INDONESIA'S EXQUISITE BIRDS OF PARADISE
Whether you are a mere nestling who is new to bird watching, a fully-fledged birder, or a seasoned twitcher, this 10-day (9-night) ornithological adventure through the remote, rainforest-clad islands of northern Raja Ampat and North Maluku, which includes a two-night stay at the famed Weda Resort on Halmahera, is a fantastic opportunity to add some significant numbers to your life lists. No other feathered family is as beautiful, or displays such diversity of plumage, extravagant decoration, and courtship behaviour as the ostentatious Bird of Paradise.
In the company of our guest expert, Dr. Kees Groeneboer, we Bird-of-Paradise can be seen. Ask us for details. will be in hot pursuit of as many as six or seven species of these fabled shapeshifters, which strut, dazzle and dance in costumes Which Birds-of-Paradise might we see? worthy of the stage. Raja Ampat is one of the most noteworthy On the islands of Gam, Waigeo, Batanta and Salawati: Red ecological niches on the planet, where you can snorkel within a Bird-of-Paradise, Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise, Glossy-mantled below-surface world reminiscent of a living kaleidoscope, while Manucode. On Batanta and Salawati also: King marveling at above-surface views - and birds, which are among Bird-of-Paradise, Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise, Lesser the most stunning that you are likely to behold in a lifetime. Bird-of-Paradise, Magnificient Bird-of-Paradise, Magnificent Meanwhile, Halmahera, in the North Maluku province, is where Rifflebird, Trumpet Manucode. On Halmehera: Standard-wing some of the world's rarest and least-known birds occur. (Wallace's) Bird-of-Paradise, Paradise Crow.
Note: An optional two-night programme in Sorong at the end of Special birds in the Weda-Forest of Halmahera the cruise is availabel where the Magnificent Rifebird and the Moluccan Goshawk, Moluccan Scrubfowl, Bare-eyed Rail, Twelve-wired Drummer Rail, Scarletbreasted Fruit-Dove, Blue-capped Fruit-Dove, Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Chattering Lory, White (Alba) Cockatoo, Moluccan Cuckoo, Goliath Coucal, Blue and-white Kingfisher, Sombre Kingfisher, Azure (Purple) Dollarbird, Ivory-breasted Pitta, Halmahera Cuckooshrike,
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Rufous-bellied Triller, Halmahera (Dusky-brown) Oriole, Day 1 Ternate Moluccan Starling, White-streaked Friarbird, Halmahera Flowerpecker, Gery-headed Fruit-Dove, Moluccan King-Parrot, Rufous-bellied Whistler, Moluccan Owlet Nightjar, Moluccan Our birding-watching adventure will begin in Ternate, in Scops-Owl. Indonesia's North Maluku province. After everyone has been picked up at the airport or from a hotel in Ternate City, we will Special birds of Northern Raja Ampat travel by speedboat to Sofifi Harbour on Halmahera. From there, Orange-bellied Fruitdove, Pinon's Imperial Pigeon, Palm our journey continues by car to the Weda Resort on the east Cockatoo, Papuan Frogmouth, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, side of the island. This ride of 3-4 hours takes us through some Blue-black Kingfisher, Yellow-billed facinating landscape. Stops will be made along the way so that Kingfisher, Western Crowned Pigeon, Grey-headed Goshawk, we can catch our first glimpses of some of the birds of Collared Sparrowhawk, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Long-billed Halmahera. We will check in at the Weda Resort and have lunch Honeyeater, Tawny-brested there. In the afternoon, we can enjoy our first bird watching Honeyeater, Varied Honeyeater, Spectacled Longbill, experience in the Weda Forest, where we will see more of the Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Black-capped Lory, Channel-billed endemic birds. Hopefully we can also observe the beautiful Cuckoo, Hooded Butcherbird, Barred courtship dance of the Standardwing (Wallace's) Cuckooshrike, Raja Ampat Pitohui, Spot-winged Monarch, Bird-of-Paradise, which only lives on Halmahera. Golden Monarch, Singing Starling, Brown Oriole, Yellow-faced Myna Day 2 Weda
Special birds found both in Northern Raja Ampat and At dawn we will set out on a trek through the Weda Forest Halmahera looking for more of the fabulous birds of Halmahera. We will Red-cheeked Parrot, Yellow-capped Pygmy-Parrot, start from another spot where we can watch the Standardwing Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial (Wallace's) Bird-of- Paradise again, dancing in the trees above Pigeon, Sulpher-crested Cockatoo, Violetnecked Lory, us. The rest of the morning we may spot many more birds of White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Shining Flycatcher, Torresian Crow, Halmahera, including, perhaps, the endemic Paradise Crow. In Dusky Scrubfowl, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Beach the afternoon we can enjoy additional bird watching in the area Kingfisher, Black Sunbird, Stephan's Emerald Dove, Eclectus or some fantastic snorkelling in Weda Bay. Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Great-billed Parrot, Blyth's Hornbill, Olive-backed Sunbird, Willie-wagtail, Spangled Drongo. Day 3 Weda ITINERARY
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com This morning presents our last chance to spot more of the Starting before dawn, we will trek from the village of Yanbesir on endemic Halmahera birds in the Weda Forest. After lunch, we Pulau Gam in the hope of seeing the Red Birds of Paradise will check out of the Weda Resort and join our beautiful boat, performing their spectacular courtship dances. On the way back the Katharina. Our tour leaders will give a safety briefing and, if we should see many other birds native to the area. Hopefully we time allows, we can go for another wonderful snorkel in Weda will also meet the Glossy-mantled Manucode. In the afternoon Bay. In the afternoon we will start the long overnight crossing we will visit the nearby tiny island of Mioskon, which is home to east to Pulau Gebe, (pulau is the Indonesian word for 'island'). a number of special birds. There is also the possibility of some good snorkelling off the beach. At dusk, we can watch Day 4 Gebe thousands of flying foxes crossing over to the mainland of Waigeo Island. In the evening we, too, will head to Waigeo.
