This expedition offers to experience some of the most spectacular in its pure wilderness and special culture experience areas of Indonesia – Borneo, Sumba island, Bali and Java. My absolute favourites to explore in Indonesia. And I am going to take you on a trip like no other. Unique, wild and wonderful. Let’s explore together.
Sumba! The wilderness pure gem. Dancing trees paradise. With its rugged rolling hilled savannahs together with fields of maize and cassava, the island of Sumba in the East Nusa Tenggara Province offers its own distinct splendours. Sprinkled throughout its countryside are hilltop villages with thatched traditional clan houses clustered around unique megalithic tombs where villagers still pay homage to their ancestors in the ancient belief of Marapu and have retained most of the indigenous culture and traditions for generations. The island is also known for the origin of the strong and agile Sumba Ponies or Sandalwood Horses. They can swim in the sea!
Located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in the East Nusa Tenggara province, nested the wonderful Komodo National Park. The Komodo National Park encompasses a total of 29 volcanic islands (including the 3 major islands Rinca, Padar and Komodo) and is home to approximately 2,500 Komodo Dragons and other terrestrial fauna such as various species of reptiles, birds, and mammals. Moreover it has impressive landscape – pink beaches, coral reefs and such beautiful mountains and cliffs. All of that we will explore in sea cruise dedicated specifically for photographers. You will stay on the boat, will be served amazing seafood and enjoying every day landings.
Borneo. It is a wildlife sanctuary and we will stay at the lodge deep in the pristine rainforest, meeting with orangutans, other animals and birds!
Bali. We will use this opportunity traveling with local experienced guides to show us the hidden culture of Bali in smaller and less known traditional villages. It is a perfect trip for those who wants to practice in multiple genres of photography: portrait, street, landscape and travel. I am sure you will bring back home not just warm memories of sacred Bali Island – island of Gods – but a whole portfolio worth a book about Balinese culture and landscape. We will have multiple stages with people dressed in rich traditional costumes, stages with Barong and Rejang dancers just for our group in perfectly situated locations of old temples, banyan trees and waterfalls.
Bromo volcano, the true highlight of entire trip. First sight of Bromo will be from our hotel located just on the rim overlooking Bromo volcanic caldera.
At 2,392 meters high, Mount Bromo is not amongst the tallest of Indonesia’s mountains but its stunning beauty lies in its incredible setting. Located some 4 hours drive from Surabaya, the capital city of East Java, Mount Bromo is part of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park that covers a huge area of 800 sq km.
Standing majestically inside the huge caldera of the once ancient Mount Tengger, Mount Bromo is surrounded by a vast stretching sea of volcanic sand that radiated a certain mystical beauty. Mount Bromo and the Tengger area is also the home of the Tengger sub-ethnic group who still preserve their age-old traditions and way of life. Here, you can observe the unique indigenous culture and traditions of the ‘Tenggerese’ including their rituals and ceremonies.
Day 1, 27 August
Welcome to Jakarta, Indonesia! The starting point of our Photography Tour. Please arrive before 5 p.m. We will have meeting and dinner this day to get to know each other and discuss the upcoming expedition. Meeting and start of our tour is at the airport hotel in Jakarta.
Day 2
Welcome to the captivating island of Borneo, where the beauty of nature meets the art of photography. Your adventure begins as you touch down at Pangkalan Bun Airport, where you’ll be greeted with open arms and whisked away on a 30-minute car ride to the Kumairiver port. Here, you’ll board a charming river boat, known as a klotok, that will transport you through the tranquil waters of the Kumai river.
As you cruise along, soaking up the stunning views, you’ll feel yourself being transported to a world of wonder and enchantment. After a leisurely 1.5-hour boat ride, you’ll arrive at our eco Lodge, where a delectable welcome lunch awaits you.
