Nestled in the tropical waters of Wallacea, the islands of Sulawesi and Halmahera are seldom-visited parts of the Indonesian archipelago as varied in habitat as they are rich in special and endemic birds. From the highland mountains and luxuriant lowland rainforest of Sulawesi to the Australasian influenced Halmahera in the Moluccan ‘Spice Islands’, our tour covers a comprehensive view of the available habitats, maximising our chance of finding the more than one hundred range-restricted bird species confined to this region. A colourful host of parrots, fruit doves, and an awesome assortment of endemic kingfishers are combined with such sought-after avian gems as Ivory-breasted and Sulawesi Pittas, the incredible Maleo, brilliant Purple-bearded Bee-eater, remarkable Knobbed and Sulawesi Hornbills, Purple-winged Roller, monotypic Hylocitrea and an opportunity to watch an extraordinary bird-of-paradise, the Standardwing at its display site.
The largest island of the Moluccan Archipelago, Halmahera was once a vital part of the historical trade of cloves, nutmeg and mace that gave this region the nickname ‘Spice Islands’. The flight into Ternate is spectacular due to its location on an imposing cone-shaped volcanic island, rising over 1,700m above the surrounding sea.
Hylocitrea; Maleo; Geomalia; Malia; Standardwing; Sulawesi & Ivory-breasted Pittas; Knobbed & Sulawesi Hornbills; Moluccan & Sulawesi Scops Owls; Sulawesi Masked Owl; Ochre-bellied, Cinnabar, Halmahera & Speckled Boobooks; Sulawesi & Satanic Nightjars; Purple-bearded Bee-eater; Purple-winged Roller; Moluccan Goshawk; Sulawesi Serpent Eagle; Isabelline Bush-hen; Yellow-flanked Whistler; Black-faced & Pale-headed Munias; Black‐ringed White‐eye; Sulawesi Ground Dove; Grey-headed & Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeons; Sombre Pigeon; Sulawesi Babbler; Fiery-browed Starling; Pale-bellied Myna; Sulawesi Myzomela; Sulawesi & Red-backed Thrushes; Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker; Lilac, Scaly-breasted, Green-backed & Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfishers (amongst 12 species of possible kingfishers); Matinan Blue Flycatcher; Lompobattang & Sulawesi Streaked Flycatchers; Lompobattang Leaf Warbler; Ashy Woodpecker; Yellow-breasted & Golden-mantled Racket-tails.
Celebes Crested, Moor & Tonkean Macaques; Spectral Tarsier; Bear Cuscus; Sulawesi Dwarf Squirrel; Montane & Lowland Long-nosed Squirrels.
montane and lowland forests, volcanic mountains, rice paddies, rivers, islands, beaches
mostly hot to humid with cooler nights and mornings in the highlands
6 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
moderate pace with some longer hikes
mostly rustic yet clean and comfortable, including some nights in excellent accommodation
moderate but can be challenging at times
+-240 (with over 80 possible endemics!)
average to reasonable
David and Lev are exception leaders and worked very hard to find the birds and get everyone onto them. A remarkable trip.
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.
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.
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’..
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!
30 Jul 2024 - 14 Aug 2024 (16 days)
IDR108,950,000 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
Tour price (Per person): IDR108,950,000 * USD7,017 * GBP5,778 * EUR6,645 * AUD11,001
Single Supplement: IDR7,250,000 * USD467 * GBP384 * EUR442 * AUD732
Flight costs: IDR8,500,000 * USD547 * GBP451 * EUR518 * AUD858
25 Jun 2025 - 12 Jul 2025 (18 days)
IDR115,000,000 - 4 Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Glen Valentine
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): IDR115,000,000 * USD7,407 * GBP6,099 * EUR7,014 * AUD11,612
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
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