Off the Beaten Track

Share our Experience of Birding and Photography Home About Us About South Thailand Where to Bird in Thailand Top Birding Locations Off the Beaten Track Top Target Species Bird Lists by Location Our Tours & Prices Trip Reports Recent Sightings Our Pictures Calendar of Bookings Links Contact Us Off the Beaten Track When building an itinerary for a tour we of course base it around locations which are often visited due to their accessibility and the number and quality of birds that can be seen there. This page deals with those locations rarely visited because of their inaccessibility or scarcity of birds. They all, though, have at least one species that makes it worth the effort. The inaccessibility might be due to a long drive, a boat journey or an arduous trek through the forest. Hiring boats in Thailand is expensive and time consuming. Whether or not it is worth visiting these locations comes down to the cost in time, money and effort balanced against the potential prizes to be had. For each location mentioned below we will show what the overheads are and what species might make it worth your while. If you are thinking of booking a tour with us you might want to read through this page and then let us know if you would like to include any of the locations in your itinerary. South Thailand Khao Luang Target Species - Turquoise-throated Barbet (endemic to this mountain) Overheads - Two hard walks and camping (or one long day if you feel lucky) Time - Two half days Season - January to September Phi Phi Island Target Species - Christmas Frigatebird, Lesser Frigatebird Overheads - two ferry trips and an overnight stay on Phi Phi Time - One afternoon and one morning Season - All year Krabi rivermouth Target Species - Nordmann's Greenshank, Chinese Egret Overheads - A boat trip Time - One afternoon or one morning Season - November to March Similan Islands Target Species - Nicobar Pigeon Overheads - Two boat trips and an overnight on the islands Time - Two full days (can be visited on a one day trip but only two hours are spent on the island and the bird can easily be missed Season - November to April Pra Thong Island Target Species - Lesser Adjutant, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle, Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon Overheads - Two boat trips, exposed and hot Time - One full day Season - January to April Surin Islands Target Species - Beach Stone-Curlew, Large Green Pigeon, Great-billed Heron, Nicobar Pigeon Overheads - Three boat trips and an overnight on the islands Time - Two full days (it can be visited on a one day trip but only a few hours are spent on the island and the birds can easily be missed Season - November to March Khlong Saeng 1 Target Species - Great Argus and other rare forest birds. Also Asian Elephant, Gaur and other mammals. Overheads - Two boat trips and a hard forest trek. This trip is done from the back of Khao Sok reservoir which we often visit as part of our tours anyway. Time - One full day Season - All year Khlong Saeng 2 Target Species - Storm's Stork and other rare forest birds. Also Asian Elephant, Gaur and other mammals. Overheads - Two boat trips and a hard forest trek. This trip is done from the back of Khao Sok reservoir which we often visit as part of our tours anyway. Time - One full day Season - All year Chumphon rivermouth Target Species - Pale-capped Pigeon Overheads - A boat trip. This is done as part of an overnight stop while driving between south Thailand and central Thailand Time - One afternoon or one morning Season - November to February South-East Thailand Man Islands Target Species - Fairy Pitta, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Himalayan Cuckoo, Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Mugimaki Flycatcher, yellow-vented Flycatcher and many more. Overheads - A long drive and two boat trips Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - April (These are northbound passage migrants falling out onto an island) North-East Thailand Mekong River Target Species - Mekong Wagtail, Great Stone-Curlew Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - March to June Phu Khiao WS Target Species - White-winged Duck, Austen's brown Hornbill (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March Phu Suan Sai NP Target Species - Short-tailed Parrotbill, Indochinese Yuhina, Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Blue-naped Pitta (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March North Thailand Chiang Saen lake Target Species - Baer's Pochard (plus other ducks) Overheads - A boat trip Time - One afternoon Season - December to March Doi Phu Kha NP Target Species - Beautiful Nuthatch, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive, a steep walk Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March

