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A traditional sailing boat with red sails on calm water among the green islands of Raja Ampat

Sample journey · 12–15 days

The reefs of Raja Ampat, the nutmeg of Banda

Sorong, Raja Ampat & Pianemo, Ambon, Banda Neira & the Gunung Api volcano

Photo: Johnny Africa / Unsplash

Illustrative journey ideas — not bookable packages. No prices, dates or accommodation are implied.

If Bali and Komodo are already familiar, this journey goes further east, to a place where the sea matters more than the land. In Raja Ampat, hundreds of forested islets rise from water that hides some of the richest coral reefs on earth. The days are simple: an early swim with a mask, a boat to another bay, lunch on a wooden deck over the water and evenings when all you hear is the surf and the birds.

The second half is the Banda Islands, a small volcanic archipelago in the Banda Sea. This is where the story of nutmeg began, the spice that sent European ships halfway around the world, and the walls of colonial forts still speak of what it cost. It is a journey for experienced, curious travellers who don't mind irregular flights and simple stays. The pace, the style of stays and how much time goes to the water would all be shaped around you.

The route

The journey

  1. Sorong
  2. Raja Ampat
  3. Pianemo
  4. Ambon
  5. Banda Neira
  6. Ambon
  1. A wooden canoe in clear green water off a beach with thatched huts, Raja Ampat

    01Days 1–3 · Sorong & Raja Ampat

    To the edge of the reef

    The journey from Lithuania via European and Indonesian airports is long, so it is often worth resting a night in Jakarta or Makassar before the flight to Sorong. From there a fast ferry runs to Waisai, the gateway to Raja Ampat, and a boat takes you on to the island where you'll stay. That might be a simple family-run homestay on stilts over the water or a small eco-lodge. The first day is simply for catching your breath: from the steps of the deck, straight into clear water.

  2. A manta ray gliding above a coral reef in blue water

    02Days 4–6 · The Dampier Strait

    Another world below the surface

    The days revolve around the water. For divers, there are coral-covered seamounts and sites known for their currents; for snorkellers, shallow reefs right beside the islands are just as colourful. With luck, manta rays may visit their cleaning stations, though nothing in nature is guaranteed. Afternoons could be spent kayaking among the mangroves, and at dawn you might go looking for birds of paradise in the forest with a local guide.

  3. The karst islets of Pianemo and its viewpoint seen from above, Raja Ampat

    03Days 7–8 · Pianemo

    The islets from above

    One longer day by boat to Pianemo, where wooden steps climb to a viewpoint above a maze of karst islets. The view is familiar from photographs, but in person it is the scale that surprises: turquoise channels, green domed rocks and silence. The trip depends on the sea, so the exact day is chosen locally. Those who'd like more time on the water could spend this part of the journey aboard a boat with a handful of cabins, moving between the islands.

  4. Ambon city and its bay in golden light before sunset

    04Days 9–10 · Ambon

    The Moluccan capital

    A flight to Ambon, the heart of the Moluccas. A day or two here offers a rest from boats and time to prepare for the road ahead: a walk through the market, fragrant with cloves and smoked fish, a taste of papeda, sago porridge served with fish soup, and sunset over Ambon Bay. Small planes or fast boats continue to the Banda Islands, but their schedules are irregular, so this day also works as a buffer.

  5. The landscape of Banda Neira: green shores, calm water and a cloudy sky

    05Days 11–13 · Banda Neira

    An island that empires fought over

    Banda Neira is a small town of colonial villas, the pentagonal Fort Belgica on the hill and a harbour through which nutmeg once travelled. The history here is not simply romantic: in the 17th century the Dutch East India Company, seeking a monopoly on spice, brutally devastated the islands' people. On neighbouring Lonthor you can walk through nutmeg groves shaded by tall canarium trees with a local guide, and take a boat to Run, the island the English traded for Manhattan in 1667.

  6. A cone-shaped volcano above turquoise water, framed by palm fronds in the Banda Islands

    06Days 14–15 · Gunung Api & the way back

    The volcano across the harbour

    The Gunung Api volcano rises directly across the harbour from Banda Neira. Fit, early-rising travellers can climb it with a guide; the path is steep and loose, so it isn't for everyone. For others, snorkelling beside the old lava flow, where coral has recolonised the rock over a few decades, is just as memorable. Then it's back to Ambon and the flights home, with time in hand in case weather or schedules change.

Experience highlights

  1. 01

    Nights above the reef

    A simple stilted homestay or a small eco-lodge, where you step into the water straight from the deck.

  2. 02

    The Pianemo viewpoint

    Wooden steps above a maze of karst islets: one of Raja Ampat's best-known views.

  3. 03

    Nutmeg groves on Lonthor

    A walk with a local guide among the nutmeg trees whose fruit was once worth more than gold.

  4. 04

    Coral on the lava

    Snorkelling beside Gunung Api's lava flow, where the reef has regrown on young rock within a few decades.

First, we listen. Then, we explore what's possible.

Make it your own

  • Aboard rather than ashore

    Spend the Raja Ampat part aboard a boat with a handful of cabins, reaching further archipelagos such as Misool or Wayag when the season allows.

  • More time for diving

    Experienced divers could add days in Raja Ampat or the Banda Islands; in that case the gap between the last dive and the flight needs to be planned.

  • Slower and simpler

    Skip the Pianemo day and stay longer on one island, keeping the Banda part to a few quiet days in Banda Neira.

  • With other islands

    For a quiet finish before the journey home, a few days on Bali, reached via Makassar or Jakarta.

Practical considerations

  • In Raja Ampat the sea is usually calmer from around October to April, while in the Banda Islands the shoulder months tend to be most comfortable; conditions vary year to year, so dates are chosen with both regions in mind.
  • Flights and boats to the Banda Islands are irregular and can be cancelled, so the route keeps buffer days and flexible connections.
  • A local conservation fee is charged for visiting Raja Ampat; we would confirm the current arrangements before travel.
  • Stays in both regions are simple, and electricity and internet can be limited. For vaccinations and health advice, it's worth speaking to a doctor or travel clinic well in advance.

General guidance only. Seasons, weather and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

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