THE SEVEN SEAS

THE FORGOTTEN ISLANDS

Off Any Beaten Path

THE SEVEN SEAS

THE FORGOTTEN ISLANDS

Off Any Beaten Path

Indonesia’s “Forgotten Islands” – also known as the Southeast Moluccas (Maluku Tenggara) – are not a single destination, but rather a 1,000 km long chain of archipelagos stretching from Timor to West Papua on the island of New Guinea. 

Undeveloped, distant from population centers and far off any beaten path, these “Forgotten Islands” have been largely isolated from the rest of Indonesia and the world.

The terrain of these islands varies from forested mountainous peaks in the Inner Banda Arc of islands (Wetar, Roma, Damar, Nila), with peaks as high as 868 m (on Damer) to essentially flat islands of the easternmost Aru and Kei island groups, dominated by savannah, mangroves and broadleaf forests.

The Inner Arc islands are volcanic, while the island groups in the Outer Banda Arc (Leti, Luang, Sermata, Babar and Tanimbar islands) are mostly up thrust coralline limestone, often characterized by terracing resulting from periodic uplift and changes in sea level.

Together, the islands of Maluku Tenggara make up the eastern end of the bio-geographic province of Wallacea, a transitional region between continental Southeast Asia and Australia-New Guinea, with flora and fauna of the easternmost islands the most similar to New Guinea.

SS Forgotten Islands 2014-100
DSC_9549
SS Forgotten Islands 2014-50
DCIM100MICRO
SevenSeas 3
Kabola tribe lady
Kabola tribe
drying salt in clam shells
Kalabahi Bay kids on banana rafts
Kerry_s Seven Seas-7498

Culturally, most of the Austronesian peoples of the islands of Maluku Tenggara appear to be closely related, sharing similar languages, myths, and traditional beliefs. 

They are known for their powerful woodcarvings and sculptures depicting ancestral figures, distinctive hand-woven ikat fabrics, and plaited bamboo and palm baskets.

The Forgotten Islands offer some of the best diving in Indonesian waters. Attractions include gin-clear waters, patch reefs, and coral bommies, spectacular wall dives, and unbelievable drop-offs. 

On our inaugural trips to the Forgotten Islands in 2010, our excited visitors enjoyed seeing schools of massive Bumphead parrotfish, tornadoes of Big-eye trevallies, Giant trevallies, Spanish mackerel, schooling barracuda, hammerhead sharks, and a whale shark, to mention a few highlights only.

SevenSeas 34
47452966_356526838249195_3314244142824947712_n
Untitled design
47682683_263489387662293_3575175822807400448_n
tommy-schultz_com-270

Watch the Exploration

DSC_2356
DSC_2558
DSC_1636
12cuttlefish mating
DSC_1457

Since 2012 we are offering three expeditions to the Forgotten Islands each year between late October and early December.

The first trip each year starts in Maumere (Flores), heads East through the Forgotten Islands, and ends in Saumlaki, in the Tanimbar Group.

The second cruise starts in Saumlaki and circles around the outer and inner Banda Arcs to returns to Saumlaki after a full circle of the South East Maluku archipelago.

The third and final cruise of the season starts in Saumlaki, hits all the best spots of the Forgotten Islands, and then crosses the Banda Sea via a number of stops at remote sites to head further north via Koon at East Seram and through the South East Misool area of Raja Ampat, to end this epic trip in Sorong.

Detailed itineraries in this area will vary according to weather, diving conditions, and other factors.

PUBLISHED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FORGOTTEN ISLANDS

There isn’t much useful information available. The de Jonge/van Dijk book was produced in conjunction with an exhibition of Forgotten Islands art and culture at the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden, Netherlands. It is probably the best sourcebook on these islands in English, but this book is out of print and may be difficult to obtain (There is a copy on the Seven Seas!).

Nico de Jonge and Toos van Dijk, Forgotten Islands of Indonesia: The Art & Culture of the Southeast Moluccas, Singapore: Periplus Editions (1995)

Stephen Oppenheimer, Eden in the East: The Drowned Continent of Southeast Asia, London: Phoenix Books (1988)

North West Monsoon:Late December – April (North West rain storms Dec – March)
South East Trade Winds:May – October (strong steady winds from South East)
Calm Cruising Season:November – first half of December (in recent years)
Dry season:June through November
Rainy Season:December through May
Air temperature:27 – 32°C
Water temperature:27 – 32°C
Other relevant info:Switch from South East to North West has provided a “window” for calm cruising in November and early December in recent years, where several years ago this calm season started earlier, in October. Switch from North West to South East in April-May has been very quick with unreliable short calm season. Not recommended for cruising. Wind and sea conditions may still vary unpredictably, forcing itinerary changes. Dive conditions vary with the tides, throughout the day. Therefore it is important to dive according to the tide tables in order to hit each site at the optimal time. This is where your Seven Seas crew and dive guides excel!

Upcoming The Forgotten islands Trips

Oct 27, 2024
Maumere
06:00
Nov 11, 2024
Saumlaki
11:00
Forgotten Islands
16 Days /
15 Nights
From $9975 Per Person
0 Available
Oct 27, 2024
Maumere
06:00
Nov 11, 2024
Saumlaki
11:00
Forgotten Islands
16 Days /
15 Nights
From $9975 Per Person
0 Available
Nov 14, 2024
Saumlaki
06:00
Nov 28, 2024
Maumere
11:00
Forgotten Islands
15 Days /
14 Nights
From $9310 Per Person
0 Available
Nov 14, 2024
Saumlaki
06:00
Nov 28, 2024
Maumere
11:00
Forgotten Islands
15 Days /
14 Nights
From $9310 Per Person
0 Available
Oct 29, 2025
Moa
06:00
Nov 12, 2025
Tual
11:00
Forgotten Island
15 Days /
14 Nights
From $9310 Per Person
0 Available
Oct 29, 2025
Moa
06:00
Nov 12, 2025
Tual
11:00
Forgotten Island
15 Days /
14 Nights
From $9310 Per Person
0 Available
Nov 15, 2025
Tual
06:00
Nov 29, 2025
Maumere
11:00
Forgotten Island
15 Days /
14 Nights
From $9310 Per Person
16 Available
Nov 15, 2025
Tual
06:00
Nov 29, 2025
Maumere
11:00
Forgotten Island
15 Days /
14 Nights
From $9310 Per Person
16 Available

Full Boat Charter Request

First Name
Phone
Trip Date Start
Number of Nights
Destinations
Last Name
Email
Trip Date End
Number of guests
Your Message
Scroll to Top