Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s great birding destinations and, for many birders, represents the ultimate journey into the heart of New Guinea. Vast tracts of rainforest, remote mountain ranges, immense river systems and isolated highland valleys support an extraordinary concentration of endemic and highly localised birds, including some of the most spectacular species on Earth. Above all, this is the land of the birds-of-paradise, and our comprehensive Papua New Guinea tour has been designed to showcase a superb cross-section of these legendary birds across the country’s major habitats.

Beginning around Port Moresby, we explore the dry woodlands, wetlands and rich hill forests of the southern lowlands, including celebrated Varirata National Park. Here our targets include Raggiana Bird-of-paradise, Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher, Pheasant Pigeon, Papuan Pitta, Chestnut-backed Jewel-babbler, Growling Riflebird, Goldenface, Drongo Fantail and an impressive assortment of fruit doves, kingfishers, monarchs and honeyeaters. The Raggiana display grounds provide our first opportunity to witness one of New Guinea’s most iconic birds performing at close quarters.

From the lowlands we fly into the spectacular central highlands, where cool montane forest and moss-covered ridges support an entirely different bird community. Around Rondon Ridge and Mount Hagen we search for an exceptional suite of birds-of-paradise, including King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise, Blue Bird-of-paradise, Brown and Black Sicklebills, Princess Stephanie’s Astrapia and the extraordinary Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, whose impossibly long white tail streamers make it one of the most remarkable birds in the world. Other highland specialities include family endemics such as Wattled Ploughbill, Mottled Berryhunter and Blue-capped Ifrit with other key targets such as MacGregor’s Bowerbird, Crested Satinbird, Lesser Melampitta, Papuan Parrotfinch, New Guinea Woodcock and a wealth of distinctive berrypeckers, robins, honeyeaters and parrots. Feeders, forest trails and highland clearings provide excellent opportunities both for close observation and photography.

We then fly west to Kiunga, close to the Indonesian border, where the character of the tour changes completely as we enter the immense lowland forests and river systems of the Fly basin. This is one of Papua New Guinea’s richest birding regions and home to another outstanding collection of birds-of-paradise. Here we seek the jewel-like King Bird-of-paradise, magnificent Greater Bird-of-paradise, brilliant Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise and radiant Flame Bowerbird, together with Trumpet and Glossy-mantled Manucodes. The supporting cast is equally impressive and may include Blue Jewel-babbler, Hook-billed Kingfisher, New Guinea Bronzewing, Grey-headed Goshawk, Palm Cockatoo, Papuan Eclectus, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot and numerous fruit doves, imperial pigeons and lowland forest specialities.

One of the great adventures of the tour is our boat journey along the mighty Fly and Elevala Rivers, travelling through remote swamp forest in search of Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise displaying from riverside snags and the huge, fan-crested Sclater’s Crowned Pigeon. Palm Cockatoos, Blyth’s Hornbills, Papuan Spinetails, imperial pigeons and flocks of other lowland birds add to the spectacle.

This is a true Papua New Guinea birding experience rather than a leisurely introduction. We travel extensively by air, road and boat, moving between lowland rainforest, riverine swamp forest, dry woodland and montane forest at elevations approaching 3 000 metres. Early starts, long birding days, muddy forest trails, basic infrastructure in some areas and the unpredictability of domestic aviation are all part of travelling in this extraordinary country. In return, the tour offers access to some of the finest birding on Earth and an exceptional concentration of iconic species, particularly birds-of-paradise, in landscapes that remain among the wildest and least disturbed in the region.