The island of Gebe is situated halfway between Northern Raja Day 7 Waigeo Ampat and Halmahera, and birds can therefore be found from both regions. In the morning we will trek from the village of Umera to try to spot some of these birds. We may see imperial Starting once again before dawn, we can participate in a long pigeons, fruit-doves, cuckoos, kingfishers, parrots and maybe trek from the village of Sapokoren on Pulau Waigeo in search of we will see the Glossy-mantled Manucode. In the afternoon we the fabulous Wilson's Bird of Paradise, hopefully we will see its can explore some of the tiny islands nearby for snorkelling and elaborate mating display just in front of us on the forest floor. water sports. Overnight we will cruise south to Pulau Kofiau. Making our way back to the boat we will be accompanied by the calls and sounds of the jungle coming to life, and we can be Day 5 Pulau Kofiau sure to spot a variety of birds along the way. We might even see the Glossy-mantled Manucode and Red Bird-of-Paradise flying around. In the afternoon we will move to the nearby island of In the morning we can go trekking in search of some of the Mansuar for snorkelling and beach activities, and in the evening endemic birds on Pulau Kofiau: Spectacled Imperial Pigeon, we will cruise to the south side of Pulau Batanta. Kofiau Paradise Kingfisher, Spotted Kestrel, Kofiau Monarch, Black-faced Munia. In the afternoon we can enjoy some good Day 8 Batanta snorkelling and explore the area using the dinghies. In the early evening we will begin our cruise to the island of Gam. On Pulau Batanta we will set off in the early morning to go Day 6 Pulau Gam birding from the village of Walibed, where once again we will have the opportunity to see various birds-of-paradise, parrots, pigeons and other native birds of Raja Ampat. In the afternoon
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com we may do another walk in this area, and in the evening the Katharina will cross to the nearby island of Salawati.
Day 9 Salawati
Early in the morning we will go bird-watching in the Salawati Forest, the home of the King Bird-of-Paradise. With a bit of luck, we might also find the Magnificient Rifflebird, Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise, Lesser Bird-of-Paradise or Trumpet Manucode. We even might get to meet the Northern Cassowary here too. In the afternoon we can take another bird watching walk in this area. In the evening we will have our farewell party with the crew of the Katharina and overnight we will cruise to our final desination, the harbour of Sorong.
Day 10 Sorong
After a quick stop for a last swim and refreshments on one of the nearby islands, we will make our way back to the harbour of Sorong. Here we will bid farewell to the ship and her crew. Our tenders will take you ashore for your transfer to the airport for your onward travel.
Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com YOUR SHIP: KATHARINA
YOUR SHIP: Katharina
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Katharina is a mix of traditional and modern design. Her hull and rigging are traditional, while the deck house and interior were custom designed to adapt to Western tastes of space, privacy and comfort. While Indonesian traditional sailing vessels are customarily referred to as Bugi Schooners, strictly speaking bathroom with shower and toilet. Unlike typical ship Katharina is rigged as a Ketch, the foremast being higher than accommodation, your cabin provides ample space to store your the aft mast. stuff and still move about with ease. The deck area of Katharina is dominated by the 25m tall main We know from experience that during a cruise in the tropics and top masts and a large central table around which we enjoy some of our guests discover the pleasure of sleeping under the our meals alfresco. Just aft is the main lounge and bar, stars and there is plenty of room to sleep on the upper deck. accessible on the port side. On top of this main cabin there is a Mattresses as well as light blankets are available for that sun deck, where you find several additional deck chairs and purpose. comfortable day beds. Below decks there are 4 double cabins Spacious twin shared cabins with twin bunk beds or double bed (with one extra single upper berth) and 2 twin cabins Each cabin has a private bathroom with toilet and hot shower (upper/lower berth). All cabins are air-conditioned (individually Washbasin and soap toiletries in your cabin controlled) and have private bathrooms with warm and cold Cabins have individually controlled air conditioning water. Obviously, we provide all hotel amenities you may Towels and beach towels that are regularly changed require. each cabin has an individual minisafe for valuables and travel Each cabin has a wardrobe, a built-in mini safe, individually documents controlled cooling systems and soft lightning. All cabins have Free tea, coffee and mineral water their own private
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Excellent food and snacks (vegetarian food on request) Excellent wine selection, cold beer and other alcoholic drinks for sale Chilled towels and a welcome drink upon arrival Outdoor sleeping facilities Unlimited use of our snorkeling equipment and 2 sea canoes Television, DVD and music centre in lounge
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com INSIDE YOUR SHIP
Stateroom
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com PRICING
30-Oct-2021 to 08-Nov-2021 Stateroom £4997 GBP pp
10-Nov-2021 to 19-Nov-2021 Stateroom £4997 GBP pp
22-Nov-2021 to 01-Dec-2021 Stateroom £4997 GBP pp
04-Dec-2021 to 13-Dec-2021 Stateroom £4997 GBP pp
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com