This 20-day expedition explores the finest birding hotspots of Vietnam and Cambodia. Search for rare regional endemics, alongside iconic cultural highlights like Angkor.
A 20-day journey for naturalists who want more than a conventional birding tour, combining southern Vietnam and Cambodia’s endemic birds and wildlife with photography opportunities and major cultural highlights, including the Angkor temples. From the lowland forest of the Cat Tien and the endemic bird areas of the Da Lat Plateau to the pristine wetlands of Tram Chim, the Mekong River, and the northern dry forests of Tmatboey, you will search for many iconic targets in Indochina.
Cat Tien
Orange-necked Partridge, Germain's Peacock Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl, Great Hornbill, Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pitta, Pale-headed and Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Black-and-red, Banded, Dusky Broadbill, Blyth’s Frogmouth, Grey-faced Tit Babbler.
Di Linh & Da Lat
Bar-backed Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Red-vented Barbet, Indochinese (Annam) Barbet, Red-headed Trogon, Long-tailed Broadbill, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Rusty-naped Pitta, Blue Pitta, Indochinese Green Magpie, Green Cochoa, Large Niltava, Lesser Shortwing, White-tailed Robin, Spotted Forktail, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Grey-crowned Tit, Grey-bellied Tesia, White-spectacled Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Collared Laughingthrush, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Streaked Wren Babbler, Eyebrowed Wren Babbler, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Vietnamese Cutia, Clicking Shrike Babbler, Dalat Shrike Babbler, Blue-winged Minla, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Grey-crowned Crocias, Rufous-backed Sibia, Black-headed Sibia, Black-headed Parrotbill, Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Red Crossbill.
Cambodia
Cambodian Tailorbird, Mekong Wagtail, Bengal Floriacan, Black-headed Ibis, Giant Ibis, Greater Adjutant, Lesser Adjutant, Milky Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Grey-headed Fish-eagle, and a lots of common waterbirds.
After an early start, we will drive northwards towards the renowned Cat Tien National Park for the first exploration of this superb National Park in the afternoon.
Overnight at the Cat Tien National Park HQ guesthouse (3 nights)
As South Vietnam’s premier national park, Cat Tien protects an impressive mosaic of lowland forest and seasonal wetlands in the foothills of the Da Lat Plateau. Birding along jeep tracks and forest trails offers opportunities to locate key regional endemics and Indochinese specialties, including Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant, Bar-bellied Pitta, Grey-faced Tit Babbler, and other spectacular birds such as Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl, Scaly-breasted Partridge alongside colorful Broadbills, and Trogons.
We leave Cat Tien for the relatively short drive up to Di Linh to explore Deo Nui San (Nui San Pass), a key site for several mid-elevation species that can prove harder to find in Da Lat. Key target species in this area include Red-vented Barbet, Blue and Rusty-naped Pitta, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Green Cochoa, Vietnamese Cutia and Black-headed Parrotbill.
Overnight Bao Phu Hotel, Di Linh (1 night)
Following an early morning birding session at the Deo Nui San, drive up to the Da Lat Plateau, situated in a cool temperate region at about 1,500 meters above sea level. Stop at promising forest patches and scenic waterfalls en route to Đà Lạt, a hill station framed by native pine woodlands and lakes for birding.
Overnight Hoang Anh Gia Lai Resort, Da Lat (3 nights)
We will spend two full days exploring the Da Lat Plateau's top birding sites, including Tuyen Lam lake, Ta Nung valley, Cong Troi, and Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park.
We will have excellent chances for many several endemics such as Vietnamese Cutia, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Grey-crowned Crocias, Collared Laughingthrush, etc. Additionally, a number of colorful species including Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue Pitta, Indochinese Geen Magpie,... alongside seasonal Asian & wintering visitors can also be encountered here.
Overnight at Hoang Anh Gia Lai Resort, Da Lat
Spend the morning target-cleaning for any missed species before taking a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City and transferring by road to My Tho City. In the afternoon, shift gears with relaxed cultural sightseeing, visiting a vibrant local market, an ancient pagoda, and strolling along the Mekong riverbank to observe daily life.
Overnight at Chuong Duong Hotel (2 nights)
Early morning start to Go Cong coast, where we aim to searching for Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann’s Greenshank, and many other shorebirds. After that, we will drive back to My Tho for another night stay at Chuong Duong Hotel.
