Our Lesser Sundas birding tour takes us to this remarkably diverse and rugged chain of volcanic islands stretching across the Javan Sea between Bali and New Guinea, supporting over 80 Indonesian endemic bird species! Our tour visits four of these islands (Sumba, Timor, Flores and Komodo), targetting over 60 of these localized and highly sought-after birds. The Lesser Sundas fall within a region known as Wallacea and its avifauna is a startling mix of Asiatic and Australasian families. Starting and ending in Bali, we explore montane rainforests, lowland monsoon forests, wetlands, mangroves, coastal mudflats, grasslands and dry scrub.
We begin our tour in East Sumba, where mouth-watering specialties include Red-naped Fruit Dove, Sumba Hornbill, Great-billed Parrot, Mees’s Nightjar, Sumba Green Pigeon, Pale-shouldered Cicadabird and the little-known Sumba Buttonquail. Our next leg of the tour takes us to West Timor where avian specialties abound, including some of the island’s most highly regarded species; Banded Fruit Dove, Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Orange-sided and Chestnut-backed Thrushes, Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Black-banded Flycatcher, Buff-banded Thicketbird and Timor Sparrow.
We end the tour on the island of Flores, where the magnificent Flores Hawk-Eagle, Glittering Kingfisher, sensational Elegant Pitta, Wallace’s (Flores) Hanging Parrot, Leaf (Flores) Lorikeet and the bizarre Bare-throated Whistler will be among the many targets on the island. One of the undoubted highlights of the trip will be the visit to Komodo Island just off of Flores, where 10ft (3m) Komodo Dragons roam this almost prehistoric paradise along with Green Junglefowls and Orange-footed Scrubfowls. Here we will also seek the beautiful and critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo.
The Lesser Sundas has something very special to offer the keen birder and nature enthusiast and this eighteen day birding tour promises to be a classic among international birding adventures!
Sumba Hornbill, Red-naped Fruit Dove, Black-banded Flycatcher, Orange-sided Thrush, Timor Sparrow, Flores Scops Owl, Elegant Pitta, Bare-throated Whistler, Glittering Kingfisher, Yellow-crested Cockatoo
montane rainforests, lowland monsoon forests, wetlands, mangroves, coastal mudflats, grasslands and dry scrub
mostly hot and humid in the lowlands, being very cool to warm in montane areas. Some heavy rain can be expected
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
mostly relaxed with some longer walks
basic yet comfortable
moderate with some tricky species
beautiful beaches and tropical island scenery, 10ft (3m) Komodo Dragons!
good
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’..
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.
This was a fabulous tour! Living on the Seahorse and going ashore each day to explore, in many cases, remote and under-birded locations was a truly exciting and wonderful experience. In addition, it was a fabulous and memorable experience to have Glen and Keith Valentine as leaders. They teamed seamlessly and ensured that everyone had a wonderful and got on to the birds. Oh, and of course, the sight of at least 4 male Wilson's Birds-of-Paradise displaying to multiple females was the stuff of dreams! Truly spectacular! And the local guides and drivers were all great, not forgetting the Skipper and crew of the Seahorse! The Buru extension for the Madanga and some of the owls was also so memorable, as were the few days in West Papua. All things considered, a truly wonderful and memorable tour!
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.
David and Lev are exception leaders and worked very hard to find the birds and get everyone onto them. A remarkable trip.
07 Aug 2024 - 26 Aug 2024 (20 days)
USD6,795 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Forrest Rowland
Tour price (Per person): USD6,795 * GBP5,432 * EUR6,334 * AUD10,432
Single Supplement: USD960 * GBP767 * EUR895 * AUD1,474
Flight costs: USD820 * GBP656 * EUR764 * AUD1,259
Can be linked with: Indonesia - Bali Birding Extension 2024
06 Aug 2025 - 25 Aug 2025 (20 days)
USD7,195 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Carlos Bocos
Tour price (Per person): USD7,195 * GBP5,752 * EUR6,707 * AUD11,046
Single Supplement: USD1,120 * GBP895 * EUR1,044 * AUD1,719
Flight costs: USD760 * GBP608 * EUR708 * AUD1,167
Can be linked with: Indonesia - Bali Birding Extension 2025
Indonesia - Buru Island Extension II 2023 - November 2023
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise II 2023 - November 2023
Indonesia - Buru Island Extension I 2023 - November 2023
Indonesia - West Papua: Arfak Extension 2023 - October 2023
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise I 2023 - October 2023
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise IV 2023 - October 2023
Indonesia - Buru Island Extension III 2023 - October 2023
Indonesia - Kai Islands Extension 2023 - September 2023
Indonesia - Banda Sea Cruise 2023 - August 2023
Indonesia - Allanson - Flores Endemics 2023 - August 2023
Indonesia - Sulawesi & Halmahera: Wallacean Endemics (Small Group) 2023 - July 2023
Indonesia - Highlights of the East: Sulawesi, Moluccas & Papua II 2023 - July 2023
Indonesia - Sulawesi & Halmahera: Wallacean Endemics 2023 - July 2023
Indonesia - Knox (Lesser Sundas) 2023 - January 2023
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise III 2022 - November 2022
Indonesia - Buru Island Extension II 2022 - November 2022
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise II 2022 - November 2022
Indonesia - Buru Island Extension I 2022 - November 2022
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise I 2022 - October 2022
Indonesia - Sulawesi & Halmahera: Wallacean Endemics (Small Group) 2022 - August 2022