• Thailand countryside

THAILAND: 16 Day Birding & Photography

This trip includes 7 of the best wildlife parks and conservation areas in Thailand. Arriving in Bangkok it is a short flight to Chiang Mai from where we travel to the north-western corner of Thailand. The mountainous forest in Doi Lang, Doi Ang Khan, Doi Inthanon and Mae Wang Wildlife Park are host to higher altitude species of Hornbills and Jays while the surrounding rice fields supports pipits, crakes, kingfishers, wagtails and hawks. A boat trip on the vast Bueng Boraphet Wetlands will bring us close up to Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Open-billed Stork, Kingfishers and Bitterns , the photogenic pig-tailed Macaques in Khoi Yai Reserve as well as the hornbills and gibbons make this a gem for wildlife and bird photography while Kraeng Ka Cheng Reserve is a paradise of biodiversity where pittas, woodpeckers, pheasants and treepies can be photographed at close quarters. Our last morning will be spend on the mud and salt flats of Ban Tha Lee searching for the highly endangered Spoonbill Sandpiper among an array of waders and shorebirds.

ITINERARY tab directly below, next to the gallery tab
Click on days to expand text

Gallery

Itinerary

Click on each day to see daily itinerary & target species

Day 1 Arrival

  • Your international flight to Bangkok.
  • Connection flight to Chiang Mai International Airport.

Overnight near Chiang Mai International Airport

Birding in town if time permits

Accommodation: B&B

Day 2-4 North Western Forested Parks

  • Day 2 to 4 we will visit Doi Ang Kang National Park, Doi Lang Park and Doi Inthanon National Parks

Birds: Doi Inthanon Sunbird, Giant Nuthatch, Bar-throated Minla, Blue-winged Minla, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Little Pied Flycatcher, Grey-sided Thrush, Dark-sided Thrush, Scaly Thrush, Humes Warbler, Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Golden-fronted Leavebird, Green Peafowl, Blossom-headed Parakeet,  Common and Greater Flamebacks, Grey Capped Woodpecker, White-hooded Babbler, Red-headed Trogon, Lesser Coucal, Green-billed Malkoha, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Plaintive Cuckoo, Slaty-backed Forktail, White-crowned Forktail, Silver-eared Mesia and many, many more species

Accommodation: B&B

Day 5 Kamphaeng Phet

  • Morning traveling and afternoon visit to old city: excellent dry forest birding among ruins

Birds: Racket-tailed Drongo, Asian Barred Owlet, Indian Roller, Green-billed Malkoha

Accommodation: B&B

Day 6,7 Mae Wong Wildlife Park

  • Morning traveling and afternoon park visit on day 6.
  • Full day in park on day 7 with a visit to the summit.

Birds: Blue-throated Barbet, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Scarlet Minivet, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Crested Serpent Eagle, Blue-bearded Bee-eater

Accommodation: Cabins

Day 8,9 Bueng Boraphet Wetlands

  • Morning travelling and afternoon birding of the flooded rice fields of the western banks
  • Day 9 Morning and afternoon boat trips, birding walk on shores

Birds: Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze-winged Jacana, Yellow Bittern, Asian Koel, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Copersmith Barbet, Woodswallows, White-breasted Waterhen

Accommodation: Resort

Day 10-12 Khoi Yai Reserve

  • Morning traveling on day 10 and afternoon visit to park.
  • Two full days in reserve

Birds: Pied Imperial Pigeon, Great Hornbill, Pied Fantail, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White-rumped Shama, Tailorbird, White-crested Laughing Thrush, Chinese Sparrowhawk

Accommodation: Resort

Day 13-15 Kraeng Ka Cheng Wildlife Reserve

  • Morning traveling on day 13 and afternoon in birdhide
  • Two full days in park with option of another birdhide session

Birds: Green magpie, Silver Pheasant, Jungle Fowl, Racket-tailed Treepie, Great Hornbill, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Oriental Pied Hornbill,  Black-naped Oriole, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Orange-breasted Trogon, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Blue Pitta

Accommodation: Resort

Day 16 Ban Tha Lee, Departure

  • Early morning departure to coast. Birding mudflats, salt pans, shore.
  • Afternoon drive to Bangkok

Birds: Spoonbill Sandpiper, Pin-tailed Snipe, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Red-necked Phalarope, Red-wattled Lapwing, Chinese Pondheron, Painted Stork, Long-toed Stint

Departure on late night flight

Rates

Thailand 16-day birding trips run in the dry season from November to April each year
Please inquire for your preferred dates.

Please inquire for rates

Included: Accommodation, meals, transport, specialist guides, activities mentioned, park and entrance fees, bird list, water in vehicle
Excluded: Flights, Travel and medical insurance, alcoholic beverages, tips