Papua Birding Trip
Overview
Southwest Papua and West Papua Birdwatching cover the area of Waigeo Island, Klabili Klasow Valley, and Arfak Mountains
Itinerary
Day 01: Sorong – Waigeo
your arrival in Sorong, Having breakfast at the Swiss Belhotel in Sorong, and then will be transferred directly to Waigeo island with a fast and comfortable ferry that departs at 9 AM. On Waigeo island you will stay 2 nights in a comfortable resort with great views both from the beach to the forest. This island located in Raja Ampat archipelago, arguably boasts the most-wanted birds on the tour. The display sites of both Red Bird-of-paradise and the awe-inspiring Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise will be visited during our days on the island. To make it even better, these sites are easy to reach after short 10-minute walks. Overnight at Coriana Resort (B, L, D)
Day 02: Waigeo Island
Just a few of the many species that we might encounter include Blyth’s Hornbill, Eclectus Parrot, Emperor Fairywren, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, and Papuan Drongo. We need to wake up 30 minutes early at 4.30 for breakfast. At 05.00 am we visit the hide of Wilson’s Bird of Paradise until lunch. From our resort, it takes around 25 minutes drive to the stop point and we continue to walk around 20 minutes to the hide. The afternoon schedule will be birding along the roadside. Overnight at Coriana Resort (B,L,D)
Day 03: Waigeo Island
In addition to the aforementioned ‘BoPs, the lowlands of this island offer a huge list of birds, including the localized Raja Ampat Pitohui, Great-billed and Moluccan King- Parrots, Claret-breasted, Orange-bellied and Dwarf Fruit-Doves, Palm Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Yellow-faced Myna, Papuan Pitta, elusive White-eared Catbird, Brown-headed Crow, New Guinea Friarbird, and Golden Monarch and the Waigeo Cuscus. Our morning will start just like yesterday and after all preparation, we step up to the Red Bird of Paradise hide. From the resort, we will drive around 25 minutes to the stop point and walk for 15 minutes to the hide. You can enjoy the bird playing until 8 or 9 am and we go back to the resort for lunch. The afternoon schedule will be birding along the roadside. Overnight at Coriana Resort (B,L,D)
Day 04: Waigeo Island – Sorong - Klasow Valley
We still have a one-morning bird photo in Waigeo, Lunch at 12 O’clock, and 1 PM transferred to the harbor for a boat departure at 2 PM back to Sorong. Then direct to Klasow Valley, Sorong to Klasow Valley takes about 2 hours of driving. Overnight at local homestay (B,L,D)
Day 05: Klasow Valley
List bird targets in Klasow Valley; Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Papuan Pitta, Eastern Hooded Pitta, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Blue Black Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Rufous Bellied Kookaburra, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Western Crowned Pigeon, Blyths Hornbill,
Day 06, Day 07: Klasow Valley
Klabili located in the east of Sorong drives around two hours from Sorong to the Stop point of the village and then continues to walk for around 3.5 hours to reach the village. Despite how long the journey to reach the village, it does not make Klabili lose his magnet to attract the attention of birders around the world.
Day 08: Klasow Valley – Sorong
After breakfast, we will check out and walk for around 2 hours to the meeting point, and from there we will take a 4WD Hilux truck to take us to the hotel in Sorong. Overnight at Swiss Belhotel in Sorong. (B, L, D)
Day 09: Sorong – Manokwari – Arfak
With so much to see here, we will spend four full days birding the various forests, gardens, and other secondary habitats that flank the mountains, and hold many of the tour’s standout birds. We will visit the display grounds of Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise, Western Parotia, and the bower of the Vogelkop Bowerbird, one of the great architects of the bird world, with an extraordinarily large and decorative bower that far outshines the dour bird itself! While these may arguably be the most famous targets in the mountains, the list of other birds is both extensive and tantalizing, and includes the likes of Vogelkop Superb BoP, If we are extremely lucky we might catch up with Masked Bowerbird, Vulturine Parrot, or the New Guinea Harpy Eagle. The nights will be spent at a community guesthouse. Sometimes owlet-nightjars, Feline Owlet-Nightar, papuan-frogmouth, and Papuan Boobook can be found in daylight.
ARFAK / Maibri Village By many birders, Arfak Mountains are known as West Papua’s premier birding destination. KEY BIRD SPECIES Western Parotia, Vogelkop Superb bird of paradise, Black-billed Sicklebill, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Magnificent bird of paradise. Vogelkop endemic birds (11 species)
Western Parotia (Parotia sefilata), Arfak Honeyeater (Melipotes gymnops), Long-tailed Paradigalla (Paradigalla carunculate), White-striped Forest Rail (Rallicula leucospila), Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles affinis), Vogelkop Bowerbird (Amblyornis inornatus), Vogelkop Melidectes (Melidectes leucostephes), Vogelkop Scrubwren (Sericornis rufescens), Vogelkop Whistler (Pachycephala meyeri), Arfak Astrapia (Astrapia nigra), and Grey-banded Munia (Lonchura vana)
Day 10, day 11, day 12, day 13 (10 – 13 Aug 2024): Arfak, Maibri Birding Ecolodge. For four days full day, we will explore the Arfak and we will focus on Maibri Village. Overnight at Maibri Birding Ecolodge (B, L,D).
Day 14: Arfak – Manokwari
We still have the morning to photograph birds from the hide. After that back to Maibri Birding Ecolodge and have lunch. After lunch at 1 PM we will departure to Manokwari. Overnight stay at Aston Hotel. (B,L, D).
Day 15: Manokwari – Sorong – Jakarta by Batik Air
After having breakfast, we will transfer you to Manokwari Airport for your next destination. End of the trip.
Date & Price
Tour Code | Travel Date | Travel Time | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Waigeo, Klasow Valley, Arfak | 2024-08-01 - 2024-08-15 | 15 Days |