Gunung Salak Montane Rainforest & Woodcock Vigil

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Jakarta, Mountain House Ascent & Dusk Woodcock Vigil

Morning pickup from your Jakarta or Bogor hotel (or Soekarno-Hatta Airport) in our private air-conditioned vehicle. We drive approximately 4 hours to the foothills of Mount Salak.

Upon arriving at the trailhead, we make a short climb up the forested slopes to our team’s dedicated field house. After settling in, we begin birding the surrounding humid ravine trails for Blue Nuthatch (Sitta azurea) and Brown-throated Barbet (Psilopogon corvinus). As dusk approaches, we position ourselves at a proven forest clearing for our first prime vigil for the rare and localized Javan Woodcock (Scolopax saturata), observing its roding courtship flight against the twilight sky. Night walk for nocturnal species before dinner at the field house.

Day 2: Pre-Dawn Woodcock Vigil, Crater Trek & Return Transfer

We awaken early before first light for our second dedicated vigil for the Javan Woodcock, listening for its characteristic low croaks and wing-whirring in the pre-dawn mist.

At 06:00 AM, we start our trek up towards the dramatic volcanic crater area (Kawah Ratu). The steep forested ridges and fruiting canopy trees offer superb habitat for soaring Javan Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi), Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon (Ducula lacernulata), and Pink-headed Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus porphyreus) in the upper montane canopy. We descend back to the field house by midday, pack our gear, and enjoy a warm Sundanese meal. In the afternoon, our private vehicle transfers you comfortably back to Jakarta or Bogor.