15 Days & 14 Night 13/08/2026
Activity Details
WEST PAPUA – BIRDS OF PARADISE(BoP) PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR.
Tour Start/End Point: Jakarta
Date: 13-27 Aug 2026
Areas to be Covered:
(i) Waigeo/Raja Ampat island
(ii) Arfak mountains
(iii) Jayapura
About the Places:
Arfak Mountain: The Arfaks are located in the Vogelkop (Birds Head) Peninsula. Arfak Mountain can be accessed from Manokawari. Some of well-known birding sites in Arfak Mountain are Syoubri, Maibrig, and Kwau, The sites can be accessed only by 4 WD vehicles. The weather changing unexpectedly and the road condition is rough. Hotel is available in Manokwari, and very basic accommodation in the village that closed to birding sites. The key species in Arfak are Spotted Jewel-babbler Lesser Ground Robin, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Masked Bowerbird, Orange-crowned Fairywren, Emperor Fairywren, White-shouldered Fairywren, Rufous-sided Honeyeater, Arfak (Western Smoky) Honeyeater, Cinnamon-browed Honeyeater, Vogelkop Honeyeater, Western Parotia,
Arfak Astrapia, Black-billed Sicklebill, Black Sicklebill,
Superb Bird-of-paradise, Long-tailed Paradigalla, Magnificent Riflebird, Magnificent Bird-of-paradise.
Waigeo/Raja Ampat: Waisai is a capital town of Raja Ampat which located in Waigeo main-island. Together with local, we organise some new birding spots in Raja Ampat, especially in Waigeo. Target birds in Wiageo are Red Bird of Paradise, Wison’s Bird of Paradise, Common Paradise KF, Yellow-billed KF, Manucode, Papuan Hornbill, Cockatoos, Megapode, Doves and Pigeons.
The updated number of species in Waigeo Island according to Fauna Flora International, Raja Ampat Program is 204 species. So that for bird watcher, you may found at least but not last is about hundred of them in one-week observation.
The endemic birds of paradises in Waigeo are Red and Wilson’s BoP. Other target birds are Common Paradise Kingfisher, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Papuan Hornbill, Yellow Bellied Kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Western Crowned Pigeon, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Papuan and Black Hooded Pittas, Yellow-bellied Long-bill, Dwarf Long-bill, Rajah Shellduck, Fairy Gerygone, Yellow-bellied Boatbill, Black-side Robin, Golden Monarch, Frilled Monarch, Spotted Monarch, Brown-headed Crow, Papuan and Marbled Frogmouth.
Jayapura Cyclop and Nibokrang:
Jayapura is the capital of Papua Province of Indonesia. There are two fomous birding sites which called Cyclop Mountain and Nimbokrang. In Nimbokrang there is a homestay with basic service owned by local. From Sentani Airport of Jayapura to Nimbokrang, can be reach by public transport or rented vehicles.
The key species in Nimbokrang are Lesser, King, Twelve-wired BoP, Northern Cassowary, Pale-billed Sicklebill, Victoria Crowned Pigeon. Other bird species are Salvadori’s Fig-parrot, Pigmy Parrot, Blue Jewel-babler, Shovel-billed Kingfisher, White-eared Catbirds, etc.
ITINERARY
Arfak Mountain/Manokwari(Day 1 to 6, 5N)
Day 1: 13th Aug 2026: Arrival in Manokwari from Jakarta
Arrival at Rendani Airport in Manokwari, where you will be met and taken to our nearby hotel for the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Manokwari with all meals
Day 2: 14th Aug 2026: Birding near Manokwari, travel to and birding in the Arfak Mountains
We will get the tour under way with some great birds near Manokwari. The afternoon will be spent birding the forest near our accommodation.
Overnight: Arfak Mountains with all meals.
Days 3–5: 15th-17th Aug 2026: Birding in the Arfak Mountains
Arguably one of the premier birding regions in West Papua, the Arfak Mountains support nine endemic bird species (and a further eleven species with restricted ranges), of which the most famous must be Vogelkop Bowerbird – the world’s greatest avian architect. Males of this amazing species build a roofed house-like maypole (tented) bower construction at the base of a tree sapling, inside and in front of which they place colorful berries, flowers, and insect parts to attract females, a true sight to behold for the female, and for us!After our final day birding in the Arfak Mountains we will descend back down to Manokwari.
Overnight: Arfak Mountains (three nights), Manokwari (one night) with all meals
Raja Ampat/Waigeo(Day 6 to 11, 4N)
Day 6: 18th Aug 2026: Transfer to Sorong
Today we will take a flight from Manokwari to Sorong on the far north-western edge of the Vogelkop Peninsula. After lunch we will transfer by ferry from Sorong to Waigeo Island across the Indonesian Dampier Strait (sometimes also known as Augusta’s Strait). During the two-to-three-hour ferry ride we will look out for pelagic species photography opportunities. On arrival on Waigeo Island we will check into our beachside amazing view Resort.
