North Thailand Bird Photography Tour 9 Days
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9 Days
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Tour Code: NTBPH#0009D
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Doi Ang Khang / Doi Lang / Doi Inthanon National Park
Included/Exclude
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English-speaking Bird Leader.
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Breakfast, Lunch, Fruit, Coffee and Tea
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Transfers as itinerary
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Park entrance fees
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Refreshment
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Insurance
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Personal expenses
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Any other service not mentioned in the programs
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All alcoholic.
Preparation
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Light walking boots or Sports Shoes
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Camera+Lens
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Long trousers and Long-sleeved Shirt for walking in the Forest
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Mosquito Repellent, Sun hat and Sun Cream.
Tour Plan
Day 1: Chiang Mai-Doi Inthanon NP.
Day 1
Chiang Mai-Pha Plong Temple-Doi Ang Khang.
05:30
Early morning starting from Chiang Mai. After breakfast or breakfast on the way drive an hour or so to Pha Plong Temple. This is not an especially notable place for photography but it gives you a location in the morning not too far from Chiang Mai city, to take advantage of the morning light. Our best spots are just a bit too far for the first stop. Here there are some commoner birds, often in low trees and flowering bushes; bulbuls, spiderhunters, sunbirds, orioles.
Continue the journey to Doi Ang Khang. This area has some spectacular scenery and well-planted gardens are a magnet for birds. The photography is done freestyle, there may be a photo stakeout for a few species but the focus will probably be on the gardens.
Continue the journey to Doi Ang Khang. This area has some spectacular scenery and well-planted gardens are a magnet for birds. The photography is done freestyle, there may be a photo stakeout for a few species but the focus will probably be on the gardens.
12:00
Lunch.
16:00
Transfer to Fang District/Check into Tangerine Ville Hotel.
18:30
Dinner.
- Meals: B/L/D
- Overnight at: Tangerine Ville Hotel.
- Expert Bird Leader:
Day 2: Doi Sanju or Doi Lang West.
05:00
Starting, All day at Doi Sanju or Doi Lang West. Arriving very early gives you an excellent chance of photographing Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant at a feeding area. 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 Sanju or 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.
On Doi Sanju or 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.
12:00
Lunch.
16:00
Return back to your hotel.
18:30
Dinner.
- Meals: B/L/D
- Overnight at: Tangerine Ville Hotel.
- Expert Bird Leader:
Day 3: Doi Lang East.
-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.
12:00
Lunch.
16:00
Return back to your hotel.
18:30
Dinner.
- Meals: B/L/D
- Overnight at: Tangerine Ville Hotel.
- Expert Bird Leader:
*On Day 3: Afternoon transfer to Chiang Mai Air-port or your hotel in Chiang Mai/End of the Trips.
Day 4: Fang Hot Springs.
06:00
Breakfast/Short drive to Fang Hot Springs.
-Fang Hot Springs in the morning. This scenic location is very close to your accommodation and while there are no stakeouts or hides there are usually some birds that present themselves for photos. Spot-winged Grosbeaks are always here and usually descend low enough for photographs as they lick up salts that a geyser (artificial) deposits on surrounding trees. Blue Rock Thrush, Striated Swallow, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Coppersmith Barbet, Asian Barred Owlet, Golden-fronted Leafbird are all likely for photos and flowering/fruiting trees can draw in other birds close.
By late morning 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.
12:00
Lunch.
17:00
Check into Touch Star Resort.
18:30
Dinner.
- Meals: B/L/D
- Overnight at: Touch Star Resort.
- Expert Bird Leader:
Day 5-7: Doi Inthanon NP.
-We’ll spend 3 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, White- browed Fantail, Ochraceous Bulbul, Pygmy Cupwing, Plumbeous Redstart, Blue Whistling Thrush, Slaty- backed 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, Grey- sided Thrush and Eyebrowed Thrush. It is a productive spot.
*On Day 7: Afternoon transfer to Chiang Mai Air-port or your hotel in Chiang Mai/End of the Trips.
12:00
Lunch.
13:30
Start the afternoon program.
18:30
Dinner.
- Meals: B/L/D
- Overnight at: Touch Star Resort.
- Expert Bird Leader:
Destinations
