Cycling Trip   

     Half day cycling

     Full day cycling

Bird - Watching

     Package A

     Package B

     Package C

General Information
       Thailand is in the Indo-Chinese ( or Indo-Malayan ) fauna region covering a land area of about 514,000 sq.km. Extending from 5Natitude to 20N latitude and between 97 and 105 E longitude; 1,500kmfrom north to south and 800 km from east to west, the country iis divided into 4 principal geological provinces. The first, the mainly mountainous north and west. This is divided by 4 major rivers that draininto the second region, the marshy, alluvial Central Plains, that flows into the Gulf of Thailand. The third region is the north-east,an area of dry, poor soil, derived from sand, clay and salt deposits that drain into the Mekong River dividing Thailand from Laos. The mountain spine that extends down the west of the country continues south as the backbone of the fourth region, the Peninsula.

Climate
       Thailand is a tropical monsoon country. From May to October, 80 percent of the rain falls during the south-west monsoon. November to April is the dry season. The average annual temperature over most of the country is about 26-30 degree Celsius with some considerable variations. In April, the hottest month, the temperature may rise to over 40C while December and January are the coolest months. Ground frosts have been recorded on the mountains of the north.

Habitats
       Terrestrial Forest
       Thailand's forest may be divided into Deciduous Forest in which the trees shed their leaves during the dry season and Evergreen Forest which retain their leaves throughout the year.

Bird-watching
       About 968 species of birds ( 10% of the world's species )are knownin Thailand. This can be explained by the country's geo-physical position;the dry Deciduous Forest and the Evergreen Forest in the low-land continental. The mountains of the north support a great diversity of mountain birds from the eastern Himalayas and south-west China. In addition to the resident species, there are seasonal migrating birds from the Paleatic and the Sino-Himalayan region. Both of these regions possess almost the whole gamut of the habitat's low-land andmountains,including marshes, paddies,sea-coasts,open country and scrub and also forests.
       Some casual visitors to Thailand may be surprised by the rarity of birds in cities and in the open country, even though Thailand is known as a country rich in fauna. This is mainly because of human destruction. Possession of fire-arms is wide-spread and many birds are shot for food or caught for sale as pets. Nevertheless, the country is still one of the most exciting places in Asia for bird-watchers.Below are some suggested bird sites.

Kaeng Krachan National Park
       This park is situated 150 km south-west of Bangkok in Petchaburi province. At 2,915 square kilometers, it is the kingdom's largest national park. This tremendous place contains mostly pristine tropical broad-leaf evergreen forest on extremely steep mountains in the Tennasserim Range. It is a great area for bird-watching and some 400 species have been recorded. Greater and Pied Hornbill are quite common here. Another rare specie seen quite easily here during the breeding season is the Great Slaty Wood-pecker.
       A single 36 km road enters the park at Khao Sam Yod and goes way up to Phanoen Thung mountain trail-head. There are very strict times for vehicles travelling up and down as the dirt road is steep and narrow in certain places, especially at Ban Krang, the half-way station. The 18-tier Tho Thip water-fall is a good 3-hour walk.
       Bird-watching can be done from the entrance of the park next to the Kaeng Krachan Dam. Here, we can find marsh birds and the low-land or paddy-field birds such as Steak-eared Bulbul, Coppersmith Barbet, Greater Coucal, Javan Nightjar, Red-wattled Lapwing, Little Egret, Chinese Pond Heron and so on. At a higher elevation, you can see Greater Hornbill, Green-eared Barbet, Black-naped Oriole, Thick-billed Pigeon, Emerald Dove, Sultan Tit, Green Magpie, Everett's White-eye and at the 27.5th km, you can find the endemic bird, the Rachet-tailed Treepie.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
       Lying on the east coast of the peninsula and close to the head of the Gulf of Thailand, Khao Sam Roi Yot may be the most idyllic national park in the country. It consists of a series of magnificent lime-stone hills and pinnacles that rise dramatically from the sea, swathed in wood-land and scrub everywhere except on the steepest slopes. The coastal plain has a great juxta-position of habitats, with open sandy shore, picturesque lagoons, small mud-flats, dry coastal flats, fresh-water marsh with reed beds, salt-water marshes, rice fields and man-groves.
       Both Great Knot and Nordmann's Greenshank are recorded annually with such rarities as Eastern Curlew, Asiatic Dowitcher, Jack Snipe, Long-billed Dowitcher, Little Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

