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.
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
Rothchild's, Waigeo & Common Spotted Cuscus, Moluccan & Spectacled Flying Foxes, Short-finned Pilot Whale, Spinner & Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
primary and secondary moist lowland forest, hill forest, scrub, secondary woodland, islands, coastlines, mangroves, pelagic
hot and humid with tropical showers in the lowlands. Cooler in the mountains, rain and mist possible
16 with 2 Rockjumper leaders
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.
comfortable ship cabins
easy to moderate with some tricky species
230 - 260
pristine forests, unspoiled reefs, snorkeling, swimming, visiting remote, little explored islands and seeing their associated local communities.
good to excellent
Rich Lindie is a very skilled and enthusiastic guide, and has an outstanding talent for locating birds (during the day and in the dark!). He is also an enjoyable person to be on tour with, and is never short of conversation.
David and Lev are exception leaders and worked very hard to find the birds and get everyone onto them. A remarkable trip.
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 Ertrius is above all patient, with the birds, with the participants and the local guides. He very modestly shares his incredible knowledge of the birds.
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.
10 Oct 2023 - 23 Oct 2023 (14 days)
USD10,495 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Adam Riley
Tour Leader: Keith Valentine
Tour price (Per person): USD10,495 * GBP8,635 * EUR9,930 * AUD16,447
Single Supplement: USD9,995 * GBP8,224 * EUR9,457 * AUD15,663
Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension III 2023
22 Oct 2023 - 04 Nov 2023 (14 days)
USD10,495 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: David Hoddinott
Tour Leader: Forrest Rowland
Tour price (Per person): USD10,495 * GBP8,635 * EUR9,930 * AUD16,447
Single Supplement: USD9,995 * GBP8,224 * EUR9,457 * AUD15,663
Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension I 2023
09 Nov 2023 - 22 Nov 2023 (14 days)
USD10,495 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: David Hoddinott
Tour Leader: Forrest Rowland
Tour price (Per person): USD10,495 * GBP8,635 * EUR9,930 * AUD16,447
Single Supplement: USD9,995 * GBP8,224 * EUR9,457 * AUD15,663
Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension II 2023
21 Oct 2024 - 03 Nov 2024 (14 days)
USD10,595 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Glen Valentine
Tour Leader: Paul Varney
Tour price (Per person): USD10,595 * GBP8,717 * EUR10,024 * AUD16,603
Single Supplement: USD9,995 * GBP8,224 * EUR9,457 * AUD15,663
Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension I 2024
08 Nov 2024 - 21 Nov 2024 (14 days)
USD10,595 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Glen Valentine
Tour Leader: Paul Varney
Tour price (Per person): USD10,595 * GBP8,717 * EUR10,024 * AUD16,603
Single Supplement: USD9,995 * GBP8,224 * EUR9,457 * AUD15,663
Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension II 2024
20 Oct 2025 - 02 Nov 2025 (14 days)
USD12,000 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
Tour Leader: Glen Valentine
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD12,000 * GBP9,874 * EUR11,354 * AUD18,805
Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension I 2025
07 Nov 2025 - 20 Nov 2025 (14 days)
USD12,000 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
Tour Leader: Glen Valentine
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD12,000 * GBP9,874 * EUR11,354 * AUD18,805
Can be linked with: Indonesia - Buru Island Extension II 2025
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise RBC 2019 - November 2019
Indonesia - Buru Island Extension RBC 2019 - November 2019
Indonesia - Buru Island Extension 2019 - October 2019
Indonesia - Remote West Papuan Islands Cruise 2019 - October 2019
Indonesia - Highlights of the East: Sulawesi, Moluccas & Papua 2019 - July 2019
Indonesia - Highlights of the West: Greater Sundas & Dragons 2019 - July 2019