Home About Us About South Thailand Where to Bird in Thailand Top Birding Locations Off the Beaten Track Top Target Species Bird Lists by Location Our Tours & Prices Trip Reports Recent Sightings Our Pictures Calendar of Bookings Links Contact Us Off the Beaten Track When building an itinerary for a tour we of course base it around locations which are often visited due to their accessibility and the number and quality of birds that can be seen there. This page deals with those locations rarely visited because of their inaccessibility or scarcity of birds. They all, though, have at least one species that makes it worth the effort. The inaccessibility might be due to a long drive, a boat journey or an arduous trek through the forest. Hiring boats in Thailand is expensive and time consuming. Whether or not it is worth visiting these locations comes down to the cost in time, money and effort balanced against the potential prizes to be had. For each location mentioned below we will show what the overheads are and what species might make it worth your while. If you are thinking of booking a tour with us you might want to read through this page and then let us know if you would like to include any of the locations in your itinerary. South Thailand Khao Luang Target Species - Turquoise-throated Barbet (endemic to this mountain) Overheads - Two hard walks and camping (or one long day if you feel lucky) Time - Two half days Season - January to September Phi Phi Island Target Species - Christmas Frigatebird, Lesser Frigatebird Overheads - two ferry trips and an overnight stay on Phi Phi Time - One afternoon and one morning Season - All year Krabi rivermouth Target Species - Nordmann's Greenshank, Chinese Egret Overheads - A boat trip Time - One afternoon or one morning Season - November to March Similan Islands Target Species - Nicobar Pigeon Overheads - Two boat trips and an overnight on the islands Time - Two full days (can be visited on a one day trip but only two hours are spent on the island and the bird can easily be missed Season - November to April Pra Thong Island Target Species - Lesser Adjutant, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle, Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon Overheads - Two boat trips, exposed and hot Time - One full day Season - January to April Surin Islands Target Species - Beach Stone-Curlew, Large Green Pigeon, Great-billed Heron, Nicobar Pigeon Overheads - Three boat trips and an overnight on the islands Time - Two full days (it can be visited on a one day trip but only a few hours are spent on the island and the birds can easily be missed Season - November to March Khlong Saeng 1 Target Species - Great Argus and other rare forest birds. Also Asian Elephant, Gaur and other mammals. Overheads - Two boat trips and a hard forest trek. This trip is done from the back of Khao Sok reservoir which we often visit as part of our tours anyway. Time - One full day Season - All year Khlong Saeng 2 Target Species - Storm's Stork and other rare forest birds. Also Asian Elephant, Gaur and other mammals. Overheads - Two boat trips and a hard forest trek. This trip is done from the back of Khao Sok reservoir which we often visit as part of our tours anyway. Time - One full day Season - All year Chumphon rivermouth Target Species - Pale-capped Pigeon Overheads - A boat trip. This is done as part of an overnight stop while driving between south Thailand and central Thailand Time - One afternoon or one morning Season - November to February South-East Thailand Man Islands Target Species - Fairy Pitta, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Himalayan Cuckoo, Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Mugimaki Flycatcher, yellow-vented Flycatcher and many more. Overheads - A long drive and two boat trips Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - April (These are northbound passage migrants falling out onto an island) North-East Thailand Mekong River Target Species - Mekong Wagtail, Great Stone-Curlew Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - March to June Phu Khiao WS Target Species - White-winged Duck, Austen's brown Hornbill (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March Phu Suan Sai NP Target Species - Short-tailed Parrotbill, Indochinese Yuhina, Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Blue-naped Pitta (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March North Thailand Chiang Saen lake Target Species - Baer's Pochard (plus other ducks) Overheads - A boat trip Time - One afternoon Season - December to March Doi Phu Kha NP Target Species - Beautiful Nuthatch, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive, a steep walk Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March

Home About Us About South Thailand Where to Bird in Thailand Top Birding Locations Off the Beaten Track Top Target Species Bird Lists by Location Our Tours & Prices Trip Reports Recent Sightings Our Pictures Calendar of Bookings Links Contact Us

