
Indonesia is a dream for spotting endemic birds, and even in the populated island of Java and Bali we can still see many different species. Both islands have mountains, jungle, beaches, and lowland forests which makes the biodiversity and ecosystems really worth a visit. This tour includes many photographic opportunities for beginners and advanced photographers. And even let you capture several critical endangered species from up close!
Day 1 :
• The first morning we explore the north coast of Jakarta Bay by boat where we will photograph the majestic frigate birds (3 different species!). After lunch we scout some more mangroves in the north of the city.
Day 2 – 4:
• On our second day we take the very comfortable executive train to Yogyakarta, the city that has it all. Culture, nature, an endless coastline, an active volcano and a bustling city centre that never sleeps. We head to the forest in the west of the city and there we visit the first successful conservation project that protects birds in a very creative way. The next day we move to the coast to photograph the white-tailed tropicbird high from a cliff. August and September is breeding season so this promises to be a blazing hot photo session. That same afternoon we move to East Java.
Day 5:
• Today is one of the highlights of our trip and we capture the rarest kingfisher on the planet, the Javan blue-banded kingfisher. We stay in the hide for a whole day and hope to see some other species as well like the Javan kingfisher and Sunda forktail.
Day 6 – 7:
• We dive deeper into East Java and travel to the Bromo National Park, world famous for the Bromo volcano and the volcanic panoramas. The next morning we install ourselves early in the hides and wait for what nature brings us.
Day 8 – 9:
• We move to the most eastern point of Java, because there is another national park to die for. We hope to see the star of the park, the green peafowl but also hornbills, Javan deer, green jungle fowl, Javan langur, and the endangered banteng (wild cow). Day 10:
In the early morning we photograph the rarest partridge in the world, the gray-breasted partridge. This species only occurs in this part of Java and nowhere else in the world. After this amazing experience we check out of our hotel and take the ferry to Bali.
Day 11:
Today we explore the only national park in Bali to see the endangered Bali starling. In the 90s, it was worth over 2,000 euros each and has been traded to near extinction. There are less than 500 wild birds left. We spend the night in an eco lodge near the Batukaru mountain. This lodge is located in the middle of nature and offers great opportunities to spot and photograph birds from our balcony!
Day 12 – 13: We take the chance to explore the immediate surroundings of our lodge on foot, there is a lot to see. But it is also possible to just relax by the beautiful pool of the lodge. Before we continue towards Denpasar we stop at a nice photo spot close to our lodge where we can hopefully see the orange-headed thrush from close by. This thrush is increasingly difficult to find and is constantly being captured as a songbird.
Day 14: Our journey is almost over and this is our last day in Indonesia. Depending on the timing of our flight we will stop at a last place where we can capture a lot of water birds in action. (Please note that if the flight leaves in the morning it is not possible to go here!). Our wonderful journey through Java and Bali has come to an end and we return home.
Day 1 :
Species | Status | Endemic |
christmas island frigatebird | cr | Christmas island |
lesser frigatebird | lc | |
great frigatebird | lc | |
Javan coucal | vu | Java |
black-backed swamphen | lc | |
milky stork | en | |
Javan plover | nt | Java and Bali |
Sunda teal | nt | Java and Bali |
Javan pond heron | lc | Java and Bali |
cerulean kingfisher | lc | Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa |
pied fantail | lc | |
oriental darter | nt | |
striated heron | lc | |
little egret | lc | |
great egret | lc |
Day 2 – 4:
Species | Status | Endemic |
Javan sunbird | lc | Java |
oriental dwarf kingfisher | lc | |
ruby-throated bulbul | vu | Sumatra, Java and Bali |
Javan kingfisher | lc | Java and Bali |
crested serpent eagle | lc | |
streaky-breasted spiderhunter | lc | Java and Bali |
little spiderhunter | lc | |
chestnut-breasted malkoha | lc | |
orange-bellied flowerpecker | lc | |
sunda pygmy woodpecker | lc | |
black-naped monarch | lc | |
blue-eared kingfisher | lc | |
brown-throated sunbird | lc | |
Javan leafbird | nt | Java and Bali |
Java sparrow | en | |
white-tailed tropicbird | lc | |
black-banded barbet | nt | Java and Bali |
Javan Black-capped Babbler | lc | Java |
crescent-chested Babbler | lc | Java and Bali |
ornate sunbird | lc | |
small minivet | lc | |
Javan blue flycatcher | cr | Java |
rufous piculet | lc | |
Sunda forktail | lc | Java & Sumatra |
Day 5 – 10:
Species | Status | Endemic |
Javan blue-banded kingfisher | cr | Java |
blue-whistling thrush | lc | |
Javan banded pitta | lc | Java and Bali |
Javan flameback | vu | Java and Bali |
green peafowl | en | |
red junglefowl | lc | |
green junglefowl | lc | |
black-winged myna | cr | Java and Bali |
oriental pied hornbill | lc | |
wreathed hornbill | vu | |
lesser adjutant | nt | |
racket-tailed treepie | lc | |
yellow-eared barbet | lc | Java and Bali |
white-faced partridge | vu | East-Java |
indigo flycatcher | lc | Java, Sumatra and northern Borneo |
orange-spotted bulbul | nt | Sumatra, Java and Bali |
banded woodpecker | lc | |
banded kingfisher | lc | |
Javan broadbill | nt | Java |
chestnut-headed bee eater | lc | |
reddish scops owl | nt | |
sacred kingfisher | lc | |
yellow-throated hanging parrot | nt | Java and Bali |
grey and buff woodpecker | lc | |
banteng (wild cow) | en | Java |
Javan leopard | cr | Java |
Sumatran dhole | en |
Day 11 – 14:
Species | Status | Endemic |
black-crowned night heron | lc | |
purple heron | lc | |
little pied cormorant | lc | |
brahminy kite | lc | |
black cormorant | lc | |
nankeen night heron | lc | |
cerulean kingfisher | lc | Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa |
blue-tailed bee-eater | lc | |
pink-necked green pigeon | lc | |
baya weaver | lc | |
lineated barbet | lc | |
sunda scops owl | lc | |
black-naped oriole | lc | |
asian glossy starling | lc | |
oriental honey buzzard | lc | |
black-headed bulbul | lc | |
ashy drongo | lc | |
fulvous-chested jungle flycatcher | lc | |
brown-cheeked bulbul | en | Java and Bali |
square-tailed drongo-cuckoo | lc | |
freckle-breasted woodpecker | lc | |
white-crowned forktail | lc | |
yellow-throated hanging parrot | nt | Java and Bali |
common flameback | lc | |
white-breasted woodswallow | lc | |
eurasian whimbrel | lc | |
common iora | lc | |
Bali myna | cr | Bali |
orange-headed thrush | lc | |
oriental magpie-robin | lc | |
emerald dove | lc | |
cinereous tit | lc | |
Horsfield’s babbler | lc | |
Temminck’s babbler | lc |
• All described activities
• Transport: train, boat, car, or minibus (depending on the group size and destination)
• Hotel accommodation from the first day to the last day (14 nights)
• Drinking water provided (reusable 20 L bottle, please bring your own tumbler)
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Local snacks and/or fruit
• Entrance tickets
• Professional photo documentation
• Dutch & English speaking guide (western standard)
• Environmental friendly approach, no single-use plastics are used on this trip
• International flight tickets
• Alcoholic drinks and drinks other than water
• Personal expenses (souvenirs, insurance,…)
• To keep prices affordable we suggest a minimum of 4 people for this tour.
(Please contact us here for prices, customizations or other questions)