Lesser Sunda Birding Trip – Indonesia Sumba, Rote, Timor, Flores, Komodo 18 Day 17 Night
An 18-day Lesser Sunda journey through Sumba, Rote, Timor, Flores and Komodo, combining forest, grassland, night birding and island transfers.
About this tour
This extended route moves east from Bali through several islands with distinct endemic bird communities. Field time on Sumba includes Bila Forest and Yumbu grassland, followed by Rote and Timor sites such as Bipolo, Oelnasi and Mount Mutis. The program then continues to Flores for forest birding around Ruteng, Ranamese, Golo Lusang, Pagal and Potowangka.
Night sessions are included where owls and nightjars are priorities, and a boat journey reaches Komodo before the return flight to Bali. The official package lists internal itinerary flights, transport, shared lodging, meals, water, guides, park fees and the Komodo boat as included.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Indonesia.
Birds you can spot
Australian Rufous Fantail
Rhipidura rufifrons
target
Rhipidura rufifrons
target
Bare-throated Whistler
Pachycephala nudigula
target
Pachycephala nudigula
target
Beach Stone-curlew
Esacus magnirostris
target
Esacus magnirostris
target
Black-backed Butcherbird
Cracticus mentalis
target
Cracticus mentalis
target
Black-faced Woodswallow
Artamus cinereus
target
Artamus cinereus
target
Chestnut-capped Thrush
Geokichla interpres
target
Geokichla interpres
target
Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher
Todiramphus australasia
target
Todiramphus australasia
target
Elegant Pitta
Pitta elegans
target
Pitta elegans
target
Five-colored Munia
Lonchura quinticolor
target
Lonchura quinticolor
target
Flores Green Pigeon
Treron floris
target
Treron floris
target
Flores Monarch
Symposiachrus sacerdotum
target
Symposiachrus sacerdotum
target
Flores Scops Owl
Otus alfredi
target
Otus alfredi
target
Great-billed Parrot
Tanygnathus megalorynchos
target
Tanygnathus megalorynchos
target
Island Whistler
Pachycephala phaionota
target
Pachycephala phaionota
target
Little Curlew
Numenius minutus
target
Numenius minutus
target
Little Minivet
Pericrocotus lansbergei
target
Pericrocotus lansbergei
target
Marigold Lorikeet
Trichoglossus capistratus
target
Trichoglossus capistratus
target
Metallic Pigeon
Columba vitiensis
target
Columba vitiensis
target
Orange-footed Scrubfowl
Megapodius reinwardt
target
Megapodius reinwardt
target
Pale-headed Munia
Lonchura pallida
target
Lonchura pallida
target
Pied Bush Chat
Saxicola caprata
target
Saxicola caprata
target
Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon
Ducula rosacea
target
Ducula rosacea
target
Plain Gerygone
Gerygone inornata
target
Gerygone inornata
target
Pygmy Cupwing
Pnoepyga pusilla
target
Pnoepyga pusilla
target
Red-eared Fruit Dove
Ptilinopus fischeri
target
Ptilinopus fischeri
target
Rose-crowned Fruit Dove
Ptilinopus regina
target
Ptilinopus regina
target
Rote Boobook
Ninox rotiensis
target
Ninox rotiensis
target
Rote Myzomela
Myzomela irianawidodoae
target
Myzomela irianawidodoae
target
Singing Bush Lark
Mirafra javanica
target
Mirafra javanica
target
Sumba Eclectus
Eclectus cornelia
target
Eclectus cornelia
target
Sumba Myzomela
Myzomela dammermani
target
Myzomela dammermani
target
Sunda Teal
Anas gibberifrons
target
Anas gibberifrons
target
Sunda Zebra Finch
Taeniopygia guttata
target
Taeniopygia guttata
target
Timor Friarbird
Philemon inornatus
target
Philemon inornatus
target
Violet-necked Lory
Eos squamata
target
Eos squamata
target
White-rumped Kingfisher
Caridonax fulgidus
target
Caridonax fulgidus
target
Yellowish Imperial Pigeon
Ducula subflavescens
target
Ducula subflavescens
target
Itinerary
Day 1
Ngurah Rai Denpasar Airport – Hotel
- 19:00
– Meet at Ngurah Rai Airport and have dinner at the hotel
