Ora Beach: Hidden Paradise of Central Maluku

As the country with the second longest coastline in the world, Indonesia is home to countless beautiful beaches, and has won numerous awards for such. One of these beaches is Ora Beach, carefully hidden away on the North Coast of Seram Island. An exotic and extremely remote destination, Ora beach is perfect for Eco-travellers and honeymooners alike. A row of cozy, wooden cottages line the sandy, white beaches, overlooking the crystal clear waters of Sawai Bay, and with a backdrop of limestone cliffs and majestic mountains, covered in lush, tropical greenery. Seram island is most famous for its abundant bird life. Of 117 species found on the island, 14 are endemic to Seram.

Seram is the largest island in the Maluku province, measuring approximately 16,000 square kilometers, yet is home to a population of only about 170,000. It lies just north of the smaller and more historically renowned island of Ambon. Maluku Province is located between Indonesia’s larger islands of Sulawesi and Papua. Seram’s geographic location amidst several tectonic plates, gives the island a remarkably complex terrain. A central mountain range runs across the island, its highest mountain, Gunung Binaya, peaking at just over 3,000 meters. The island is covered mostly in dense, tropical rain forests, bordered on one side by towering cliffs and the other by sandy white beaches, and finally encircled by a crystal blue sea.

source : http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/927/-ora-beach

The Banda Islands: Eastern Indonesia's Best Kept Secret

Since the first century AD, the Banda islands have been the sole producers of the fragrant nutmeg and mace for which Chinese, Indian, and Arab ships traveled across the seas. These precious spices could be sold at enormous profit in foreign markets.

The people of Banda thrived on their natural resources, but in later years suffered at the hands of Dutch colonizers who wanted to dominate the world’s spice trade.
Despite such a big reputation, the fabled Banda islands are only a tiny cluster of islands, composed of three large islands and seven smaller ones. The islands are perched on the rim of Indonesia's deepest underwater gorge, the Banda Sea, where waters can reach depths of over 6,500 meters.

Two of the biggest islands, Banda Besar and Naira, are covered with nutmeg trees. The third island, Gunung Api or ‘peak of fire’, is an active volcano that emerges from the deep in a perfect cone, and is entirely rugged and highly volcanic. In the waters surrounding these islands you’ll find some of the world’s most spectacular marine gardens, with bright corals and colorful fish, bustling through the crystal-clear waters, making it suitable for diving, snorkeling or even simply sightseeing.

Lying about 132 kilometers southeast of Ambon, the islands are a remote and exquisitely beautiful part of Indonesia. With multi-colored reefs, warm seas and exotic marine life, the Banda’s are a haven for divers who come from around the world to explore some of the most remote and unspoiled dive sites in the world.

Today, Banda attracts divers, sailors and cruise ships from around the world by its sheer natural beauty, both above as below the sea, which can only be matched by Raja Ampat, Papua; another location for ultimate underwater adventures.

The Banda Islands are one of the Indonesia’s most popular destinations for divers. Both experts and beginner divers will enjoy themselves here, as the diving spots vary from the shallow lagoon between Bandaneira and Gunung Api, to the vertical walls of Hatta Island. Wherever you go here, you’ll discover stunning tropical scenery, a remarkable history, friendly locals, and some of the globe's most pristine, biologically diverse coral reefs.

Scuba diving is still relatively new here, but pioneering divers didn't have to work hard to find a thrill. The undersea world around Ambon and the nearby island of Saparua have top-rate dive sites. As you explore beneath the surface you’ll see everything from sharks, enormous turtles, schools of Napoleon Wrasse, giant groupers, dogtooth tuna, mobula rays, redtooth triggerfish, various species of whales, spinner dolphins, and huge lobsters - neighbors to generous schools of reef fish and endemic Ambon scorpionfish.

Come to Banda islands and visit the best kept secret in Eastern Indonesia. While flights here are not frequent, it’s worth the wait. For this ideal tropical paradise won’t remain deserted for long.

source : http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/403/the-banda-islands

Gili Terawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air: Ideal Tropical Islands Getaway

White sandy beaches. Tropical coral reefs. Warm inviting waters. All this awaits you on the Gili islands.  And with no cars, no motorbikes and no distractions other than beautiful tropical island scenery, the Gili islands off the northwest coast of Lombok are truly an ideal destination for a tropical getaway.

Offering spectacular reefs and ominous dive sites like Shark reef, the Gili islands are the perfect escape for anyone wanting to get away to beautiful, natural and relaxing surrounds. This is why these islands have become a popular destination for Western tourists looking for a remote island experience.

