West Java Grand Slam Endemics Expedition

Expedition Itinerary

Days 1 to 3: Gunung Gede Pangrango Cloud Forest and Air Panas Camp

Custom morning pickup in Jakarta or Bandung. On Day 1, we bird the mature native stands of Cibodas Botanical Garden until 19:00 WIB for Pygmy Tit, Sunda Minivet, and Javan Robin, staying overnight at Cibodas base lodge.

On Day 2 at 05:30, we ascend the mountain trail (6 km) with our porter team into primary montane forest, targeting Javan Trogon and Sunda Forktail, reaching our wilderness campsite at the Air Panas natural thermal hot springs for an overnight under canvas. On Day 3, a pre-dawn 04:00 hike reaches the upper mossy ridge (1.5 km further) for dawn encounters with Javan Cochoa (Cochoa azurea) and Horsfield’s Thrush until 10:00 AM, before descending back to Cibodas for hot showers and comfortable hotel lodging.

Days 4 to 5: Mount Salak Ridges, Field House & Javan Woodcock Vigils

We transfer to the rugged slopes of Mount Salak and ascend to our team’s mountain field house. In the late afternoon of Day 4, we take position for our first vigil targeting the dusk display flights of the rare Javan Woodcock (Scolopax saturata), followed by nocturnal owling.

On Day 5, we conduct a second pre-dawn vigil for the Woodcock, followed at 06:00 AM by a hike to the active volcanic crater (Kawah Ratu). The steep ridges and thermal vents provide optimal conditions for Javan Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi), Blue Nuthatch, and Sunda Forktail before we descend and head west.

Days 6 to 8: Halimun Primary Rainforest Interior (Cikaniki)

We traverse deep into Gunung Halimun Salak National Park, birding along the quiet forest road directly to our base near Cikaniki Research Station. Over three full days, we work the suspended 25-metre canopy walkway, primary river loops, and tea borders.

Targets include Javan Trogon, White-bibbed Babbler, Javan Tesia, and Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch, alongside frequent encounters with endemic primates including the silvery Javan Gibbon (Hylobates moloch) and Javan Surili. Night walks yield Javan Frogmouth and luminous forest fungi.

Days 9 to 10: Carita Coastal Lowlands and Custom Return

We travel west to the Sunda Strait coast at Carita. We bird the lowland forest until 19:00 WIB on Day 9 and resume at 05:30 on Day 10, targeting lowland specialists including Javan Banded Pitta, Black-banded Barbet, and White-breasted Babbler.

In the late afternoon of Day 9, we conduct a coastal seawatch along the strait for soaring Christmas Island Frigatebirds (Fregata andrewsi) riding ocean thermals. On Day 10, after morning birding until 11:00 AM and final checklist compilation over lunch, our private vehicle transfers you comfortably back to Jakarta or Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for your departing flight.