-All day at Doi Lang West. Arriving very early gives you an excellent chance of photographing Mrs Hume’s Pheasant at a feeding area (you have another day at least here so no need for the very early start if you are still feeling jet-lagged). Other birds that visit the feeding area include Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Japanese Tit, Buff-throated Warbler, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Olive-backed Pipit, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, White-browed Laughingthrush and Grey-backed Shrike.

On Doi Lang West there are a number of regular photo stakeouts which you can visit over the course of your two visits. You can usually get all of the stakeout birds in one day but two visits allows you to get them in the best light; the midday light can be rather harsh. Species I would expect include Silver-eared Laughingthrush, White-gorgetted Flycatcher, Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher, White-tailed Redstart, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Hill Prinia, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Siberian Rubythroat, White-browed Laughingthrush, Blue Whistling Thrush and possibly others depending on the conditions.

• Meals: B/L/D
• Overnight at: Tangerine Ville Hotel.
• Expert Bird Leader:

-Today there is a bit of a bumpy ride up Doi Lang East but it is worth it for a couple of stakeouts at the top of the road. Here you can photograph Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Spectacled Barwing, Large Niltava, Black-backed Sibia, Himalayan Bluetail, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, White-tailed Robin. In “cold” years there can be a thrush or two visiting too. In surrounding trees “freestyle” photography is often quite good too with flocks of small birds regularly passing through visiting low trees with small fruits. Usually there are decent chances to photograph Whiskered Yuhina, Striated Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Buff-barred Warbler, Davison’s Leaf Warbler, Grey-chinned Minivet, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Golden-throated Barbet.

• Meals: B/L/D
• Overnight at: Tangerine Ville Hotel.
• Expert Bird Leader:

-Another trip to Doi Sanju or Doi Lang West. This area is really great for birds and there are miles of birding along an extremely quiet road along the Thai/Myanmar border. You get another chance at Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant should you need it and another chance to visit the stakeouts for the best light.

At Doi Sanju or Doi Lang general freestyle photography can be rewarding too with flocks of birds passing through and visiting fruiting trees. We often get photo opportunities of species such as Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Hume’s Treecreeper, Grey-chinned Minivet, various warblers, bulbuls and even Himalayan Cutia. Spot-breasted Parrotbill usually poses nicely for photos and at this time of the year there will be other photographers around and there will probably be a few surprises nailed down at fruiting trees or feeding stations. By this time of year some resident birds will be starting to nest so you can hope for Black-throated Tit, Giant Nuthatch and many others. It is just a question of which birds allow a photographic opportunity.

By late afternoon start driving south towards Chiang Mai. The drive is around 3.5-4 hours including a stop for lunch. There is probably some time to make a few stops along the way.

• Meals: B/L/D
• Overnight at: Touch Star Resort.
• Expert Bird Leader:

-We’ll spend 2 full days at Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain (you can drive to the top, no hiking needed). Here there are a couple of hides at different altitudes where species such as Streaked Spiderhunter, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Small Niltava, Yunnan Fulvetta, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Whitebrowed Fantail, Ochraceous Bulbul, Pygmy Cupwing, Plumbeous Redstart, Blue Whistling Thrush, Slatybacked Forktail, White-crowned Forktail and others regularly show.

The summit of the mountain is also good for photos. No stakeouts but a great abundance of birds that are not afraid of people. Sometimes you arrive and not much is happening but spending time up here always gives good photo opportunities; Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Green-tailed Sunbird, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Black-backed Sibia, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Ashy-throated Warbler, Davison’s Leaf Warbler, Blyth’s Leaf Warbler and Yellow-browed Tit roam in flocks, often just a few metres away. Rufous-throated Partridge, Pygmy Cupwing, Ashy Woodpigeon, Dark-sided Thrush are a bit harder but often seen and photographed. At this time of the year a low fruiting tree should attract Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Greysided Thrush and Eyebrowed Thrush. It is a productive spot.

• Meals: B/L/D
• Overnight at: Touch Star Resort.
• Expert Bird Leader:

-A final morning at Doi Inthanon. We usually use this to visit a hide overlooking a small stream for forktails. By mid-morning drive to Chiang Mai airport. Here you will be dropped off. I will book your flights that take you to Don Muang airport in the north of Bangkok.

*Arrive at the Air-port/Pick up and drive to Kaeng Krachan NP/Check into Baan Maka Nature Lodge.

• Meals: B/L/D
• Overnight at: Baan Maka Nature Lodge.
• Expert Bird Leader: