Thailand

Thailand is the quintessential birding tours destination of South East Asia, showcasing habitats from mountain peaks draped with Rhododendron forests to dense tropical lowlands resounding with birdsong. Thailand’s treasures also extend beyond the natural world into the cultural realm, and spectacular pagodas and temples adorn this tropical nation.

Our Northern & Central Thailand - Asian Birding at its Best tour provides a detailed overview of the major sites of the country. Setting out from Bangkok, we first explore the forested hillsides of Khao Yai National Park, where we will be overwhelmed by the vast array of broadbills, hornbills, babblers and barbets. After scanning the mudflats of Samuth Sakhon for migrant waders, including the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, we continue to Kaeng Krachan. This park offers unbroken rainforest scenery and supports one of the richest bird lists in South East Asia. We then fly north to Chang Mai where we explore the montane forests of Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain and most famous birding site. Here a collection of uniquely Asian groups, such as ioras, barwings, mesias, minlas, sibias, and niltavas will dazzle us! Moving east we bird the mountains of Doi Angkhang on the border of Myanmar, where we will continue finding representatives of unique families, including parrotbills, liocichlas, finchbills and stunning minivets. Other sites visited include Sab Sadou, Thaton and Doi Lang. Our tour is designed to take advantage of the incredible influx of migrants from the north, complimented by a brilliant cast of Asian bird species. Tour highlights may include the magnificent Green Peafowl, Siamese Fireback, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo, Silver-breasted Broadbill and Blue Pitta.

Our Southern Thailand Extension - Gurney's Pitta & Rainforest Birding tour takes us to remnant lowland forests on the Malay Peninsula, which support some of the world’s most sought-after and endangered birds. At the top of our list is the critically endangered Gurney’s Pitta, of which only about 30 breeding pairs remain, along with an amazing five other potential pitta species, true jewels of the forest understorey. We explore nearby mangroves by boat, searching for specialties such as Mangrove Pitta, Brown-winged and Black-capped Kingfisher, and Mangrove Whistler, while mudflats support wintering Chinese Egret and Nordmann’s Greenshank. We also venture to the idyllic Similan Islands for the outlandish Nicobar Pigeon and stunning snorkeling opportunities.