Perhaps every self-respecting world birder should at least once in a lifetime undertake the pilgrimage to the Wilson's Bird-of-paradise Diphyllodes respublica of Waigeo and Batanta in the fabled Raja Ampat or West Papuan Islands in eastern Indonesia. Copyright © Roland Hilgartner

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Adventure Birding 'n Outdoors in New Guinea's Wild West

The nearly mythical Wilson's Bird-of-paradise Diphyllodes respublica occurs only on the fabled Raja Ampat islands of Waigeo and Batanta in West Papua or Indonesian New Guinea and nowhere else on Earth. Copyright © Roland Hilgartner rolandhilgartner.com

Welcome to West Papua: untamed New Guinea

Throughout PapuaExpeditions.com and bird-watching-papua-adventure-travel.com we attempt to convey the special flavor of a singularly unique and diverse tropical wilderness area that the western half of the subcontinental island of New Guinea, variously known as Papua, West Papua and Irian Jaya, truly is. Now explore this natural wonderland with Papua Expeditions and simply be astounded by violently enrapturing birds-of-paradise, flightless cassowaries, parrots in all colors and sizes imaginable, delightful crowned pigeons, birdwing butterflies, and tree kangaroos, all set against an amazing cultural backdrop, in what doubtlessly ranks as one of the least traveled outbacks of our planet!

5 reasons to travel with Papua Expeditions in West Papua

✔Highly personalized guidance in fluent English, French, Dutch or Indonesian, allowing you to truly grasp and absorb the vast natural wonders of West Papua.

✔Small, friendly groups with a high host-guest ratio: as a general rule minimum 2 and maximum 6 participants plus 2 expedition leaders.

✔Expert bird identification and interpretation by great guides, keen on sharing an intimate field knowledge amassed over two decades of practical field experience.

✔Extensively researched, top quality itineraries, maximizing time in the field: we take you off the beaten track to pristine hotspots we know inside out.

✔Permanently based in West Papua and organized here as part of the registered economy since day one back in June 2005.

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Papua Expeditions offers keened-out, professionally guided bird-watching, general wildlife and natural history, hiking and trekking tours in New Guinea's Wild West. Permanently based in West Papua, our ecotourism program focuses exclusively on the little-known western half of New Guinea under Indonesian administration.

Papua Expeditions is committed to make your West Papua experience an immensely rewarding, enjoyable and worry free one at excellent value for money, whilst at the same time sparing no reasonable effort to ensure that our indigenous Papuan communities do benefit, to the maximum extent possible, from your visit.

Our team would like to congratulate you on your outstanding commitment and responsible travel efforts. We commend you on your dedication to environmental sustainability, and all of the outstanding social and environmental programs and initiatives. We truly appreciate your hard work! — Wild Asia, wildasia.org

Ultimately, we strive for each and every one of our guests to grow into life-long ambassadors for one of the last great wilderness areas left in the tropics.

We eagerly look forward to welcoming you and exploring together this most extraordinary of lands!

Featured destinations

Arfak Mountains

This isolated and rugged mountain range in the eastern sector of the Bird's Head or Vogelkop Peninsula is West Papua's premier birding destination, boasting all presently described so-called Vogelkop endemics.

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The beautiful Biak Monarch Symposiachrus brehmii only occurs on the twin islands of Biak and Supiori in West Papua's fabled Geelvink or Cendrawasih Bay. Copyright © Juergen Schneider

Geelvink Islands

The oceanic twin islands of Biak and Supiori in Geelvink or Cendrawasih Bay harbor up to 20 endemic taxa recognized at the species level, and nearby Numfor Island further boasts its very own paradise kingfisher and leaf warbler.

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The restricted-range Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher Tanysiptera nympha is mysteriously absent from many seemingly suitable forested localities within the Bird's Head or Vogelkop lowlands, and could be the highlight of a birding excursion around Sorong. Copyright © Kriangkrai Suwannaphak

Vogelkop lowlands

The lowlands of the Bird's Head still support extensive tracts of pristine alluvial and foothill forest inhabited by a wonderfully varied and colorful avifauna, including eight restricted-range species and a whopping seven widespread lowland birds-of-paradise.

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Bruijn's Brushturkey Aepypodius bruijnii is only known with certainty from the largest Raja Ampat island of Waigeo hence its alternative English name of Waigeo Brushturkey. Copyright © Fabrice Tortey

Waitanta

At the northern end of the Raja Ampat group, Waigeo and Batanta, once fused to a single landmass 'Waitanta', support a varied lowland and hill forest avifauna with a peculiar endemism component, including a rare brushturkey and two nearly mythical birds-of-paradise.

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Featured tours

The adult male Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleucus could be one of the highlights on our birding walk in the Sorong lowlands. Copyright © Roland Hilgartner

Sorong lowlands
0.5 or 1 day

A variety of low-lying secondary forests near the town of Sorong still supports a well-diversified and colorful lowland forest avifauna, including four West Papua endemics, one restricted-range species and seven widespread lowland birds-of-paradise.

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The ballerina-display of the adult male Western Parotia Parotia sefilata on its meticulously cleared ground court has to be witnessed to be believed. This amazing bird-of-paradise is but one of 65 bird species endemic to West Papua, where it occurs at mid-elevations in the Arfak, Tamrau and Wandammen Mountains. Copyright © Ty Smedes

Arfak montane specialties
6 days/5 nights

In search of so-called Vogelkop endemics, we basically follow in the footsteps of the great Italian naturalists D'Albertis and Beccari, who first explored the Hattam-country only a few kilometers away from our base in the Arfak Mountains on the mid-slopes of majestic Mount Indon.

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Perhaps every self-respecting world birder should once in a lifetime undertake the pilgrimage to the Wilson's Bird-of-paradise Diphyllodes respublica on the Raja Ampat Islands of Waigeo and Batanta in eastern Indonesia. Copyright © Dubi Shapiro

Waitanta endemics
6 days/5 nights

Every self-respecting world birder is bound to once in a lifetime undertake the pilgrimage to Waitanta's avian delights. The glorious Wilson's and Red Bird-of-paradise here surely are contenders to the title of most beautiful bird on Earth!

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The delightful Western Crowned Pigeon Goura cristata is among 65 bird species that are endemic to West Papua and, except for an introduced population on the Moluccan island of Seram, occurs nowhere else on Earth. Copyright © Bent Pedersen

Waigeo and Arfak
11 days/10 nights

Sorong lowlands, tantalizing Waigeo Island and Arfak montane forests. This is the very best the Bird's Head has to offer in a relaxed and worry free, seamless travel experience!

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About West Papua

West Papua, Papua or Irian Jaya?

West Papua flora and fauna

West Papua indigenous peoples

West Papua climate

West Papua travel info

West Papua visa regulations

West Papua health care

West Papua safety

About Papua Expeditions

Company profile

Press releases

Terms and conditions

Contact Papua Expeditions

West Papua Birding Expeditions

West Papua Outdoors Breaks

Explore Arfak

Explore northern lowlands

Explore Waigeo

West Papua Outdoors Expeditions

Explore Waigeo and Arfak

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