For divers and snorkelers, there are few places better than the Gili’s where you can get up close to all kinds of marine life including a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in all its glory. Swim up and watch this graceful creature glide through the ocean. You should be able to spot these turtles at depths of 10-20 meter below sea level.

The Gilis consist of three islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air. In local Sasak language, "Gili" means "island". In the Indonesian language, plural is denoted by repeating a noun. So "Gili Gili" literally means "islands”.

Renowned for friendly locals and superb natural beauty, each of the island’s are well prepared for tourists. Gili Trewangan is the largest and most popular of the three islands. It has a vibrant nightlife to keep you entertained once the sun goes down. With a wide collection of restaurants and bars, you’ll never be short of entertainment here.

If you're after a quiet getaway, try Gili Meno or Gili Air. Gili Air is closest to the mainland and is the most populated of the Gili’s. Gili Meno is the smallest island and, with only a few hundred permanent residents, it has the most remote feel to it.  

The Gili islands are easily reached by speedboat from Senggigi, taking only some 20 minutes boat ride. Many tourists also travel direct to Gili Trawangan by ferry that leaves Bali daily from Serangan or Padang Bai. (for details check: www.bluewater-express.com)

Travel on the islands are only by bike or “cidomo” the small horse-drawn carts taking 3 persons per ride. No motorized vehicles are allowed here. 

 There are plenty of hotels and restaurants built in keeping with the islands’ homely village atmosphere.

Source: http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/241/gili-terawangan-gili-meno-and-gili-air-ideal-tropical-islands-getaway

Arborek Tourism Village, Raja Ampat

The village of Arborek is fast rising as a pioneer among the 18 beautiful villages in West Papua that have embarked on developing local regulations for community-based marine conservation, For this,  the village of Arborek has gained an outstanding reputation among both the local authority and international community. With the assistance of the national and local government, from research centers, and non-government organizations, the local people have succeeded in formulating local regulations, naming their conservation region the Mambarayup and Indip.

Finding underwater beauty is not so difficult here.  Along the Arborek pier, divers can simply plunge into the water and instantly find a most intriguing illumination of the glittering of a gorgonian fan just below the surface. People in Arborek are hospitable and very industrious, creating exceptional handicrafts from sea pandan leaves to make the most of their time each day. Arborek is fascinating both underwater and in the village.

Known as the Arborek Tourism Village, the community is known for its handicraft in making hats and noken (string bags). Unlike most women in other villages who also give a hand to their husbands as fishermen, nearly all mothers in this village produce handicrafts for a living. Although they are convinced that catching lobsters and work in pearl agro-production are much more profitable, yet they feel that handicraft is more distinguished and more graceful work for women. This is a village worth visiting. Only one and half hours from Waisai, Raja Ampat’s capital, the village of Arborek is awaiting visitors from around the world.

Source : http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/126/arborek-tourism-village-raja-ampat

Wayag Island, Raja Ampat: The Ultimate Underwater Beauty

Wayag Island is one of the islands within the Raja Ampat district in the province of West Papua, Indonesia. The island is known for its beautiful atolls and amazing underwater life covering a total area of 155,000 hectares (about 383,013.3 acres).

Here, you find pristine beaches with unique Karst islands that look like mushrooms sprouting out from the sea. Along these beaches, tourists can see fairy tale panorama, more captivating than Leonardo DiCaprio’s getaway in “The Beach”. The crystal clear waters around Wayag Island appear like unreal windows to various types of flora and fauna that live underwater.

Wayag Island never ceases to amaze. Divers, especially, have been overwhelmed not only by the rich underwater displays, but also by the panoramic beauty of the island as they climb up to its highest platform and observe coves and atolls around. It is a dream come true, truly a dream fulfilled.

The island is 10 km north of the equator. Liveaboards are the best choice for travelers with a love for adventure and romance. Social contacts with other travelers will only be a call away. Dive briefings are enriching, so that just being there with other divers and the exotic looking staff, you will feel as if you are already drawn into the depths of Wayag’s surreal beauty

 Source : http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/83/wayag-island-raja-ampat

Sempu Island

Leave all the conveniences of the modern world behind, cross the strait between concrete structures and extraordinary woods, venture into a world of natural splendor, and gaze upon some of the most mystifying sceneries on the face of the earth :  those are what  the secluded Sempu Island has to offer.

Situated on the south coast of Malang Regency in East Java and administratively located in the Tambak Rejo Village, Sumbermanjing Wetan Sub-District, this small island lies just off the coast of Sendang Biru Beach, approximately 80 Km from Malang city or about 180 Km from the capital of East Java, Surabaya. The 877 hectares forested island is a Nature Reserve under the management of the Natural Resources Conservation Office of East Java (BBKSDA) and the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia, and was actually designated a Nature Reserve since 1928 in the Dutch Colonial period.

