Thailand birding tour

Day 1: Bangkok to Kaeng Krachan National Park.
This birding tour starts in the capital city of Bangkok. The city is located in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand, and has a population of over eight million people. It has been described as the most exuberant city in Southeast Asia, and would justify a trip to Thailand all by itself.

You will be picked up from your hotel or at the airport and we will travel to Kaeng Krachan National Park, our first stop on this fantastic tour.

It is the largest National Park in Thailand, occupying 2,915 km² (1,125 sq. miles); this is possibly Thailand’s premier forest birdwatching location due the quantity and quality of species that have been found there. Most of the forest here is in an excellent condition and consists of evergreen tree species, although a number of deciduous species are also present, particularly in the lower elevations of the park. Kaeng Krachan’s location on the border with Myanmar means it is part of a much larger forest complex than just the National Park and an excellent refuge for a huge number of species, including many of Asia’s rarest mammals and birds. Ninety-one species of mammals and 461 bird species have been counted in the park. The park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 26 July 2021.

Our morning could be spent at Uncle’s Bird Hide, and here we will look for Kalij Pheasant, Greater and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, Indochinese Flycatcher, Siberian Blue Robin, Asian Golden, Streaked and Baya Weaver, Asian Openbill, Javan and Chinese Pond Heron, Chinese Egret, White-throated Kingfisher, Little Green, Blue-bearded and Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Indian Roller, Ashy Wood Swallow, White-browed and Large Scimitar Babbler, Bamboo and Great Slaty Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird and many other birds.

We will enjoy lunch at the Park’s restaurant and in the afternoon search an area closer to the river or in another hide for Ferruginous and Bar-backed Partridge, Blue Pitta, Black-backed Kingfisher, Black-and-yellow, Silver-breasted, Dusky and Banded Broadbill, Common Green Magpie, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Violet Cuckoo, Oriental Dollarbird, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Large Woodshrike, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Blue-eared and Blue-throated Barbet, Common Iora and many more.

After an exciting first day we will check into our resort close to the park for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Day 2: Kaeng Krachan National Park.
Today we will spend the full day in this wonderful gem of a park.

The park’s landscapes are incredibly scenic, with lush green forests, cascading waterfalls, and picturesque viewpoints. The park’s natural beauty provides a serene and peaceful environment for relaxation and photography.

We will have an early morning drive up to Phanern Thung summit to search for Ratchet-tailed Treepie, White-hooded Babbler, White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Flavescent and Mountain Bulbul, Great Barbet, Grey Treepie, Rufous-browed and Hill Blue Flycatcher, Asian Palm Swift, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Wreathed, Great and Tickell’s Brown Hornbill, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Golden, Rufous-fronted and Buff-breasted Babbler and many other species.

After lunch at the park restaurant we will look in some other habitat (maybe at Km 27) for Long-tailed Broadbill, Red-headed Trogon, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Speckled Piculet, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Common & Greater Flameback, Greater Yellownape, Laced Woodpecker, Black-throated and White-crested Laughingthrush, Large Scimitar Babbler, Banded Kingfisher, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Asian Paradise Flycatcher and many other birds.

We will return to our resort for dinner and our overnight stay.

Day 3: Kaeng Krachan National Park.
We will start our day early in the morning at Khun Nuy’s pond, where will hopefully see Blue Pitta, Large Scimitar Babbler, Greater and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, Siberian Blue Robin and many other birds.

We will also be on the lookout for other wildlife, and we might see Sambar, Southern Red Muntjac, Dusky Langur, Stump-tailed Macaque, Sun Bear, White-handed Gibbon, Black Giant and Variable Squirrel, Gliding Lizard and even some snakes… With lots of luck we could even spot Asian Elephant, Malayan Tapir, Dhole or a Leopard!

After lunch at the park restaurant we will visit Khun Nueng’s pond, where we will look for Kalij Pheasant, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Bar-backed, Ferruginous and Green-legged Partridge, Grey Peacock-Pheasant and many others.

We will return to our resort, have dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 4: Kaeng Krachan National Park.
We will start our day early after breakfast and explore the KM 7 area, looking for White-browed and Large Scimitar Babbler, Bamboo and Great Slaty Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Blue-bearded Bee-eater and many others.

After lunch at the park restaurant we will do some afternoon birding, making sure to tick remaining species we might still need, or trying to get better photos of ones that we have already seen.

We will return to our resort for dinner and our overnight stay.

Day 5: Birding at Laem Pak Bia and flight to Chiang Mai.
We will enjoy an early breakfast and then check out after our wonderful stay in Kaeng Krachan.