Khao Yai National Park        
        Khao Yai National Park, Thailand's first national park, is one of the best national reserves in SE Asia. It attracts bird-watchers from all over the world. Khao Yai is a must for all bird-lovers if they visit Thailand. There are lots of wildreness areas and very good accommodation is available.
       Khao Yai consists of sand-stone mountains. The highest peak in the park, Khao Khieo, goes up to 1,351 meters. Most of the park is sand-stone plateau that lies between 600-1,000 meters that slopes gently towards the south and east.
       Khao Yai's rich and diverse flora include some of the largest remaining areas of rain-forest in mainland Asia. Most of the park is blanketed in dense evergreen forest which is usually called "semi-evergreen forest" or "semi-evergreen rain-forest" while mountain-hill evergreen forest cover the mountains above 1,000 meters. There are relatively small areas of deciduous forest with bamboo jungles on the lower slopes along with secondary growth and up-land marsh.
       Bird-watching is relatively easy along the forest-lined roads, although you will also want to work the forest trails in order to see some of the more retiring and skulking "SPECIALITIES". There is a great change in the mood of the forest; it is teeming with birds. The mixed flock that has arrived can be frustrating and over-whelming as well as un-rivalled in excitement. Many kilometers of hiking paths that have been established in the park follow the routes of elephant trails.
       The parks still support populations of larger mammals including Asian elephants, Guar and Tiger. You can hear the White-handed Gibbon at the dawn chorus of birds singing in the vast tracts of unspoilt wilderness.

       Sometimes, you can find and see them easily. Pig-tailed Macaques walk in the park in large troops. On seeing humans, they are more likely to stare than to run away. There are many squirrels including the attractive Variable Squirrel.
       About 320 species of birds have been recorded at Khao Yai, most of these in the vicinity of the head-quarters and Khao Yai Motor Lodge, where the forest has been cleared. It is only a short journey into the pristine forest. These highly accessible areas around the lodge support lush, tall-stature, dry evergreen forest that alternate with many grassy clearings.
       Khao Yai's avifauna is mainly composed of low-land and hill slope ( sub-mountain ) birds that have wide altitudinal ranges. Two common species of the forest that you will see are Dark-necked Tailorbird and Hill Blue Flycatcher. Khao Yai is host to many migrant or wintering birds whch are seen in the park from October to April.
       The rich variety of habitats contribute to the diversity of the avifauna and Khao Yai is well-known for large forest birds. Great Hornbill and Oriental Pied Hornbill may be found around the lodge, where Red Junglefowl haunt the under-growth. In the towering dipterocarp forest, you will be treated to an extra-ordinary cross section of Oriental birds, from trogons, king-fishers, to pittas, babblers and bulbuls.

       KHao Yai has a strongly monsoonal climate and is seasonally very wet from May through October. The driest months are Decemberand January. The average temperature ranges from 30C to as low as 15C in December and January. The humidity is usually high.Characteristically, it will be cool in the mornings and late afternoon and warm during the middle of the day. Bird activity is also the greatest during the cooler part of the day.These are some of the birds that you can see..Silver Pheasant,Crow-billed Drongo, Green-billed Malkoha, Blue Pitta,    Blue bearded Bee-eater, Red-headed Trogon, Long-tailed Broadbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Siberian Blue Robin, Hill Myna, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Puff-throated Bulbul, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Grey-eyed Bulbul, Mountain-Hawk Eagle, Crimson Sunbird, Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike, Brown Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Black Bulbul, Ashy Bulbul, et.......
       Bird-watching can be done all day long and night. You can also observe some mammals such as Asian Elephant, Barking Deer, Slow Loris, etc.

Bung Boraphet non-hunting Area       
       Bung Boraphet is about 237 kms north of Bangkok, just 13 kms east of Nakhon Sawan at the confluence of the Nan, Yom and Ping rivers, where they converge to form the Chao Phraya river. The non-hunting area has a large fresh-water lake, over 200 sq. kms., in the area formed by the damming of a swamp. This swamp and the surrounding plains provide rich habitat for large populations of both resident and migrant water-fowl. At least 30,000 ducks roost on the lake along with a few hundred Northern Pintail and over 100 Baer's Pochard. Many raptors may be found during the winter months with many Eastern Marsh-Harrier, a few Pled Harrier, Greater Spotted Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite and Osprey. Visiting the reed-beds fringing Bung Boraphet's lake-side should produce various crakes, swallow, wagtail and buntings while marshes and dry paddies have a variety of wintering chats, warblers and pipits. Bung Boraphet is best known as the site where the White-eyed River-Martin was discovered in 1968. This place remains as its only known world site, although it has not been seen since 1980 and is quite possibly extinct.

Chiang Mai and North Thailand
       Chiang Mai, Thailand's principal northern city, exactly 750 kms north of Bangkok, is situated in a fertile valley 300 meters above sea level. Many Thais regard this city and the province of Chiang Mai as being the country's "Shangri-la". Historic temples dating from the 1300s, distinctive festivals and certainly some of the most beautiful women anywhere, create the local scene.
       Chiang Mai is an ideal base from which to explore the forested mountain parks of Doi Inthanon, Doi Suthep-Pui, Doi Ang Khang and the nearby cultivated plains that extend north-wards along Highway 107.
       Chiang Mai is the next significant destination for bird-watchers visiting Thailand. A wide variety of habitats, the cool, easily accessible mountain forests of Doi Inthanon, Doi Suthep-Pui and Doi Ang Khang around Chiang Mai to the dry-land crop and marshy plains around Tha Ton, offer a great diversity of avifauna with about 382 species in the region.

