Indonesia - Highlights of the West: Greater Sundas & Dragons 2025

02 Jul 2025 - 15 Jul 2025 (14 days)

USD6,095 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz

Tour price (Per person): USD6,095 * GBP4,861 * EUR5,865 * AUD9,786

Single Supplement: USD610 * GBP486 * EUR587 * AUD979

Flight costs: USD490 * GBP391 * EUR472 * AUD787

Indonesia - Highlights of the West: Greater Sundas & Dragons 2026

18 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2026 (14 days)

USD6,300 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): USD6,300 * GBP5,024 * EUR6,062 * AUD10,115

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!

Top Birds

Bali Starling; White-winged Duck; Flores, Wallace’s, Reddish & 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 Pittas; Javan Sparrow; Javan, Scarlet-rumped, Diard’s & Red-naped Trogons; Bare-throated Whistler; Wallace’s Hanging Parrot; Flores Monarch; Chestnut-capped Thrush; Green Junglefowl; Blue-tailed Bee-eater; Pink-necked Green Pigeon; Javan Flameback; Salvadori’s Nightjar; Javan Hawk-Eagle; Javan Trogon; Blue Nuthatch; Spotted Crocias; Gould’s, Sunda, Blyth’s & Large Frogmouth; Storm’s Stork; Black, Purple-naped, Ruby-cheeked, Plain & Crimson Sunbirds; Orange-bellied, Golden-rumped, Scarlet-headed, Crimson-breasted & Yellow-breasted Flowerpeckers.

Top Mammals

Asian Palm Civet; Bottle-nosed Dolphin; Dugong; Crab-eating, Long-tailed & Pig-tailed Macaques; Ebony, Mitred & Sundaic Silvered Leaf Monkeys; Javan Rusa Deer; Asian Palm & Black Giant Squirrels; Barking Deer; Agile Gibbon; Siamang; Greater & Lesser Mouse Deer; Sunda Clouded Leopard (rare); Asiatic Golden, Leopard, Marbled, Fishing and Flat-headed Cats (All rare); Binturong; Sunda Colugo.

Habitats Covered

Montane and lowland forests, volcanic mountains, rice paddies, rivers, islands, beaches

Expected Climate

Mostly hot to humid with cooler nights and mornings in the highlands

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader and 1 local leader

Tour Pace & Walking

Moderately difficult birding, combined with some basic accommodations are taxing. Some steep hikes.

Accommodation

Most accommodations are reasonable to comfortable hotels, some simple lodges (ie: Way Kambas)

Ease of Birding

Birding can be demanding at some locations. Low density of several key species. Others require repeat efforts.

Other Attractions

Komodo Dragon

Photographic Opportunities

Photography can reasonable, some basic hides, predominant forest birding.

What our clients say about us

Lev Frid
JT, Indonesia 2022

I was extremely impressed with the organisational skills of all involved in this tour. All the guides Rockjumper and local were highly skilled and completely considerate of the non birding needs of the participants. I would like to say that not having an upset stomach at any point during the tour was a big plus to my enjoyment. There were some safely issues that in such a remote part of the world can only be expected, I was very happy to be part of this exciting tour and not sure that it would be possible to micro manage all the safety issues.

Glen Valentine
MB - Lesser Sundas 2022

"This trip was my very first with Rockjumper and I was not disappointed. Birding and logistics were very well organized and everything was done to optimize our time in order to see as many species as possible while naturally giving priority to endemics. Glen Valentine is not only a top guide and a top birder, he is also a nice person excellent in communication, very friendly with a good sense of humor. I really enjoyed doing this trip with him as well as the good state of mind of the group. As a Frenchman I sometimes had difficulties speaking or understanding English and everyone was patient and helpful with me. Great! I got a large number of lifers in this trip and the search for endemics was exciting. A big thank you to Glen, our group members and Rockjumper!"

Glen Valentine
NH, Indonesia - West Papua Cruise 2016

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.

Glen Valentine
MM, Remote Indonesian Islands Cruise 2017

My thanks to Keith and Glen Valentine for taking so much time in getting me on the birds. They are so patient and really nice.

Glen Valentine
JB - Lesser Sundas 2022

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!

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