Day 1: Journey & Arrival in Ternate

• Upon arrival in Ternate, your accommodation's driver will greet you warmly and accompany you to your accommodation, the lovely Villa MaRasai in the south of the island of Ternate.
• You can use the rest of the day to arrive and relax.
• Dinner at your accommodation.
• Accommodation: Villa MaRasai.
   

Day 2: Crossing to Halmahera, Mt. Ibu Impressions and Lake Todoke (B, L, D)

• After a good breakfast at Villa MaRasai, your tour guide will welcome you and get your tour underway. Together you head first to the harbour. From there, you cross to the island of Halmahera by ferry (approx. 2 hours), followed by a drive by car towards the Mt. Ibu district (approx. 3 hours).
• Along the way, you will have the opportunity to make the odd photo stop, for example to take a look at a traditional house of the Sahu people, a dragon fruit plantation or, if visibility allows, to take a 'picture-book photo' of the distant Mt. Gamkonora.
• Lunch is served at a small, simple local restaurant along the way.
• You stop in a small village very close to the foot of the Ibu volcano. From here, you already have a first impressive view of the active volcano Mt. Ibu, whose eruptions will accompany you over the next two days.
• Afterwards, you continue on your way: an approximately 2-hour hike leads you to the beautiful crater lake Todoke – a peaceful, remote body of water in the middle of Halmahera's jungle.
• You spend the evening around the campfire at your tent camp, watching the fascinating natural spectacle of Mt. Ibu's nocturnal eruptions in the darkness – an unforgettable sight.
• By now it is afternoon and you begin setting up your tent camp right on the shore of Lake Todoke.
• Before dinner, you have the chance to wash away the exertions of your journey in the clear lake water. A refreshing dip in the lake is most welcome!
• Now it is time to prepare dinner.
• You will let the evening fade away in front of a picture-book backdrop and a campfire.
• Overnight stay in tent.
   

Day 3: From Lake Todoke Through the Jungle to the Wailamoko River (B, L, D)

• After a simple breakfast, it is time to take down the tents and pack the rucksacks. Today's trek takes you on an approximately 4-hour hike through the dense rainforest of Halmahera to the Wailamoko River – a varied march through pristine nature, where you can soak up the silence of the forest, the sound of the water and the calls of the birds. Let us know if you need a break in between. It is your tour, and it is tailored to your needs.
• Lunch is served along the way.
• At the Wailamoko River you set up your next tent camp – an idyllic setting framed by the sound of the flowing water.
• If you feel like it, you can explore the surroundings of your tent camp to become familiar with the flora and fauna around you. If you simply want to rest and relax, that is no problem either. Do keep your eyes and ears open, though, as you may be able to hear, and perhaps even see, Wallace's Standardwing, Halmahera's bird-of-paradise, named after Alfred Russel Wallace. It likes tall trees, in whose upper branches it prefers to perform its beautiful display, its dance.
• Dinner at the campsite.
• Overnight stay in tent.
   

Day 4: Wailamoko River – Lake Peke (B, L, D)

• Following the morning song of the feathered forest dwellers, you gradually wake up and witness how the sunlight slowly sends its warm rays through the trees, and your surroundings fill up with life bit by bit.
• Perhaps you take a refreshing morning dip in the river or a short walk through the scenery around you. Either way, you are warmly invited to be part of nature, to take in the scents and sounds alike and let them work their effect on you. Enjoy the moment in the here and now :-)
• A simple but fortifying breakfast will give you the energy for the next part of your tour.
• After taking down the tent camp, you continue straight on. Around 4 hours of trekking through untouched rainforest bring you today to Lake Peke – a large, mysterious forest lake with a soft bed, hidden deep in the interior of Halmahera. Most likely you will be the only ones out here, and will only need to share this rather secluded spot with its feathered guests.
• Once camp is set up, you have time to explore the lake and its surroundings. Keep your eyes open: this remote forest area is home to deer, which with a little luck – and the right call – can be lured down to the water's edge. What a wonderful accompaniment to an intense outdoor experience :-)
• You will have lunch and dinner here at the campsite.
• And as you let the day's experiences pass in review around the campfire, the day draws to a close, letting the nocturnal inhabitants of the area have their say once more until complete silence finally falls.
• Overnight stay in tent.
   

