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!
Bali Starling, White-winged Duck, Flores, Wallace’s, Reddish and 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 Pitta, Java Sparrow, Javan Plover, Javan, Scarlet-rumped, Diard’s & Red-naped Trogon, Oriental Bay Owl, White-browed Shortwing, Rusty-breasted, Violet & Sunda Cuckoo, Sunda Thrush, Dark-backed & Green Imperial Pigeon, Bare-throated Whistler, Leaf Lorikeet, Russet-capped Tesia, Thick-billed Heleia, Wallace’s Hanging Parrot, Flores Monarch, Chestnut-capped Thrush, Green Junglefowl, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Little Cuckoo-Dove, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Beach Thick-knee, White-tailed Tropicbird, Bulwer’s Petrel, Black-thighed Falconet, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Chestnut-breasted, Raffles’s & Chestnut-bellied Malkoha, White-shouldered Triller, Racket-tailed Treepie, Olive-backed Tailorbird, White-breasted Woodswallow, Large-tailed, Malaysian & Bonaparte’s Nightjar, Lemon-bellied White-eye, Black-banded Barbet, Javan Flameback, Javan Cuckooshrike, Scarlet Minivet, Ruby-throated Bulbuls, Pale-bellied (or Javan) Myna, Sunda Teal, Javan Owlet, Buffy Fish Owl, Sunda Coucal, Javan White-eye, Yellow Bittern, White-flanked Sunbird, Trilling Shrike-Babbler, Salvadori’s Nightjar, Brown-throated & Flame-fronted Barbets, Pygmy Bushtit, Mees’s White-eye, Javan Hawk-Eagle, Javan Trogon, White-flanked Sunbird, Volcano Swiftlet, Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot, Blue Nuthatch, Crescent-chested Babbler, Orange-spotted Bulbul, Rufous-tailed Fantail, Chestnut-bellied Partridge, Javan Scops Owl, Javan Owlet, Spotted Crocias, Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush, Gould’s, Sunda, Blyth’s & Large Frogmouth, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Slender-billed Crow, Javan Munia, Lesser Adjutant, Storm’s Stork, Black, Bushy-crested, Wrinkled, White-crowned, Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon, Purple-naped, Ruby-cheeked, Plain & Crimson Sunbird, Orange-bellied, Golden-rumped, Scarlet-headed, Crimson-breasted & Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker, Checker-throated, Crimson-winged, Rufous, Buff-necked, Grey-and-buff, Maroon & Sunda Woodpecker.
Asian Palm Civet, Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Dugong, Crab-eating, Long-tailed & Pig-tailed Macaque, Ebony, Mitred & Sundaic Silvered Leaf Monkey, Javan Rusa Deer, Asian Palm & Black Giant Squirrel, Indian Muntjac, Barking Deer, Sunda Pangolin, Agile Gibbon, Siamang, Greater & Lesser Mouse Deer, Sunda Clouded Leopard, Asiatic Golden, Leopard, Marbled, Fishing and Flat-headed Cats, Binturong, Sunda Colugo, Malayan Porcupine and Sunda Slow Loris, Banded, Masked & Small-toothed Palm Civets, Malay Civet, Red Giant Flying Squirrel and Yellow-throated Marten
montane and lowland forests, volcanic mountains, rice paddies, rivers, islands, beaches
mostly hot to humid with cooler nights and mornings in the highlands
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader and 1 local leader
relaxed pace with some longer hikes
variable between rustic and excellent
moderate but can be challenging at times
Komodo Dragon
good to very good
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.
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!
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!
Stephan Lorenz was excellent in all respects, he went out of his way to try and find a way for me to continue with the tour and then helped with my arrangements in getting home.
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.
02 Jul 2025 - 15 Jul 2025 (14 days)
USD6,095 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz
Tour price (Per person): USD6,095 * GBP4,825 * EUR5,643 * AUD9,343
Single Supplement: USD610 * GBP483 * EUR565 * AUD935
Flight costs: USD490 * GBP388 * EUR454 * AUD751
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