We then make our way northeast to one of Thailand’s most productive shorebird sites, namely Laem Pak Bia. It will take us about 90 minutes to get there. Laem Pak Bia has been a rarity hotspot for years, and the two most productive areas to explore are the sandspit and the salt pans and lagoons. We will search for fantastic species like White-faced and Malaysian Plover, Chinese Egret, Pacific Reef Heron, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann’s Greenshank, Asian Dowitcher and many others.

After lunch we continue on to Bangkok, from where we will take a 70 minute flight to the city of Chiang Mai.

Although we won’t see much of the city, Chiang Mai offers a unique blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty and a vibrant but laid-back atmosphere. Chiang Mai is deeply rooted in Thai history and culture. The city is home to hundreds of Buddhist temples, including the famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which sits on a mountain offering breathtaking views of the city. Chiang Mai is also renowned for its bustling night markets and bazaars. The famous Sunday Walking Street on Rachadamnoen Road offers a plethora of local crafts, art, clothing and street food. The city is also a paradise for food enthusiasts. You can savor traditional Northern Thai dishes such as khao soi (curry noodle soup), sai oua (spicy sausage), and gaeng hang lay (pork curry).

We will transfer to our comfortable hotel and have dinner before a good night’s sleep.

Day 6: Doi Ang Khang National Park.
We will check out of our hotel early this morning and travel north to the Doi Ang Khang area.

First we will stop at Pha Plong Temple where we will search for Purple-naped Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter and other birds.

Then we continue north. Doi Angkhang is an area on the border with Myanmar (Burma) consisting of a number of peaks and steep ridges that, although largely deforested farmland, contain a lot of scrubby vegetation and forest patches which provide enough habitat to house a good number of interesting bird species, many of which are found in few other parts of the country. It is the site of an agricultural station, the first such research station set up by King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1969.

We will spend the rest of today birding here, and hope to see Black-breasted and Dark-sided Thrush, White-tailed Robin, Daurian Redstart, Giant Nuthatch, Silver-eared Mesia, Brown-breasted Bulbul, Slaty and Pale Blue Flycatcher, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, Large Niltava, Scarlet and Short-billed Minivet, Dark-backed Sibia, Spectacled Barwing, Little Pied Flycatcher, Grey and Pied Bush Chat, Gould’s Sunbird, Spot-breasted Grosbeak, Maroon Oriole, Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Little Bunting, Red-faced Liocichla and many others.

We will have dinner and overnight at our accommodation nearby.

Day 7-8: Doi San Ju and Doi Lang.
This morning we will drive even further north to Doi Lang, where we will spend almost three full days.

Doi Lang is part of the Doi Pha Hom Pok massif in the north of the country and lies within the national park of that name. The park covers 524 km² of the mountain area of the Daen Lao Range, at the border with Myanmar. The tallest peak is Doi Pha Hom Pok at 2,285 metres (7,497 feet), the second highest in Thailand. Although inside the national park, Doi Lang habitat is not well protected. The major attraction of Doi Lang is its location, where a variety of species not present elsewhere in Thailand can be found. This location is one of the wildest areas of Thailand that is accessible by car, affording fantastic views across into Myanmar and providing birders with many miles of fabulous roadside birding in a variety of upland habitats with hardly any vehicular disturbance at all.

We will hope to see the two big specials of the area; Hume’s Pheasant and Giant Nuthatch. We will also connect with Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Mountain Bamboo-Partridge, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Blossom-headed Parakeet, Red-faced Liocichla, Lesser Shortwing, Slaty-backed, Slaty Blue, Pale Blue, Ultramarine, Sapphire, Little and Pied Flycatcher, Orange-flanked Bush Robin, Large Niltava, Brown Treecreeper, Siberian Rubythroat, White-bellied Redstart, Crested Finchbill, Black-throated Tit, Himalayan Cutia, Spectacled Barwing, Davison’s Leaf Warbler, Rufous-backed Sibia, Black-throated Tit, Hodgson’s Frogmouth, Bay Woodpecker, White-browed Laughingthrush, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Fire-tailed Sunbird and many other birds.

We will have lunch on the go today, and have dinner and a good night’s sleep at our accommodation nearby.

Day 9: Doi Lang to Doi Inthanon National Park.
With habitats that include pine forest, rice paddies, orchards and moist forest the number of potential species at Doi Lang is staggering. It is a great place to spend time at, exploring the area and enjoying what is one of the best birding sites in northern Thailand.

