ITINERARY:

Day 1 – Arrive Manado, Sulawesi – Tangkoko National Park – Sat 15th Aug 
Plan on arriving at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Manado, Sulawesi code (MDC) where we will transfer to Tangkoko National Park, one of the most intact forests in Sulawesi. Try to arrive by 14.00pm at the latest. If time allows we can head into the park for our first taste of birding as well as look for the tiny primate the Gursky’s Spectral Tarsier and Black Crested Macaque. Note there are several ways to get to Manado, with flights from Jakarta being one of the easiest options, also from Singapore. 
Night Tangkoko. D 

Days 2 – 3 – Tangkoko National Park – 16th – 17th  Aug  
We will have two full day Full explore Tangkoko National Park including a leisurely boat trip across to the mangrove forest to look for Great-billed Kingfisher, and White-rumped Cuckooshrike, among others. This excellent park plays supports numerous regional endemic and special birds as well as good variety of interesting mammals. As we slowly walk the forested trails, we will be on the lookout for many of these exciting birds that call this home.  Kingfishers are a real highlight of a trip to Sulawesi and we will get our list of off to a good start with such delights as Green-backed, Sulawesi Lilac, Sulawesi Dwarf, Ruddy and maybe a second shot at Great-billed Kingfisher. After excitement of the kingfishers we can check the understory for even more special birds such as Sulawesi Pitta,  Red-backed Thrush, Philippine Megapode and Stephan’s Emerald Dove. Of course, these rich forests hold much more and we will search for Knobbed Hornbill, Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, White-faced Cuckoo Dove,  Purple-winged Roller, Golden-mantled Racket-Tail, Blue-backed Parrot, Great Hanging Parrot, Ornate Lorikeet, Sulawesi Hawk Eagle,  Ashy Woodpecker, the amazing looking Grosbeak Starling,  Black-billed Koel, Bay Coucal, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Pale Blue Monarch and White-necked Myna. Several mammals will be sought if we have not seen them already, such as Gursky’s Spectral Tarsier and maybe troops of Black Crested Macaque., The nearby coastal grasslands could prove lucky if we found Isabelline Bush-Hen, while some night birding will have us search for Ochre-bellied Boobook, Sulawesi Scops-Owl, the very localised Minahasa Masked Owl, Sulawesi Masked Owl, Great-eared and Sulawesi Nightjars. 
Night Tangkoko  B,L,D

Day  4 – Tangkoko – Kota Mobagu– 18th Aug
After breakfast we will set off early for the drive to Kota Mobagu city. Depending on the traffic conditions we will make a number of birding stops including paddy fields where we can look for Javan Pound Heron, Cattle Egret, Black-face Munia, Chestnut-backed (black headed) Munia, Spotted Harrier, Buffed- banded Rail and possible shorebirds such as such as Terek and Marsh Sandpiper, Red-necked and Long-toed Stints. 
Night Kota Mobagu B,L,D  

Day 5 – Kota Mobagu – Tomohon – 19th Aug
You’ll rise very early in the morning to explore the Dumogabone National Park. Even though this forest is now degraded,  it will be our focus for the very special endemic and much sought after Maleo, a large black-and-white megapode that incubates its eggs in the thermally heated soil. We also have plenty of other birds to look for including Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove, Sulawesi Pitta, Yellow-billed Malkoha, White-breasted and Ivory-backed Woodswallows, Knobbed Hornbill, Yellow-breasted and Golden-mantled Racket-tails, Black-billed Koel, Brown Cuckoo-Dove,  Blue-backed Parrot, Ornate Lorikeet, Pale-blue Monarch,  Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, White-necked Myna, while grassland habitats throughout the area might produce the skulking Isabelline Bush-hen. Raptors we will watch for include Barred Honey-buzzard and Sulawesi Hawk Eagle, as well as Spot-tailed Sparrowhawk and Sulawesi Goshawk. If we have time we can  bird around the nearby forest on Mt. Mahawu, where we can expect Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher and Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker. While we are here we can also try for some more night birds such as Spectacled and Ochre-bellied Boobook.
Night Tomohon B,L,D

After breakfast we will drive to the airport in Manado for a flight scheduled to depart to the island of Ternate, North Maluku, and from there we’ll continue by boat to Sidangoli on the island of Halmahera. We should have a little time to bird along the Sidangoli road, where we will look for several birds such as Moluccan Pitta, Sombre Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Blue-and-white Kingfisher, Blue-capped Fruit-Dove, Moluccan Flycatcher, Eclectus Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, and Moluccan Monarch. We will stay until dark to look for Moluccan Scops Owl and Moluccan Owlet Nightjar, before continuing on to Jailolo to check into our hotel and have dinner.
Night Jailolo B,L,D

Day 8 – Halmahera – 22nd Aug
After breakfast driving to Sidangoli where we can look for Beach Kingfisher and from a well positioned hide we can enjoy the gorgeous Moluccan Pitta. Afterward we will driving about 3.5 hours to Subaim with a little birding along the way for species such as Blyth’s Hornbill, Moluccan Cuckooshrike, Halmahera Cuckooshrike, Goliath Coucal, Long-billed Crow, Northern Golden Bulbul, Blue-capped Fruit Dove, Red-cheeked Parrot, Eclectus Parrot, Gurney’s Eagle, Moluccan Flycatcher, Spectacled Monarch and Halmahera Golden Bulbul. We’ll also do some night birding here for Halmahera Boobook, Moluccan Scops Owl and Moluccan Owlet-nightjar.
Night in comfortable Guest House in Subaim  B, L, D 