– Night at a hotel near Ngurah Rai Denpasar Airport
– Night at a hotel near Ngurah Rai Denpasar Airport
Day 2
Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park
06:00 - 19:00
Morning Flight to Sumba – Drive to Bila Forest (Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park)
– Drive four hours by 4WD to Bila
– Late afternoon birding for species such as Red‑naped Fruit Dove, Sumba Green Pigeon, Pale‑shouldered Cicadabird
– At dusk listen for Mees’s Nightjar and search for Sumba Boobook and Little Sumba Boobook
– Night at Bila Ranger Station
– Drive four hours by 4WD to Bila
– Late afternoon birding for species such as Red‑naped Fruit Dove, Sumba Green Pigeon, Pale‑shouldered Cicadabird
– At dusk listen for Mees’s Nightjar and search for Sumba Boobook and Little Sumba Boobook
– Night at Bila Ranger Station
Day 3
Bila Forest
06:00 - 18:00
Day 3 & Day 4: Full Days Birding at Bila Forest
– Target species: Sumba Hornbill, Yellow‑crested Cockatoo (orange‑crested subspecies), Eclectus Parrot, Great‑billed Parrot, Marigold Lorikeet, Red‑cheeked Parrot, Cinnamon‑banded Kingfisher, Sumba Green Pigeon, Red‑naped and Black‑naped Fruit Doves, Wallacean Cuckooshrike, Wallacean Drongo (sometimes split as Lesser Wallacean), Sumba Elegant Pitta, Arafura Fantail, Sumba Myzomela, Apricot‑breasted Sunbird, Yellow‑ringed and Ashy‑bellied White‑eyes, Sumba Flycatchers (Sumba, Russet‑backed Jungle, Sumba Brown), Brown Goshawk, Spectacled Monarch, Oriental Dollarbird, Cinereous Tit, Helmeted Friarbird, Tenggara Whistler, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Grey‑headed Canary Flycatcher, Sumba Flowerpecker
– Nights at Bila
– Target species: Sumba Hornbill, Yellow‑crested Cockatoo (orange‑crested subspecies), Eclectus Parrot, Great‑billed Parrot, Marigold Lorikeet, Red‑cheeked Parrot, Cinnamon‑banded Kingfisher, Sumba Green Pigeon, Red‑naped and Black‑naped Fruit Doves, Wallacean Cuckooshrike, Wallacean Drongo (sometimes split as Lesser Wallacean), Sumba Elegant Pitta, Arafura Fantail, Sumba Myzomela, Apricot‑breasted Sunbird, Yellow‑ringed and Ashy‑bellied White‑eyes, Sumba Flycatchers (Sumba, Russet‑backed Jungle, Sumba Brown), Brown Goshawk, Spectacled Monarch, Oriental Dollarbird, Cinereous Tit, Helmeted Friarbird, Tenggara Whistler, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Grey‑headed Canary Flycatcher, Sumba Flowerpecker
– Nights at Bila
Day 5
Night Birding
06:00 - 18:00
– Morning birding in Bila Forest, then return to Waingapu and night birding if owl remains unrecorded
– Night at hotel in Waingapu
– Night at hotel in Waingapu
Day 6
Morning Birding at Yumbu Grassland
05:00 - 18:00
Morning Birding at Yumbu Grassland – Airport – Kupang – Rote Island
– Search for endemic Sumba Buttonquail in grasslands
– Other grassland targets: Horsfield’s Bush Lark, Brown Quail, Zebra Finch, Pied Bush Chat
– Fly to Kupang and continue to Rote Island
– Stay overnight on Rote
– Search for endemic Sumba Buttonquail in grasslands
– Other grassland targets: Horsfield’s Bush Lark, Brown Quail, Zebra Finch, Pied Bush Chat
– Fly to Kupang and continue to Rote Island
– Stay overnight on Rote
Day 7
Full Day Birding in Rote
06:00 - 19:00
– Search for Rote endemics: Rote Boobook, Rote Fantail, Rote Leaf Warbler, Rote Myzomela
– Additional species: Jonquil Parrot, Pink‑headed Imperial Pigeon, Timor Stubtail, Timor Oriole, Timor Warbling‑Flycatcher, Black Cuckoo Dove, Orange‑banded Thrush
– Night on Rote
– Additional species: Jonquil Parrot, Pink‑headed Imperial Pigeon, Timor Stubtail, Timor Oriole, Timor Warbling‑Flycatcher, Black Cuckoo Dove, Orange‑banded Thrush
– Night on Rote
Day 8
Bipolo Forest
06:00 - 19:00
Flight from Rote to Timor – Bipolo Forest
