Per person for 10 nights — flights, hotel, dive ops, and gear-bag fees included. Typical trip lands around $1,800. Anyone can quote you a cheap flight; this is what the trip costs.
Prime months: Sep · Oct · Nov.
Schooling scalloped hammerheads at remote seamounts; mobula shoals, calm seas
Boat/liveaboard entry to sites like Gunung Api, Manuk, Banda Neira Wall, and Hatala Seamount; expect hammerhead sharks, sea snakes, giant grouper, and tuna in 81–84°F water with visibility up to 130ft; advanced skills needed for some sites.
Also known for: Nutmeg — candied nutmeg (manisan pala) and nutmeg syrup (sirup pala) from the original Spice Islands
Banda Neira Historic Walk — Stroll colonial Dutch streets, old spice warehouses, and Fort Belgica ruins.
Fort Belgica — Climb this 17th-century Dutch hilltop fort for panoramic views over the islands.
Banda Islands Nutmeg Plantation Tour — Walk working nutmeg estates and learn why these islands sparked global spice trade wars.
Gunung Api Volcano Hike — Trek the active volcano on Gunung Api island; rewarding summit views over the Banda Sea.
Local Fish Market Visit — Browse Banda Neira's morning market for fresh tuna, spices, and local street snacks.
The all-in above is the typical price. A few times a year, Banda Sea fares drop 25–50% below that. StokedFare watches dive destinations from your home airport 24/7 and pings you the second one crosses that line — free.