Once known as the Mollucas, Maluku is blessed with fabulous sea-gardens and an enormous variety of endemic plant and animal species. It is the famed Spice Islands once fought over by Indian, Arab, Chinese and the European traders.

The Mollucan archipelago consists of over 1,000 islands and forts are scattered all over the islands standing as reminders of Maluku’s history. Take a trip back in time to Morotai Island, the site of World War II battle of Morotai, where aircraft wrecks and rusting guns are still preserved on the island.

Some of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful powder-white beaches are in the Kei Islands and in northern Halmahera. Another Maluku attraction is climbing Gunung Api, the 650 m dormant volcano. In Ternate, see the spectacular remains of a 18th century lava flow at Batu Angus (burned rock).

Maluku is a paradise for ornithologists because of its rich variety of exotic feathered species. The forest-coated mountains of the islands are home to brilliantly colored king fishers, the red-crested Mollucan cockatoo, and many multi-colored lorikeets and parrots.

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