Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Tangkoko

We reach Manado airport in the morning and drive around 2 hours to the Tangkoko National Park. We check into our local home stay and have lunch. With a bit of luck, we can already observe the first interesting birds in the vicinity of our guest house, including Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot, Sulawesi Crow, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sahul Sunbird, and Ruddy Kingfisher. 

After a short rest, we will visit a number of birding spots in the forest surrounding the nature reserve. We will look for Sulawesi Dwarf-Kingfisher, Ochre-bellied Boobook, and Knobbed Hornbill among many others.

Night in Tangkoko.

Day 2: Tangkoko National Park

We will have a start in the early morning and visit the Tangkoko National Park. Our target birds include Philippine Megapode, Green-backed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle, Sulawesi Goshawk, and Rusty-backed Thrush among many others. In addition, we will be able to spot Celebes Crested Macaque, Spectral Tarsier, and Sulawesi Bear Cuscus. Depending on the sightings, we might return to the lodge a bit late for lunch and a rest.

n the afternoon, we can continue birding and look for Purple-winged Roller, Black-billed Koel, Isabelline Bush-hen, Buff-banded Rail, and Barred Rail. In the evening, we can check for Sulawesi Nightjar, Sulawesi Scops-Owl, and Ochre-bellied Boobook.

Night in Tangkoko.

Day 3: Temboan Hill and coastal mangroves at Tangkoko

We will have an early start and go birding at Temboan Hill to look for Yellow-billed Malkoha, White-faced Cuckoo-Dove, Pygmy Hanging-Parrot, Sulawesi Cicadabird, and many more.

In the afternoon, we will use a boat to follow the coastline and enter into a local mangrove forest. Our main targe bird here is the Great-billed Kingfisher. Other possible birds include a few waders and terns as well as White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Collared Kingfisher, White-breasted Woodswallow, Blue Rock-Thrush, and many more.

Night in Tangkoko.

Day 4: Tangkoko to Bogani/Kotamobagu

We have another morning at the Temboan Hill to find birds that we missed previously. Interesting species on our list include Azure-rumped Parrot, White-necked Myna, Sulawesi Myna, Finch-billed Myna, Silver-tipped Imperial-Pigeon, Gray-headed Imperial-Pigeon, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Hornbill, Pale-blue Monarch, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Maroon-chinned Fruit-Dove, and many more.

After lunch, we go for a drive of around 6 hours to Kotamobagu. After some rest in the hotel, we will check for Sulawesi Masked-Owl around sunset.

Night in Kotamobagu. 

Day 5: Maleo at Bogani/Kotamobagu

We have an early start to drive to the small nature reserve protecting the nesting site of the unique Maleo. We can observe the shy birds leaving the forest around sunrise for 2-3 hours. In addition, we have a chance to see Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Great Eared-Nightjar, Isabelline Bush-hen, and Rusty-backed Thrush. We will go for a walk through the adjacent forest and might be able to spot species such as Sulawesi Babbler or even the rare Blue-faced Rail.

After lunch and a rest in the hotel, we will go for birding in the afternoon at Ambang Mountain. Here we will try to observe Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Matinan Flycatcher, Fiery-browed Starling, Cinnabar Boobook.

Night in Kotamobagu.

Day 6: Kotamobagu to Tomohon

After breakfast, we will drive for around 4-5 hours to Tomohon. On the way, we can check the open countryside for interesting species such as Spotted Harrier, Lesser Coucal, Javan Pond-Heron, Javan Myna, Chestnut Munia, and many more. In the afternoon, we can go for birding around Tomohon looking for species such as Sunda Teal, Dusky Moorhen, and Speckled Boobook.

Night in Tomohon.

Day 7: Tomohon and Mt. Mahawu

We will start early and visit the hill forests near Tomohon to observe the magnificent Sulawesi Pitta. Other interesting birds in the area include Superb Fruit-Dove, Citrine Canary-Flycatcher, Warbling White-eye, Turquoise Flycatcher, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Sulawesi Pygmy-Woodpecker, Sulphur-bellied Whistler, and many more. We will have the full day for birding at different sites around Tomohon.

Night in Tomohon.

Day 8: Tomohon and departure

We have another morning in the hill forests around Tomohon to check for birds that we missed on the previous day. We will mainly target to see Scaly-breasted Kingfisher. Around lunch time, we will visit a garden restaurant in Tomohon to see birds such as Sulawesi Myzomela, Black-crowned White-eye, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Common (Cobalt-eared) Kingfisher, Cinnamon Bittern, and others. 

After lunch, we will drive for around 1 hour to Manado Airport. If we are early, we can check the parking lot near the airport for Red Collared-Dove, Javan Myna, and Java Sparrow.