Moluccas: North-Halmahera Discovery Tour

ALSO POSSIBLE AS INDIVIDUAL TRIPS, e.g. FOR DIVERS:

Are you actually in the region for diving, but would like to get an impression of the country and its culture & nature while you are here? No problem :-)

You are welcome to book day 2, days 3&4 or day 5 of this tour as a single trip individually and independantly of each other. We take care of your transfer from & to your dive resort.

Day 1: Arrival Ternate - Halmahera

• Arrived at Ternate's Sultan Babullah Airport, your personal guide will give you a warm welcome and accompany you from here to Halmahera.
• The journey will take you via a waterway and then overland to the northern part of Halmahera. On the way in the car, you can already absorb some of the flair of the island. As you will start immediately after your arrival in Ternate, you will reach your accommodation, a small local beach cottage resort (Kupa-Kupa Resort), in Halmahera in the afternoon.
• Very simple lunch at local restaurant en route (not included).
• Once you have arrived at your destination, you can use the afternoon and evening in your beach cottage resort (city hotel also possible on request (Greenland Hotel in Tobelo)) to relax from the exertions of the long journey.
• Dinner at beach cottage resort (not included)

Day 2: Tobelo Market, Waterfall, Lake Duma & Snorkeling

• After a leisurely breakfast (included) you start your day. Your tour guide will accompany you.
• First, we go to the market of Tobelo, where you can get an impression of the regional culinary offer. Get to know new exotic fruits (e.g. Sirsak fruit) and let the aromatic scents of the spices work their magic on you. What a wonderful attunement to the strange that awaits you!
• We continue to a great vantage point from which a wonderful panorama spreads out in front of you, consisting of extensive palm groves, the Halmahera Sea and the offshore island world - a wonderful picture-book backdrop, into which you will delve more deeply during the course of your tour.
• In order to get to the next stop of today's trip, you will now hike a bit through the jungle and cross a river on foot. Be prepared. At the end you will be rewarded with the sight of an enchanting waterfall, the gush of which comes to rest in a small lake, where you can swim. Feel cordially invited to accept this offer. So don't forget your swimming suit!
• Afterwards you have the opportunity to walk around the nearby lake with your guide and have your lunch there (not included) with a view of the lake landscape.
• Afterwards we go to 'Little Raja Ampat', a small offshore island world with island dots that are reminiscent of the real Raja Ampat. Get inspired here.
• You will end the day on a popular white sandy beach that offers great snorkeling opportunities that you should not miss.
• Lunch (not included)
• Dinner at beach cottage (not included)

Day 3: Dukono Volcano (Alternatively: Jungle tour with birdwatching and survival lessons, overnight stay in tent)

• Today is all about a real adventure. Today you will embark on a volcano tour of Gunung Dukono.
• After a leisurely breakfast, you start preparing and pack the necessities for the trip, including any purchases (not included), in order to be well prepared for the 24 hours away from civilization. Your tour guide will also give you a briefing so that you know what to expect and what is important when you climb Gunung Api, the mountain of fire.
• After lunch at your accommodation (not included) it's time to get going. The mountain calls.
• After about an hour's drive, it's about a four-hour walk to your base camp, where you'll pitch your tent for the night.
• With a simple, rustic local dinner - based on your morning purchases - you will end the evening in front of your pitched tent in the middle of the bizarre volcanic landscape that surrounds you.
   

IMPORTANT:

Your guide will decide the morning of the volcano climb based on the current prevailing weather conditions, whether the volcano tour can be carried out according to the program. If the weather conditions do not allow this, today's program can be swapped with the activities planned for day 5.

-> Instead of the volcano tour, you can - in general - also do a jungle tour with birdwatching and survival lessons be performed.

Day 4: Volcano mountain Dukono & beach cottage resort (Alternative: Jungle tour with birdwatching and survival lessons)

• Today you will exceptionally be on your feet before sunrise, because you have to walk up to the rim of the crater for about 1 hour.
• The closer you get to the crater rim, the more you will hear a deafening roar - the voice of the Dukono.
• Arriving at the edge of the crater, you have the unique opportunity to take a look inside this imposing volcano and to view the natural spectacle of volcanic activity up close. We expressly recommend wearing eye protection and a breathing mask. Please also follow the instructions of your tour guide.
• You have enough time here to get involved in this unique experience and to capture it in your souvenir photos.
• Afterwards it goes back to the base camp for a good breakfast - according to your purchases from the previous day.
• Now it's time to pack, pitch the tents and head back to your beach cottage resort, which you'll arrive around noon. On the way you will still have the opportunity to free yourself from the collected ash particles in a nearby river.
• Lunch will be served at Strand Cottage Resort (not included).
• The afternoon is at your free disposal.
• Dinner at the resort (not included)

Day 5: Halmahera's WWII History and Relax & Snorkel Pawole Island

• After a good, leisurely breakfast in your accommodation (included), your guide will accompany you a little way into the past; into WWII history of Halmahera to be precise, as the island was - much like Morotai - a hotly contested area at the time. There are still numerous relics of the war around the area of Tobelo, such as several bunkers, one with even with zwo halls and a 15 m long corridor, as well as cannons, which are still in good condition. 
• Follow in the footsteps of the Japanese occupiers of Halmahera and get an overview over the remains of the mysterious tunnel systems and hidden bunkers that wartime had produced.
• Then it's back to the here & now and on to the island of Pawole. There, you will have your packed lunch (not included), which your tour guide has previously organized for you.
• The rest of the day is at leisure to read, relax, swim, snorkel, enjoy the island scenery or just do nothing.
•  In the late afternoon you are back in your accommodation.
• Lunch/packed lunch (not included)
• Dinner at your beach cottage resort (not included)

Day 6: Farewell Halmahera & return to Ternate island

• After a leisurely breakfast (included) in your accommodation, you will pack your things and your guide will accompany you on your return journey.  By speedboat you will go to the volcanic island of Ternate and continue by car to your accommodation there.
• Lunch in a simple restaurant on the way (not included)
• In the afternoon you arrive at your destination and check into your hotel.
• Dinner at accommodation (not included)

Day 7: Return journey/ connecting programme

• After breakfast, your guide will accompany you to Ternate's airport or one of the island's harbours, from where you can start your return journey or your follow-up programme for the next discovery tour