19 March – 1 April 2025
Join Mark Rayner and myself as we embark on an extraordinary journey taking in some of the highlights of Borneo, Bali Java and topping it off with a visit to beautiful Komodo National Park to photograph the prehistoric Komodo dragons in their natural habitat.
Highlights: Photographing unique wildlife such as Orangutans and Komodo Dragons
Local traditional markets and street photography
Beautiful Mount Bromo at sunrise
Balinese cultural rituals and parades
Special Balinese dance and music performance
Traditional fishing villages
Temples and architectural photography
Two nights surrounded by the ancient rainforests and wildlife of Borneo
Cruising in a private boat through the stunning seascapes of Komodo national park
Makepung buffalo races in West Bali
Connecting with local people away from the tourist areas in most cases
The journey begins in Ubud, Bali where we meet, and the next morning we will visit a forest full of Monkeys ( but not the touristy one in Ubud ) to get our cameras and long lenses into action, then drive West, to spend a couple of nights in one of the least visited parts of the island. West Bali is like stepping back in time and we will be treated to a very special Balinese traditional dance performance , just for us and an opportunity to hear the ancient sounds of the Jegog, a unique sound that comes from Bamboo instruments.
The next morning we will witness buffalo racing which this region is famous for and then catch the car ferry for the short ride to East Java and a beautiful region called Banyuwangi. That afternoon we will visit some beautiful rice fields leading into towering volcanos, and some great landscape photography opportunities. That night we will dine on delicious Javanese food, another great reason to visit this part of the world.
The next morning we visit one of the most interesting fishing villages in all of Indonesia as hundreds of colourful fishing boats bring their morning catch to shore for trading. The locals love to have their photos taken and will easily pose for the camera, creating some wonderful photo opportunities. We then drive 4- 5 hours to photograph the most spectacular Volcanic landscapes in Indonesia in the Mount Bromo area. This sight as the morning sun hits the many volcanoes above the sand sea in the Mount Bromo/Tengger National Park is iconically Indonesia. I call it Indonesias Yosemite and it is something you will never forget. We overnight at Bromo and photograph the sunset over the volcano’s.
The next morning we are up very early and travel by jeep across the sand sea to get in position for the sunrise and a sight you will never forget. This is a great area for drone photography, for those who have drones. We spend the morning photographing in this area including the Tengger ( local indigenous tribe) horseman with the Volcanos as a backdrop , can make some nice images. In the afternoon we drive to Malang and stay at one of Java’s most beautiful boutique Hotels, the Tugu, which is like a living museum of Javanese culture.
The next morning we fly from Surabaya on a direct flight to Komodo. and 2 nights on our own private boat, cruising around this beautiful area. Bring your swimmers as the underwater world is just as beautiful as that above the water and an underwater camera if you so desire. We will sail around the Komodo National Park stopping off at different locations to photograph the Komodo Dragons, and other wildlife, visit beautiful pristine beaches, the famous Padar Island , a traditional fishing village to meet and photograph the people living here. This area is know for beautiful sunsets so hopefully we will get to experience that also. After 2 nights and 3 days on the boat we fly back to Bali.
We have timed this trip to be here for the most exciting and colourful time on the island of the gods, Nyepi or the silent day as it is called. The two days before Nyepi the streets are full of giant Ogoh Ogoh’s. These are creations that the Balinese work on constructing for many weeks leading up to Nyepi day.
On the night before Nyepi we will witness the Ogoh Ogoh parades, as hundreds of different sizes and shapes are proudly displayed before being taken to the graveyard to be set on fire. There are other interesting rituals conducted on the island at this time including Melasti, when thousands of Balinese head to the ocean to pray and make offerings to the dark spirits that live in the ocean. On the actual silent day March 29 we cannot leave the Hotel, which will be a good opportunity to rest and catch up on some editing.
March 30 we fly to Borneo and Tanjung Puting National Park, arriving in the afternoon. We can relax as we cruise along the Sekonyer river, photographing the Probiscous monkeys as they fly between the trees at dusk, visiting the habitat of the endangered Orangutans and having many opportunities to photograph these fascinating wild animals. Expect to see a lot of bird life in this area also. We will sleep in the Rimba lodge in comfortable rooms surrounded by the ancient Borneo rainforest. After 2 nights here we return to Bali on April 1 st arriving at 2 pm at Bali domestic airport. The tour finishes .
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If you have any questions or wish to book, please contact David directly on WhatsApp at +62 8111331255 or via email at davidmetcalf312@gmail.com.
$1,000 USD deposit (or the equivalent in rupiah) is required to secure your place, refundable if the tour does not proceed for any reason.
US $6,200 / Person based on sharing a room ( if available ) or US $6,950 for your own room (Please note it may be necessary to share a room on the boats depending on the numbers of people we take on the tour.)
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