Gunung Kiematubu rises 1,730 metres almost straight from the centre of Tidore island, and gives the island the same dramatic profile that Gamalama gives Ternate. The climb is a serious one-day undertaking — roughly six to eight hours up and four hours down — and is best done with a local guide arranged in Soasio or at the village of Gurabunga, the usual starting point.
The lower slopes pass through dense clove gardens, the air thick with the spice's distinctive sweet smoke around harvest time. Higher up the forest gives way to scrub and then to bare volcanic rock. The summit ridge is exposed and can be very cold before dawn — most groups leave around midnight to be on top for sunrise. Bring layers, a torch, and plenty of water. The route is unmarked and a guide is essential.