Indonesia Nature and Wildlife
October 9 - 20, 2026
Photographing the diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes of Indonesia is an unforgettable experience that immerses you in the heart of nature. The Komodo dragons, with their formidable presence and their obvious genetic connection to dinosaurs, roam the rugged terrains of Komodo Island, offering photographers a chance to capture their majestic yet fierce demeanor against a backdrop of dramatic cliffs and turquoise waters. In contrast, the lush jungles of Borneo are home to the very human-like orangutans whose expressive eyes and playful antics provide countless opportunities for intimate and captivating shots. Proboscis monkeys, exotic butterflies, and colorful birds also provide wonderful subjects.
As you explore this vibrant archipelago with Jim, each photograph becomes an award winning testament to Indonesia's rich biodiversity. Drones are welcome on this tour. They offer an entirely different perspective, allowing you to capture Indonesia's beauty from above.
What you will learn on this photo tour:
Ground level shots using the articulating screen
Background options behind subjects
Maximizing depth of field in macro photography
How to photograph birds in flight
Dealing with noise in low light photography
How to focus stack with a telephoto lens
Extension tubes to shorten minimum focus distance
How to use a ND filter for smoothing moving water
Itinerary:
Day 1, October 9, Friday
Leave home and arrive in Jakarta, Indonesia on this day. Don't forget to calculate the loss of a calendar day if you leave from North America due to crossing the International Date Line. Take the free shuttle to our 4 1/2 star airport hotel. Meet Jim in the lobby of the hotel at 6:30pm for a meet & greet, a discussion about the upcoming tour, followed by a welcome dinner. Overnight Jakarta.
Day 2, October 10, Saturday
Following breakfast we have an early morning flight to Kalimantan, Indonesia's portion of Borneo. Upon arrival in Pangkalan Bun, we are met by a local represented and transferred to our boat. First we
navigate the Kumai River, and then that merges with the Sekonyer River which is the main waterway through Tanjung Puting National Park Enroute to our lodge, we pass dense vegetation and with telephoto lenses we should gets some shots of orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and tropical birds. If time permits, we'll visit an orangutan feeding in Tanjung Harapan at 3pm. The wild great apes come from all parts of the jungle to take advantage of the free bananas, and it's amazing to see how they traverse the canopy so quickly and seemingly effortlessly. At 4pm we return to the boat and cruise to our comfortable jungle lodge. Overnight Rimba Lodge.
Day 3, October 11, Sunday
In the early morning we cruise up the river to observe and photograph more wildlife around the river. This is the time when they are most active. We continue to Camp Leakey and lunch will be provided on board. Upon arrival, we will learn about the work of Dr. Birute Galdikas with orangutans and we'll photograph the orangs in the prime rainforest. In the middle afternoon we'll see another feeding session where mothers bring their babies and alpha males exude a powerful presence, making great pictures. Overnight Rimba Lodge.
Day 4, October 12, Monday
We have an early morning cruise to Kumai (keep your telephoto lens ready to capture more wildlife along the river) and then a transfer by car to the airport for our flight back to Jakarta, and then we connect to a flight to Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores. We transfer by car to our nearby hotel and overnight Bintang Flores Hotel.
Day 5, October 13, Tuesday
After breakfast we board our inter-island boat and head to Rinca Island. The Komodo dragons inhabit three islands in the Indonesian archipelago : Rinca, Padar, and Komodo Island. We explore Rinca Island today in search of the dragons as well as good compositions for landscape photography. We return to the boat and cruise to nearby Padar Island for sunset and, if the sky is clear, we'll set up for astro photography to capture the beautiful Milky Way. Lunch and dinner will be on the boat, and we overnight in cabins on the boat as well.
Day 6, October 14, Wednesday
This early morning we cruise to Loh Liang National Park on Komodo Island for more dragon photography. They can be anywhere -- on the beach,
in tall grass, in groups at a water hole -- and you'll want to make sure you capture their flickering tongue. In the afternoon we'll continue to the pink beach for seascape photography. You can also go swimming and snorkeling here (gear is provided). On our way back to Labuan Bajo, we stop at Kanawa Island for stunning sunset photography. Overnight Bintang Flores Hotel.
Day 7, October 15 Thursday
We get up early this morning to photograph the golden light of sunrise on the port, and then we visit a local market. Next we transfer to the airport for the flight to Denpasar, Bali. If there is time we will visit a butterfly park to photograph Asia's most beautiful butterflies. Overnight Denpasar.
Day 8, October 16, Friday
This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Waingapu on the northeastern coast of
Sumba Island. Jim included this destination in the itinerary because the mangrove trees growing out of the shallows on Walakiri Beach are stunning. Particularly at sunrise and sunset, the scene is magical. When the tide comes in you can use neutral density filters to smooth the water beautifully, and in stark contrast with the artistically shaped trees, the scene makes award-winning pictures. Overnight Padadita Hotel.
Day 9, October 17, Saturday
We drive this morning to Watuparunu Beach where the arched rock formation offers great seascape compositions. Nearby are the Melolo Hills where we can capture beautiful landscapes with the endless green contours. This place has great drone potential, too. We also visit Rende village with its traditional Indonesian-style thatched home. This also has good
drone potential because from aloft, you can capture the azure sea as a backdrop. Overnight Padadita Hotel.
Day 10, October 18, Sunday
We return to the airport and fly to Bali this morning and upon arrival check into our resort hotel. You have the day at leisure to relax by the pool, go shopping, or Jim can take you to a bird park for closeup encounters with exotic birds of Southeast Asia. Overnight Denpasar.
Day 11, October 19, Monday
We transfer to the airport today to connect with our homeward flight, knowing we've capture absolutely incredible images on this photo tour. PLEASE NOTE: We arrive in Jakarta, Indonesia and depart from Denpasar, Bali.
Tour cost: $6950. Includes 10 nights lodging based on double occupancy, all meals, all ground transportation, all boat excursions, all entrance fees, photo instruction, and critiques on demand.
6 domestic flights: Jakarta to Borneo rountripd; Jakarta to Flores Island and return to Bali; and Bali to Sumba roundtrip): $775 (this is subject to change)
Single supplement: $900
Not included: International airfare, items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, trip cancellation insurance, and medical evacuation insurance.