A few species are known only from Doi Lang, or a couple of other sites, in Thailand. This site is the best chance for us to see Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Whiskered Yuhina, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Spot-breasted and Pale-billed Parrotbill, Scarlet Finch, Black-headed Greenfinch, Little, Crested and Chestnut Bunting, Spotted Elachura, Himalayan Cutia, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler and Black-throated Bushtit.

After another exciting morning we will have an afternoon transfer to Doi Inthanon National Park, nicknamed “the roof of Thailand”.

At 482 km², the park protects four major watersheds and, of course, Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon, which has its summit at 2,565 metres (8,415 feet) above sea level. The park is unique in Thailand as it is 300 metres higher than any other mountain in the country which allows it to support a tract of upper montane forest and Thailand’s only sphagnum bog.

Although there is quite extensive deforestation in places due to a sizeable hill-tribe population, there remain large areas of quality habitat which is home to a very high number of species. The long road to the summit provides many places to stop and access to the forest which is magnificent in places; particularly the moss-clad forest at higher altitudes. Highway markers along this road are a convenient way to denote prime birding locales.

We will arrive at our accommodation, the famous Mr. Deang Birding Centre in the park, late in the afternoon, maybe do some quick birding, and then have dinner and a good night’s rest. Tomorrow we explore the park!

Day 10: Doi Inthanon National Park.
Birds seem to be in greater densities here than in many other locations in Thailand, meaning that this is an ideal place to see a large number of species in a short space of time and one of the most memorable locations for birdwatching in Thailand.

Here we hope to see a large number of species, including Black-backed and Rufous-backed Sibia, Spectacled Barwing, Grey-throated Babbler, Scarlet Minivet, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Green Cochoa, Lesser Shortwing, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler and many other birds.

Next to the summit of Doi Inthanon we hope to find Pygmy Cupwing, Green-tailed Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Ashy-throated Warbler, Chestnut-tailed Minla and many others.

We will have lunch back at Mr. Deang’s and continue in the afternoon at Huay Sai Luang Waterfall. Here we will see White-capped and Plumbeous Redstart, Slaty-backed Forktail, Scarlet Minivet, Ashy and Little Bronze Drongo, Dark-sided Flycatcher, White-rumped Shama and many more birds.

We will return to the centre late in the afternoon for dinner and our overnight stay. Remember to look for the elusive Dark-sided Thrush around our accommodations!

Day 11: Doi Inthanon National Park.
We will spend another full day in the park, the premier birding destination in northern Thailand.

With 383 species, it ranks second among Thailand’s national parks in number of bird species. Doi Inthanon has so many birding highlights it is almost impossible to mention them all without giving the entire checklist for the National Park! This mountain spans a number of habitats and consequently contains the birds associated with them. The summit area, which is higher than any other in Thailand, provides some of the most memorable bird watching on the mountain, perhaps even the whole country.

After breakfast at Mr.Deang’s Birding Centre, we will start our birding at KM 34.5 on the summit road, looking for Hume’s Warbler, Large, Small, Vivid and Rufous-bellied Niltava, Streak-breasted Woodpecker, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Speckled and Ashy Wood Pigeon, Chestnut-fronted and White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Rufous-backed Sibia, Mountain Tailorbird, White-bellied Redstart, Russet Bush Warbler, Rufous-winged Fulvetta and many other birds.

After lunch we will do our afternoon birding around the Jeep Track, hoping to connect with Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Purple and Green Cochoa, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Mountain Tailorbird, Dusky Warbler, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Brown-throated Treecreeper and many more.

Dinner and a good night’s sleep is back at Mr. Deang’s Birding Centre.

Day 12: Doi Inthanon National Park to Chiang Mai.
After an early breakfast at Mr.Deang’s Birding Centre we could transfer to KM 13 on the summit road. In this area we will aim for White-rumped Falcon, Collared Falconet, Black-headed Woodpecker, Asian Barred Owlet, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Maroon Oriole, Grey-chinned Minivet, White-crowned Forktail and other birds. We could also visit the Siri Bhumi waterfall, looking for White-capped Redstart, Slaty-backed Forktail and others.

We will enjoy a last lunch in the park, and after checking out continue to do some birding in the park as we make our way slowly out. We hope to see Rufous-winged Buzzard, Striated Yuhina, Blue-throated Flycatcher, Citrine, Grey, Yellow and White Wagtail, Black-backed Forktail, Oriental Turtle Dove and many others.

We will leave the park and travel northeast for about 2 hours to Chiang Mai, where depending on flight times, you will either be dropped at the International Airport (for your flight to Bangkok and onward) or a hotel in the city.

The tour ends at the airport or at your city hotel in Chiang Mai. This last night’s dinner and overnight stay (if needed) will be for your own account.