Travelers will find Seram Island in the Maluku region of Indonesia to be a hidden gem. Ora Beach Resort offers stunning scenery reminiscent of Bora Bora, and much of the island remains untouched by tourism.
If you are seeking a remote paradise in Indonesia that offers jungles, mountains, beaches, and wildlife, this destination is highly recommended as one of the top places to visit.
Getting to Seram island can be a challenge, and Ora bay is even more remote, but the beautiful landscapes and abundant snorkeling spots make it worth the effort, especially if you prefer a more secluded experience compared to touristy destinations like Bali.
In this guide, you will find detailed information on how to reach Seram island and Ora beach, accommodations available, activities to do in the area, and essential details to consider before embarking on your trip.
1) Directions to reach Seram Island
2) Directions to reach Ora Beach in Seram
3) Accommodation options on Seram Island
4) Top activities to enjoy in Seram
5) Additional activities to explore in Seram
6) Essential items to pack for a trip to Seram
7) Additional advice for visiting Seram Island and Ora Beach
8) The story of the Orang Bati legend
9) Additional travel resources for Indonesia
Ora Beach Resort is located on Seram island.
Navigating to Seram Island may be a bit of a trek, as it is situated close to Ambon Island in the Maluku region of Indonesia. There are multiple stages to the journey in order to reach the destination.
At the moment, there is no operational airport on Seram island, making it impossible to travel there by plane. The closest airport is Pattimura International Airport in Ambon (AMQ), which offers direct flights from Jakarta, Makassar, Ternate, Sorong, and other locations in Indonesia. To book flights, you can use Skyscanner.
Upon reaching Ambon, you will have to take a taxi to travel for about 1 hour from the airport to the ferry port in Tulehu. From there, you can board a fast ferry that will take you to Amahai port on Seram island. Although the boats are old, they are still comfortable and the journey usually takes around 2 hours to reach Amahai.
Exploring Ora Beach Resort by kayaking
To reach Ora Beach in Seram, you will first need to arrive at Seram island. From there, you can drive for about 2 hours from Amahai to Saleman village, where Ora beach is located. The journey takes you through a beautiful jungle road that passes through the mountains. While the road is paved for the most part, there are some areas with potholes and cracks.
If you are staying at a hotel in Ora or Saleman, they can help you organize a car and driver to pick you up from Amahai and take you to the bay. We were connected with a driver named Rudi by our guesthouse, who helped us with our transportation to Saleman village and back. The cost was approximately 600k Rupiah (around $40 USD) for each leg of the journey.
After reaching Saleman village, you can reach Ora beach by boat in a quick 10-minute ride. We stayed at a guesthouse in Saleman that offered half-day boat tours to Ora Beach Resort for 350k Rupiah per boat. Alternatively, you could opt for a full-day tour to explore various locations in the area for 900k per boat.
A picture taken by a drone showing the Sawai cliffs with a boat included to provide a sense
An aerial photograph taken from a drone looking down on Ora
Accommodation options in the Ora bay area of Seram Island include several new guesthouses that have received positive reviews, are cost-effective, and offer a decent level of comfort.
Located in a secluded area of Indonesia, this place may not offer luxurious amenities, but it surprisingly provides a good level of comfort considering its isolation.
Here are a few of the top choices available to you:
Each guesthouse in Saleman offers stunning views of the karst mountains, Ora bay, the ocean, and both the sunrise and sunset. Some of these guesthouses are constructed above shallow waters approximately 2-3 meters deep, allowing guests to observe fish swimming beneath them.
One negative aspect is that from time to time, you may notice some litter drifting near the village. This area is incredibly valuable and would greatly benefit from improved preservation efforts. It is hoped that the residents will begin to prioritize this issue more seriously.
Playing on the shore by swinging.
Ora Beach Resort was once considered the best place to stay in Seram, but it seems that its quality has declined in recent times. This hotel was the first one built in Saleman in 1997.
The bungalows at Ora Beach Resort are attractive and the location is also lovely, but recent reviews have mentioned poor maintenance since the onset of Covid-19. It seems that the bungalows are in a state of disrepair and deteriorating.
I suggest visiting Ora Beach for sightseeing and snorkeling on a day trip from Saleman, but I wouldn't recommend staying there until conditions get better. It would be better to stay at one of the accommodations near Saleman village instead.
We decided to borrow a glass bottom kayak from the Ora Beach Resort.
Top Activities in Seram
• Ora Beach
One of the top destinations in Seram island is the stunning Ora beach. The sight of the bungalows over the water with the mountains in the distance is truly breathtaking, reminiscent of the beauty found in French Polynesia.
Ora is a small beach that has a gentle sandy shore and a swing hanging from a palm tree. Visitors can easily go snorkeling near the pier and spot various colorful fish and coral underwater.
When you go to the beach without renting a bungalow, you will be required to pay an entrance fee of 25k Rupiah per person. It is definitely worth the cost as we visited twice and enjoyed it each time.
Aerial photo of Ora beach and Seram island captured by a drone.
Stunning scenery can be enjoyed at the Ora Beach Resort located in the Maluku region
• Sawai Cliff
The Sawai cliff is a large cliff made of white limestone that is accessible by boat in approximately 10 minutes from Ora beach or 20 minutes from Saleman. Our visit to this location was part of a day tour.
The water near the cliff is not very deep, which makes it a perfect place for swimming and snorkeling. There is also a small sea cave to discover. Additionally, there is a cozy wooden platform and gazebo where you can unwind and take in the surroundings.
