BEST OF SOUTHERN & CENTRAL VIETNAM BIRDING
17 DAYS/ 16 NIGHTS
BEST OF SOUTHERN & CENTRAL VIETNAM BIRDING
We have arranged a total birding tour for you stretching from the Central to the Southern Vietnam. For the duration of 17 days, you will have chance to see the excellent variety of birds that you can hardly see elsewhere in other Asian countries.
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JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS Completely spend time birding at most of the well-known birding sites in Southern and Central Vietnam Witnessing the stunning landscape of nature surrounding while birding Engaging deeper to the local lifestyle and culture |
TOUR INCLUSION
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Please contact us directly for the best price. Price is fully included: Accommodation (base on sharing 2 person/room), all transportation, all meals, bottled water, all entrance fees, domestic airfares, guide fees, all tips for local drivers/guides.
Itinerary
We will depart from Saigon to Cat Tien National Park early in the morning.
Enter the Nam Cat Tien National Park and there we shall begin to explore the fabulous reserve during the afternoon.
Checkin and have lunch at Cat Tien Jungle Lodge with the river view.
Take a 8-km-walking into the beauty of tropical forest to find out more about the diversity ecosystem and unspoilt wildlife.
You can freely ride a bike on small trails through the jungle or simply chill down in the glorious view.
Electric car will transfer you back to the center of the National Park for dinner. Then you will have a memorable night on the night jeep riding to Ta Lai buffer zone for animal spotting like Loris, Pangolins, Civets, …
Overnight at Cat Tien Jungle Lodge. (3 nights)
Enjoy breakfast in the forest with the lively sounds of bird singing and gibbon calling.
Our jeep driver will transfer you to the Crocodile Swap, which is the home to not only Siamese crocodiles but also a lot of rare birds in the World Red Book.
We will bird using jeep tracks and forest trails to seek out the endemic Germain’s Peackock-Pheasanr, other spectacular birds such as Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl and Scaly-breasted Partridge, endemic Pittas, the endemic Grey-faced Tit-Babbler and a host of other species also known from Malaysia and Thailand.
*Birding highlight: Orange-necked Partridge, Germain's Peacock Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl, Wreathed Hornbill, Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pittas, Pale-headed and Black-and-buff Woodpeckers, Black-and-red, Banded, Dusky Broadbills, Blyth’s Frogmouth, Grey-faced Tit Babbler.
We still have time left for some last morning birding at Cat Tien National Park before heading to Di Linh.
Nearby Di Linh Town is a forested mountain pass known as Suoi Lanh Pass, where you could catch sight of several Dalat specialities including Black hooded, White-cheeked, Orange-breasted laughingthrushes and the near-endemic Black-crowned Parrotbill.
Return to Di Linh and stay overnight at Bao Loc Homestay.
Visit Suoi Lanh Pass in the early morning to look for other interesting species that could include Blue Pitta, Indochinese Green Magpie, Spotted Forktail and handsome Green Cochoa.
It is also a perfect spot for Spotted Forktail, Blue Pitta, Black-hooded and Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Black-crowned Parrotbill, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Annam Barbet.
Dalat - with its cool climate and mountainous terrain – is home to several of Vietnam’s endemic bird species as well as many distinctive local subspecies. We will start exploring some of the exciting birding sites around Dalat in the afternoon.
A full three days of birding includes visiting to Langbiang Plateau and Tuyen Lam Lake, a man-made lake outside the town.
With a progressively-steeper footpath, we will easily access the Langbiang peak with 2169m in height – surrounded with evergreen forest and variety of species.
Our goals in Dalat are Dalat Shrike-babbler, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Orange-breasted & Collared laughingthrushes and Grey-crowned Crocias. Near endemics here include Grey-crowned Tit, Black-crowned Parrotbill, White-cheeked and Black-hooded laughingthrushes, and Vietnamese Cutia. Other target birds in this bird-rich area are the elusive Blue & Rusty-naped pittas, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Slender-billed Oriole, Hume’s Treecreeper, Yellowbilled Nuthatch and a very distinctive race of Red Crossbill.
Leave for Yok Don National Park after your early breakfast in Dalat. We will arrive in Yok Don in time for lunch before exploring the bank of the Srepok River and the dry deciduous forests.
The bird species here are hardly seen elsewhere in any regions of Vietnam. Grab your camera and take the precious moments Fulvous-breasted, Rufous-bellied & Black-headed woodpeckers, Alexandrine and Blossom-headed parakeets, White-rumped Pygmy-falcon, Rufous Treepie and near-endemic Mekong Wagtail.
Enjoy your night with the vibrant vibe of Buon Me Thuot City.
Morning birding at Mang Den before setting off for the marvelous drive to Mang Den.
Stop en route to have lunch. We will reach Mang Den in time for late afternoon birding around Mang Den.
Mang Den is a secret land in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It has a wild, pure beauty with many unspoilt, neglected landscapes. Everyone usually considers Mang Den as the second Dalat thanks to its cool climate and mountainous terrain. Mang Den is also the name of a mountain peak in the area and is included in some trekking tours.
Stay overnight at Mang Den. (2 nights)
Surrounded by dense forest, cool climate all year round with many scenic lakes, waterfalls that make tourists marvel to step between “paradise” when coming to Mang Den (Kon Tum).
With its height of 1200m above sea level and primeval forest, Mang Den owns an attracting variety of ecosystem.
Here we will seek for the recently-discovered, endemic Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush and several interesting bird species including the scarce Pale-capped Pigeon, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Black-hooded Laughingthrush and Indochinese Wren-babbler.
Morning birding at Mang Den brings you several of unique and special birds that are not easily found elsewhere in Vietnam. You will catch sight of Rufous-faced Warbler, Pale Blue Flycatcher and Grey-headed Parrotbill.
Driving Northwards up the Ho Chi Minh Highway to the Lo Xo Pass in the mid-morning. Our main target here are the Indochinese endemic Black-crowned Barwing, only discovered in 1996.
Night’s spent away at Mang Den.
We will return to Lo Xo Pass in the morning to look for other specialities such as White-winged Magpie and Red-tailed Laughingthrush.
It’s time for the Central Coast of Vietnam. Depart Kham Duc for our drive Northwards to Bach Ma National Park.
We still have time left for some late afternoon birding around the Park.
Stay overnight at Bach Ma National Park.
Our main targets today are the endemic Annam Partridge and near-endemic Indochinese Wren-babbler.
You will continue the tour by exploring Bach Ma peak, which is 1450m above the sea level. After a short trekking, you will reach Hai Vong Dai– the highest peak of Bach Ma, to have a panoramic view of mountains, lagoons, Hai Van Pass, Chan May Port, …
Trekking along Five Lake Trail to reach Do Quyen Waterfall, which is the most beautiful trekking route in the Park. Just challenge yourself by passing more than 700 steps on foot to this majestic fall of the national park. We will have a forest guard to accompany and ensure your safety.
We will leave Bach Ma in the afternoon and transfer to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.
Relax after our long day at Phong Nha Lake House.
Spend completely a full day here exploring the magnificent caves systems and outstanding scenery. The main targets here are the Indochinese endemic Sooty Babbler, which lives on the limestone outcrops, and the recently-split Limestone Leaf-warbler. Red-collared Woodpecker and Northern Brown Hornbill are among the other specialities at Phong Nha as well as an endangered primate, the Ha Tinh Langur.
After your breakfast in Phong Nha, we will transfer you to Dong Hoi International Airport for your returning flight to Ho Chi Minh City.