Among the island’s most fascinating features is the Segara Anakan lagoon located about 2.5Km further south into the island. Hidden deep beyond the thick tropical forest, the approximately 4 hectares lagoon is truly a secluded paradise where a white sandy beach meets calm blue waters separated from the raging tides of the open ocean by a picturesque rocky wall surrounding the area. The incoming tides penetrate only through several caves above and below the surface, thus the water inside the lagoon remains calm, and makes a perfect place for swimming. Its secluded location also radiates a sense of intimacy, where the beach becomes a private getaway, not unlike the setting for the 2000 Leonardo Di Caprio’s Movie “The Beach”.

Adventure awaits  those who wish to explore Sempu Island and reach the Segara Anakan Lagoon. Cross the straits from Sendang Biru Beach on the mainland to the Teluk Semut (Ant Bay) at Sempu Island. From here, the journey continues over a trekking path for about two hours through quite thick forest with several ascending and descending tracks,  before one reaches the secluded lagoon. While the trip may not be an easy walk, the grand price that awaits at the finish line is more than just worth it. Boats and guide services are available at the Sendang Biru Beach area.

Sempu Island also has other fascinating spots which offer equal splendors including the Waru-waru beach, Telaga Lele (Catfish Lake, a fresh water lake named after the many catfish found within), Tiger Cave,  Pasir Panjang Beach (Long sand Beach), Pasir Kembar Beach (Twin sands beach), Fresh Water Beach (named after a fresh water spring on the rocks near the beach), and Telaga Sat (Dry Lake).

As a Nature Reserve, Sempu Island has various types of ecosystems  ranging from coastal forest, mangroves, and lowland tropical forest which dominates the whole island. Among the vegetation found on Sempu Island are bendo (Artocarpus elasticus), triwulan (Terminalia), wadang (Pterocarpus javanicus), ketapang (Terminalia catappa), waru laut (Hibiscus tiliaceus), pandan (Pandanus tectorius), Mangroves (Rhizophora mucronata and Rhizophora apiculata), and many more. Interestingly, the name Sempu is said to have been taken from a particular type of tree that is found in the island, however, the tree can hardly be found these days.

The Nature Reserve is also home to several wildlife inhabitants such as:  the Javanese Monkey (Tracypithecus auratus), Black Monkeys (Presbitis cristata pyrrha) , Grey Macaques  (Macaca fascicularis), wild boar (Sus sp), deer (Muntiacus muntjak), kancil/small deer (Tragulus javanicus), Prawn (Alcedo athis), belodok fish (Periopthalmus sp), crab (Ocypoda stimsoni), and many more. There are also several types of reptiles including giant lizards and snakes and also several types of birds that find shelter on the island.

Pantai Kondang Iwak

 Lokasi Pantai Kondang Iwak tersembunyi di deretan pesisir selatan Malang. Meski telah tersedia akses berupa macadam yang cukup rata, tapi jarang wisatawan yang mengunjungi pantai yang memiliki hamparan pasir lembut yang luas ini. Pantai ini berada di sekitar  Desa Tulungrejo, Kecamatan Donomulyo, Kabupaten Malang.  Sebagai tambahan, di depan pantai ini terdapat laguna yang memanjang sekaligus sebagai muara di ujungnya apabila air pasang, membentuk seperti danau apabila surut, dengan kanan-kiri tebing karang sepanjang danau.Kondang Iwak ini juga bisa berarti banyak ikan menurut warga sekitar.

Pantai ini memiliki panorama pemandangan hamparan pantai luas dengan perpaduan pasir putih dan pasir besi. Pengunjung juga disuguhkan dua buah pulau bernama Pulau Lawang yang berarti pulau pintu.
Jika puas bermain di tepi pantai, pengunjung bisa berjalan menyusuri pantai ke arah barat menuju muara sungai air payau Kondang Iwak. Biasanya pada akhir pekan banyak wisatawan sengaja memancing hingga bermalam dengan mendirikan tenda.

Balekambang Beach

balekambang beach

The beach possessing three islands with distance of about one hundred meters each, two of which have been connected with one meter-wide bridge to the shore, Balekambang offers a different atmosphere of beach resorts in the Southern part of Malang. One of the three islands called Ismoyo island has a Hindu temple, established by local Hinduists.
Annually, the ritual and traditional ceremonies Jalanidhipuja (Hindu ceremony) and Suran (Javanese New Year ceremony) are held here every year. The parking area, stalls, inns, souvenir shops, and the others tourism facilities has provided for the visitors. This beautiful beach is located at Srigonco village, Bantur district, about 57 km away to the south from Malang and accessible by public transportation.
Visit Balekambang Beach tourism and enjoy its wonderfull waves with softe sea wind. Watch the sunset and sunrise in this beach and do some of beach activities, such as; swimming, sun bathing, fishing, etc.

balekambang sunset

beautiful beach

World's Best Surfing at G-Land

Indonesia is a country with some of the worlds best surf spots and there are none that are better than Plengkung beach at Grajagan, East Java. Nicknamed by surfers as the ‘gland’ or G-land  – the surf here consistently produces some of the best and most well known waves in the world.

