Sumarry
The Lesser Sunda Islands, located in Indonesia, exhibit a notable avifauna diversity across their diverse ecosystems. These islands, including Bali, Lombok, Flores, Rote, Alor, and Timor, are home to a wide range of bird species. The avian diversity encompasses various habitats such as tropical rainforests, savannas, and coastal areas. These islands contribute to Indonesia’s overall reputation as a biodiversity hotspot, with unique avian populations that reflect the ecological richness of the region. Conservation efforts are essential to safeguard these species and their habitats in the Lesser Sunda Islands.
Key Species
Sumba Hornbill; Red-naped Fruit-dove; Sumba Green Pigeon; Citron-crested Cockatoo; Eclectus Parrot; Sumba Boobook; Least Boobook (Little Sumba Hawk-owl); Sumba Myzomela; Apricot-breasted Sunbird; Sumba Buttonquail; Spectacled Monarch; Marigold Lorikeet;
Timor Sparrow; Black-banded Flycatcher; Timor Warbling Flycatcher; Brown Goshawk; Variable Goshawk; Mount Mutis Parrotfinch; Black-breasted Myzomela; Timor Leaf warbler; Spot-breasted Heleia; Green (TImor) Figbird; Iris Lorikeet; Olive-headed Lorikeet; Jonquil Parrot; Timor Boobook; Rote Boobook; Rote Myzomela; Rote Leaf warbler; Timor Stubtail; Orange-banded Thrush;
Flore Hawk-eagle; Alor Myzomela; Alor Boobook; Flores Green Pigeon; Wallace’s Hanging Parrot; Leaf Lorikeet; Banded Fruit-dove (Black-bakced Fruit-dove); White-rumped Kingfisher; Tenggara Hill Myna; Flores Scops-owl; Wallace’s Scops Owl; Bare-throated Whistler; Flores Shortwing; Orange-footed Scrubfowl; Yellow-crested Cockatoo; Green Junglefowl
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival day – Denpasar (-/-/D)
Pick up at the Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar-Bali then drop off at the hotel. Relax for the rest of the day or warming up birding to Nusa Dua / Serangan Island.
Dinner and stay overnight in Denpasar / Canggu.
Day 2: Denpasar – Tambolaka - Waikabubak (B / L / D )
Take a morning flight to Tambolaka Airport in Sumba Island. Lunch at a local restaurant in Tambolaka before drive to Waikabubak. Check in to the hotel then drive to Lapopu. Birding here till evening.
Key targets: Little Cuckoo-dove, Sumba Green Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Tenggara Paradise Flycatcher, Arafura Fantail, Sumba Boobook, Five-colored Munia, Elegant Pitta, Sumba Hornbill, Sumba Boobook
Dinner at a local restaurant, stay overnight at Manandang Hotel in Waikabubak
Day 3: Waikabubak - Tanadaru – Waingapu (B / L / D )
Depart from hotel at 05:00 AM, drive to Tanadaru. Birding in Tanadaru till midday. Have lunch at local restaurant in Langgaliru. Afternoon birding around Langgalliru and Lewa, then drive to Waingapu.
Dinner and stay overnight at Padadita Hotel
Key targets; Apricot-breasted Sunbird, Sumba flycatcher, Red-naped Fruit-dove, Little Sumba Boobook, Yellow-crested Cockatoo, Elegant Pitta, Sumba Spangled Drongo, Sumba buttonquail, Little Cuckoodove, Sumba Myzomela, Short-toed Snake-eagle, Spotted Harrier, Sumba Boobook, Little Sumba Boobook, Sumba Flycatcher.
Day 4: Birding at Laipori and Fly to Kupang (B / L / D )
Morning birding at Yumbu grassland, continue to Laipori till midday. Lunch in Waingapu. Take an afternoon flight to Kupang.
