Birds of Paradise

Arrive in Sorong, the gateway to West Papua. After airport pickup, transfer to your hotel and take time to relax and recover from your flights.

In the evening, join the group for a welcome dinner and trip briefing as we prepare for the adventure ahead.

After breakfast, we transfer to the fast ferry terminal for the two-hour journey to Waigeo Island. We expect to arrive by late morning and will continue directly to our lodge, which provides convenient access to the island’s birding locations.

Waigeo is home to both Wilson’s and Red Birds of Paradise, as well as a wide variety of other rainforest species. For the duration of our stay, we have arranged exclusive access to the Bird of Paradise hides for our morning photography sessions. These sessions are timed to coincide with the peak activity period when the birds perform their elaborate courtship displays—ideal for capturing compelling behavioral images.

In the afternoons, we’ll explore the surrounding rainforest on foot to photograph a broader range of tropical birds, including hornbills, kingfishers, parrots, and other species unique to the region. This combination of structured hide sessions and exploratory walks offers a wide variety of photo opportunities.

Following the morning photography session on Day 4, we will return to our accommodations and prepare for the return ferry transfer to Sorong.

We begin the day with an early morning departure, driving to a remote valley where local villagers have established a protected forest reserve. This area is home to several remarkable species, including the Lesser, Magnificent, and 12-Wired Birds of Paradise.

Thanks to the leadership of a long-time friend and local conservation advocate, the community has embraced eco-tourism and actively ended the capture and trade of birds in the area. Their efforts have created a sustainable model that benefits both wildlife and the local economy.

Purpose-built photography hides have been installed in key display areas, offering excellent viewing and shooting conditions. Ongoing improvements to tracks and basic infrastructure continue to support both conservation and access.

After our morning photography of the birds, we return to Sorong in the afternoon.

Today is a transit day as we take a domestic flight to relocate to our next Bird of Paradise location. Upon arrival, we will transfer to accommodations where we will stay overnight, allowing us to rest and prepare for the next phase of the expedition. 

This morning we begin our transfer to the jungle lodge, arriving in the afternoon. Over the course of our four-day stay, we will focus on photographing the Greater and King Birds of Paradise, two of the region’s most visually stunning species. These birds are known for their elaborate and highly entertaining courtship displays, which provide incredible opportunities for capturing dynamic behavior, intricate plumage details, and unique poses.

The privacy and remoteness of the lodge and reserve means that we will have this area entirely to ourselves. As this is a full takeover of the lodge and Bird of Paradise reserve our group will enjoy unrestricted use of the bird hides and surrounding field locations, providing uninterrupted opportunities to photograph the birds when they are most active.

Each day typically includes two dedicated photography sessions in the hides—one starting before dawn to capture the Birds of Paradise during their early morning courtship displays, and a second session in the afternoon when the birds become active again. These sessions are timed to take advantage of the best natural light and bird behavior, maximizing your chances of capturing dynamic and emotive images.

Between sessions, you will have time to rest and review your images. Additional opportunities to photograph other rainforest species are also available during walks and explorations in the vicinity of the lodge.

There is one final opportunity for dawn photography before we begin our return journey to the township. This early session allows for the chance to capture different compositions of the Birds of Paradise during their morning displays, maximizing our time in this exceptional location.

This morning, we take a short flight to a nearby airport hub, marking the conclusion of our workshop. We thank you for joining us on this journey and wish you safe travels home.

For those with onward flights the following day, we are happy to assist with local hotel bookings or other arrangements as needed.