Set amongst picturesque jungle surrounds, prepare for an exhilirating experience surfing world class waves. The beach is located on the edge of a national park rich in exotic flora and fauna – the ideal scenic background to your surfing odyssey.

The internationally renowned waves at this beach are famous for their extremely long length of tube time. The long perfect barrels are the stuff surfers dreams are made of. The beach is divided into three sections, Kongs, Money Tree and Speedies. Money Tree is Grajagan’s premier wave.

Despite it’s popularity in the surfing community, accomodation around Grajagan remains good value with cheap losmen and basic cottages dotted about the place.


This is one of the only places in all of Java that has such excellent surfing. In season, Grajagan probably has the most consistently rideable waves in the world. The surf here though is demanding and only recommended for professional surfers.

For more details on Grajagan Surfing, visit: www.grajagan.com.au

Karimunjawa Island

The Karimunjawa archipelago is situated in the Java Sea, 45 nautical miles away from Jepara Regency and 60 Nautical miles from Semarang, the capital city of Central Java Province. Karimunjawa is known for its amazing fringing coral reefs, diving sites, and sandy beaches. The reefs are a combination of fringing, barrier, and patch with bottom depths ranging from 15 to 40 meters.

Karimunjawa archipelago consists of 27 islands scattered along the Java Sea. Five of them, namely Karimunjawa, Kemujan, Parang, Nyamuk and Genting, are inhabited. The area is 111,625 acres in width, consists of 7,033 acres of land and 104,592 acres of water; Most of the islands are untouched and beautiful, where visitors can indulge in diving, fishing and sunbathing.


Some islands are formed by coral reefs and covered with a sand layer. The coast is mostly overgrown with mangrove and other marine plants. The ecosystems, consists of five types: coral reef, sea grass and seaweed, mangrove forest, coastal forest and low land tropical rain forest, offering maritime tourism object and natural adventure. Due to its unique and natural marine life, the islands are conserved and declared as a National Marine Park.

The most interesting tourism object in these islands is the marine area, there are more than 30 dive sites across Karimunjawa Marine National Park. There are shallow dive sites with weak or even without currents for beginners, as well as the deep ones with strong currents for more advanced divers suitable for all levels of divers, from beginners to experienced ones. Interested divers can also explore several shipwrecks of old merchant ships at various depths.

The most famous marine tourism area in the archipelago is Menyawakan Island; it is a good place
for snorkeling, ringed by a beautiful coral reef like the other islands in Karimun Jawa. The water around this resort island is so clean and the reef is clearly visible from the surface. Visitors may find an awesome experience snorkeling around the island floating and following the current around to see abundant of colorful coral reef, coral fishes and other underwater species live here. The shallow and clear water around the islands allows visitors to watch under water living from the surface using glass bottomed boat. Or visitors may just spend the time by doing other water-sports such as fishing, sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, and jet skiing around the island.

Another interesting activity here is feed and play with white tip shark at the conservation pond in Menjangan Kecil Island, there is a shark breeding site where 0.5 to 2 meters young sharks swim around freely. Another breeding site is in the Floating Cottage; a wooden Cottage that floats on a breeding area of white sharks. While on the white sandy beaches of Menjangan Besar Island and Cemara Kecil visitors can find perfect locations forsunbathing.



Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the islands is from April through November. It can also be visited from December through March, but due to the rainy season, visitors may experience stronger winds and bigger waves. The most comfortable time to visit the Karimunjawa is from April to July and September to November because of the calm water and wind.

How to Get There
From Jakarta, Karimunjawa can be reached by domestic flights served by Garuda Airways, Mandala Airlines, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air and Batavia Air to Semarang. And then from Semarang there are two options to reach Karimunjawa; using plane or speed boat. Visitors may use chartered flight from Ahmad Yani Airport or KMC KARTINI I speed boat from Tanjung Mas Harbor. Approximately it needs 3 hours sailing from Semarang to Karimunjawa by boat.
Beside the two options above there is public ferry KMP Muria departs from Kartini Harbor Jepara. It needs 5 - 6 hours to reach Karimunjawa from Jepara by KMP Muria, while transportation between the islands is served by local fishermen’s boats, which can be hired anytime.