Central Highland (Da Lat & Kon Tum plateaus) is the hub of Vietnamese endemism including Collared Laugingthrush, Orange-breasted Launghingthrush, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, Golden-winged Laughingthrush, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Cutia, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Indochinese Fulvetta, Black-headed Parrotbill, Grey-crowned Crocias, Black-crowned Barwing, Indochinese Wren Babbler as well as many specialites such as Red-vented and Indochinese Barbets, Blue and Rusty-naped Pittas, Indochinese Green Magpie, White-winged Mangpie, Rachet-tailed Treepie etc. See more

This tour is designed to cover as many endemic birds as possible during 9 days visiting Vietnam. See our highlight species photos:

Yellow-billed Nuthatch

Red-tailed Laughingthrush

Green-tailed Sunbird

Vietnamese Cutia

More pictures

Itinerary:

• Day 1 (D): Transfer to Tu Mo Rong

The tour start from Pleiku airport (you can depart either from Ha Noi or Sai Gon) to drive to Tu Mo Rong, a new small settlement  town for 2 nights stay. From here we can visit Mang Ri forest in the afternoon if time permits.

Overnight at Hoang Gia Trang hotel

• Day 2 (B, L, D): Birding in Ngoc Linh
  

Full day exploring Ngoc Linh mt range where we look for our "big target", the new described species in the latest last century Golden-winged Laughingthrush, the species that so far less than 50 birders have seen. And Black-crowned Barwing which is much easier. Among these two targets, we also have chance for stunning Red-tailed Laughingthrush, near endemic Indochinese Fulvetta and some other more widespread such as Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Indochinese Barbet.

Overnight Hoang Gia Trang hotel

• Day 3 (B, L, D): Transfer to Mang Den - Birding in Mang Den

Return to Ngoc Linh if necessary, otherwise drive to Mang Den for another 2 nights stay. From Mang Den town we will spend 2 fulldays birding at Mang Canh forest for Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, Black-hooded Laughingthrush. After get success of our targets, we will look for Yellow-billed Nuthatch, White-winged Magpie, Indochinese Green Magpie, Indochinese Wren Babbler, Rusty-naped Pitta and other more commonly species.

Overnight at Hoa Sim hotel

• Day 4 (B, L, D): Birding in Mang Canh

Full day at Mang Canh forest

Overnight at Hoa Sim hotel

• Day 5 (B, L, D): Birding in Mang Den - Transfer to Da Lat

After an early morning to finalise birding in Mang Den, we will take a long driving to Da Lat (11 hours including several stopovers)

Overnight at Hoang Anh Dat Xanh hotel

• Day 6 & 7 & 8 (B, L, D): Birding in Da Lat plateau

Three fullday exploring Da Lat area we will visit number of excellent birding sites including Ta Nung valley, Giang Ly, Cong Troi, Tuyen Lam lake and Langbian mt. We will have better chance to see some species that we might miss in Kon Tum plateau such as Indochinese Wren Babbler, Red-vented Barbet, Indochinese Green Magpie ... but our main target in Da Lat are many. Apart from endemism listed above we also looking for Red Crossbill, Black-headed and Rufous-backed Sibia, local subspecies of Black-throated Sunbird,  Hodgon's Frogmouth, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl.

Overnight at Hoang Anh Dat Xanh hotel

• Day 9 (B): Departure from Da Lat airport

If your flight is in the afternoon, we can birding in the morning

Tour price:

• Single supplement: USD 380;
• Includes: Bird guide, transportation by private car, accommodation (share twin room), daily meals and drinking water, entrance fees, local transport (jeeps, boating, truck). Also provide birding spotting scope and bird ID manual;
• Excludes: Personal expense (e.g., beverage, laundry), tipping for guide and driver (optional but appreciated), single supplement.

Relevant tours:

• Southern and Central of Vietnam
• Cat Tien & Da Lat
• The best comprehensive birding of Vietnam

More information about birding sites in Vietnam:

• Yok Don National Park
• Mang Den - Kon Plong
• Lo Xo Pass
• Da Lat Plateau