Moluccas & Sumbawa: the Giants of Fire

Welcome at Manado airport and transfer to your hotel.

The rest of the day is free.

Morning transfer to Manado airport and flight to Halmahera Island. Welcome at Kao airport, then transfer to the Tobelo beach resort, in the north of the island.

Free afternoon to relax and discover the surroundings: possibility to visit Tobelo market or enjoy a snorkeling (or canoeing) session on the white sand beaches of Luari, Kupa Kupa or Kumo, renowned for their calm and clear waters.

Morning transfer to the village of Ruko, where you board a three-wheeled motorcycle that takes you, through coconut plantations, to the foot of Dukono volcano.

You then begin an approach hike from Pos 2 (370 m). The trekking consists of a steady climb to the initial crater rim (3.5 km), with the exception of eight small streams or ravines to cross, notably at 647 m and 795 m, where water may be present after rain or during the wet season.

You reach the forested zone around 500 m, then the dense zone of tall grasses characteristic of the Halmahera mountains at approximately 800 m, marking the transition with the bare summit. From 838 m onwards, views open onto Mount Mamuya (933 m), smaller, and onto the coast near Tobelo. Finally, you reach the outer crater rim (940 m). On a small hill to the left stands the volcanological detection equipment installed on Mount Dilekene.

Before you stretches a plain of black volcanic sand, reminiscent of a miniature version of the Bromo sand sea. This outer rim, called Tanah Lapang, is crossed in a few minutes and offers the first view of the active Dukono crater, with its ash plumes and rumbling sounds.

You then continue for approximately one additional kilometre (1 to 1.5 hours of walking depending on the amount of ash) to reach the edge of the active crater. On the other side of the Tanah Lapang plain extend ancient lava flows, sometimes jagged, sometimes smooth. When covered with deep ash, the landscape becomes completely surreal.

You set up your camp at the last Pos (946 m), on the crater side overlooking the sand plain, so you can admire, at night, the impressive eruptions of lava and sparks in the active crater.

Hike 2-3h

Elevation gain + 575 m

Late at night, you resume your hike towards the volcano summit. As you climb higher, the view gradually opens up over the summits of Mount Gogodom (1,102 m) and Mount Bale-Bale (923 m). You also catch sight of small islands off the coast near Tobelo, and on clear days, the large island of Morotai appears on the horizon.

You finally reach the rim of the Dukono crater, at approximately 1,150 m altitude. Almost circular and funnel-shaped, it measures about 400 m in diameter and 200 m in depth (estimated). With extreme caution, it is possible to crawl up to the edge and peer inside: the vent roars and ejects enormous clouds of ash in a spectacle that is both fascinating and impressive.

Almost every minute, plumes of ash rise nearly 500 m above the rim before being slowly dispersed by the wind. The sight of these clouds precedes the rumbling of the chimney, with the sound arriving a few seconds later. It is however dangerous and strongly advised against attempting to reach the highest point of the ridge.

After approximately one hour of observation, you head back towards camp, then descend to the village of Ruko, where your vehicle awaits you for the return to Tobelo.

Hike 5-6h

Elevation gain + 200 m

Elevation loss - 780 m

Morning transfer to Tobelo port, then boarding a traditional boat to reach Kumo island, whose surroundings are perfect for snorkeling.

You then continue sailing towards the Kakara and Pawole islands, true little paradises with white sand beaches.

You take advantage of this idyllic setting to admire a superb sunset before returning to Tobelo at the end of the day.

Morning transfer to the small village of Duono, where you settle in for the night, in preparation for the ascent of Mount Ibu volcano scheduled for the next day.

Early in the morning, you begin the approach hike to the summit of Ibu volcano. The trail starts with several kilometers of relatively flat walking, through vast coconut plantations dotted with numerous wooden shelters. It is often possible to cover the first two kilometers by motorcycle, up to an altitude of over 200 m.

You then cross nutmeg and clove plantations before entering the forest, around 600 m altitude. After approximately 2 to 3 hours of hiking, you reach a pleasant wooden shelter, called Pos 1 (675 m), formerly used by wild boar hunters to prepare their meat before descending back to the villages. This is an excellent place to take a break.

The trail then descends into a ravine (655 m) filled with black sand and rocks, where you can sometimes find a water source after rains. Depending on the volcano's activity and wind direction, it is often here that you will hear for the first time the falling rocks and rumbling sounds coming from the summit — a particularly striking and impressive sound, especially at night.

The trail follows this ravine for a few hundred meters, then crosses to the right side to enter the denser forest (673 m).

You then reach a few small grassy clearings, which the guides call Pos 2 (780 m). The volcanological sensor station is located around 800 m, on your right.

This is where you set up your camp for the night, in preparation for the final ascent the next day.

Hiking 4h

Elevation gain + 670 m

Around 3 a.m., you resume your ascent towards the summit of Ibu volcano. The trail emerges on the western side of the crater rim at around 1,250 m altitude, offering spectacular views over the entire crater, whose floor is almost entirely covered with black rocks.

You then follow the ridge until you reach a superb viewpoint (1,315 m), which offers, in clear weather, a panoramic view of the west coast and Gamkonora volcano, located further south. An old sign indicates "Gunung Tabaru, 1,325 m", although the exact name and altitude are subject to debate.

The spectacle is impressive: the active main cone, which dominates the scene, emits enormous plumes of smoke approximately every fifteen minutes, accompanied by a powerful "whoosh". Ash deposits cover the surrounding forest, and at night, the sight of an intense orange glow with each eruption remains an unforgettable memory.

The outer edge of the crater has two peaks, one to the west (apparently the summit), the other to the east. No trail currently leads to the summit, and hikers generally stop at this viewpoint. If a trail existed, the final ascent would take barely an additional 20 minutes, but creating one would probably require half a day's work.

Return to camp in late morning, then descent to the foot of the volcano. You have the option of refreshing yourself at the edge of waterfalls before resuming the road towards Jailolo in the afternoon.

Note: it is possible to spend an additional night at the edge of Mt Ibu's crater, in case of unfavorable weather.

Hiking 6-7h

Elevation gain 550 m

Elevation loss 1,220 m

Transfer to Jailolo port, then boarding a speed-boat to reach Ternate. The afternoon is dedicated to a first discovery of the city, with a visit to the former Sultan's palace, now transformed into a museum.

Ternate was the first region of the Moluccas to become Islamicized, with the conversion of its sovereign around 1495, under the influence of the Muslim principality of Gresik, in Java. He then took the name of Zain al-'Abidin (1486-1500).

Morning transfer to Ternate airport and flight to Sumbawa, via Makassar.

Welcome at Bima airport, capital of the east of the island, then transfer to Sangiang village to await the boat heading to Sangeang Api island

Boarding is done by wading through water up to the knees before climbing aboard. Luggage is transported in the boat by porters and protected from splashes by a tarpaulin, depending on sea conditions.

After approximately two hours of crossing, you disembark on the Sangeang Api beach. You enjoy dinner while the porters set up the tents for the night.

You pack your bags in the morning and head back down to the beach, where a boat takes you to the island of Sumbawa.

If maritime conditions permit, you complete the full tour of Sangeang Api island, an opportunity to observe from the boat the impressive pyroclastic deposits left by the 2014 eruption.

In the morning, visit to the Bima History Museum, then flight to Bali.

Welcome at Denpasar airport and transfer to your hotel.

Transfers 1h30

Free time until transfer to the airport.