Our fabulous and exciting Remote West Papuan Island cruise sets out to explore a myriad of isolated islands in this stunning region. We start off with some initial birding in high-quality forest close to Sorong, West Papua, before heading off to Waigeo (one of the famous islands in the Raja Ampat group) and then the very rarely-explored island of Kofiau, where we will seek out some of our planet’s rarest and least-known species. These include such extraordinary gems as Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise (regarded by many as the most spectacular bird on earth!), Red Bird-of-paradise, Kofiau and Red-breasted Paradise Kingfishers and Kofiau Monarch. Thereafter we cross Lydekker’s Line and head into the South Moluccas. Here we explore little-birded waters in addition to visiting several endemic-rich islands including Obi, Seram and Boano, ending in Ambon for many incredibly exciting endemics such as Carunculated Fruit Dove, Moluccan Woodcock, Lazuli Kingfisher, Salmon-crested Cockatoo, Purple-naped Lory, Boano Monarch, Hantu Boobook and Long-crested Myna, to mention but a handful.

 

Top Birds

Wilson’s, Red, King, Magnificent & Lesser Birds-of-paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, (Obi) Paradise-crow, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Moluccan (Obi) Woodcock, Barred Rail, Beach Stone-curlew, Moluccan Masked Owl, Hantu (Seram) and Papuan Boobooks, Dusky Megapode, Red-billed Brush Turkey, Pygmy Eagle, Spotted Kestrel, Grey-headed Goshawk, Rufous-necked Sparrowhawk, Chinese-crested Tern, Western Crowned Pigeon, Carunculated, Orange-fronted, Dwarf, Claret-breasted, Scarlet-breasted & Coroneted Fruit Dove, Spice, Spectacled, Seram & Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Seram Mountain Pigeon, Salmon-crested and Palm Cockatoos, Black, Red, Violet-necked (Scaled), Blue-eared & Purple-naped Lory, Moluccan King & Great-billed Parrots, Orange-breasted & Large Fig Parrots, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Red-breasted & Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Marbled Frogmouth, Moluccan Scops Owl, Moluccan Cuckoo, Dwarf Koel, Black-billed Coucal, Kofiau & Red-breasted Paradise Kingfishers, Lazuli, Blue-and-white & Blue-black Kingfishers, Moluccan & Papuan Dwarf Kingfishers, Papuan & North Moluccan Pittas, Wallace's & Emperor Fairywrens, Kofiau, Golden & Black-chinned (Boano) Monarchs, Black-sided Robin, Black Berrypecker, Black-browed & Rufous-bellied Trillers, Moluccan & Golden Cuckooshrikes, Black & Pale Cicadabirds, Raja Ampat & Southern Variable Pitohuis, Brown-headed & Violet Crows, Northern Golden & Seram Golden Bulbuls, Grey-collared (Seram) Oriole, Spotted, Olive & Seram Honeyeaters, Drab & Wakolo Myzomelas, Seram Friarbird, Black-chinned, Yellow-throated, Island, Cinnamon-breasted & Drab Whistlers, Streak-breasted Fantail, Grey-hooded, Seram & Ambon White-eyes, Rufescent Darkeye, Cinnamon-chested and Turquoise Flycatchers, Long-crested & Golden Mynas, Moluccan Starling, Halmahera, Ashy & Olive-crowned Flowerpeckers, Streak-headed Mannikin, Papuan Babbler, Yellow-bellied and Pygmy Longbills & Lowland Peltops

Top Mammals

Rothchild's, Waigeo & Common Spotted Cuscus, Moluccan & Spectacled Flying Foxes, Short-finned Pilot Whale, Spinner & Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

Habitats Covered

primary and secondary moist lowland forest, hill forest, scrub, secondary woodland, islands, coastlines, mangroves, pelagic

Expected Climate

hot and humid with tropical showers in the lowlands. Cooler in the mountains, rain and mist possible

Max Group Size

16 with 2 Rockjumper leaders

Tour Pace & Walking

easy to moderate. Early mornings to maximize the best time of day but midday breaks back at the boat when it heats up. Otherwise time spent cruising.

Accommodation

comfortable ship cabins

Ease of Birding

easy to moderate with some tricky species

Number of Species Expected

230 - 260

Other Attractions

pristine forests, unspoiled reefs, snorkeling, swimming, visiting remote, little explored islands and seeing their associated local communities.

Photographic Opportunities

good to excellent

What our clients say about us

Glen Valentine
JA & DR, Remote West Papuan Islands 2018

Glen Valentine and Adam Walleyn were superb guides — honestly, they saw birds before they appeared! The local guides were outstanding and the logistics and accommodations were exceptional given our locations.

Stephan Lorenz
PG, West Papua 2018

Stephan Lorenz was excellent in all respects, he went out of his way to try and find a way for me to continue with the tour and then helped with my arrangements in getting home.

Glen Valentine
JB - Lesser Sundas 2022

Although the tour was a little more strenuous than I had anticipated, it was a fantastic tour. All of the endemics except for two very rare ones—more than I’d hoped to see in my wildest dreams. Glen is an excellent guide, the local guide a very positive addition, and the driving crew was just fabulous. And when things went awry with the cancelled flight and the steep increase in the fee for Komodo, Glen, our local guide and crew handled it in complete transparency to us, so that we didn’t miss a beat. Hats off to all involved!

Glen Valentine
TJ & AJ - Indonesia 2019

Glen was again a wonderful guide who has excellent field skills and is always willing to help clients who are struggling to find the birds or who have other ‘issues’..

Lev Frid
AS & FS, Indonesia 2022

We had a fantastic time. Everyone looked after us so we’ll, very well organised! Many thanks for putting a together a brilliant birding tour. It was everything we hoped for and more

Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise I 2024

21 Oct 2024 - 03 Nov 2024 (14 days)

USD10,595 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Glen Valentine

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Tour Leader: Paul Varney

Tour price (Per person): USD10,595 * GBP8,490 * EUR9,867 * AUD16,134

Single Supplement: USD9,995 * GBP8,009 * EUR9,309 * AUD15,221

Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension I 2024

Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise II 2024

03 Nov 2024 - 16 Nov 2024 (14 days)

USD10,595 - 4 Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Glen Valentine

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Tour Leader: Paul Varney

Tour price (Per person): USD10,595 * GBP8,490 * EUR9,867 * AUD16,134

Single Supplement: USD9,995 * GBP8,009 * EUR9,309 * AUD15,221

Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension II 2024

Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise I 2025

20 Oct 2025 - 02 Nov 2025 (14 days)

USD10,595 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen

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Tour Leader: Glen Valentine

Tour price (Per person): USD10,595 * GBP8,490 * EUR9,867 * AUD16,134

Single Supplement: USD9,995 * GBP8,009 * EUR9,309 * AUD15,221

Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension I 2025

Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise II 2025

07 Nov 2025 - 20 Nov 2025 (14 days)

USD10,595 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen

client-img

Tour Leader: Glen Valentine

Tour price (Per person): USD10,595 * GBP8,490 * EUR9,867 * AUD16,134

Single Supplement: USD9,995 * GBP8,009 * EUR9,309 * AUD15,221

Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension II 2025

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Tour Route Map

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