I Found an Epic Beach in Indonesia No One Goes to (Molana Island)

Indonesia is full of gorgeous islands and beaches, especially if you travel off the beaten path. In this video, I show you an epic beach I found on my recent trip in east Indonesia.
I had two days in Ambon, Maluku, before my flight to Raja Ampat, and I decided to check out Saparua (in my previous video!) and Molana islands instead of staying in the city. What a decision it was!
In this video, I go on a boat trip from Saparua to visit Molana and Haruku islands. Haruku is beautiful and interesting (it has a tiny, but very old fort from colonial times), while Molana has a truly epic beach.
Check out my other videos, too!
My previous video about Saparua island: • Exploring History and ...
Useful information about visiting (south) Maluku: • Things to Know Before ...

[@justinlondar9870]

Molana island is so greatfull island

[@yepthatsme170]

We are heading to Jakarta in July. Thanks for introducing us to Maluku so we spend 3 days in Jakarta than plan to head to Maluku for 10 days. We live on a island in Thailand thats over run by tourist unfortunately Bali part 3 lol.

[@HighOnLowTide]

Maluku is awesome, but keep in mind, that the tourism is very different there (in some parts it's non-existent). There aren't any organized tours for example. But if that's okay for you, then you'll have an amazing time!

[@anastrabelsi1517]

Love your videos

[@rolandberglas6080]

Thank you for uploading your nice movies around maluku. I was in Pulau Kei 30 years ago. One of the BEST white beachs in the world. It is word a visit.😏Lucky, it is still not a second Bali.

[@HighOnLowTide]

I believe it will never be as popular as Bali, because it is too far from everything. But that's a good thing! :)

[@rolandberglas6080]

​@@HighOnLowTide Yes, like you say, it is too fare away. What i love also is, Raja Ampat. I was 3 weeks in Pulau Kri. Magic too, but in a different way. I love Indonesia, special, everything east of Bali, like Flores, West Papua and Maluku. But i must say, i am a beach lover. So, north maluku is not my place.😏

[@HighOnLowTide]

@@rolandberglas6080 I just visited north Maluku in July/August, there are amazing beaches there, too! ;) It is actually my favorite region in Maluku. And also, after the Kei islands and Saparua/Molana, I went to Raja Ampat, some videos are coming soon from there, as well. Indonesia - especially Maluku and Papua provinces - is easily my favorite place in the world!

[@rolandberglas6080]

I forget Sulawesi. Sulawesi the coast area, is also word a visit. Like Pulau Banggai, Pulau Togian and many more.😏

[@rolandberglas6080]

@@HighOnLowTide Yes, that is true. If i look Pulau Molana, so nice, like a dream. I never know, Maluku North have white sand beaches. I think just only black beaches.😏 Again, thank you so much Sir, for your nice videos. I will go back again. Soon.😏

[@noicebro7184]

Hey dude...I am planning my first trip to Indonesia with my family, and your films are awesome. I have been watching them all and using to plan our adventure. One of the best channels I have seen on the sort of travelling I like to do...keep them coming man. I look forward to your content on North Maluku (p.s. I love Vietnam too, so will enjoy watching your content from there...try the islands off Ha Tien on the southern border with Cambodia)

[@HighOnLowTide]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy my videos! A lot more will come from Indonesia! And thank you for the suggestion, I've been eyeing those islands for a while now (been to Nam Du, so I am sure those are amazing, too).

[@midnightmiracle79]

Just found your channel and been binge watching your videos! Amazing shots!

[@HighOnLowTide]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy my videos!

[@jumankoussa]

amazing island ! .. but I hope you brought one of these toys back with you. Tuktuktuktuktuktuk

[@HighOnLowTide]

"Unfortunately" not, I've heard enough! :)

[@Jordao.M]

Love to see you're visiting my Kampong Haria and Molana Island the Village of my family. If you want some information about the history let me know. Kind regards J. Manuhutu from the Netherlands.

[@HighOnLowTide]

Thank you for your comment! Your village is beautiful, I hope I can go back one day! :)

[@patland1762]

There is a dive resort on the other side of Saparua from the fort that I believe is still operating (video on youtube). Dove this area from there in 1990, fantastic. I believe the resort you saw on Molina can be rented and a cook is provided.

[@HighOnLowTide]

I`ve heard about the resort, but I was told that it is closed (probably due to covid), I don`t know whether it will open again. And about the place on Molina, it is in a bad condition now, it isn`t operational, either (I think restoration is needed) and since tourism is very minimal, I am not sure how long it will take to open it again - if it will open at all.

[@patland1762]

@@HighOnLowTide Eyes on the spot (yours) best source of info. Thanks. I am really going to enjoy your future videos. The not touristed concept of your channel is fantastic! I spent a month in the area in 1990 with no tourists (Banda, Ambon, Saparua, Nusa Laut) and look forward to your videos for more of same for future travel (health permitting...getting/gotten old LOL). Building a house now in the Philippines and in the next few years hope to use that as a jumping of point for Indonesian travel again. All the best to you and your channel.

