: Central 2025
Until recently the magical islands of Indonesia were only visited by a few intrepid travellers and even today not too many visitors penetrate beyond Java and Bali. The very inaccessibility of much of Indonesia has led to the country being largely neglected by birdwatchers, yet Indonesia provides the adventurous bird photographer with some of the richest ornithological photographic experiences to be found anywhere in the world, as Wallacea is one of the most biologically diverse and endemic-rich areas on our planet. Bird-Photo-Tours Asia's Wallacea journey commences on the island of Sulawesi, where we will explore its wonderful coastal forests where Ochre-bellied Boobook, Great-billed, Green-backed, Sulawesi Lilac and Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfishers, Sulawesi Nightjar plus the splendid Red-backed Thrush will be high on our list for close photographic encounters. The second half of our Bird-Photo-Tour will be on Halmahera, the largest island of the Moluccas. Situated between Sulawesi and West Papua, Halmahera has a much greater Australasian element in its avifauna than Sulawesi and an equally rich selection of endemics, and here we will focus on obtaining photographic portraits of Wallace’s Standardwing, one of the most exotic of The Birds of Paradise. We will also photograph a host of other special birds, including the stunning Ivory-breasted Pitta, the Moluccan Owlet-Nightjar, Sombre Kingfisher plus a colourful collection of parrots including Moluccan Hanging Parrot as well as the Umbrella Cockatoo.
Kingfishers: Green-backed Kingfisher/ Lilac Kingfisher / Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher / Great-Billed Kingfisher / Scaly-breasted Kingfisher / Sombre Kingfisher / Blue-and-White Kingfisher / Beach Kingfisher / Moluccan Dwarf Kingfisher
Parrots: Sulawesi Hanging Parrot / Pygmy Hanging Parrot / Azure-rumped Hanging Parrot / Moluccan Hanging Parrot / Umbrella Cockatoo.
Nightjars / Owls: Sulawesi Nightjar / Moluccan Owlet Nightjar / Moluccan Scops Owl / Sulawesi Scops Owl
Birds-of-Paradise / Hornbills: Wallace’s Standardwing / Halmahera Paradise Crow / Knobbed Hornbill / Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill / Blyth's Hornbill
Pittas / Megapodes: Sulawesi Pitta / North Moluccan Pitta / Ivory-Breasted Pitta / Maleo
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 1-7, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province, Sulawesi Island [6N / 5D / 10S]. Arrive Sam Ratulangi International Airport, North Sulawesi Province. Drive 3-hours, 60-km to Minahasa Regency. Photographic Highlights: Green-backed Kingfisher / Lilac Kingfisher / Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher / Great-billed Kingfisher / Sulawesi Nightjar / Sulawesi Scops Owl / Sulawesi Hanging Parrot / Knobbed Hornbill / Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill / Azure-rumped Hanging Parrot.
Days 7-10, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province, Sulawesi Island [3N / 2D / 5S]. Drive 2 hours, 50-km to second location in North Sulawesi Province. Photographic Targets: Sulawesi Myzomela / Sulawesi Pitta / Scaly-breasted Kingfisher / Black-crowned White-eye / Grey-sided Flowerpecker / Yellow-sided Flowerpecker.
Days 10-11, Bolaang Mongoldow Regency, North Sulawesi Province, Sulawesi Island [1N / 0D / 2S]. Drive 3-hours to Bolaang Mongondow Regency. Photographic Targets: Maleo
Days 11-12, West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, Halmahera Island [1N / 0D / 1S]. Overnight boat from Minahasa Regency, Sulawesi Island to West Halmahera Regency, Halmahera Island.
Days 12-18, West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, Halmahera Island [6N / 5D / 11S]. Photographic Targets: Wallace’s Standardwing / Sombre Kingfisher / Blue-and-White Kingfisher / Beach Kingfisher / Moluccan Dwarf Kingfisher / North Moluccan Pitta / Ivory-breasted Pitta / Moluccan Owlet Nightjar / Moluccan Scops Owl / Halmahera Friarbird / Moluccan Hanging Parrot / Umbrella Cockatoo / Moluccan Monarch / Blyth’s Hornbill / Goliath Coucal.
Day 18-19, North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, Halmahera Island [1N / 0D / 1S]. Drive 2-hours, 60-km to Kuabang Airport, North Halmahera Regency for flight departures the following day [END].
[Key: N=Night, D=Full Day, S = Session / Half-Day]
Roland was born in Munich in 1970. His love for nature started at an early age through his passion for mountaineering which in turn developed his interest in environmental protection. Roland spent over two decades in China from 1998 to 2021 living predominantly in Sichuan Province in western China and working as a professional guide on bird as well as mammal tours. With many of Roland’s clients being photographers, Roland has developed considerable skills and knowledge in supporting the needs of the bird photographer. Roland’s travels throughout China and South East Asia are extensive from the Tibetan Plateau to the Chinese lowlands to the rainforests of both Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia: Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Roland is fluent in Chinese, English and German and has a friendly, amicable disposition, displaying both care and thoughtfulness towards his clients, in addition to possessing strong field identification skills, all of which have combined well generating a positive reputation as a Tour Leader, particularly amongst bird photographers.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping. Summary: for these five reasons this trip has been graded as 'Easy'.