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park
       Doi Suthep-Pui national park is part of a geologically ancient ridge that forms the western boundary of the Ping river valley and its highest peak ( at 1,685 meters ) dominates the city of Chiang Mai lying a few kms to the east. The park is covered mainly with dry dipterocarp wood-land on the lower slopes while the upper slopes have a mosaic of Evergreen forest,pines and open areas.

       The site is the best-known and one of the more accessible bird-watching localities in North Thailand. Several trails wind through the park, offering bird-watchers an excellent opportunity to explore the park's forest and observe its abundant bird life. You can find that a quiet patch of forest can suddenly be transformed by the arrival of a mixed feeding flock of several species......minivets flashing scarlets and golds, babblers and gaudily coloured fly-catchers.......a good cross section of mountain birds providing an introduction to birds of this region. Here are some of the birds you can find .......
       Siberian Rubythroat, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Dusky Warbler, Thick-billed Warbler,Red-throated Pipit, Plain-backed Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Green Bee-eater,Rufescent Prinia,Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Oriental White-eye, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Blue-throated Barber, Commom Iora, Blue-winged leafbird, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Ashy Drongo, Streaked Spiderhunter, Short-billed Minivet, Grey-chinned Minivet, etc.

Doi Inthanon National Park
       Doi Inthanon national park cloaks Thailand's highest mountain, Doi Inthanon, at a elevation of 2,565 meters ( 8,200 feet ). This mountain is the prime bird-watching site in northern Thailand with 382 species recorded to date.....it is also the most visited park in the country, attracting some 500,000 visitors annually.
       This national park should be on the itinerary of all bird-lovers visiting Thailand. Situated about 2 hours drive from Chiang Mai, it offers a wide altitudinal range with corresponding habitats and species. A paved highway climbs 47 kms to the summit, ending at an air-force radar station.
Birds can be seen from the road-side. Stop anywhere between the foot and the summit and you will see a variety of birds. A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE WILL BRING A NEW LIST OF SPECIES.
These birds can be found here............
       Grey Wagtail, Black-backed Forktail, White Wagtail, White-crested Laughingthrush, Lesser-necklaced Laughingthrush, Blue Whistling Thrush, Yellow Streak Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ferruginous Flycatcher, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Blue-throated Flycatcher, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher, Purple Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Olive-backed Sunbird, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Greater Racket-tail Drongo, Black-headed Bulbul, Small Minivet, Common Wood Shrike, Collared Falconet, Black Baza, Shikra, Greater Yellownape, White-bellied Woodpecker and at the summit, Green-tailed Sunbird.

Doi Ang Khang
       Doi Ang Khang is situated in the heart of the "Golden Triangle". Perched on the Burmese border, the massif of Doi Ang Khang is an exciting bird-watching site, in spite of the intensive and continuing de-forestation. The remaining cover is mainly restricted to the steepest rocky ridges where the maximum elevation reaches 1,800 meters and the mountain can be very cold in the early morning. Several species are at the southern limits of their ranges; the upper slopes support patches of woodland that are home to many birds scarce or absent elsewhere in the country.
       Bird-watching here is generally easy, with a fantastic variety of species. Most of the species can be observed in a few days. The bird-watching location is a worth-while stop on even the shortest of trips. Species include Northern Harrier, Hume's Pheasant, Mountain Bamboo Patridge, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Giant Nuthatch, Blue-fronted Redstard, Red-faced Liocichla, Crested Finchbill, Brown-breasted Bulbul, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Eyebrowed Thrush....

Mae Hong Son
       Mae Hong Son or "the country of three-season fog" is located in the north-west of Thailand and connects with the Union of Myanmar. The province consists of high mountain ranges that are
       similar to Chiang Mai and is well-known for its rich, diverse and unique culture of the Dai people, beautiful festivals, magnificent temples and fabulous climate. Bird-watching sites abound.
       Bird-watching is quite easy along the road-side from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son on route 1095. You will enjoy scenic views along the road while mountain birds are quite common everywhere.

Birds you can find here are:

      Eurasian Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Asian-barred Owlet, White-headed Bulbul, Commom Kingfisher, Olive-backed Pipit, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Grey-headed Parakeet, White-crowned Forktail, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Dark-throated Oriole, Slender-billed Oriole, Black-naped Oriole, Violet Cuckoo, White-rump Shama, Golden spectacled Warbler and so on.