Following morning sightseeing along the Mekong riverbank, drive south to Tràm Chim National Park, a designated Ramsar wetland site. The afternoon will be spent scanning the vast seasonal marshes for abundant waterbirds and wintering migrants, with opportunities to spot the iconic and vulnerable Sarus Crane.
Overnight at Wildbird Hotel (1 night)
We spend the early morning in the park, then drive to Chau Doc city, a town on the Bassac River.
Overnight at Victoria Hotel (1 night)
An interesting boat trip upstream to Phnom Penh; you will enjoy like normal tourist’s way. City tour in the afternoon.
Overnight at Himarawi Hotel (1 night)
Spend the morning exploring the outskirts of Phnom Penh to target the newly described Cambodian Tailorbird. Afterward, take a scenic 5-hour drive northeast to Kratie, a key biodiversity area along the Mekong River.
In the afternoon, board small wooden boats near Kampi Village to navigate the vegetated river islands of the Mekong to search for the Mekong Wagatail alongside other specialites, including Grey-throated Sand Martin, Small Pranticole, and Pied Kingfisher. Besides, we also have an excellent chance to see the critically endangered population of Irrawaddy Dolphin surfacing in their natural riverine habitat while searching for the target birds.
Overnight at Oudom Sambath Hotel, Kratie city (1 night)
Spend the early morning target-cleaning around Kampi for any missed riverine species before taking a 5-hour drive to Preah Vihear. Arrive at the ecolodge in the mid-afternoon, allowing time for a late-afternoon forest walk in search of initial dry-forest targets.
Overnight at Tmatboey Ecolodge
Spend a full day and a half exploring the open deciduous dipterocarp forests around Tmatboey, a world-famous sanctuary for rare Indochinese avifauna. Guided walks through the dry forest target seasonal waterholes (trapeangs) to locate critically endangered Giant Ibis and White-shouldered Ibis. Besides, we also have chance to see many types of woodpeckers (e.g. Black-headed Woodpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker) and a lots of passerine.
Night spotting will give us a chance to see many nocturnal birds, including Spotted Wood Owl, Brown Wood Owl, Collared Scops Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Spotted Owlet along with SavannahNightjar and Large-tailed Nightjar.
Overnight at Tmatboey Ecolodge
Spend our last morning birding at Tmatboey, then drive to Siem Reap after lunch.
Overnight at Apsara Holiday Hotel
An early morning 2-hour drive brings us to Ang Trapeang Thmor (ATT) Reserve, a crucial wetland sanctuary for crane conservation. Spend the day exploring the expansive reservoir and marshlands to target a rich diversity of waterbirds, including Cotton Pigmy-goose, Lesser Whistling-duck, White-browed Crake, Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Notably, the Sarus Crane and Black-necked Stork are also possible here.
Overnight at Apsara Holiday Hotel
Take a break from dedicated birding to explore the iconic temples and ancient ruins of the Angkor Archaeological Park, including Angkor Wat and surrounding historical sites. While the focus of the day is cultural immersion, resident wildlife, including woodland birds and primates is frequently encountered throughout the temple grounds.
Overnight at Apsara Holiday Hotel
Our tour ends after breakfast for flights home; however, if you have a late flight today, two optional trips can be chosen, as follow:
Option 1: Full-day Tonle Sap Lake
Explore Southeast Asia's premier waterbird colony. Key targets include the rare Greater Adjutant and Milky Stork, alongside Spot-billed Pelican, three cormorant species, Black-headed Ibis, and Grey-headed Fish-eagle.
Option 2: Half-day Bengal Florican Grassland Tour
Venture into the floodplain grasslands surrounding Tonle Sap Lake early in the morning to search for the critically endangered Bengal Florican. Additional potential sightings include wintering raptors like Eastern Marsh and Pied Harrier, as well as Sarus Crane, Lesser Adjutant, and Painted Stork.
Price is fully included:
Price does NOT include international airfare, personal items, and tipping to driver and guide (optional but appreciated)
Tell us your travel dates, target birds, group size and preferred pace. Wildtour will help design a realistic and rewarding itinerary.