Destination: Indonesia

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: The trail that time forgot

TWO MONTH / PAPUA TO THE BANDA ISLANDS

This 3000km off-the-radar adventure takes in the picturesque islands around Papua’s Kota Biak before heading to the sublime Danau Sentani lake and the beguiling Baliem Valley. Maluku’s Pulau Ambon and Banda Island provide a change of scene before the route heads south to West Timor and Flores.



Papua is the launching pad for this route and Kota Biak is your starting point. A relaxed and pleasant town in its own right, Biak is most useful as a base for trips to the beauty beyond. Pack a tent and make for the exquisite reefs and beaches of the Padaido Islands and the unspoilt, ethereal island of Pulau Numfor.

Next on the itinerary is a quick plane ride from Kota Biak to Jayapura. But you’ll only be stopping long enough to charter a boat to visit the magnificent Danau Sentani, a 96.5-sq-km lake littered with 19 islands.

Back on dry land the route heads inland to the beautiful Baliem Valley, rich in culture and dramatic mountain scenery. From here the truly intrepid (and wealthy) can embark on an expedition into the pristine but seemingly impenetrable Asmat region.

Heading further afield requires a flight to Fak-Fak before you jump on another flight or a ferry to Kota Ambon on Maluku’s Pulau Ambon. Dose up on urban comfort and culture, then take a ferry or plane to the crystalline seas, multicoloured reefs and empty beaches of the fascinating Banda Islands.

After indulging in sun and isolation, pack your gear up and board a Pelni ferry for Kupang in West Timor. Visit villages in the surrounding areas, then jump over to Rote for relaxed coastal vibes. For a perfect ending, make your way to Flores, a rugged volcanic island with fishing villages, thriving culture and dramatic terrain.