Asik OriginalFrom
$50
Saleh Bay, Sumbawa
Whale Shark Snorkeling, Saleh Bay
New experience
1 DaySmall groups
A forested island off Sumbawa Besar with waterfalls, reefs, and a famous luxury hideaway.
Moyo Island lies just off Sumbawa's north coast, a hilly slab of savannah and dry forest ringed by coral. Most of it is a nature reserve, home to deer, wild pigs, macaques, and a lot of birdlife, with only a handful of villages along the southern edge near Labuan Aji.
People come for three things: the Mata Jitu and Diwu Mbai waterfalls inland, the snorkelling and diving off the northern and eastern reefs, and the quiet. The island is best known abroad for Amanwana, the tented luxury camp that drew Princess Diana and later the Beckhams.
You can do Moyo as a long day trip, but staying a night or two in a homestay or beach camp lets you reach the waterfalls without rushing.
Getting there
Public wooden boats leave Muara Kali near Sumbawa Besar around midday for Labuan Aji on Moyo, taking roughly 1.5 to 2 hours for about 100,000 IDR. A chartered speedboat from Badas harbour is faster (under an hour) but costs well over a million rupiah. Many travellers book a day tour that bundles the crossing, waterfall, and snorkel stops.
Best time
The dry season from May to September gives calm crossings, clear water for snorkelling, and walkable inland trails. Seas get rough and trips less reliable from January to March.
Good to know
Bring cash, water, and snacks, as facilities are minimal outside the resort. Day trips are tight on time, so consider an overnight if you want both the waterfalls and the reefs.
Yes, day tours from Sumbawa Besar are common and usually cover Mata Jitu Waterfall plus a snorkel stop. It is a full, early day, so an overnight is more relaxed if you have time.
Not at all. The resort is one option, but there are simple homestays and beach camps near Labuan Aji, and many people visit purely as a day trip.
The reefs off the north and east are healthy with good fish life and decent visibility in the dry season. Conditions depend heavily on weather, so calm months are best.
Add it to a route across Indonesia and we will work out the travel time and cost between every stop.
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