THE RARE ROUTES

Explorations that go further, because the extraordinary lives off the map.

Explore our Rare Routes

THE RARE ROUTES

Explorations that go further, because the extraordinary lives off the map.

Explore our Rare Routes

Previous Next

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

SAIL OFF THE GRID

The Rare Routes

The Rare Routes take you through some of the most varied environments in the archipelago: volcanic islands, historic spice ports, and coral systems that shift dramatically from island to island. Nutrient-rich seas home to giant manta rays and whale sharks and cultural landscapes shaped by centuries of seafaring, reveal different layers of Indonesia’s natural and human story.

These journeys are designed to deepen your connection to place, and travelling with onboard experts means you are never just observing, you are understanding.

RARE ROUTES, LIMITED VOYAGES,
EXCLUSIVE JOURNEYS,
MEMORABLE ADVENTURES

View Dates & Itineraries

Onboard with the Experts

“Experts Who Bring the Journey Into Focus”

You’ll travel alongside experts who have spent years immersed in the stories of these islands. Their knowledge enriches every walk, snorkel, and cultural encounter. Yet what stays with you often isn’t the expertise itself but the connection — a moment on the bow, a question answered just right, the feeling that a single insight has opened an entirely new way of seeing the world around you.

Meet the Experts

Highlights on The Rare Routes

From gentle giants of the deep to face-to-face with rare species like the Babi Rusa or the Black Macaques and Tarsier of North Sulawesi. Through Flores, master weavers share textiles rich in pattern and meaning, while in the Banda’s, the scent of nutmeg and deep spice history lingers in the air. Along the way, sea nomad communities share traditions shaped entirely by life on the water. Every stop adds a new layer to the story, showing why these remote expeditions hold some of the richest natural and cultural heritage on Earth.

Beyond the Ordinary

SeaTrek seeks out these places because this is where Indonesia reveals its deepest stories — and where genuine discovery still exists.

Our Local Heroes

Every great adventure is made possible by the hands and hearts that protect these islands. From coral gardeners and master boat builders to culture keepers and conservationists, meet the local heroes who will bring your SeaTrek voyage to life.

Alisi Yende: The Butterfly Man

Arjulin: Protecting the Giant Clams

Agus: Preserving Sulawesi’s Maleo Birds

Where Travel Becomes Home

Guest testimonials and travel experiences on our Rare routes.

“This was an amazing adventure through the Spice Islands of Indonesia. Travelling on the 45m Indonesian phinisi Ombak Putih. We were 17 passengers taken on a fascinating history and nature tour from Ambon to the Banda Islands and up through the Moluccu Islands to Ternate. Our adventures included visiting forts, nutmeg, mace and clove plantations, idyllic tropical islands and snorkelling on pristine coral reefs.”

Sue and Rowland Sept 2024/ Trip Advisor

“Just got back from my second, fantastic sailing adventure with SeaTrekBali — the first trip (2018) was to the Raja Ampat (Ambon-Sorong) and the most recent one was around the Maluku Sea (Ternate-Bitung, “Rare Species, Remote Cultures”). It was a lovely 7 passenger, 14 day trip on the Ombak Putih (the larger of their two vessels). The tour leader was very knowledgeable about the sea life and cultures we encountered on the many islands we visited, and the crew made us feel at home on the boat (good food, too!). We visited many remote villages, where we were met with throngs of kids and happy villagers. We hiked to butterfly farms, to old Dutch forts, to a chocolate farm, etc. We snorkeled in breathtaking coral reefs nearly everyday, and even got to swim with Whale Sharks on Northern Sulawesi. Each day was an adventure!”

Gary CFeb 2023/ Trip Advisor

Not only did we have the best snorkelling sites presented to us daily but the also opportunity to discover the birds, butterflies and Alfred Wallace, a contemporary of Darwin, through the excellent on board guides and the expert , Dr George Beccaloni, who accompanied us throughout. It was an excellent mix of interests not forgetting of course the information around the sea life that we were fortunate to see, including the oceanic giant manta ray!”

Ann FOct 2022/ Trip Advisor

“Our tour was all about seeing the Birds of Paradise through the eyes of Alfred Russel Wallace, the natural selection 19th century explorer. We had a daily lecture by an expert about Wallace, whose knowledge bars none. Further his knowledge, of not only birds, but underwater sea life, along with two top guides from SeaTrek made the at least once a day snorkeling most interesting.”

Deborah WJan 2020/ Trip Advisor

“We sailed from West Papua (Sorong) through the wonderfully diverse and isolated Raja Ampat, with snorkelling and trekking to die for, then followed Alfred Wallace’s trail to the clove-scented spice islands of Tidore and Ternate. Miles from the usual tourist tracks.”

Sally and HarryJan 2019/ Trip Advisor

“Several folks did an early morning ascent of Banda’s Gunung Api volcano. It erupted in 1988 and you can still see the lava path into the water, where the coral was burned. Today, a snorkel there shows the amazing natural growth of coral since then. It was a once-in-a-lifetime view and I had a hard time leaving the water. The day we left for Ambon, we sailed the ‘Sonnegat’ (sun’s gap) between Bandaneira and Gunung Api, escorted by a ‘Kora-Kora’ sea canoe, rowed by over a dozen local men just like ancient times.”

Helena MBOct 2018/ Trip Advisor

“Our Spice Islands voyage with SeaTrek from Maumere to Ambon aboard Ombak Putih was simply superb. We were a group of 22 from the SA Museum in Adelaide, accompanied by a Museum naturalist. The trip is a wonderful mix of fire (volcanoes), spice, history, culture and wildlife encounters both in and above the water. … Thoroughly recommended.”

Mark MSept 2025/ Trip Advisor

Previous Next

SeaTrekker Magazines

Our SeaTrekker monthly magazine is your passport to unforgettable experiences.

View and Subscribe Here

Words from the Blue

Every guest brings back a story. Some tell of rare encounters with whale sharks, others of evenings spent singing with new friends on a white sandy beach. The Travel Log is our record, a living collection of what it means to sail with us, seen through the eyes of those who’ve come aboard.