04 Dec 2025 - 08 Dec 2025 (5 days)
USD2,150 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Rockjumper Tour Leader TBC
Tour price (Per person): ZAR39,046 * CAD3,020 * AUD3,325 * GBP1,700
Single Supplement: ZAR3,178 * CAD246 * AUD271 * GBP138
Flight costs: ZAR3,596 * CAD278 * AUD306 * GBP157
Can be linked with: China - South China and Hainan in Winter 2025
Situated no more than 50km from the Chinese border with Laos and Myanmar, the villages of Xishuangbanna and Mangba and their immediate surroundings support a wealth of sought-after species including the exceedingly range-restricted Lord Derby’s Parakeet. This species will feature heavily on our extension coupled with many others that reach their extreme eastern distributional limits in this remote area of south Yunnan.
Silver Pheasant, Ashy-headed and Thick-billed Green Pigeons, Green-billed Malkoha, Cinnamon and Von Schrenck's Bitterns, Mountain and Collared Scops-Owls, Oriental Bay Owl, Orange-breasted Trogon, Golden-throated Barbet, Greater Flameback, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Long-tailed and Silver-breasted Broadbills, Red-breasted and Lord Derby's Parakeets, Blue-naped Pitta, Maroon Oriole, Bronzed and Crow-billed Drongos, White-winged Magpie, Collared and Crested Finchbills, Chinese Leaf and Sichuan Leaf Warblers, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Golden Babbler, Annam Limestone Babbler, Streaked Wren-babbler, Beautiful and Black-headed Sibias, Spotted Elachura, Chinese Vivid Niltava, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Siberian Blue Robin, Mrs. Gould's and Brown-throated Sunbirds, Chinese Grosbeak.
Asian Elephant, Maritime Striped Squirrel, Northern White-cheeked Gibbon, Pallas's and Inorate Squirrels, Rhesus and Stump-tailed Macaques, Black Giant Squirrel.
temperature coniferous (pine, spruce & fir) and tropical broad-leaved forest, bamboo forest, rivers, mountain valleys
warm in the lower lying areas (most of the trip), cool in the higher lying areas
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
moderate
comfortable
moderate with some tricky and some easy species
fabulous scenery, extensive broad-leaved, coniferous and bamboo forests, fascinating people and culture, rarely visited reserves and wilderness areas
Good to excellent
David Hoddinott was an excellent bird guide, finding and identifying birds at amazing speed and ease. He had researched the field well, and knew where to find the birds. He also had researched the literature and was versed in all the newest taxonomic changes. He was very patient in assuring that all the participants got on the bird.
Glen Valentine is an incredible guide and has real talent. We very much appreciate him and always find his tours fun and so rewarding with great birds, great views even in freezing conditions. Any tour with Glen is a guaranteed success and a good time. Daniel Danckwerts will be a great asset to RBT and contributed to the success of the tour. He is also personable and has a great sense of humour. He wasn't all that slow with his scope either and we all saw some fine birds through his scope. We are never surprised at the excellence of RBT guides.
David Hoddinott is an outstanding leader. Always conscious of the need to ensure that everyone sees each bird, he does, rightly, expect concentration and a positive approach throughout. This is the second time that I have travelled with David and I hope that I have the opportunity again in the future. Thank you.
As usual, Glen Valentine was fantastic. I have travelled with him before and it never ceases to amaze me how he can hear and spot birds so effectively. And his enthusiasm is contagious. You know that he has seen any given bird on previous trips but it's as though he is seeing it for the first time with you! Daniel Danckwerts was also on the tour "learning the ropes". Very knowledgeable and a good asset to have on the tour. A superb spotter! All in all, this was a fantastic trip. I would recommend it to anyone.
Paul Varney, was very well prepared, despite not having birdied much in China before he had studied the likely birds at each place and particularly he had leaner the calls, so vital in identifying almost identical leaf warblers. He was calm and flexible when logistical issues arose. I would happily tour with him again.
China - Sichuan Birding II 2024 - June 2024
China - Yunnan Extension II 2024 - June 2024
China - Sichuan Birding III 2024 - June 2024
China - Sichuan Birding I 2024 - May 2024
China - Yunnan Extension I 2024 - May 2024
China - Qinghai Extension 2024 - April 2024
China - Highlights 2024 - April 2024
China - Sichuan Birding 2019 - May 2019
China - Highlights: Qinghai Extension 2019 - May 2019
China - Highlights 2019 - May 2019
China - Sichuan Birding II 2018 - May 2018
China - Sichuan Birding I 2018 - May 2018
China - Southeast in Spring 2018 - April 2018
China - Reeves's Pheasant & Crested Ibis Extension 2018 - April 2018
China - Sichuan Birding 2017 - May 2017
China - Yunnan Extension 2017 - May 2017
China - Tibetan Plateau & Beidaihe 2016 - September 2016
China - Lhasa Birding & Cultural Extension 2016 - September 2016