Diving and snorkelling
Snorkelling trips start around USD 50 per person; diving runs to about USD 150 including gear and a guide. Not everyone in a party dives, which is why it is priced apart.
Line by line
Where the money actually goes
Every line in a Banda quote, what it covers, and which ones are add-ons rather than inclusions. Read this before comparing two operators, because the difference is usually in what is left out.
- 3 h
- Jakarta to Ambon, in the air
- $100–$200
- That flight, one way
- $900
- Solo week, typical start
In short
Most quotes bundle accommodation, meals, local transport and a guide, and quote diving, cultural workshops and the Ambon flights separately — so two quotes that look far apart are usually drawing the line in different places.
- Group discounts are real: boats and guides are per day, not per head.
- Solo travellers pay a room supplement unless they take a shared room.
- The Ambon flight is never included. Budget USD 100–200 each way.
The add-ons
What is quoted separately, and why
None of these is a hidden charge — they are simply not things everyone in a group wants.
Cultural workshops
Nutmeg processing or a traditional cooking class, USD 30–100 depending on length. Usually booked once you are on the island.
Flights to Ambon
USD 100–200 one way from Jakarta, about three hours. Never part of a land package, from any operator.
Single supplement
Solo travellers pay more for a private room. Shared-room options exist and bring a week-long solo trip down to around USD 900.
Inclusions
What a package price normally covers
The list varies by operator. These are the lines that are usually inside the number.
| Line | Usually included? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Yes | At the stated tier — homestay, guesthouse or small hotel |
| Meals | Mostly | Breakfast daily, plus lunch on activity days. Dinners often not |
| Local transport | Yes | Boats between islands and vehicles on Neira |
| Guide | Yes | English-speaking, for the guided days in the itinerary |
| Fort and plantation entry | Yes | Arranged locally on the day |
| Diving | No | Quoted separately, or bundled into a diving package |
| Flights to Ambon | No | Booked by you, though we help time them |
| Travel insurance | No | Worth having on this route more than most |
When two quotes differ sharply, check the meals line and the diving line first. That is where the gap almost always is.
Are group discounts real?
Yes, and they are large. The boat and the guide are charged per day rather than per person, so the same itinerary costs a group of six far less each than it costs a couple.
What do solo travellers pay?
A room supplement, unless they take a shared-room option. With one, a week-long solo trip typically starts around USD 900 excluding flights.
How much is the flight from Jakarta?
USD 100–200 one way for the roughly three-hour flight to Ambon, depending on airline and how far ahead you book. The Ambon–Banda leg is on top of that.
Why is nothing quoted as a fixed rate card?
Because boat fuel, room availability on a very small island, and which crossing is running all move week to week. A published rate card here would be either wrong or padded, and we would rather quote against your actual dates.
Next in this silo
Compare and book
Price guide
What drives the cost, and what is in it.
Homestays & hotels
Stay in the colonial town, from family homestays up.
Private & group charter
Your own boat, guide and pace.
Book & reserve
What happens between enquiry and deposit.
Compare all packages
Options, inclusions and trip styles side by side.
Plan your trip
Ask for it itemised
We quote with the inclusions and the exclusions listed separately, so you can put it next to another quote and see where the difference actually is.
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