Indonesia: The Lesser Sunda Islands

The islands of Nusa Tenggara, or the Lesser Sundas, stretch across the Java Sea north of Australia, between the islands of New Guinea and Bali. They are part of a unique region known as Wallacea, which contains a distinctive fauna representing a mix of Asian and Australian species. The tropical dry climate has given rise to vegetation that is strikingly different from the rest of the Indonesian archipelago. More than 70 endemic bird species live in the seasonally dry monsoon forests and savanna woodlands, and new species are still being discovered.

The region is not heavily visited by Western tourists, but accommodations range these days are good to excellent, and the birding is comfortable on mostly quiet roads and wide, flat trails. The pace of life in the Lesser Sundas is relatively slow, and the locals are laid-back and friendly.