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City in North Maluku , Indonesia
Photo: Kainjock, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Tidore is one of the Maluku islands. Tidore is in many ways similar to Ternate; the islands are about equally big, are both volcanoes rising up from the sea, were the once only places where cloves grew, and sultanates on their own. Nevertless, Tidore is less developed and touristy compared to its northwestern "twin", and as such more off the beaten path.
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A 17th-century Spanish fort.
Smaller fort towering above the royal cemetery.
A recreation of the original sultan's palace, at the same place.
On the premises of the sultan's palace. May not be open for visits.
The sultan's jetty and unlike in the heyday of the sultanate, it's nowadays used by local fishermen at most.
Heavily restored.
The tombs of the Tidorese royal family are just north of the palace.
At the southern edge of Rum, there's a monument to Magellan's round the world expedition who reached the island in 1521.
The clove harvest season corresponds to the Northern Hemisphere summer. During that time, locals climb up trees to pick the buds of the clove trees, which are then laid out along roads to dry, giving off a pleasant smell.
Pantai Akesahu
The island's most popular beach, busy at the weekends. Next to it, there's a hot spring you can bathe in.
Like many Indonesian islands, Tidore is a volcano. There is a path up to the caldera summit, Gunung Kiematabu, 1730 m above sea level. The path starts from the village of Gura-bunga, on the way between Rum and Soadara and the path isn't well marked so you probably want to have a guide. You'll walk up through forest for about two hours with great views over the island along the route before reaching the crater rim. The volcano has been inactive for a while, so the caldera is overgrown to the extent that it blocks the sight at some places. The path continues to the concrete marker that marks the highest point on the rim (ie. the summit). Unless it's cloudy, there are splendid views to the neighbouring islands.
Ferries are the only way for getting in. Probably most visitors come in from Ternate, just a few kilometres away, which has an airport with flights from Jakarta and other Indonesian cities.
Read in the guideUsing ojek (motorcycle taxi) is more flexible to go to tourists or public objects.
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Ternate · Regional · TTE
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