Indonesia: Java & Bali

NOTE: There is currently a reliable stakeout to see Javan Woodcock, but this requires two extra nights before the tour. We can also arrange a morning boat trip into Jakarta Bay for Milky Stork and Christmas Frigatebird on Day 1 for anyone who wishes to arrive the night before. Please let us know at the time of booking if either of these options interest you. 

Day 1: Evening arrivals into Jakarta International Airport (CGK). Night at an airport-adjacent hotel.

Day 2: Early morning departure towards Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park, arriving in time for an afternoon and evening session of birding. Night at Ceikini Research Station.

Day 3: Full day inside the national park with an abundance of native species to see. Most important is the beautiful Spotted Crocias which are often difficult elsewhere, alongside Javan Trogon, Javan Leafbird, Javan Hawk-Eagle, Flame-fronted Barbet, Brown-throated Barbet, White-breasted Babbler, White-bibbed Babbler, Crescent-chested Babbler, Brown-cheeked Bulbul, Javan Bulbul, Javan Spiderhunter, Javan Sunbird, “Javan” Banded Broadbill, “Javan” Brown Prinia, with an outside chance for the rare endemic Zebra Woodpecker. Spotlighting gives us our first chance for the fiery-eyed Javan Scops Owl, and lovely Javan Frogmouth. Mammals could include Javan Surili, Javan Lutung, Javan Gibbon, and Javan Small-toothed Palm Civet. Night at Cikaniki Research Station.

Day 4: We will spend some time this morning in search of species we missed the previous day before driving east to Cibodas at the base of Gunung Gede. We will try to see Salvadori’s Nightjar tonight, just behind our rooms! Night at Cibodas.

Day 5-6: Exploring the hiking trail towards the summit of Gunung Gede is likely to be a highlight of the tour, with the majority of Java’s endemic birds found here. The first day we will be focusing on the lower elevations where we expect to search out the Critically Endangered Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush, plus Chestnut-bellied Partridge, Pink-headed Fruit Dove, Fire-tufted Barbet, Blue Nuthatch, White-flanked Sunbird, Javan Tesia, Javan Robin, Javan Scimitar Babbler, Javan Fulvetta, Rufous-tailed Fantail, Trilling Shrike-babbler, Pied Shrike-babbler, Pygmy Bushtit, and Sangkar White-eye. On the second day we will depart early to push much higher up. This gives us our best chances for Javan Cochoa, Javan Shortwing, Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch, and there is even a slim chance for Giant Swiftlet or Indonesian Serin. 

Day 7: We have the morning to bird around Cibodas in search of Sunda Thrush, Javan Kingfisher, Yellow-throated Hanging-parrot and “Javan” White-crowned Forktail before making our way to Kawah Putih for overnight.

Day 8: Full day in the forest near the summit of Kawah Putih. Here we can see the enigmatic Volcano Swiftlet, plus have more chances for tricky ones like Javan Trogon, Javan Cochoa, Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch, and several other species from the previous days. 

Day 9: After returning to Jakarta this morning, we take a flight to Surabaya for overnight.

Day 10: Morning visit to the new feeding hide for a pair of Critically Endangered Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher, which have been reliable for the last few years. Then in the evening we will visit a stretch of mangroves in search of the rapidly declining Javan White-eye. We hope to find this rare specialty alongside the likes of Javan Plover, Javan Coucal, White-headed Munia, and the beautiful Cerulean Kingfisher.

Day 11: Depending on our previous successes, we will either revisit the mangroves or target Zebra Woodpecker this morning. Afterwards, it will be a long drive through the afternoon to reach Banyuangi for overnight. 

Day 12-13-14: Using our comfortable hotel as a base, we will spend three full days dividing our time between Baluran National Park, Alas Purwo National Park, and the Ijen Plateu. Nights in Banyuangi.

The dry savannah of Baluran is characterised by an abundance of Green Junglefowl, Green Peafowl, and Timor Deer, but our primary target will be the Critically Endangered Black-winged Myna, with a dozen or so pairs still surviving in the park. We also hope to encounter Java Sparrow, Javan Flameback, Javan Banded Pitta, Javan Cuckooshrike, Grey-cheeked Tit Babbler, the recently split Javan Black-capped Babbler, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, the lowland “Javan” Scarlet Minivet, and Sunda Collared Dove. To the south, Alas Purwo holds many similar species, but is noteworthy in being the last remaining stronghold for Javan Blue Flycatcher, and also a good spot to see Ruby-throated Bulbul.

Beautiful hill forest at Ijen offers some very pleasant roadside birding, but with luck the new feeding stations will allow us to obtain some excellent views of the East Javan endemic Grey-breasted Partridge alongside usually skulky "Horsfield’s" Scaly Thrush and Javan Whistling Thrush. We also have a second chance for several species we may have missed in the west, including Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Orange-spotted Bulbul, White-bellied Fantail, Black-banded and Yellow-eared Barbets, Javan Helia (aka Mees’s White-eye), Javan Bush Warbler, and Javan Owlet.

Day 15: After some final birding we will catch the ferry across the Bali and begin our exploration this afternoon. Night in Gilimanuk.

Day 16: Bali Barat National Park at the far north-west of the island is most famous for a protected population of beautiful Bali Myna, surely one of the most beautiful birds in Asia. During our day birding we will also keep an eye out for a few species we may still need such as Javan Banded Pitta, Ruby-throated Bulbul and Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher. Night in Gilimanuk.

Day 17: After a final morning session to target Javan Owlet and White-capped Munia (which are always tricky and may still be unseen at this point), we will drive to Denpasar International Airport (DPS) where the tour ends this afternoon.