With your energy replenished, you’ll embark on an exhilarating photography tour of the Tanjung Harapan orangutan feeding station, located just 10 minutes away from the lodge on a traditional klotok boat. As you explore the park headquarters and wander through the lush trails, you’ll be amazed by the sheer beauty of the landscape and the incredible wildlife that calls it home. The park is a home to wild orangutans as well as released orphans who still need support.
At 1500, you’ll witness the awe-inspiring feeding ritual of the park’s largest alpha male Orangutan, capturing every moment through your lens. After a day filled with adventure and discovery, you’ll return to the the lodge for a sumptuous dinner and a peaceful night’s sleep, surrounded by the soothing sounds of nature.
Get ready to capture the magic of Borneo on this unforgettable photography tour, where every moment is a masterpiece waiting to be captured!
Day 3
Get ready for a day of wonder and amazement as your photography tour continues with an early start, beginning with a delicious breakfast to fuel your adventure. Your journey takes you one hour upstream to the feeding station of Pondok Tanggui, where you’ll witness the captivating morning feeding time of the majestic Orangutans.
As you make your way to the feeding station, keep your eyes peeled for the enchanting Giant Squirrels, playful pigs, and a rainbow of fluttering butterflies that grace the path. And when you arrive at the feeding station, you’ll be greeted by the commanding presence of the Alpha male, who presides over the feeding ritual. After taking in the awe-inspiring sight, take a leisurely stroll around the area and capture the beauty of your surroundings through your lens.
Next, you’ll hop back on the boat and continue your journey to the world-renowned Camp Leakey, a hub of Orangutan research and conservation. Along the way, indulge in a delicious lunch, while admiring the stunning vistas that surround you. When you arrive, don’t miss the chance to explore The Education Centre, where you can learn more about the fascinating Orangutan species and the important conservation work being done to protect them.
As you continue your exploration, keep an eye out for the lively Agile Gibbons and playful pigs that roam the camp. And when it’s time for the feeding, your knowledgeable guide will provide water, but remember not to bring any food or drink yourself. Human transmission of diseases can be fatal for the Orangutans, so it’s essential to refrain from any contact that may put them at risk. If an Orangutan chooses to take your hand, enjoy the experience, but remain calm and respectful.
The feeding at Camp Leakey is made possible by generous donations to The Orangutan Foundation International USA, founded by the renowned Professor Dr. Birute Galdikas. After the feeding, take a peaceful stroll back to the boat, where you’ll embark on a scenic journey home, passing by numerous roosting Proboscis Monkeys and a visit to the charming Tanjung Harapan Village.
As the sun sets on your day of adventure, return to the lodge for a delectable dinner and a restful night’s sleep, dreaming of the incredible memories you’ve captured through your lens.
Day 4, 30 August
Begin your day with a delicious breakfast at the enchanting Eco Lodge, surrounded by the lush and vibrant atmosphere of Tanjung Puting National Park. After breakfast, we’ll board our traditional riverboat, known as a “klotok,” for a peaceful and leisurely ride through the park’s stunning waterways. Take in the breathtaking scenery and allow yourself to be fully present in the moment, savouring the sights and sounds of this beautiful place.
Later today, we’ll be flying to Surabaya, Java, where we’ll embark on the next chapter of our adventure. After arriving, we’ll take a scenic two-hour drive to Bromo, where we’ll capture the stunning sunset against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the volcano. Overnight we settle at Mount Bromo base at 4 star resort on the crater rim!
Day 5, 31 August
The ultimate attraction and the reason why photographers travel from far and wide to Mount Bromo is its spectacular sunrise. From a vantage point the sun rises magnificently and hot majestic Mount Bromo with first rays, while the surrounding mountain ranges create an almost surreal atmosphere.
We will take you to a vantage point that offers the best view of this spectacular sunrise, and the best part is that there is no hiking involved – we will drive you straight to the most awe-inspiring viewpoint. As the sun rises at around 5.30am, you will be in the perfect position to capture the magic of this natural phenomenon. This is a secret viewpoint with many old curved trees. You can frame through them or fly the drone optionally.
