Indonesia - Highlights of the West: Greater Sundas & Dragons 2025

02 Jul 2025 - 15 Jul 2025 (14 days)

USD6,095 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz

Tour price (Per person): USD6,095 * GBP4,818 * EUR5,810 * AUD9,418

Single Supplement: USD610 * GBP482 * EUR581 * AUD943

Flight costs: USD490 * GBP387 * EUR467 * AUD757

Can be linked with:

Indonesia - Highlights of the West: Greater Sundas & Dragons 2026

18 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2026 (14 days)

USD6,300 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): USD6,300 * GBP4,980 * EUR6,006 * AUD9,735

Can be linked with: Indonesia - Highlights of the East: Sulawesi, Moluccas & Papua 2026

Indonesia, spread across 17,508 islands and boasting over 1,600 bird species and nearly 400 endemics (more than any other nation in the world), cannot be ignored by the international birder! Delving first into Western Indonesia, we base ourselves on the island of Flores in the Lesser Sundas. Here we search for an array of ornate species such as Glittering Kingfisher, sensational Elegant Pitta, Wallace’s Hanging Parrot, Leaf Lorikeet and the bizarre Bare-throated Whistler before embarking on one of the undoubted highlights of the trip to Komodo Island. Here, 10ft long Komodo Dragons roam this almost prehistoric paradise alongside Green Junglefowl and the beautiful, Critically Endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo.

A short flight takes us to the island of Bali, most famous as a beach tourism Mecca. Situated near the famous Bali Barat National Park, we target the few remaining truly wild Bali Starlings, alongside a supporting cast of Black-winged Starling, Cerulean Kingfisher and Javan Banded Pitta! Departing Bali, we head to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, to explore the Javan hot spots of Cibodas and Gunung Gede National Park. These fabulous montane birding spots host all the possible Javan endemics, and we shall bird diligently for such highlights as Javan Trogon, Javan Kingfisher, Flame-fronted Barbet, Pygmy Tit, Orange-spotted Bulbul, Javan Hawk-Eagle, Javan Tesia and Yellow-throated Hanging Parrots.

We depart Java on a short flight to southern Sumatra and head to Way Kambas National Park. Producing arguably the best nocturnal birding in the whole of south-east Asia, Way Kambas gives us excellent opportunities for such tantalising species as the bizarre Oriental Bay Owl, Sunda and Reddish Scops Owls and Buffy Fish Owl as well as Gould’s, Sunda, Blyth’s and the rare Large Frogmouth. Not that we will bird at night only, for the forests here hold many delights, including the marvellous Hooded and Malayan Banded Pittas, the strange mesite-like Rail-babbler, placed in its own monotypic family, Crested Fireback, Banded and Oriental Dwarf Kingfishers, White-crowned Forktail and Rufous-tailed Shama!

Top Birds

Bali Starling; White-winged Duck; Flores, Wallace’s, Reddish & Moluccan Scops Owls; Yellow-crested Cockatoo; Rail-babbler; Crested Fireback; Crested Partridge; Banded, Black-and-yellow, Black-and-red, Dusky & Green Broadbills; Javan Kingfisher; Javan Banded, Malayan Banded, Hooded & Elegant Pittas; Javan Sparrow; Javan, Scarlet-rumped, Diard’s & Red-naped Trogons; Bare-throated Whistler; Wallace’s Hanging Parrot; Flores Monarch; Chestnut-capped Thrush; Green Junglefowl; Blue-tailed Bee-eater; Pink-necked Green Pigeon; Javan Flameback; Salvadori’s Nightjar; Javan Hawk-Eagle; Javan Trogon; Blue Nuthatch; Spotted Crocias; Gould’s, Sunda, Blyth’s & Large Frogmouth; Storm’s Stork; Black, Purple-naped, Ruby-cheeked, Plain & Crimson Sunbirds; Orange-bellied, Golden-rumped, Scarlet-headed, Crimson-breasted & Yellow-breasted Flowerpeckers.r.

Top Mammals

Asian Palm Civet; Bottle-nosed Dolphin; Dugong; Crab-eating, Long-tailed & Pig-tailed Macaques; Ebony, Mitred & Sundaic Silvered Leaf Monkeys; Javan Rusa Deer; Asian Palm & Black Giant Squirrels; Barking Deer; Agile Gibbon; Siamang; Greater & Lesser Mouse Deer; Sunda Clouded Leopard (rare); Asiatic Golden, Leopard, Marbled, Fishing and Flat-headed Cats (All rare); Binturong; Sunda Colugo.

Habitats Covered

Montane and lowland forests, volcanic mountains, rice paddies, rivers, islands, beaches

Expected Climate

Mostly hot to humid with cooler nights and mornings in the highlands

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader and 1 local leader

Tour Pace & Walking

Moderately difficult birding, combined with some basic accommodations are taxing. Some steep hikes.

Accommodation

Most accommodations are reasonable to comfortable hotels, some simple lodges (ie: Way Kambas)

Ease of Birding

Birding can be demanding at some locations. Low density of several key species. Others require repeat efforts.

Other Attractions

Komodo Dragon

Photographic Opportunities

Photography can reasonable, some basic hides, predominant forest birding.

What our clients say about us

Glen Valentine
SL, Indonesia 2023

What a fabulous tour to such a remote part of Indonesia. As always, Glen and Keith Valentine were exceptional guides and great fun to be with. The crew of our boat, Lady Denok, were amazing whether it was in the dining room, making great coffees, getting us in and out of the dinghies or taking us snorkelling. Once we left the boat in the Tanimbars, the local agent was there to meet us and the land-based part of the tour was exceptionally well managed. The local people were very welcoming and could not do enough for us.

Keith Valentine
MM, Remote Indonesian Islands Cruise 2017

My thanks to Keith and Glen Valentine for taking so much time in getting me on the birds. They are so patient and really nice.

David Hoddinott
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

Keith Valentine
JA, Remote West Papua 2017

Expert guiding by Keith and Glen Valentine, aided by fabulous local talent, ensured we saw the maximum number of endemics and other birds and mammals. Perhaps more importantly, these two brothers enjoyed their time together and provided a warm, friendly and caring environment in which we all had a good time with lots of laughs, and looked out for each other to ensure everyone got on the birds and did not falter on a tough hike or challenging car ride.

David Hoddinott
EL, Indonesia 2022

This was an adventure to be sure. The places we traveled were indeed remote and with the exception of larger cities like Ambon & Sorong inhabited by few people. This was my first trip to Indonesia and was an adventure to even get to Ambon. However, the Indonesian people must be the kindest most helpful people in the world. The boat was lovely and this amazing trip had so many interworking pieces -- moving from the Indo Seamore to the shore for the next adventure, disembarking at various kinds of dock, piers, rocks, etc, meeting up with our vehicles for rides up into the hills -- everything worked like clockwork. We saw so many fabulous birds thanks to our super guides, David Hoddinott and Lev Frid. The two guides were so helpful and informative; I would gladly travel with either of them or both in the future. However, I have to say that this trip was just about at the limit of my ability. I would never have seen the birds I did without the help of David & Lev and our various local guides and drivers. I think only Rockjumper could have pulled this tour off.

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