26 Feb 2029 - 01 Mar 2029 (4 days)
THB95,500 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz
Tour Price (Per person): THB95,500 (USD2,900 * GBP2,225 * AUD4,214)
Single Supplement: THB11,550 (USD351 * GBP269 * AUD510)
This tour pairs with: Thailand - Asian Birding at its Best (Small Group) 2029
Pricing notes : *All prices are estimated, and dates may change* Internal Flights (Bangkok - Nakhorn Sri Thammarat return) are included in the tour price
Our short extension to neighbouring Laos targets the country’s one endemic species, the recently discovered Bare-faced Bulbul, as well as several other rare and range-restricted species in the limestone karst forest such as Sooty Babbler, Limestone Leaf Warbler and Red-collared Woodpecker.
Bare-faced Bulbul; Sooty Babbler; Red-collared Woodpecker; Limestone Leaf Warbler; Banded Bay Cuckoo; Green-billed Malhoka; Red-headed Trogon; Blue-eared, Green-eared & Coppersmith Barbets; Great Iora; Grey-eyed, Black-crested & Stripe-throated Bulbuls; White-rumped Shama; Streaked Wren-Babbler; Hill Blue Flycatcher; Purple-naped Spiderhunter.
limestone karst forest
hot and humid
6 with 1 Rockjumper leader
MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.
Moderate. Suitable for most birding / wildlife interest levels but not suitable for anyone with mobility challenges.
Very comfortable lodges in Laos
Main target species are expected to provide decet visuals.
Reasonable to good.
I had a wonderful time. Thanks!
SEChina in winter was sensational thanks to Stephan Lorenz who is a superb birder and guide, as well as being quite personable. He got us such quality birds and some that were quite unexpected. He answers questions and gives information freely. Most importantly If a bird was possible he got it for us. We were all elated with the tour. Jason the local guide was also excellent. I would think this tour will become very popular or should be.
Both Andre and Uthai were remarkably tireless and effective in finding and identifying birds, including some of the most elusive species in Thailand. They also did a great job of organizing the logistics of the trip. Our meals were already prepared when we arrived at restaurants and all of the hotel arrangements were handled smoothly. We probably will not consider going on another standard Rockjumper trip. Birding steadily from dawn to after dark was a bit much, especially for 22 uninterrupted days. This pace is appropriate for most serious birders so I don’t fault the guides, but we plan to shift to a style of traveling in which we can set our own schedule. We might consider one of Rockjumper's relaxed tours, but we're not concerned about long hikes and muddy trails as long as the schedule allows for a little down time to read, reflect and recover.
Note that some of the comments I made regarding the Thailand extension apply to the main Thailand tour. I liked the sequence of sites visited; it ensured the Spoonbill Sandpiper was seen early on and then designed to minimize travel. Staying multiple nights at one site is always appreciated and seemed to be done as much as possible. The guides made special efforts to see bird species sought by the group; we saw more bird species than I expected. The drivers were excellent and also one of them, Jaime, was a good birder who helped the guides track down some species; it was an asset to have internet while in the vehicles. The drivers also produced an excellent video of the trip - a nice touch; they also did an excellent job with mid-morning breaks. I especially enjoyed visiting a hide all morning early on in the trip - it gave us a chance to see some elusive species but also several species very well. One morning was spent looking for a rare duck; I would have rather spent the time looking for a variety of Thai species. Quite a bit of birding was done along roads - it might have been better to bird trails etc. if they are available and afford good views of birds pointed out. Food was excellent (Uthai selected great dishes for the group) and accomodations were good. It was an enjoyable trip with rewarding looks at many of the bird species seen.
Bobby, our guide, was a solid & knowledgeable leader. His demeanor tends to be quiet & reserved, which worked for this group but may not work with all group dynamics. The lodging for this trip was a bit more rustic than I expected. The local guides used on this trip were excellent & offered additional intel into sightings or hot spots to explore. The group got all endemics possible & overall was a very good trip.
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