Birds are an important part of the natural heritage of any country but they are being threatened everywhere, mainly by people, through urbanization and deforestation.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Bangkok
Arrive Bangkok Airport where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Day 2: Bangkok / Khao Yai
Early morning departure by road for the 4-hour drive to Khao Yai, one of Thailand's premier national parks, 2,172 sq. kms of forested mountains and open grassland. In the afternoon start the first of four days birding in the park.
Days 3 - 4: Khao Yai
Walking the trails of Khao Yai is an unforgettable experience. The average tree height is far greater than anything most people are used to and the forest giants are truly awe-inspiring, some reaching well over 70m. In areas where the forest floor is open one has the feeling of being inside a vast natural cathedral. Some 318 migrant and resident bird species have been identified living in the park?s lush forests. Easily observable and perhaps the most fascinating are the four species of horn bill found in the park. The two large horn bill species are the great and wreathed; the two smaller species are the noisy Oriental Pied and the more secretive and Quiet Brown Hornbill.
Day 5: Khao Yai / Bangkok
In the morning do some more birding before returning to Bangkok.
Day 6: Bangkok / Kaeng Krachan
Depart to Kaeng Krachan National Park, situated on the eastern side of the remote Tenasserim mountain range near the Burmese border. The National Park was established in 1981 after a visit to the area by the King of Thailand. It is the largest national park in the country, over 3000 square kilometers, and encompasses a range of forest habitats.
Days 7 - 8: Kaeng Krachan
We will concentrate mainly on the impressive evergreen forest, which is bisected by a road which enables us to gain easy access and enjoy tremendous views. In the early morning, we will try to find fruiting trees where pigeons, barbets, bulbuls and leafbirds come to feed. The sound of swan-like wing beats will alert us to a Wreathed Hornbill passing overhead, while flashes of scarlet and gold against a blue sky materialize into a flock of delicate Grey-chinned or Scarlet Minivets. Brown Needletails zip over the canopy at breath-taking speed whilst a plaintive cry echoes across the forest as a Crested Serpent Eagle soars high into the air. Deep in the forest we will creep silently through the tangle of vegetation, dwarfed by the immense trees that tower above us. A flash of colour in this green world may signal an Orange-breasted or Red-headed Trogon swooping up onto a low branch. We will listen carefully for a scuffling amongst the dead leaves on the forest floor that might lead us to anything from the seldom-seen Grey Peacock-Pheasant or Ferruginous Wood-Partridge to a Large Scimitar-Babbler or perhaps just a squirrel. Some rare and exciting birds can be found here and in particular we shall be looking out for Woolly-necked Stork (this is one of its last remaining outposts in Thailand), the shy Silver Pheasant, Yellow-vented Pigeon, Ratchet-tailed Treepie (only recently discovered here, far to the west of its known range) and the decidedly elusive Plain-pouched Hornbill. By checking the dead trees we may find Rufous and Bay Woodpeckers, or even Great Slaty Woodpecker, while White-hooded Babblers utter their harsh chattering from the dense bamboo. Amongst the many other birds which we may well encounter during our stay here are Crested Honey Buzzard, Crested Goshawk, Shikra, Bar-backed Partridge, Red Junglefowl, Thick-billed Pigeon, Emerald Dove, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Vernal Hanging-Parrot (whose appearance is heralded by its incessant scratchy see-sip flight note), Plaintive and Drongo Cuckoos, Green-billed and Chestnut-breasted Malkohas, Collared Scops Owl, Collared Owlet, Himalayan Swiftlet, Fork-tailed Swift, Grey-rumped Treeswift, Chestnut-headed and Blue-bearded Bee-eaters, Dollarbird, Brown, Oriental Pied and Great Hornbills.
Overnight at Baan Rim Kaeng bungalow.
Day 9: Kaeng Krachan / Bangkok / Chiang Mai
Transfer to Bangkok Airport for flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel.
Day 10: Chiang Mai
Depart to Doi Inthanon for birding.
Days 11 - 12: Chiang Mai / Doi Inthanon
Birding at Doi Inthanon National Park, a large reserve surrounding Doi Inthanon, at 2,596 metres Thailand's highest peak. These northern mountains and plains have a very different avifauna from central Thailand and many Palearctic and Himalayan species reach their southern limits here. The bird life shows great contrasts as one proceeds from low to high altitudes. At the lower levels the avifauna has a strong resemblance to that at Khao Yai but at higher levels it is quite different in character and the divergence increases steadily with altitude.
Days 13 - 14: Chiang Mai
Birding at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, fairly rich in mountain forest birds with more than 326 kinds of birds spotted on this mountain. Its proximity to Chiang Mai marks it out as a convenient spot for bird-watchers. Overnight in Chiang Mai town.
Day 15: Chiang Mai / Bangkok
Transfer to airport for flight to Bangkok and connecting flight home.
Services included in the price:
- Tourist-class accommodation in shared twin-bedded room
- Full board.
- Transport by air-conditioned minibus.
- English-speaking guide.
Services not included in the price:
- Domestic flights Bangkok/Chiang Mai/Bangkok.
- Expert bird leader.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
01 Nov 07 - 31 Oct 08
2,781 US$ per person for a group of minimum 2 persons.
Single supplement 450 US$
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Thailand
Birdwatching
National Parks
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