Indonesia: Land of Dragons & Volcanoes
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Indonesia: Land of Dragons & Volcanoes

Lodge-Based Photo Workshop
Book Trip
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Indonesia: Land of Dragons & Volcanoes

Lodge-Based Photo Workshop

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Trip Leader(s)
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Single Supplement: +$0.00
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   Deposit: $0.00
Start/End

Bali, Indonesia / Surabaya Juanda International Airport (SUB)

Length

10 Days/9 Nights

Fitness Level

Level 1 - What's This?

Group Size

Up To 10 Guests

Highlights
  • Mount Agung & Bali’s Rice Terraces: Capture sunrise over the lush Sidemen Valley, where ancient Subak irrigation systems carve geometric patterns across emerald hillsides beneath Bali’s most sacred volcano.

  • Komodo National Park: Photograph the world’s largest lizard — the legendary Komodo dragon — in its rugged island habitat, surrounded by volcanic peaks, dry savannahs, and turquoise bays.

  • Sumba’s Coastal Reflections: Explore Walakiri Beach at low tide, where twisted mangrove silhouettes reflect in shallow pools, creating surreal mirror images beneath fiery island sunsets.

  • Mount Bromo, Java: Witness one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatic sunrises as light pours across the smoking caldera of Mount Bromo and the vast Sea of Sand below.

If you have any questions about a trip, itinerary, or gear, our Photo Experience Team is available for a personalized one-on-one consultation to provide all the details you need.
Trip Description:

Stretching across more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is a land of extremes — where volcanoes rise straight from the sea, tropical forests cloak misty ridges, and coral-fringed coastlines meet ancient stone and sand. This photography adventure takes us across four of its most remarkable islands — Bali, Komodo, Sumba, and Java — each offering its own distinct character, color, and light. From fertile volcanic slopes to windswept savannahs and steaming craters, we’ll explore the raw natural beauty that defines this vast archipelago.

We begin on Bali, known as the “Island of the Gods,” where rice terraces carve intricate patterns across steep hillsides. The Sidemen Valley, our base for the first days, sits in the shadow of Mount Agung, Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano, which last erupted in 2019. The island’s terraced farmlands are part of a thousand-year-old irrigation system called Subak, a UNESCO-recognized example of sustainable water management. Here, mornings unfold in soft mist and gold light — a photographer’s dream for capturing the symmetry of the terraces and the lush rhythm of island life.

Heading north, we visit Tamblingan Lake, a volcanic crater lake often wrapped in early morning fog. The still waters mirror the surrounding rainforest and small temple shrines that mark Bali’s spiritual connection to nature. Later, we chase light through Bali’s dense interior jungles, photographing hidden waterfalls that tumble through volcanic rock. These forested areas are home to hundreds of bird species and endemic plants that thrive in the island’s humid microclimates, offering countless creative opportunities for both landscape and detail photography.

From Bali, we fly east to the Komodo Islands, part of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda chain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These islands are strikingly different from Bali — arid, rugged, and sculpted by volcanic forces. But what truly sets them apart is their most famous resident: the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). Growing up to 10 feet long and weighing over 150 pounds, these ancient reptiles are the largest lizards on Earth, apex predators that have ruled their ecosystem for millions of years. They’re capable hunters, using a combination of stealth, speed, and a venomous bite to bring down prey as large as water buffalo. Once thought mythical by early explorers, the Komodo dragon is now a symbol of Indonesia’s wild, prehistoric heritage. Accompanied by local rangers, we’ll have the rare chance to photograph them in their natural habitat — lumbering through dry savannahs, sunning on the hillsides, or moving across the volcanic soil that bears their name.

Next, we travel to Sumba, an island that feels like another world altogether. Its rolling savannahs, windswept hills, and quiet beaches stand in contrast to Bali’s tropical greens. Sumba’s landscape resembles parts of East Africa — wide open, sparsely populated, and filled with texture. We’ll photograph the surreal mangrove silhouettes of Walakiri Beach, where at low tide, pools of seawater create perfect mirrors for sunset reflections. Inland, the Tanggedu Waterfall, often called the “Grand Canyon of East Sumba,” offers a different kind of scene — sculpted limestone formations, layered turquoise pools, and dynamic shapes that play beautifully with light and shadow.

Our final chapter brings us to Java, home to more than 120 active volcanoes, including the famed Mount Bromo. From a high vantage point, we’ll watch sunrise ignite the caldera, revealing layers of volcanic peaks surrounded by a sea of mist. The region lies within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, a protected landscape that showcases Indonesia’s tectonic power and extraordinary geology. It’s the perfect finale — a reminder of the elemental forces that built this archipelago, and a fitting close to a journey defined by contrast, creativity, and light.