[@HighOnLowTide]

@@patland1762 Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy my videos! I'm about to start a series about Raja Ampat and north Maluku as well with a lot of new videos. I love the Philippines, too, been there many times (but not since I started this channel), maybe in the near future I'll have the chance to go back. All the best to you, too!

[@togian755]

Now that you put this on you tube there will be.....crowds. Maybe that wasn't a great idea

[@HighOnLowTide]

Hi! Traveling in Maluku isn't very easy and that itself keeps the crowds away. Most people only go to places where there are organized tours and comfort, and Maluku is very far from that.

[@franzchristophcruz]

@Boris - how much was the boat back to Ambon? You mentioned the boat charter to Molana & Haruku isle was only 400,000 IDR? Also how far is the port in Haruku from Hulaliu Port? Easy to get to? Cheers.

[@HighOnLowTide]

If I remember correctly the scheduled boat costs 150 per person, sometimes you need to wait to have enough people (I think the last scheduled boats leave at around 2-3 pm, but don’t worry, you can also charter one any time (not sure about the cost, but about 4-500 should be enough). There are boats in different villages, you could take one even from Hulaliu, but you can tell a local to take you to an other village by his motorbike (like an ojek), it’s pretty cheap.

[@gorom9153]

how often do you get bitten by sand fleas? do you use measures for preventive protection against fleas? how do you treat them afterwards? remote beaches are often affected by this problem

[@HighOnLowTide]

Hi! I've been to lots of islands and beaches, but I've only been bitten once (I believe it happened on Galo Galo island in north Maluku), so I think this isn't a very common problem. I don't know if there are any preventive measures, probably the best thing to do is just ask the locals about which beaches to avoid. Lots os beaches are visited by locals (by fishermen, or just people from cities or villages as picnic spots, etc.), so those islands that are well-known and popular locally, should be fine. As for my bites, they were quite itchy for a couple of days (couldn't really sleep much the first night, that was the worst part of it). I put some aloe vera gel (you can buy those in Indomaret or similar supermarkets even in remote places) on the bites to soothe the itchiness and it helped.

[@gorom9153]

@@HighOnLowTide thank you for your advices! Love your channel

[@HighOnLowTide]

@@gorom9153 Thank you!

[@yolandapascual2423]

I am going 3 weeks to Maluku in december. I am interested in nature, beach, landscape. I think it might take a bit of time moving there. Where should I go? South Maluku? I am a solo Western female. Is it safe to travel in remote places? Tks.

[@HighOnLowTide]

Hi! 3 weeks is a good amount of time, you can see a lot, if flying is in your budget. If I were you, I would combine north and central Maluku (Ternate, Halmahera, Morotai and some islands near Ambon, like Seram and the Lease islands - Saparua for example And that is already plenty for 3 weeks, it might already be too much). In the south, only the Kei islands are easily accessible (plus Tanimbar and Aru islands have flights, too, but getting around takes more time). The Kei islands are amazing for a week or so, but you can see similarly beautiful beaches elsewhere and you`d save some money on flight tickets, too (to the Keis, you need to fly from Ambon, and it is not a very cheap flight). Safety-wise no problems, Maluku is a safe place to visit.

[@arbayavolgthaarintuitie]

saparua is an amazing island. did you visit the village Tuhaha?

[@HighOnLowTide]

Yes, but back in 2017 (I went around the whole island, visiting all the villages and interesting places). This time I only had 1 night on the island (2 half days basically and I spent one of them on Molana and Haruku mostly).

[@arbayavolgthaarintuitie]

@@HighOnLowTide in 2017 I also stayed in Tuhaha for 4 months😀 I gave birth and got married there. such a beautyful place

[@HighOnLowTide]

@@arbayavolgthaarintuitie Wow, sounds nice! 2017 was my first trip to Maluku, I spent 2 months from north to south and I instantly fell in love with the whole region.

[@arbayavolgthaarintuitie]

It realy is a beautyful place. Next year I am gonna built a house there in the middle of the forest. ( we already have a house close to the ocean.) @@HighOnLowTide

[@HighOnLowTide]

@@arbayavolgthaarintuitie Sounds great! May I contact you if I'm back in the area? :)

[@spicyroads]

I want a video of you swimming haha…spoke too soon

[@HighOnLowTide]

Well, I did a little bit of snorkeling in this one. :) The thing is, capturing underwater footage is something I'm interested about, but it needs some special equipment (to make it look nice), and also, usually I don't have too much time on each island, as I prefer to visit more places rather to spend a lot of time in one place. :) I hope you enjoyed this video!

[@user-cx5mg1zw2w]

​@@HighOnLowTideDo you know Elaar Lamagorang? In kei kecil

[@HighOnLowTide]

@@user-cx5mg1zw2w Elaar is a town in Kei Kecil I believe. But I don't know much about it.

[@spicyroads]

I’m spending 3 months in Vietnam now .. hanging out in Vung tau for a week then heading north

[@HighOnLowTide]

@@spicyroads That sounds great! Let me know if you come to Haiphong!