Dinner and stay overnight at On The Rock Hotel in Kupang
Key species: Sumba Buttonquail, Oriental plover, Javan Plover, Red-necked Stint, Australian pratincole , Australasian Swamphen, Purple Heron, Black Kite, Australian Reed Warbler.
Day 5: Kupang – Rote (B/ L / D )
After breakfast at the hotel, drop to the harbor of Tenau to get a fast Ferry (Air conditioned) to Rote island. It takes 2 hours to cross to the island. Lunch at a local restaurant in Ba’a then drive to Bolatena for birding till evening.
Dinner and Stay overnight at Hotel Ricky in Rote
Key targets: Rote Myzomela, Rote Leaf-warbler, Northern (Rote) Fantail, Black Cuckoo-dove, Rote Boobook, Timor Nightjar, Jonquil Parrot.
Day 6: Rote – Kupang (B/L/D)
Birding at Pantai Baru in the morning before transfer to the harbor to get a fast Ferry to Kupang. Arrive in Kupang, check in to the hotel.
Dinner at a local restaurant, stay overnight at On The Rock Hotel.
Key targets: Rose-crowned Fruit dove, Orange-banded Thrush, Timor Blue Flycatcher, Rote Myzomela, Rote Leaf-warbler, Black cuckoo-dove.
Day 7: Kupang – Timau - Soé (B/L/D)
Earlry morning start (05.00am) and drive to Bipolo. Birding here till midday. Afternoon drive to Soé. Enroute stop in Olenasi for night birding to find Timor Boobook and Timor Nightjar.
Stay overnight at Bahagia 2 Hotel.
Key targets; Timor Sparrow, Timor Myzomela, Timor Friarbirds, Streak-breasted Honey-eater, Timor Boobook, Timor Nightjar
Day 8: Soé – Mutis - Soé (B/L/D)
Depart at 04.30 drive to Fatumnasi the main village close Mt Mutis. Birding in the 2 sites till afternoon. Lunch box or simple lunch prepared by local family in Fatumnasi.
Afternoon drive back to Soe. Dinner at a local restaurant, Stay overnight at Bahagia 2 Hotel
Key targets: Mount Mutis Parrotfinch, Tricolored Parrotfinch, Timor Heleia, Timor Leafwarbler, Blood breasted (Timor) Flowerpecker, Olive-headed Lorikeet, Timor Cuckoo-dove, Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Timor Blue Flycatcher, Chectnut-backed Thrush, Island Thrush.
Day 9: Soé – Camplong – Kupang (B/L/D)
Depar at 06.00am, visit Olenasi. Birding here till midday. Back to Soé for having lunch. Drive to Kupang with a short stop in Camplong. Afternoon drive to Kupang. Dinner and stay Overnight at On The Rock Hotel
Key targets: Black-banded Flycatcher, Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Pacific Baza, Timor Figbird, Timor Spangled Drongo, Timor Sparrow, Banded Fruit-dove, Timor Imperial Pigeon
Day 10: Kupang - Alor (B/L/D)
Take a flight to Alor. Arive in Alor, check in to the hotel then birding around Mainang village.
Dinner and stay overnight at Hotel Simfoni
Key targets: Flores Green Pigeon, Wallacean Cuckooshrike, Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon, Ornate Pitta, Flores Hawk Eagle.
Day 11: Birding in Alor (B/L/D)
Depart 05:30am from hotel, drive to Apui. Birding till evening at 4 different sites around Apui. Breakfast and lunch at a local family in Apui. Afternoon back to Kalabahi. Enroute search for Alor Boobook. Dinner and stay overnight at Hotel Simfoni
Key targets: Alor Myzomela, Flores Green Pigeon, Sunda Bush Warbler, Lesser Shortwing, Flores Hawk-eagle, Olive-headed Lorikeet, Timor Cuckoo-dove, Alor Boobook, Black-naped Oriole
Day 12: Alor – Kupang - Bipolo (B/L/D)
Take a morning flight from Alor to Kupang (09:40am). Check in to the hotel. Birding at Bipolo till evening. Dinner and stay overnight at On the Rock Hotel in Kupang
Key targets: Timor Friarbird, Timor Sparrow, Brown Goshawk, Timor spangled Drongo, Orange-banded Thrush, Timor Boobook, Streak-breasted Honeyeater.