The water at this location was peaceful, allowing us to observe many beautiful fish and coral reefs while snorkeling. We even spotted some clownfish hiding in the anemones!
A drone captured an image of the massive Sawai cliff, with a small boat visible at the base.
During our snorkeling adventure, we encountered a variety of beautiful fish and coral in this location.
Unique coral
• Heart-shaped Fish Trap
During our boat tour, we stopped by the Keramba Heart, a large Indonesian fish trap designed in the shape of a heart. It's a great spot for capturing unique drone photos, especially with the stunning cliffs of Seram in the background.
The owner of the fishing shop was welcoming and displayed some of the fish they had caught, such as a vibrant reef triggerfish. Despite its beauty, this type of fish is plentiful in the Indo-Pacific ocean and is not at risk of becoming endangered.
The Keramba heart is located a short boat ride away from Ora beach, making it easily accessible within 20-30 minutes.
Reef triggerfish are a
The Keramba is a fish trap that is shaped like a heart
Coral reefs and shallow bodies of water with sandy
• Dutch Water Beach (Air Belanda)
Air Belanda is a peaceful and secluded beach situated in the middle of Saleman village and the Ora Beach Resort.
One unique feature of this beach is the presence of a small stream of cold spring water that originates from the mountains and flows into the ocean. When walking in the water, you can feel a noticeable contrast in temperature compared to the ocean water.
In Indonesia, this place is known as 'pantai air Belanda,' translating to 'Dutch water beach.' According to the tale we heard, a team of Dutch sailors stumbled upon this beach and spring by chance while searching for spices in Maluku.
"The Dutch Spring Beach" known as "Air Belanda"
The cool spring water from the mountains blends with the heated saltwater in this location.
Additional Activities in Seram
• Explore Manusela National Park
Located centrally in Seram, Manusela National Park is a habitat for various animal species that reside in the jungle. This includes unique birds and butterflies that can only be found in Maluku, as well as the deepest vertical cave in Indonesia known as Goa Hatusaka.
The island of Seram is home to a variety of unique and vibrant bird species, such as the large-billed parrot, eclectus parrot, purple-naped lory, salmon-crested cockatoo, and Moluccan king parrot.
The island of Seram is a habitat for many beautiful bird species.
• Mount Binaiya is considered one of the highest peaks in Indonesia, known as one of the 'seven summits of Indonesia'. It stands as the tallest mountain in the Maluku region, reaching an impressive height of 3,027 meters (9,931 feet).
Starting from Piliana village, it is possible to complete a hike to the summit of Binaiya and return in approximately 5 days. The hike offers a diverse terrain but is challenging and requires endurance. Climb Indonesia offers trekking packages that include everything needed for the hike, but it may be possible to save money by organizing the trip independently.
Having a guide is essential for this hike due to its remote and wild location in Indonesia. It is highly advised to never attempt this hike without a guide as the risk of getting lost or encountering dangerous situations is high if you go alone.
• Roulessy Hill Viewpoint
Located above Saleman village, this viewpoint offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding area. You can easily drive most of the way there in just 5 minutes, and then enjoy a scenic hike to the top that takes approximately 30 minutes.
Standing at the peak of Roulessy hill provides a stunning 360-degree view of the village and the Seram island mountains. The view extends all the way to Ora beach and is especially beautiful during sunrise.
• Seven Islands (Pulau Tujuh)
The group of small islands known as the Seven Islands (Pulau Tujuh) is located near Seram and can be easily visited on a day trip from Ora Bay.
We chose not to participate in this activity because we did not have anyone to split the cost with, and it would have been around 1.5 million Rupiah (equivalent to approximately $100 USD) for the boat and fuel.
It takes approximately one hour to reach Pulau Tujuh by boat, where you will find several islands with beautiful white sandy beaches and opportunities for snorkeling.
What to pack for your trip to Seram
Photo of snorkeling at Ora Beach captured.
Intan and I spent a lot of time snorkeling in this location.
Additional advice for exploring Seram Island and Ora Beach includes visiting the Sawai cliff.
Bungalows built on stilts
In Seram, the residents believe in a legendary creature known as the Orang Bati, which is a combination of a bat and a monkey. They think this creature flies around the island and kidnaps and consumes children.
Although we never caught sight of the human-sized Orang Bati, we did witness a peculiar sight of small bats or birds emerging from the mountains each night at 6 PM and returning at 4 AM. This routine behavior resembled that of bats.
The residents of the area believe that the creatures are birds and not fruit bats, despite their tail and face resembling that of a rat. They refer to them as the Lusiala birds. Once, they tracked the birds to their cave, but upon entering, they discovered no animals or droppings, adding to the mystery surrounding these creatures.
Regardless, there are numerous flying creatures that resemble a line of smoke as they leave the mountains each evening. It was fascinating to observe this sight daily from our accommodation in Saleman village.
I wish I had my zoom lens with me when it happened so I could have attempted to capture a photo.
I'm sorry
Ora Beach Resort is a holiday destination located in the province of
Additional travel guides are available for Indonesia. Thank you for checking them out! I hope you found the travel guide for Ora Beach and Seram Island in Maluku, Indonesia to be enjoyable.
Make sure to take a look at my other travel guides for Indonesia before your trip!
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Introduction
Hello! I'm David Leiter, an American who has been traveling nonstop for 9 years. My wife Intan and I spend most of our time in Bali, but we also explore various destinations around the globe. Join us on our adventures!
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