Raja Ampat & the Bird’s Head Peninsula
Sep 25 - Oct 05, 2023
11 days | Indonesia | Quest Nature Tours
The island of New Guinea is the ultimate dream destination for naturalists. It is as ecologically rich as it is mysterious, and, as such, there exists a treasure trove of opportunities for travellers to learn and be amazed. It is also where some of nature’s most extreme expressions of visual exuberance are to be found – most notably amongst the over 3 dozen species of the legendary birds-of-Paradise. On this special voyage of discovery, we’ll visit a part of the island notable for its bird life and we’ll have the privilege of discovering some of the amazing biodiversity for ourselves.
We will be spending our time on Waigeo Island in the fabled Raja Ampat archipelago and the nearby Vogelkop (Bird’s Head) Peninsula in the Indonesian province of West Papua. We’ve timed our visit to coincide with the mating season of several birds-of-Paradise, and we hope to witness a number of elaborate courtship dances. Endemic birds of all sorts are ubiquitous, including some from families found only on New Guinea: berrypeckers, berryhunters, and melampittas, among others. Striking bowerbirds, lorikeets, pigeons, whistlers, fairywrens, jewel-babblers and kingfishers also abound.
Our route takes us to lowland and highland locations and has been carefully selected to provide the best chances of seeing a variety of spectacular birds as possible. We will stay at established sites and accommodations, and our small number of lodges mean that we have little packing and unpacking to do. While some lodges are more rustic than others, the region is still in the developing stage of travel infrastructure and the lack of line-ups and crowded tourist sites makes this appealing to those who love wild places.
Join Josh and a very small group of other travellers to experience the delights of New Guinea in person.
Tour Cost (per person):
Approx. US$7195 Includes taxes and gratuities.
Group Size:
4 - 5 participants
What’s included: Accommodation in double occupancy; ground transportation; flight from Sorong to Manokwari; park entrance fees; airport transfers; most meals; services of Quest Leader Josh Vandermeulen and local guides.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day | Activity |
1 | Arrive in Sorong, explore the area |
2 | Sorong and Waigeo island |
3-4 | Waigeo Island |
5 | Waigeo Island and Sorong |
6 | To Manokwari, Arfak montane forests |
7-9 | Arfak montane forests |
10 | Arfak montane forests, to Manokwari |
11 | Depart Manokwari |
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Your Tour Leader
Josh Vandermeulen is a professional Field Biologist and is an active and well-known member of Ontario’s naturalist community. He regularly travels the province in pursuit of his two core interests, field herpetology and ornithology.
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