Day 13: Kupang – Bajawa - Kisol (B/L/D)
Take a flight from El Tari Airport in Kupang to Bajawa Airport in Soá. Lunch at a local restaurant in Bajawa. After Lunch drive to Kisol. Birding in Poco Ndeki till evening. Dinner and stay overnight at Gloria guest house in Borong.
Key targets: Flores Green Pigeon, Black-naped Oriole, Scaly-crowned Honey-eater, Leaf Lorikeet, Chestnut-Backed Thrush, Helmeted Friarbird, Flores Hawk-eagle, Mees’s Nightjar, Wallace’s Scops-owl
Day 14: Borong – Ruteng (B/L/D)
Depart at 05.30am from the guest house drive to Ranamese lake. Birding here till midday then continue to Ruteng. Lunch and check in to the hotel. After Lunch, birding at Mbeang Ledas till evening. Stay overnight at Ara Garden Inn / Spring Hill
Key targets: Bare-throated Whistler, Flores Leaf Warbler, Flores Minivet, Banded Fruit-dove, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Crested Heleia, Flores Jungle Flycacther.
Day 15: Ruteng Nature Reserve (B/L/D)
Morning birding at Golo Lusang forest. Lunch in town. After lunch birding along the roadsides in Gapong.
Dinner at local restaurant, Stay overnight at Ara Garden Inn / Spring Hill
Key targets: Flores leaf warbler, Cream-browed Heleia, Wallace’s Hanging parrot, Flores Shortwing, Wallace’s Scops-Owl, Flores Scops-Owl, Flores jungle Flycatcher, Crested Heleia, Flores Minivet, Golden rumped Flowerpecker, Chestnut backed Thrush, Thick billed Heleia, Blood-breasted (flores) Flowerpecker.
Day 16: Ruteng – Puarlolo – Labuan Bajo (B/L/D)
Early morning depart from hotel in Ruteng, long drive to Puarlolo forest. Birding here till lunch time. Lunch in a local restaurant in Melo. After lunch visit Potawangka forest or Gorontalo ricefields and fishponds.
Dinner and stay overnight at Puri Sari Beach Hotel
Key targets: Flores Monarch, Chestnut-caped Thrush, Banded Fruit-dove, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, White-rumped Kingfisher, Black-naped (Tenggara) Oriole, Flores Crow, Ornate Pitta, Thick-billed Heleia, Little Cuckoo-dove, Wallace’s Heleia.
Day 17: Labuan Bajo – Denpasar – Bali Barat NP (B/L/D)
Take a morning flight to Denpasar, Bali. Arrive in Bali, directly drive to Bali Barat National Park. Afternoon birding in the National Park. Dinner and stay overnight at Bajul Ecolodge.
Key targets: Bali Myna, Black-winged Myna, Javan Banded Pitta, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Java Sparrow, Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, Fulvous-chested Jungle-Flycatcher, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Coppersmith Barbet, Java Cuckooshrike, Laced Woodpecker, Crested Serpent Eagle.
Day 18: Bali Barat NP – Denpasar - Out (B/L/-)
Birding in the National Park in the morning or drive to Denpasar and transfer to the airport. Out
Duration : 18 Day / 17 Night
Price : USD 4640 / pax
Includes :
- AC car for tours and transfer / drop off to the airport
- Accommodations (Double/twin rooms)
- Boat ticket Kupang – Rote round trip.
- Full board Meals during the trip. Indicated (B/L/D)
- Ticket and Entrance fee/donation
- Water, Snacks and Fruits
- Refreshment
- Birding guide (English)
Excludes :
- Local Flights
- Insurance
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tipping