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Indonesia - Highlights of the West: Greater Sundas & Dragons

© Crested Fireback by Glen Valentine
Indonesia - Highlights of the West: Greater Sundas & Dragons 2027

31 Jul 2027 - 14 Aug 2027 (15 days)

USD6,645 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Julian Parsons

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Tour Price (Per person): USD6,645 (GBP5,022 * EUR5,834 * AUD9,453)

Single Supplement: USD680 (GBP514 * EUR597 * AUD967)

Flight costs: USD560 (GBP423 * EUR492 * AUD797)

Indonesia - Highlights of the West: Greater Sundas & Dragons 2028

01 Jun 2028 - 15 Jun 2028 (15 days)

USD7,300 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Julian Parsons

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Tour Price (Per person): USD7,300 (GBP5,517 * EUR6,409 * AUD10,385)

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

Indonesia - Highlights of the West: Greater Sundas & Dragons 2029

18 May 2029 - 31 May 2029 (14 days)

USD7,700 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Glen Valentine

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Tour Price (Per person): USD7,700 (GBP5,819 * EUR6,760 * AUD10,954)

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

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

MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.

Moderately difficult birding, very long days & some basic accommodations are taxing. Highlights Tours offer a full birding experience in a shorter timeframe, focusing on the destination’s key birding sites and species. They retain the pace and intensity of our Classic tours, including early starts, long field days and night birding where necessary. They are not designed to be easier, slower or more relaxed. Rather than attempting comprehensive coverage, we concentrate on the most important sites and a strong selection of priority species. They are ideal for birders seeking a rewarding, focused birding experience with limited time available.

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
SP - Indonesia 2019

Glen and Paul did a fantastic job on this tour. Glen is an excellent birder, guide and a wonderful personality. This is the second trip I have done with Glen and hope to join many more in the future.

Glen Valentine
NH, Indonesia - West Papua Cruise 2016

I have been on birding trips for many years, but this is the first time with Rockjumper. The trip was easily the best birding trip I have ever been on. In particular, both David and Glen made life so easy and their birding knowledge was remarkable. Other members of the group were very easy to get on with. The birding was quite remarkable and it is difficult to pick out a highlight from the Birds of Paradise, the Chinese Crested Tern or the Madanga. There is no doubt that I will travel with Rockjumper again.

Glen Valentine
SL - Indonesia: Sumatra & Java 2019

This [was] my second tour with Glen Valentine and he is the most professional guide I have ever traveled with. It goes without saying (but shouldn't) that he knew every single species on the tour including all their calls. He found birds when I saw nothing and then managed to get all guests onto the birds. This was impressive in itself, however there were many secretive birds that made guiding much harder. We had few problems on the tour, but I don't doubt that he would have handled it without problem. He is to be highly commended for his guiding on this very tiring trip, especially considering he was not well. Paul was also a really great training guide and I thoroughly enjoyed his company.

Glen Valentine
MG - Lesser Sundas 2022

"Glen Valentine is an amazing guide and really made the trip special. He is personable, patient and unflappable. He did a fantastic job of getting everyone on the birds and this was really challenging in many cases. One of the best I’ve experienced. Our local guide was also very good at leading us to key areas and finding difficult birds. Some of the trip was challenging in Sumba, but well worth the effort. Overall, this was a fascinating and rewarding trip to a little known part of the world with lots of really exciting endemic birds!

André Bernon
AL, Indonesia - Sulawesi & Halmahera: Wallacean Endemics 2026

André was an excellent leader on this tour. His identification skills, in particular his excellent sight and hearing, were key to me seeing most of the more difficult species, despite my best attempts to mishear or not see certain species. My attempt to morph a boobook into a bulbul didn’t quite work. The ground support was superbly managed by Raja and I must congratulate him on his luggage repair skills.

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