After experiencing the sunrise, we will take you to the famous Bromo crater for a photography session with horsemen in the dust. This will be a unique opportunity to capture the beauty and rawness of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. After the photography session, we will enjoy a relaxed breakfast and pack up before departing to Surabaya airport. From there, we will take a one-hour flight to Bali, where we will settle and explore the green island of Gods Bali.
Day 6
Today’s “sunrise in the office” will be at one of my most favorite landscape spots – rice terraces very close to Mount Agung. Easily accessible viewpoint surrounded by flowers offering variety of foregrounds. In the afternoon we will visit one of the hidden waterfalls and arrange locals in traditional outfit in the tropical paradise.
In the afternoon we visit local ceremonies and photograph traditional Balinese culture stages in temples or at spectacular landscape backdrop.
Day 7
At sunrise we visit “Ray of the light village” where we can witness not just epic landscapes with rice terraces but also traditional balinese village which tourists usually not visit. Perfect opportunity for genre/portrait photography.
After sunrise and relaxed breakfast, we start to the harbour, departing to Nusa Penida island! Get ready for ultimate seascape destination. We will practice long exposures at sea shore locations and experience tall cliffs of Nusa Penida. We will visit and photograph the iconic Kelingking beach at sunset with it’s famous T-Rex cliff. Back to hotel after sunset or stay a bit to photograph night sky depends on the weather conditions!
Overnight at Nusa Penida island.
Day 8, 3 September
Today we continue exploring Nusa Penida with the most stunning location for sunrise – Diamond Beach. Visit Pohon tree house and beautiful sunrise viewpoints! After sunrise we drive back to hotel, have breakfast, pack and depart by high speed ferry back to Bali, where we catch the flight to Sumba island, Waingapu at 2 p.m. (one flight per day)! If flight will have no delays we will be able to photograph sunset at dancing trees already! But just in case we will have a second chance tomorrow.
Day 9
Sunrise spot – Puru Kambera savannah. It is a prairie which will make you feel like you are in the midst of Africa’s grasslands. We will try to find Sumba horses roaming in the endless savannah. With first rays of light flaming on golden grass! Head back for breakfast and break to hotel.
At sunset another chance to photograph Sumba Dancing trees! We plan second attempt to Walakiri beach as it offers amazing compositions, and you still have low tide at sunset that day. You have a chance to review photos from yesterday and do even better or different compositions exploring further corners of the beach with different dwarf mangrove trees.
Dinner and rest. Sumba hills Photos by our guide Fikre (see below).
Day 10, 5 September
We depart to Bali on recommended flight altogether. Expedition will be finished at Bali airport. Or if you wish you can continue to join
Optionally you can continue to explore Indonesia at
Pricing:
Total price (twin shared hotel rooms): 6900 USD
Difficulty: easy
Single supplement +900 USD if you wish to have a single room
Tour includes:
- Accommodation double/twin rooms
- all meals and non-alchohol drinks,
- all transportation during the tour
- photography tuition,
- entrance fees and all local taxes.
- Ferry tickets to Nusa Penida and back
Not included in the price:
– Airfare international and local (local flights budget will be around 400-600 USD total)
– Visas (if applicable)
– Single supplement
– Tips to drivers (15-20 USD per person for your driver recommended)
– alcohol drinks, airport meals
What to bring
Gear:
– DSLR camera with tripod and remote shutter release
– A wide angle lens. For example, Nikkor 14-24 or Canon 17-40. Best lens for use in wide-angle scenes or architecture photography
– A middle-zoom lens such as a 24-70 mm
– A telephoto zoom lens, such as a 70-200 mm. Be sure to have additional tripod mount to this lens.
– Set of filters for seascape photography: ND 3, 6, 10 stop and CPL filters
Tour leaders
Daniel Kordan
Landscape and travel photographer based in Bali, Indonesia. Partner with Iceland photo tours, instagram @Danielkordan with 1.8 Million followers, Nikon and Gitzo ambassador.
