Vietnam is one of the most beautiful, friendly and fascinating
countries in Asia. An early-season visit there finds the
country at its best, the climate mostly cool, dry and
enjoyable, the winter birds still in and the resident ones
gearing up for breeding. Vietnam hosts, according to how
much you believe in splitting up species, no less than 14 true
endemic species (and this number continues to increase as
further work is done and new discoveries made), a further 7
or so restricted to Indochina and a number of very interesting
and distinct “subspecies” (several of which are destined to be
future taxonomic splits). A large range of Southeast Asian
species of wider distribution, and a host of birds from further
north wintering here add to the richness of this destination.
Cambodia, on the other hand, is covered in more dipterocarp
forests (mostly broad-leafed evergreen and with long-winged
seeds) that once spread across much of Indochina and
Thailand. These forests were formerly home to the greatest
aggregation of large mammals and water birds that have
existed beyond the savannas of Africa. These forests have
largely disappeared from Thailand and Vietnam; currently,
the Northern and Eastern Plains of Cambodia form the
largest remaining contiguous block of this unique and
critically important habitat.
Our unique and comprehensive itinerary, covering the best
sites from south to north in Vietnam, seeks out all but a few
inaccessible endemic birds and several of the mammals.
Visiting several sites in Cambodia, we have many chances to
see both of the rarest ibises (White-shouldered Ibis and
Giant Ibis), as well as Bengal Florican and Greater Adjutant.
We shall cover these countries in a way that very few
westerners have ever enjoyed.
countries in Asia. An early-season visit there finds the
country at its best, the climate mostly cool, dry and
enjoyable, the winter birds still in and the resident ones
gearing up for breeding. Vietnam hosts, according to how
much you believe in splitting up species, no less than 14 true
endemic species (and this number continues to increase as
further work is done and new discoveries made), a further 7
or so restricted to Indochina and a number of very interesting
and distinct “subspecies” (several of which are destined to be
future taxonomic splits). A large range of Southeast Asian
species of wider distribution, and a host of birds from further
north wintering here add to the richness of this destination.
Cambodia, on the other hand, is covered in more dipterocarp
forests (mostly broad-leafed evergreen and with long-winged
seeds) that once spread across much of Indochina and
Thailand. These forests were formerly home to the greatest
aggregation of large mammals and water birds that have
existed beyond the savannas of Africa. These forests have
largely disappeared from Thailand and Vietnam; currently,
the Northern and Eastern Plains of Cambodia form the
largest remaining contiguous block of this unique and
critically important habitat.
Our unique and comprehensive itinerary, covering the best
sites from south to north in Vietnam, seeks out all but a few
inaccessible endemic birds and several of the mammals.
Visiting several sites in Cambodia, we have many chances to
see both of the rarest ibises (White-shouldered Ibis and
Giant Ibis), as well as Bengal Florican and Greater Adjutant.
We shall cover these countries in a way that very few
westerners have ever enjoyed.
| Vietnamese Cutia Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao |
Grey-crowned Crocia
Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao
Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao
| Trip Description |
| Comprehensive Vietnam Birding |
| Comprehensive Vietnam Birding |
Mountain Tailorbird
Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao
Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao
| More Details on This Trip |
| Brief Itinerary |
Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), transfer to Royal
Park.
Day 2: Birding en Route to and at Cat Tien National Park.
Days 3 and 4: Birding Cat Tien National Park.
Day 5: Tranfer to and Birding in Di Linh and Nui San Pass.
Day 6: Birding Nui San Pass and en route to Da Lat.
Days 7 and 8: Birding Da Lat Plateau.
Day 9: Birding at Lak Lake and Yok Don National Park.
Day 10: AM Birding at Serepok river. Mang Canh Forest.
Day 11: Mang Canh Forest.
Day 12: AM Birding at Mang Den. Continue on to Lo Xo
Pass.
Day 13: AM Birding at Lo Xo. Bach Ma National Park
Day 14: Bach Ma National Park.
Day 15: Bach Ma National Park. PM Transfer to Ke Bang
National Park.
Day 16: Ke Bang National Park.
Day 17: Transfer to Cuc Phong National Park.
Day 18: Van Long Nature Reserve en Route to Cuc Phong
National Park.
Day 19: Cuc Phong National Park.
Day 20: AM Birding then Transfer to Ba Be National Park.
Day 21: AM Birding at Ba Be National Park. PM Birding at
Tam Dao National Park.
Day 22: Tam Dao National Park.
Day 23: AM Birding at Tam Dao. PM Departure or Start of
Cambodia Extension.
Cambodia Extension:
Day 1: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom.
Day 2: AM and Afternoon Birding.
Day 3: Birding at Tmatboey.
Day 4: Birding at Tmatboey.
Day 5: Birding at Peak Toal Sanctuary.
Day 6: Birding at Ang Trapeang Thmor Nature Reserve.
Park.
Day 2: Birding en Route to and at Cat Tien National Park.
Days 3 and 4: Birding Cat Tien National Park.
Day 5: Tranfer to and Birding in Di Linh and Nui San Pass.
Day 6: Birding Nui San Pass and en route to Da Lat.
Days 7 and 8: Birding Da Lat Plateau.
Day 9: Birding at Lak Lake and Yok Don National Park.
Day 10: AM Birding at Serepok river. Mang Canh Forest.
Day 11: Mang Canh Forest.
Day 12: AM Birding at Mang Den. Continue on to Lo Xo
Pass.
Day 13: AM Birding at Lo Xo. Bach Ma National Park
Day 14: Bach Ma National Park.
Day 15: Bach Ma National Park. PM Transfer to Ke Bang
National Park.
Day 16: Ke Bang National Park.
Day 17: Transfer to Cuc Phong National Park.
Day 18: Van Long Nature Reserve en Route to Cuc Phong
National Park.
Day 19: Cuc Phong National Park.
Day 20: AM Birding then Transfer to Ba Be National Park.
Day 21: AM Birding at Ba Be National Park. PM Birding at
Tam Dao National Park.
Day 22: Tam Dao National Park.
Day 23: AM Birding at Tam Dao. PM Departure or Start of
Cambodia Extension.
Cambodia Extension:
Day 1: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom.
Day 2: AM and Afternoon Birding.
Day 3: Birding at Tmatboey.
Day 4: Birding at Tmatboey.
Day 5: Birding at Peak Toal Sanctuary.
Day 6: Birding at Ang Trapeang Thmor Nature Reserve.
Black-hooded Laughingthrush
Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao
Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao
| Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao |
| Ratchet-tailed Treepie Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao |
Red-billed Scimitar Babbler
Photo by Tang A Pau
Photo by Tang A Pau
| Siamese Fireback Photo by Nguyen Hoai Bao |
| Please call Charles (in the USA at 720-320-1974 or toll free at 888-203-7464) or Ian (in the UK at 07719-052820 in Norfolk), and/or email info@pibird.com. Also feel free to click here. |
