16 days birdwatching tour

Indonesia: West Papua Birdwatching

16 Days 15 Nights

Wilson’s bird-of-paradise (Carolin Waisimon)

Overview

Jakarta – Sentani – Nimbokrang – Manokwari – Arfak Mountain – Raja Ampat – Sorong – Jakarta

Embark on an incredible birdwatching journey across West Papua, where you’ll explore diverse landscapes from lowland rainforests to mountainous highlands, and finally, the picturesque beaches of Raja Ampat. The adventure begins at Nimbokrang, set against the backdrop of the Cyclops Mountains, where you’ll encounter species like the Pale-billed Sicklebill and various birds-of-paradise, including the Twelve-wired and King Bird-of-Paradise. Next, venture into the Arfak Mountains, where unique montane species and the mesmerizing dance of the Western Parotia await. The tour concludes on Waigeo Island in Raja Ampat, where the stunning Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise and the Red Bird-of-Paradise will be the highlights. This 16-days tour will be unforgettable sightings of West Papua’s wildlife.

The tour will be led by Alex Waisimon and Carolin Waisimon in the field and organized by Carolin Waisimon from the first meeting point in Indonesia.

2025 Tours

Date: 7-22 July 2025

Group size: 4 – 6 persons

Price : $6950 (USD)

Deposit : $695 (USD)

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Jayapura

The tour starts with arrivals into Sentani Airport in Jayapura (DJJ) continuing to the lowland forests of Nimbokrang at the base of the imposing Cyclops Mountains, where we will be based for the next four nights at a basic guesthouse. The remainder of the day will be spent exploring this bird-rich area. Night at Nimbokrang.

Day 2-3-4: Birdwatching in Nimbokrang

The lowland rainforest of Nimbokrang has experienced logging, but much of the secondary forest and selectively logged areas remain. Birdwatching in these swamp forests can be quite challenging, but the rewards are remarkable. Here, we will search for endemic species like the Pale-billed Sicklebill. We will take advantage of the early mornings to visit the display areas of three other birds-of-paradise, which we will observe from special hides: the Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, which are active during the mornings and evenings is Lesser Bird-of-Paradise, and the tiny King Bird-of-Paradise. In this area, we may also encounter the impressive Victoria Crowned Pigeon, the shy Brown-collared Brush-turkey, and the rare Northern Cassowary during our explorations. If we are lucky, we might have a direct sighting, but we must be very quiet as they are difficult to observe. In the surrounding grasslands, we can often spot Fawn-breasted Bowerbird Grand Hooded Mannikin and and much more beside.

Day 5: Depart from Nimbokrang to Sentani

After a final day of birding in these tropical lowland forests, we will return to Sentani for an overnight stay.

Day 6: Arrival in Manokwari

We will fly to Manokwari and continue our journey to the Arfak Mountains with 4DWs, located at an altitude of 1600m. We will spend five days here in a simple yet comfortable guesthouse in the village.

Day 7-8-9-10: Birdwatching in Arfak

In these remote mountains, we will search for unique mountain birds, including some of the most sought-after species in New Guinea. The highlight of our visit here will likely be the chance to witness the dance displays of the Western Parotia. Our exploration will focus on finding other endemic birds-of-paradise of these mountains: Arfak Astrapia, Long-tailed Paradigalla, Black-billed and Black Sicklebills, and The Vogelkop superb bird-of-paradise. We also encounter the remarkable Magnificent Bird-of-paradise, Masked and Vogelkop Bowerbirds and much more beside.

Day 11: Depart from Arfak to Manokwari

After a final day of birding in the Arfaks, we return to Manokwari for an overnight stay and welcome hot shower!

Day 12: Arrive in Sorong

Today, we fly to Sorong and heading to harbour in time for the fast ferry to Waigeo in the Raja Ampat Islands for a three-night stay by the beach in a relaxing dive resort but there are still many birds to see!

Day 13-14: Birdwatching in Waigeo

Our final stop, and a fitting conclusion to this extraordinary adventure in New Guinea, West Papua, is Waigeo Island in Raja Ampat. Waigeo Island is home to two remarkable species not found on the mainland, which will be the highlight of our visit here. The stunning Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise, often regarded as one of the most beautiful birds in the world, will shine through the foliage during its display, which we will observe from a specially made hide their display area. High in the treetops, the noisy Red Bird-of-Paradise will show off its dance moves, trying to catch the attention of any passing female. We will also look out for the shy Western Crowned Pigeon.

Day 15: Depart to Waigeo

After a final morning on Waigeo we return by boat to Sorong for an overnight stay in Sorong.

Day 16: Depart from Sorong

The tour finishes with departures out of Sorong.

Details

Accommodation: Comfortable hotels in Sentani, Manokwari, Waigeo, and Sorong. Simple yet cozy guesthouses in Arfak, with the possibility of one or two nights in permanent tented camps in the upper Arfak (shared rooms and facilities), and basic guesthouses in Nimbokrang.

Walking Difficulty: In Nimbokrang, trails or birdwatching paths are mostly short, with some optional longer birdwatching routes (a few hours / ~3 hours at a birding pace). In Arfak, many sections are steep and/or muddy. Good balance is essential, and a reasonable level of fitness is recommended for those who want to reach all the hides (some require fairly direct and dedicated early morning hikes of about ~1.5 hours).

Inclusions:

Exclusions:

We handle every detail: From the moment we greet you at the airport to the time you depart for home, we take care of everything. All you need to do is focus on making unforgettable memories.

Please read the following booking terms and conditions carefully before making a booking with us. By booking with us, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.