19 Jul 2028 - 01 Aug 2028 (14 days)
USD10,550 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Christian Artuso
Tour Price (Per person): USD10,550 (GBP8,092 * AUD15,328)
Single Supplement: USD690 (GBP529 * AUD1,002)
Flight costs: USD1,760 (GBP1,350 * AUD2,557)
Pricing notes : Due to the extremely limited availability of inter-island flights, deposits must be paid 9 months prior to the departure date of the tour and are non-refundable. Single Room supplement is for Honiara only.
20 Aug 2029 - 02 Sep 2029 (14 days)
USD11,250 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz
Tour Price (Per person): USD11,250 (GBP8,629 * AUD16,345)
Single Supplement: USD760 (GBP583 * AUD1,104)
Flight costs: USD1,950 (GBP1,496 * AUD2,833)
Pricing notes : *All prices are estimated, and dates may change* Due to the extremely limited availability of inter-island flights, deposits must be paid 9 months prior to the departure date of the tour and are non-refundable. Single Room supplement is for Honiara only.
For the adventurous birder, few destinations offer the excitement, isolation and exceptional endemic birdlife of the Solomon Islands' remote forested interior. Our Santa Isabel & Makira Mega Endemics tour ventures well beyond the usual birding circuit, exploring two of the archipelago's most fascinating and biologically distinctive islands. Cloaked in extensive tropical rainforest, these rugged landscapes harbour an extraordinary collection of highly localised species, many found nowhere else on Earth. This is a dedicated expedition for serious birders and world listers, combining challenging forest exploration with opportunities to encounter some of the rarest and least-known birds in the Pacific.
Our adventure begins on Guadalcanal before heading north to Santa Isabel, where the remote highland forests surrounding Tirotonga provide access to several exceptional species. Foremost among these is the spectacular and notoriously elusive Black-faced Pitta, undoubtedly one of the most desirable birds in the Solomon Islands. Other outstanding targets include Fearful Owl, West Solomons Owl, Solomons Frogmouth, White-eyed Starling, North Solomons Dwarf Kingfisher and the exceptionally scarce Imitator Sparrowhawk. Working alongside experienced local guides, we will explore remote forest trails and search carefully for these highly sought-after species.
Black-faced Pitta; Fearful Owl; Solomons Frogmouth; West Solomons Owl; Imitator Sparrowhawk; North Solomons Dwarf Kingfisher; Red-capped Myzomela; Yellow-throated White-eye; White-eyed Starling; Makira Owl; Makira Dwarf Kingfisher; Makira Honeyeater; Makira Thrush; Makira Fantail; Makira Flycatcher; Makira Leaf Warbler; Makira White-eye; Makira Cicadabird; Makira Starling; Sooty Myzomela; Shade Bush Warbler; White-collared Monarch; White-headed Fruit Dove; Crested Cuckoo-Dove; Yellow-legged Pigeon; Silver-capped Fruit Dove; Mottled Flowerpecker; Solomons Robin; Chestnut-bellied Imperial Pigeon; Duchess Lorikeet; Yellow-bibbed Lory; Solomons Corella; Ultramarine Kingfisher; Black-headed Myzomela; Chestnut-bellied Monarch; Brown-winged Starling; White-billed Crow; Midget Flowerpecker; Finsch's Pygmy Parrot; Solomons Cuckooshrike; Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon; Solomons Brush Cuckoo.
Solomons Flying Fox; Pacific Flying Fox; Makira Flying Fox (rare).
Primary lowland and montane tropical rainforest, cloud forest, secondary woodland, forest edges, village gardens and coastal vegetation.
Hot, humid tropical conditions, generally 24–31°C at lower elevations, with frequent rainfall, potentially muddy trails and cooler conditions in the highlands.
6 with 1 Rockjumper tour leader
DIFFICULT: This is a high-intensity “mega” tour designed for passionate listers and serious birders who enjoy a fast-paced schedule. Due to its demanding nature, it’s not recommended for avid photographers, inexperienced birders, or anyone with mobility or health limitations.
Demanding to strenuous. A physically challenging tour requiring excellent fitness, stamina & mobility. Multiple lengthy hikes, remote locations & very basic facilities. Only suitable for experienced, adventurous travellers.
Comfortable hotels in Honiara. Very basic village homestays & forest lodges on Santa Isabel & Makira, with shared facilities, limited electricity & in some locations, no running water or conventional
Demanding to very demanding. Numerous elusive, highly localised forest endemics requiring considerable patience & persistence. Dense vegetation, difficult terrain & occasional nocturnal birding.
Remote Melanesian highland villages; traditional homestays and local cultural encounters; spectacular rainforest-covered mountains; pristine tropical island landscapes; community-guided forest exploration.
Challenging but potentially rewarding. Many targets inhabit dense, poorly lit rainforest & are difficult to observe/photograph.
The Buru extension following the RWPI Cruise was fantastic. I feel sorry for those on the main tour that did not take this extension. The birds were fabulous, Glen was a superb guide, and the scenery great. Glen did a great job trying to get us on all the birds, even the most rare and elusive. Again, flexibility was a key element in the success of the trip. I can't think of anything about the trip that could be done to improve it.
Tour was wonderful. Loved everything. Very well organised and super localities. Anna is a superstar, she was invaluable
Great trip
Note that some of the comments I made regarding the Thailand extension apply to the main Thailand tour. I liked the sequence of sites visited; it ensured the Spoonbill Sandpiper was seen early on and then designed to minimize travel. Staying multiple nights at one site is always appreciated and seemed to be done as much as possible. The guides made special efforts to see bird species sought by the group; we saw more bird species than I expected. The drivers were excellent and also one of them, Jaime, was a good birder who helped the guides track down some species; it was an asset to have internet while in the vehicles. The drivers also produced an excellent video of the trip - a nice touch; they also did an excellent job with mid-morning breaks. I especially enjoyed visiting a hide all morning early on in the trip - it gave us a chance to see some elusive species but also several species very well. One morning was spent looking for a rare duck; I would have rather spent the time looking for a variety of Thai species. Quite a bit of birding was done along roads - it might have been better to bird trails etc. if they are available and afford good views of birds pointed out. Food was excellent (Uthai selected great dishes for the group) and accomodations were good. It was an enjoyable trip with rewarding looks at many of the bird species seen.
Excellent tour. Accommodations were as good as could be expected given the isolated areas we needed to reach to see all the endemics. We saw them all. Dusan and the two local guides were exceptional at finding the birds and getting us on them. The vehicle fit our purpose, the luggage trailer was a great idea, and our driver Jose was very professional.
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