West Papua Birding 25 Days 24 Nights
Sorong - Waigeo - Arfak - Wamena - Baliem Valley - Lake Habbema - Nimbokrang - Biak - Numfor Island BookingDay 1: The tour begins from Sorong on west Papua and you will be picked up at the airport Sorong to transfer to a hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2: Morning we will be birding in forests ouside of Sorong before leaving to Waigeo island next to Batanta, Raja Ampat. We will stay for three nights in Waigeo.
Days 3-4: Waigeo is the best place to see Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise, close and easy walk to get to their display grounds comparing to Batanta. We will watch the bird from a constructed hides where we will have good chances to enjoy a male in full action calling and displaying vigorously to any females enter to his displaying arena. Around this area also productive any good birds such Black-sided Robin, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Raja Ampat Pitohui, and the shy Western Crowned Pigeon. Another main target is Red Bird-of-Paradise. If it is in good fortune we may see around ten males or more in their displaying tree arena calling for several females entering their arena and we may ejoying watching the birds everage for an hour or more in their displaying tree.
Day 5: After a final morning on Waigeo we return for an overnight stay and a welcome hot shower.
Day 6: Arriving on the west shore of Geelvink Bay, then drive up into the Arfak Mountains. We will stay for three nights at a basic guesthouse which is already developing and comfortable comparing some years ago. The accommodation is in a birding site village in a slope of Arfak mounts situated at 1600m. We will organize well what to do best during our birding in the Arfak.
Days 7-9: In Arfak we will birding in easy trail and some productive roadside birding is possible but we will more focus searching wanted birds including the elusive Black-billed Sicklebill, Long-tailed Paradigalla, and the fascinating Vogelkop Bowerbird which has skill building an impressive bower and can imitating the songs of many other birds. Our highlight of staying here is the chance to visit the dancing ground of the Western Parotia. We will stay on hide to have best chance of watching the extravagant ‘ballerina dance’ in good performance. Our local Papuan guide know where to see Mountain Owlet Nightjar and Felline Owlet Nightjar in their roosting. And of course, our last visit is visiting Magnificient Bird of Paradise, very close to the main road and easily access. Vogelkop Scrub-wren, Perplexing Scrub-wren, Black Fantail, Friendly Fantails and Mountain Melipaga are also possible to see.
Day 10: This day is our happy hour birding. Birding from roadsides at higher altitude give us possibility to see such Masked Bowerbird, Variable Pitohui, Vogelkop Melidictes, Josephine’s Lorikeet, Orange-crowned Fairy-wren, and Black-chinned Robin, and also hopefully Black Sicklebill and Arfak Astrapia. We will leave the area to the town for an overnight stay in a nice hotel.
Day 11: This afternoon we will birding at Wamena area in search of such Ornate Melidectes, Black-breasted Munia, mountain Kingfisher and Superb Bird-of- Paradise.
Day 12: Not wasting time we should leave early morning driving up with 4WD vehicles to the fabled Snow Mountains and in particular the Grand Baliem Valley. The journey is along winding roads, through wonderful forests where we will make several birding stops in search of our first specialties such Black-breasted Manikin and Mountain Kingfisher, etc.
Days 13-14: During our stay in this area we will explore some areas such near the lake Habbema and surounding areas where we will explore and expect to see for some dificult birds such Greater Ground Robins, Lesser Melampitta, Crested Berrypecker, Spended Astrapia, Giant Wattled Honeyeater which was Macgregor’s, Papuan Lorikeet, Papuan Scrub-wren, Plam-faced Lorikeet, Yellow-billed Lorikeet, Painted Tiger Parrot, and New Guinea Woodcock. We may also birdwatch such Western Alpin Manikin, Common Smoky Honeyeater, Belford’s Melidectes, Short-bearded Melidectes, Black-throated Honeyeater, Orange-cheeked Honeyeater, Red-collared Myzomela, Grey-streaked Honeyeater, Lorentz’s Whistler, Alpin Pipit, etc. We will also search other special birds Snow Mountain Quail that are often flushed from the grasslands and Papuan Harrier often flying at more open areas.
Day 15: Our last day in the morning we will have happy hour birding. We still focus to some birds that more difficult to find around the lake such Brown Sicklebill which more possible to see in this area rather than around the lake. I have seen this bird in the same area for several my birding trips in Habbema. Other birds such Black Sittella, Western Mountain White-eye, Plum-faced Lorikeet, etc are also possible around here. Our comfortable accommodation and hot shower are welcome for our stay the night.
Day 16: We will drive to Nimbokrang at the lowland forests which is bird-rich area for overnights stay at a basic homestay and will explore to this bird-rich area in the afternoon for such White-shouldered Fairywren, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, etc.
Days 17-19: We will explore the lowland forest of Nimbokrang and an old logging road expect to see such Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Pale-billed Sicklebill, Rufous/Papuan Babbler, Blue-back Kingfisher, a rare Shovel-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Salvadori’s Fig-Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Brown Lory, Sulphur-crested Cocatoo, Palm Cocatoo, Yellow-faced myna, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Western Black-capped Lory, Crimson Finch, Hooded Manikin, Streak-headed Manikin, etc.
Day 20: After a final day of birding in these tropical lowland forests we will leave this area and will explore nearby grasslands where it is often possible to find for such Grand Manikin, and Chestnut-breasted Manikin near the lake.
Days 21-22: This Afternoon we will make an easy birding at cultivation forest near Biak and the next day long drive to a best forest where we will have full day birding and expect to see for our Biak endemics such Biak Black Flycatcher, Biak Monarch, Golden Monarch, Biak Paradise Kingfisher, Biak Lorikeet split from Rainbow Lorikeet, Biak Red Lory, and Biak White-eye. In the evening we will try to spotlight the endemic Biak Scops Owl which is usually difficult to see, and the rather more conspicuous Papuan Frogmouth. Night in Biak.
Day 23: After some final birding on Biak we travel by boat to Numfor island for an overnight in a basic guesthouse on Numfor.
Day 24: Our main target bird here is Numfor Paradise Kingfisher which is quite common on this island. Beach Kingfisher is also possible seeing it here. In the afternoon we return to Biak for an overnight stay.
Day 25: Tour ends. Transfer to the airport to make a connecting with your international flight.
Please note this itinerary is open to change at any time due to continuing changes in internal flight schedules.
Maximum: 8 pax
Tour Cost: Contact us for best cost.
The Cost includes: all accommodation, all internal flights, all main meals, drinking water, overland transportation, entrance fees, and guide fees. For booking and flights, please contact us. We will arange your internal and domestic flights to suitable with the itinerary.
The Cost excludes: international flights, domestic flights, departure taxes, overweight of luggage, lost/dumage of luggage, insurance, medicals and hospitality, drinks, donations, tips, and other items of a personal nature.
Accommodation: often basic but comfortable twin-bedded and single rooms, some with private facilities, though shared facilities are only possible at some places, regular camping.
Walking difficulty: moderate – arduous treks