Explore Vietnam’s top three Endemic Bird Areas across 14 days, from the lowland forest to the montane plateau. Priority targets include Vietnamese endemics, Indochinese specialties, and sought-after pittas and laughingthrushes.
A 14-day endemic-focused journey through Cat Tien and Vietnam’s Central Highlands, linking lowland forest with the montane plateau bird communities of Da Lat and Kon Tum, and dry dipterocarp habitats of Yok Don. Priority targets include Vietnamese endemics, Indochinese specialties, and sought-after pittas and laughingthrushes.
Key species:
Golden-winged Laughingthrush, Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, White-winged Magpie, Mekong Wagtail, White-rumped Falcon, Vietnamese Cutia, Grey-crowned Crocias, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Collared Laughingthrush, Black-headed Parrotbill, Indochinese Green Magpie, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Germain Peacock Pheasant, Orange-necked Partridge, Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta.
Itinerary:
After an early start, we will drive northwards towards the renowned Cat Tien National Park for our first exploration of the Park in the afternoon.
Overnight at the Cat Tien National Park Headquarters Guesthouse (2 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 at Ivory Falls Villa (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 Da Lat, a hill station framed by native pine woodlands and lakes for birding.
Overnight at La Sapinette Hotel (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, which is the home to many endemic species and Indochina's specialties.
We will have excellent chances of seeing 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 Green Magpie,... alongside seasonal Asian & wintering visitors can also be encountered here.
We will leave Da Lat after finalizing morning birding to see if we missed any species from the previous days. Afterward, we take a long drive to Yok Don National Park
We make an early morning departure for Ban Me Thuot and a stop at Lak Lake for some waterbirds and wintering warblers en route. Later on, we reach Yok Don National Park for a 1-night stay at Ban Don Tourism Area. Our main target here is the Mekong Wagtail, but other species such as Black-headed Woodpecker, Collared Falconet, White-rumped Falcon, and Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch are among the specialties.
Overnight at Yok Don National Park Headquarters Guesthouse (1 night)
A full day of birding in Yok Don National Park; this dipterocarp forest will provide us with many species of woodpeckers, parakeets, several raptors, and owls in the daytime.
Our main target species, including Black-headed Woodpecker, Collared Falconet, White-rumped Falcon, and Chestnut-bellied (Burmese) Nuthatch, are among the specialities.
After our morning birding in Yok Don, then heading to Mang Den with a relatively long drive.
Overnight at Mang Den Green Hotel (2 nights)
Our main target for a full day of birding at Mang Canh is the Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, but we will also be on the lookout for Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Pale-capped Pigeon, the endemic Ratchet-tailed Treepie, and we have another chance for Yellow-billed Nuthatch, as well as our first chance to see the Brown Hornbill.
Spend the morning birding around Mang Den to sweep for any remaining target species before driving to Đak To in the afternoon for a one-night stay. If time permits upon arrival, extend the drive further north toward Tu Mo Rong for initial exploratory birding.
Overnight at Hoang Gia Trang Hotel (2 nights)
Spend the day birding along the Mang Ri Pass, a high-altitude road traversing the core forest of Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve that provides exceptional access to key Indochinese endemics. Forest-edge habitats here offer our prime opportunity for the endemic Golden-winged Laughingthrush, alongside regional targets including Black-crowned Barwing, Indochinese Fulvetta, and Red-tailed Laughingthrush. Additional montane specialties along the pass include Indochinese Wren-Babbler, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Himalayan Cutia, Green Shrike-Babbler, White-winged Magpie, and Brown Hornbill.
We will spend a morning birding again at Ngoc Linh if we missed something on the previous day; otherwise, we drive down the Lo Xo Pass and stop en route for birding. The tour concludes in Da Nang City.
Tour price: USD 2,600/pax (Minimum 6 people)
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