– Drive to Bipolo Nature Reserve for doves and pigeons – Pink‑headed Imperial, Black‑backed and Rose‑crowned Fruit Doves
– Search Cinnamon‑banded Kingfisher, Orange‑banded Thrush, Timor Figbird, Timor Friarbird, Buff‑banded Thicketbird, Timor Stubtail, Fawn‑breasted Whistler, Timor Meliphaga, Timor Myzomela
– Shrimp ponds: Royal Spoonbill, Red‑capped Plover, Sunda Teal, Australian Pratincole, Little Curlew
– Fields: munias including Five‑coloured and Pale‑headed, rare Timor Sparrow
– Migrants: Black‑faced Cuckooshrike and Black‑faced Woodswallow
– Evening listen for Timor Boobook
– Night in Kupang
– Drive to Bipolo Nature Reserve for doves and pigeons – Pink‑headed Imperial, Black‑backed and Rose‑crowned Fruit Doves
– Search Cinnamon‑banded Kingfisher, Orange‑banded Thrush, Timor Figbird, Timor Friarbird, Buff‑banded Thicketbird, Timor Stubtail, Fawn‑breasted Whistler, Timor Meliphaga, Timor Myzomela
– Shrimp ponds: Royal Spoonbill, Red‑capped Plover, Sunda Teal, Australian Pratincole, Little Curlew
– Fields: munias including Five‑coloured and Pale‑headed, rare Timor Sparrow
– Migrants: Black‑faced Cuckooshrike and Black‑faced Woodswallow
– Evening listen for Timor Boobook
– Night in Kupang
Day 9
Morning Birding at Camplong‑Oelnasi – Soe
06:00 - 19:00
– Search for Spot‑breasted Heleia (Darkeye), White‑bellied Bush Chat, Black‑banded Flycatcher, Timor Leaf Warbler, Buff‑banded Thicketbird
– Also Little Bronze Cuckoo (sometimes split as Gould’s Bronze Cuckoo), Spectacled Monarch, Little Pied Flycatcher, Sunda Bush Warbler
– Late afternoon birding at Oelnasi for Timor Cuckoo Dove and Timor Nightjar
– Night in Soe
– Also Little Bronze Cuckoo (sometimes split as Gould’s Bronze Cuckoo), Spectacled Monarch, Little Pied Flycatcher, Sunda Bush Warbler
– Late afternoon birding at Oelnasi for Timor Cuckoo Dove and Timor Nightjar
– Night in Soe
Day 10
Birding at Mount Mutis
06:00 - 18:00
Day 10 & Day 11: Full Days Birding at Mount Mutis (Fatumnasi)
– Top target: Timor Imperial Pigeon (rare)
– Forest species: Metallic Pigeon, Island Thrush, Yellow‑breasted and Timor Leaf Warblers, Mountain White‑eye, Pygmy Wren‑babbler, Chestnut‑backed Thrush (declining), Little Cuckoo‑Dove, Snowy‑browed Flycatcher
– Overhead: Olive‑headed Lorikeet, rare Janquil Parrot, Iris Lorikeet
– Additional targets: Tricolored Parrotfinch, Mount Mutis Parrotfinch
– Night in Soe
– Top target: Timor Imperial Pigeon (rare)
– Forest species: Metallic Pigeon, Island Thrush, Yellow‑breasted and Timor Leaf Warblers, Mountain White‑eye, Pygmy Wren‑babbler, Chestnut‑backed Thrush (declining), Little Cuckoo‑Dove, Snowy‑browed Flycatcher
– Overhead: Olive‑headed Lorikeet, rare Janquil Parrot, Iris Lorikeet
– Additional targets: Tricolored Parrotfinch, Mount Mutis Parrotfinch
– Night in Soe
Day 12
Birding Oelnasi
06:00 - 18:00
Birding Oelnasi – Flight to Labuan Bajo (Flores)
– Continue birding at Oelnasi then drive to airport
– Fly to Labuan Bajo, bird nearby for Flores Crow, Elegant Pitta, Yellow‑spectacled White‑eye, Flores Drongo, Spotted Kestrel, Helmeted Friarbird, Flame‑breasted Sunbird
– Night birding for Moluccan Scops Owl and Wallacean Scops Owl
– Night in Labuan Bajo
– Continue birding at Oelnasi then drive to airport
– Fly to Labuan Bajo, bird nearby for Flores Crow, Elegant Pitta, Yellow‑spectacled White‑eye, Flores Drongo, Spotted Kestrel, Helmeted Friarbird, Flame‑breasted Sunbird
– Night birding for Moluccan Scops Owl and Wallacean Scops Owl
– Night in Labuan Bajo
Day 13
Flores Nature Reserve
06:00 - 19:00
Day 13: Birding Puarlolo & Ruteng (Flores Nature Reserve)
– Morning birding for Flores Monarch, Flores Hawk Eagle, Chestnut‑capped Thrush, Rufous‑chested Flycatcher, Crested Heleia, Little Minivet, Red‑cheeked Parrot, Leaf Lorikeet
– Drive to Ruteng; possible night birding for Flores Scops Owl and Wallacean Scops Owl