Day 9 – Halmahera – 23rd Aug
Today we need to depart very early in the morning and take 4×4’s to Foly forest where we will focus on seeing one of the highlights of this Island the unique and very sought after Standardwing, formerly called Wallace’s Standardwing. To see this mythical bird parachuting down from the tree tops in an incredible display flight is a truly magical experience. There will be plenty of other species to look for after this spectacle and we may come across any of the following: Sombre Kingfisher, Mollucan King Parrot, Grey-headed Fruit Dove, Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Goliath Coucal, Azure Dollarbird, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Blue-and-white Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Blyth’s Hornbill, Indonesia Kestrel, White Cockatoo, Violet-necked Lorry, Red-cheeked Parrot, Moluccan Cuckooshrike, Halmahera Spangled Drongo, Drab Whistler, Shinning Flycatcher, Long-billed Crow, Halmahera Golden Bulbul, Metallic Starling, Halmahera Flowerpecker,  White Cockatoo, Chattering Lorry and Scarlet-breasted Fruit Dove, Grey-headed and Blue-capped Fruit Doves, Rufous-bellied Triller and Gurney’s Eagle. And among the night here are Moluccan Owlet Nightjar along with Moluccan Scops Owl and Halmahera Boobook. 
Night in comfortable Guest House in Subaim  B, L, D 

Day 10  Halmahera – 24th Aug 
Today we will have a full days birding along Buly roadside. Here is a good chance for  Chattering Lory,  Violet-necked Lory, Moluccan Imperial Pigeon, Cinnamon bellied Imperial Pigeon, Goliath Coucal, Great-billed Parrot, Great Cuckoo-Dove, Scarlet-breasted Fruit-Dove. In the evening we can try again for Moluccan Boobook, Moluccan Scops Owl and Moluccan Owlet Nightjar.  
Night in comfortable Guest House in Subaim  B, L, D

Day 11 – Halmahera – Ternate – 25th Aug 
Today we will have breakfast and then return to Ternate. On the way back we can stop at Akejawe lolobata NP which is know as  Binagara where there is a chance to look for another much sought after bird the Ivory-breasted Pitta. Other exciting birds we can look for in case we have missed any of them previously, include Moluccan Pitta, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Halmahera-dwarf Kingfisher and with luck one or more of the more elusive birds such as the rare Invisible Rail, plus Moluccan Goshawk, Great Cuckoo-Dove, Nicobar Pigeon, Moluccan Dwarf Kingfisher.  Finally another look for Beach Kingfisher before we return by boat to Ternate. Night Ternate B, L, D

Day 12 – End of Main Tour – 26th Aug – or continue on to the Lore Lindu Extension 26th Aug – 30th Aug
After breakfast at the hotel we will transfer to Ternate Airport, code (TTE). For those leaving the tour you can take your departing flight. For those continuing to Lore Lindu, we will take a flight Palu, departing around 09.30am.  After our arrival in Palu we will then head for our accommodation near the airport. If time permits in the late afternoon, we can bird around the nearby salt farm and look for Javan Plover, Savana Nightjar, maybe a shorebird or two and Whiskered Tern. Night Palu B,L,D   

Days 13 – 14 –  Lore Lindu National Park – 27th Aug – 28th Aug
After breakfast we will drive for about about three or four hours to get Lore Lindu National Park, one of the best parks in Indonesia. Along the way we can stop to look for a few new and interesting species. From our base we will explore the rich forest and its trails in search of many very special endemics and sought after species. Over these two full days we will immerse ourselves in the excellent birding that this area has to offer. Among the wealth of species including several which are difficult to see elsewhere are diversity of species that inhabit the national park is simply incredible. Along the old logging tracks and forest trails we will look for Geomalia, Satanic Nightjar, Great Shortwing and the fabulous Purple-bearded Bee-eater. Of course there are many other species to look for including Sulawesi Thrush, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher and Blue-fronted Blue Flycatcher, Citrine Canary-Flycatcher, Sombre Pigeon, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Superb and Red-eared Fruit Doves, Sultan’s Cuckoo-Dove, Malia, Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot, Citrine Lorikeet, Sulawesi Swiftlet, Cerulean and Pygmy Cukcooshrike, Sulawesi Leaf Warbler, Streak-headed White-Eye, Fiery-browed and Grosbeak Starlings, Maroon-backed Whistler, Dark-eared and White-eared Myzas, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Sulawesi Fantail, Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Drongo, Black-crowned White-eye, Sahul Sunbird and lots more. Several raptors could show up such as Small Sparrowhawk and Rufous-bellied Eagle. We will also hike up to another track and look for our main target species, Hylocitrea and Satanic Nightjar, plus Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon, Sombre Pigeon, Sulawesi Cicadabird, Knobbed Hornbill, Rufous-throated Flycatcher, Sulawesi Bush Warbler and Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker. Several night birds in the area may include Speckled Boobook, Cinnabar Boobook, Sulawesi Scops Owl and Sulawesi Masked Owl. 
Night at Wuasa B,L,D

Day 15 – Lore Lindu – Palu – 30th Aug 
After final birding in this park to look for species that may be missed on the previous day we will return to Palu to enjoy a hot shower and our final dinner. Night Palu B,L,D

Our tour finishes with breakfast and then you can take your departing flight back to Jakarta or Singapore for your international departure. B