Overnight: Raja Ampat Dive Resort, Waigeo Island with all meals
Day 7-9: 19th-21st Aug 2026: Birding in Waigeo Island
Waigeo, where we will be based for the next three days, is the largest island in the Raja Ampat Archipelago, which comprises over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals, located off the northwest tip of the Bird’s Head Peninsula.
Overnight: Raja Ampat Dive Resort, Waigeo Island with all meals
Jayapura/Nimbokrong(Day 10 to Day 16, 5N)
Day 10: 22nd Aug 2026: Transfer to Jayapura
Today we will take a flight from Sorong to Sentani Airport(Jayapura), once arrive continue driving to Nimbokrang about 2 hours (relax)
Lunch and Dinner and Overnight stay at Nimbokrang Homestay
Day 11-14: 23rd-26th Aug 2026: Birding in Jayapura
Morning and Evening Birding session for Three full days in Jayapura and Nimbokrong forests along with the hides for Birds of Paradise.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and overnight stay at Nimbokrang Homestay
Day 15: 27th Aug 2026: Transfer from Sentani (Jayapura)
Morning check out from the Homestay and Say Good Bye at Sentani airport, until we meet again in West Papua
Species We Will Look For During The Tour:
Arfak Mountains:
Birds of Paradise Species: Magnificent Birds of Paradise, Masked Bowerbird, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Western Parotia, Superb Birds of Paradise,Black Sicklebill, Arfak Astrapia, Long-tailed Paradigalla
Other Species: Poisonous Hooded Pitohui, Papuan Parotfinch, Balck-eared Catbird, Capped White-eye, Island Leaf Warbler, Green-backed Robin,Blue-Grey Robin, Ashy Robin, Black Fantail, Black- breasted Boatbill, Fantail Monarch, Sclater’s Whistler, Black Pitohui, Papuan Treecreeper, Tit Berrypecker, Smoky Honey Eater, Lesser Ground Robin, Feline and Mountain Owlet Nightjar
Raja Ampat/Waigeo islands:
Birds of Paradise Species: Wilson’s Bird of Paradise and Red Bird of Paradise
Other Species: Glossy-mantled Manucode, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Pink Spotted Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Dusky Scrubfowl, Spotted Whistling Duck, Raja Shelduck, White Ibis, Pacific Baza, Red-necked Crake, Great Cuckoo Dove, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Pinon’s Imperial Pigeon, Rufescent Imperial Pigeon, Collared Sparrowhawk, Grey Goshawk, Grey-headed Goshawk, Gurney’s Eagle, Beach Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, many species of Honey Eater, Black and Hooded Butcherbird, Electus and Great-billed, Red-cheeked Parrot, many species of Lorikeet, Goden, Spot-winged, Frilled Monarch, Marble Frogmouth, Raja Ampat Pitohui together with many species of Sunbird, Meliphage, Medidetes and a number of shorebirds(Pomarine Skua, Lesser Frigatebird, Bulwer’s Petrel, Streaked and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, and Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel)
Jayapura:
Birds of Paradise Species: Lesser Birds of Paradise, Twelve-wired Birds of Paradise, King Birds of Paradise, Magnificent Birds of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Pale-billed Sicklebill.
Other Species: Blue Jewel Babbler, Papuan Babbler, Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Bush Turkey, Norhern Cassowary, Trillers, Cuckooshrikes, Little Shrikethrush, Black Coucal, Rusty Pitohui, Brush Cuckoo, Little Bronze Cuckoo , King Parrot, Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, Salvadori’s Fig Parrot, Double- eyes Fig Parrot, Crimson Finch, Cicadabird, Azure Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookabura, Papuan Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook.
Tour Cost:
USD 1400 (Only Arfak Mountain) Manokwari to Manokwari
USD 1300 (Only Raja Ampat/Waigeo) Sorong to Sorong
USD 1300 (Only Jayapura/Nimbokrang) Sentani to Sentani
USD 4000 (Whole Tour)
Trip Inclusions:
1. Accommodation in twin sharing with all meals(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) in all above mentioned stay
2. Guide charges for Bird photography along with transfer charges for Birding as per mentioned in the above itinerary
3. Bird hide charges, Porter allowances, Local village fees
4. Pick up and Drop charges at the domestic Airports to Resort(mentioned)
5. All Tolls, Parking fees
6. Internal/Domestic Flight Tickets
Exclusions:
Anything which is/are not mentioned in the above Inclusions List
Payments Policies:
Please Pay 25% of the Trip Cost During the Booking
Please Pay 50% before the 4 months of the Trip
Please Pay the rest/remaining before the 1 month of the Trip
In case of any natural calamity/disaster entire Tour advance or full payment would be adjusted with your next tour with me
Cancellation Policies:
25% before Refund if you cancel the trip 6 months of the Commencement
45% before Refund if you cancel the trip 6 months of the Commencement
0% before Refund if you cancel the trip 6 months of the Commencement
In case of any natural calamity/disaster entire Tour advance or full payment would be adjusted with your next tour with me
NOTE: IF YOU CANCEL THE TOUR FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL CHOICE/DECISION WITHIN 15-30 DAYS OF THE TOUR START DATE THEN NO AMOUNT WILL BE REFUNDED