– Night in Ruteng
– Morning birding for Flores Monarch, Flores Hawk Eagle, Chestnut‑capped Thrush, Rufous‑chested Flycatcher, Crested Heleia, Little Minivet, Red‑cheeked Parrot, Leaf Lorikeet
– Drive to Ruteng; possible night birding for Flores Scops Owl and Wallacean Scops Owl
– Night in Ruteng
Day 14
Birding in Ruteng, Ranamese Lake & Golo Lusang Forest
06:30 - 19:00
Day 14 & Day 15: Full Days Birding in Ruteng, Ranamese Lake & Golo Lusang Forest
– Mountain forest targets: Crested Ibon (a white‑eye), Black‑fronted and Golden‑rumped Flowerpeckers, Russet‑capped Tesia, Thick‑billed Heleia (Darkeye), Variable Goshawk, Black‑naped Fruit Dove, Little (Flores) Minivet and Black‑naped Monarchs, Flores Green Pigeon, Tenggara Swiftlet, Russet‑backed Jungle Flycatcher, Bare‑throated Whistler, Brown‑capped Fantail, Cream‑browed (Yellow‑browed) White‑eye, Scaly‑crowned Honeyeater, Flores Leaf Warbler, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, White‑browed Shortwing (distinctive subspecies sometimes split as Flores Shortwing), Flores Hanging Parrot, Barred Cuckoo‑Dove, Dark‑backed Imperial Pigeon, Chestnut‑backed Thrush, Ruddy Cuckoo‑Dove, Rusty‑breasted and Sunda Cuckoos (latter split from Oriental Cuckoo), Pygmy Wren‑babbler
– At dusk attempt Flores Scops Owl and Wallacean Scops Owl
– Nights in Ruteng
– Mountain forest targets: Crested Ibon (a white‑eye), Black‑fronted and Golden‑rumped Flowerpeckers, Russet‑capped Tesia, Thick‑billed Heleia (Darkeye), Variable Goshawk, Black‑naped Fruit Dove, Little (Flores) Minivet and Black‑naped Monarchs, Flores Green Pigeon, Tenggara Swiftlet, Russet‑backed Jungle Flycatcher, Bare‑throated Whistler, Brown‑capped Fantail, Cream‑browed (Yellow‑browed) White‑eye, Scaly‑crowned Honeyeater, Flores Leaf Warbler, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, White‑browed Shortwing (distinctive subspecies sometimes split as Flores Shortwing), Flores Hanging Parrot, Barred Cuckoo‑Dove, Dark‑backed Imperial Pigeon, Chestnut‑backed Thrush, Ruddy Cuckoo‑Dove, Rusty‑breasted and Sunda Cuckoos (latter split from Oriental Cuckoo), Pygmy Wren‑babbler
– At dusk attempt Flores Scops Owl and Wallacean Scops Owl
– Nights in Ruteng
Day 16
Birding Pagal & Potowangka Forest
07:00 - 19:00
– Target Glittering Kingfisher and Flores Hanging Parrot
– Lowland forest: Flores Crow, Black‑naped Fruit Dove, Elegant Pitta, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Mees’s Nightjar, Wallacean Scops Owl
– Night in Labuan Bajo
– Lowland forest: Flores Crow, Black‑naped Fruit Dove, Elegant Pitta, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Mees’s Nightjar, Wallacean Scops Owl
– Night in Labuan Bajo
Day 17
Birding at Komodo Island
06:00 - 18:00
– Wooden boat to Komodo Island for Yellow‑crested Cockatoo, Orange‑footed Scrubfowl, Black‑naped Monarch, Beach Thick‑knee, Great‑billed Heron, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Pied Imperial‑Pigeon, and with luck Flores Hawk Eagle and Nicobar Pigeon — and Komodo dragon sightings
– Night in Labuan Bajo
– Night in Labuan Bajo
Day 18
Labuan Bajo Airport – Ngurah Rai Denpasar Airport
06:30
– Finish Service
– Flight after breakfast; tour concludes
– Flight after breakfast; tour concludes
Availability & pricing
Availability: Available on request
Included
- All transportation
- shared hotel rooms
- three meals per day + mineral water
- bird guides
- park permits
- conservation fees
- boat to Komodo Island
- internal flights on the itinerary
Not included
- Porter service
- international flight costs
- extra hotel beverages
- alcoholic drinks
- laundry
- phone calls
- personal expenses
- unforeseen costs not mentioned
Send inquiry
Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.