What's Included
What's Not Included
Details
  • Final Balance Due 150 days prior to Trip Start​​​​​​​ 
  • Trip Insurance ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

 Trip Itinerary 

Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 1 – Arrival in Bali (D)
Arrive in Bali and transfer to our peaceful resort in the Sidemen region — a lush, rural area surrounded by rice terraces and framed by the towering peak of Mount Agung. Take time to settle in, rest from your journey, and enjoy the quiet rhythms of the Balinese countryside before we meet for dinner/orientation in the evening.

Day 2 – Rice Terraces and Mount Agung (B,L,D)
We’ll rise early to catch the first light spilling over the dramatic slopes of Mount Agung, photographing the intricate patterns of Sidemen’s rice terraces as the landscape glows in soft morning light. The rest of the day offers time to explore nearby valleys, streams, and traditional farmland scenes surrounded by tropical vegetation.

Day 3 – Eastern Bali Landscapes (B,L,D)
Today’s sunrise takes us to another viewpoint overlooking Mount Agung, where flowers and rice paddies create endless options for compositions. Later, we’ll head east through rural villages, photographing the quieter corners of the island — where daily life unfolds amid verdant hills, volcanic ridges, and hidden valleys.

Day 4 – Misty Lake and Hidden Waterfalls (B,L,D)
We’ll travel north to Tamblingan Lake, known for its tranquil waters and morning mist drifting across small temples and forests. It’s an atmospheric place to capture reflection and mood. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to one of Bali’s lesser-known waterfalls — tucked deep in the jungle — to photograph cascading water framed by lush greenery.

Day 5 – Journey to Komodo National Park (B,L,D)
A short flight takes us from Bali to Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo National Park. From here, we’ll board our private Phinisi boat — our floating base for the next few days of exploration. Once settled in, we’ll set out to photograph the surrounding islands and enjoy our first sunset on the water.

Day 6 – Padar Island and the Wild Coast (B,L,D)
We’ll begin the day with a sunrise hike on Padar Island, one of the most iconic landscapes in Indonesia. From the summit, the island’s rugged ridges and turquoise bays stretch out in every direction. Later, we’ll visit Pink Beach for its unique sands and clear water, and explore nearby reefs where manta rays are often seen gliding beneath the surface. If conditions allow, we’ll also visit Komodo Island to search for the legendary Komodo dragons with park rangers.

Day 7 – Flight to Sumba & Walakiri Beach (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we’ll disembark and fly to Sumba Island. Once we’ve checked into our beachfront lodge, we’ll venture out for sunset at Walakiri Beach — a stunning shoreline dotted with dwarf mangrove trees. During low tide, shallow pools form perfect mirrors, creating dreamy reflections as the sun dips behind the horizon.

Day 8 – Savannahs, Waterfalls, and Sunset Reflections (B,L,D)
At sunrise, we’ll explore one of Sumba’s dramatic highlands or coastal savannahs, where golden light sweeps across rolling grasslands and wild horses sometimes roam freely. Later, we’ll photograph Tanggedu Waterfall — often called the “Grand Canyon of East Sumba” — with its layered rock formations and turquoise pools. Weather permitting, we’ll return to Walakiri for another round of sunset reflections.

Day 9 – Flight to Java & Bromo Volcano Region (B,L,D)
We’ll fly to Java this morning and travel to the edge of the Bromo crater, where our lodge overlooks one of Indonesia’s most dramatic volcanic landscapes. If the skies are clear, we’ll have the chance to photograph Bromo beneath the stars — capturing the glowing caldera under moonlight or the Milky Way before dawn.

Day 10 – Sunrise Over Mount Bromo & Departure (B,L,D)
We’ll greet sunrise at one of the most spectacular viewpoints in all of Indonesia, watching as the first rays light up Mount Bromo and the surrounding sea of volcanic sand. After a final morning of photography, we’ll return for breakfast and make our way to Surabaya Airport by 2 PM for departures home or onward travel.

Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures, and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and landscape photography, we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions.
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All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2025

CONTACT US

Monday-Friday
8am to 4pm Mountain Time
928-478-1521
adventure@backcountryjourneys.com

TRIP CATALOG

Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.

BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS

"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.

- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director

CONTACT US

Monday-Friday
8am to 4pm Mountain Time
928-478-1521
adventure@backcountryjourneys.com

TRIP CATALOG

Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.

All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2025
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