Day 5: Lake Peke – Wako Forest (B, L, D)

• With your morning routine now well established, you start into your day.
• Today the longest stage of the trek so far awaits you: around 5 hours of trekking takes you deeper into the forest until you reach the Wako Forest.
• There, an open viewpoint awaits you in the middle of the forest – a traditional hunting ground of the local population, offering wide views across the forest canopy and the surrounding woodland landscape.
• This open area is an excellent spot for birdwatching: make the most of the quiet evening hours to experience the diversity of the local bird life. Halmahera is one of the most species-rich birding areas in Indonesia, and there are numerous endemic species here, birds found only on this island. Let yourself be surprised by who settles down near you, as a kind of onlooker :-)
• As tomorrow is again marked by a long tour, it is advisable not to end today too late.
• Lunch and dinner at the campsite.
• Overnight stay in tent.
   

Day 6: Wako Forest – Soakonora Forest

• Well rested and full of energy, you start the last big stage of your trek today.
• After a hearty breakfast, your path takes you around 5 hours through the forest until you reach your base camp in the Soakonora Forest. The Soakonora Forest is considered one of the most wildlife-rich and bird-rich forest areas on Halmahera, home to around 100 bird species, including some 50 endemic species. You will arrive there around midday and, after lunch, first rest for a while.
• In the afternoon, you are warmly invited to take a trip to the impressive Subi-Subungi Waterfall – a rewarding detour that makes up for the exertions of the past days.
• Afterwards you return to the base camp, where you can end the evening with a nourishing meal by firelight and to the hum of cicadas.
• For the first time, you spend the night not in a tent but in a simple room at the base camp – a well-earned rest after five exciting days in the wilderness of Halmahera.
• Overnight stay at the same place.
   

Day 7: Soakonora – Tobelo (B)

• The last morning begins quietly with a cup of tea, before you head out to a geothermal area with vigorous mud volcano activity – an impressive geological spectacle and a fitting finale to your days in the jungle. Afterwards you return to the base camp, where you have a cosy though rather simple breakfast before it is time to pack up and set off.
• The return journey to Tobelo begins adventurously by Viar three-wheeled motorbike to the nearest village of Soakonora, and then continues by private car to Tobelo, where you check into your hotel for the night – warm shower, soft bed and well-deserved rest included.
• Lunch along the way.
• Dinner at a restaurant in Tobelo.
• Overnight stay at a hotel in Tobelo, e.g. Marahai Hotel.
   

Day 8: Return to Ternate (B)

• After a relaxed but not too late breakfast, it is time to check out, as today your transfer back to Ternate is on the agenda, which will take some time.
• But before you start your return journey, you still have the chance to visit the local market of Tobelo, where you can get an overview of the interesting local offerings.
• You now have an approximately 7-hour journey by car, speedboat and car again ahead of you, on which you can soak up plenty of local colour once more and will have opportunities for further photo stops.
• Lunch is served at a local eatery along the way.
• In the late afternoon, you reach your beautiful accommodation in Ternate, where you can rest and relax for the remainder of the day.
• Dinner at your accommodation.
• Overnight stay at Villa MaRasai.
   

Day 9: Ascent of Volcano Mt. Gamalama or Ternate Tour (B)

Gamalama Tour

• After breakfast at your accommodation, your guide takes you out on another interesting exploration. Today you have the opportunity to climb the slopes of Ternate's 'house mountain', Gunung Gamalama, which is still an active volcano today, although its volcanic activity has been very subdued for many years. Plan for a full day out, as the route takes you through uneven and steep terrain.
• Packed lunch on request.
• Dinner and overnight stay at Villa MaRasai.

A word of caution:
Poor weather conditions such as heavy rain or strong wind can make ascending the mountain impossible, as rain and wind-direction-dependent ash cloud movement can impair visibility and trail conditions.

Bad weather alternative: Ternate Tour

• After a good breakfast, your Ternate tour begins. You will get an overview of the island's most important highlights, including lakes and fortresses. Fascinating insights into the island's rich history accompany you alongside impressive views. We will also introduce you to the remarkable naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who spent time in the Moluccas – particularly on Ternate and Halmahera – and who independently of Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution, known in Ternate as his 'Letter from Ternate'.
• Lunch along the way.
• Dinner at Villa MaRasai.
   

Day 10: Journey Home / Onward Journey (B)

• After an early breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to Ternate.
• Your hotel's driver now takes you to the airport, where you will begin your journey home or onward – no doubt packed full of memories.

We hope you enjoyed it and would be delighted to welcome you again as our guests – Sampai jumpa :-)