon extends along many miles of coastline and is mainly spur and grove in formation. Deep channels are lined with robust coral colonies and many of the less common fishes that are found here prefer the sometimes tumultuous environment. Laha is a very shallow mixed black sand, rubble, and coral habitat where many bizarre critters are often found. Frogfishes, sea horses, pipefishes, dragonets, nudibranchs, crabs, shrimp, and juvenile cowfish and sweetlips are just a fraction of the type of critters we will hunt for. Overnight: Gaia Love

Day 13: Ambon / Jakarta / Sheraton Jakarta Soekarno Hatta Airport
Meals provided: B,L,D
Disembark in Ambon and transfer to the airport for our flight back to Jakarta. Farewell dinner at the group hotel. Overnight: Sheraton Jakarta.

Day 14: International flights or extensions
Meals provided: B

DEPARTURES

The Banda Islands are part of our Heart of the Coral Triangle departure Sept 30 – Oct 13, 2025←Click to request a booking
Accommodations:
Guides:
Length:

Prices and Payment schedule:
$ USD per person, double occupancy
$ USD per person, single occupancy

Reservation deposit: $500 USD
March 30, 2024: $ USD
June 30, 2024: $ USD / $ single

Tour cost includes:

• Accommodations on day 1 through day 14
• All meals on days 2 through 13 (dinner on day 1 – breakfast on day 14)
• All internal transfers including international arrival and departure transfers
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• All snorkeling and park fees
• All gratuities

Tour cost does not include:

• Round-trip international airfare
• Additional hotel accommodations and meals as a result of travel outside of the program dates
• Visa requirements including payments
• Alcoholic beverages
• International departure taxes
• Extra / overweight baggage fees
• Trip insurance (recommended; (we recommend Travel Guard, World Nomads, or Travel Insure)
• DAN insurance (required unless personal insurance program has worldwide emergency evacuation services)
• Additional accommodations while on tour in the event of flight schedule changes or events of force majeure
• Fuel surcharges (if applicable)

Cancellation policy:
180 – 91 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
90 days or less prior to departure: 100% of tour cost

Please see our Terms and Conditions