Home

About Us

About South Thailand

Where to Bird in Thailand

Top Birding Locations

Off the Beaten Track

Top Target Species

Bird Lists by Location

Our Tours & Prices

Trip Reports

Recent Sightings

Our Pictures

Calendar of Bookings

Links

Contact Us

Off the Beaten Track When building an itinerary for a tour we of course base it around locations which are often visited due to their accessibility and the number and quality of birds that can be seen there. This page deals with those locations rarely visited because of their inaccessibility or scarcity of birds. They all, though, have at least one species that makes it worth the effort. The inaccessibility might be due to a long drive, a boat journey or an arduous trek through the forest. Hiring boats in Thailand is expensive and time consuming. Whether or not it is worth visiting these locations comes down to the cost in time, money and effort balanced against the potential prizes to be had. For each location mentioned below we will show what the overheads are and what species might make it worth your while. If you are thinking of booking a tour with us you might want to read through this page and then let us know if you would like to include any of the locations in your itinerary. South Thailand Khao Luang Target Species - Turquoise-throated Barbet (endemic to this mountain) Overheads - Two hard walks and camping (or one long day if you feel lucky) Time - Two half days Season - January to September Phi Phi Island Target Species - Christmas Frigatebird, Lesser Frigatebird Overheads - two ferry trips and an overnight stay on Phi Phi Time - One afternoon and one morning Season - All year Krabi rivermouth Target Species - Nordmann's Greenshank, Chinese Egret Overheads - A boat trip Time - One afternoon or one morning Season - November to March Similan Islands Target Species - Nicobar Pigeon Overheads - Two boat trips and an overnight on the islands Time - Two full days (can be visited on a one day trip but only two hours are spent on the island and the bird can easily be missed Season - November to April Pra Thong Island Target Species - Lesser Adjutant, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle, Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon Overheads - Two boat trips, exposed and hot Time - One full day Season - January to April Surin Islands Target Species - Beach Stone-Curlew, Large Green Pigeon, Great-billed Heron, Nicobar Pigeon Overheads - Three boat trips and an overnight on the islands Time - Two full days (it can be visited on a one day trip but only a few hours are spent on the island and the birds can easily be missed Season - November to March Khlong Saeng 1 Target Species - Great Argus and other rare forest birds. Also Asian Elephant, Gaur and other mammals. Overheads - Two boat trips and a hard forest trek. This trip is done from the back of Khao Sok reservoir which we often visit as part of our tours anyway. Time - One full day Season - All year Khlong Saeng 2 Target Species - Storm's Stork and other rare forest birds. Also Asian Elephant, Gaur and other mammals. Overheads - Two boat trips and a hard forest trek. This trip is done from the back of Khao Sok reservoir which we often visit as part of our tours anyway. Time - One full day Season - All year Chumphon rivermouth Target Species - Pale-capped Pigeon Overheads - A boat trip. This is done as part of an overnight stop while driving between south Thailand and central Thailand Time - One afternoon or one morning Season - November to February South-East Thailand Man Islands Target Species - Fairy Pitta, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Himalayan Cuckoo, Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Mugimaki Flycatcher, yellow-vented Flycatcher and many more. Overheads - A long drive and two boat trips Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - April (These are northbound passage migrants falling out onto an island) North-East Thailand Mekong River Target Species - Mekong Wagtail, Great Stone-Curlew Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - March to June Phu Khiao WS Target Species - White-winged Duck, Austen's brown Hornbill (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March Phu Suan Sai NP Target Species - Short-tailed Parrotbill, Indochinese Yuhina, Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Blue-naped Pitta (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March North Thailand Chiang Saen lake Target Species - Baer's Pochard (plus other ducks) Overheads - A boat trip Time - One afternoon Season - December to March Doi Phu Kha NP Target Species - Beautiful Nuthatch, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive, a steep walk Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March

If you are thinking of booking a tour with us you might want to read through this page and then let us know if you would like to include any of the locations in your itinerary.

Khao Luang

Target Species - Turquoise-throated Barbet (endemic to this mountain) Overheads - Two hard walks and camping (or one long day if you feel lucky) Time - Two half days Season - January to September

Phi Phi Island

Target Species - Christmas Frigatebird, Lesser Frigatebird Overheads - two ferry trips and an overnight stay on Phi Phi Time - One afternoon and one morning Season - All year

Krabi rivermouth

Target Species - Nordmann's Greenshank, Chinese Egret Overheads - A boat trip Time - One afternoon or one morning Season - November to March

Similan Islands

Target Species - Nicobar Pigeon Overheads - Two boat trips and an overnight on the islands Time - Two full days (can be visited on a one day trip but only two hours are spent on the island and the bird can easily be missed Season - November to April

Pra Thong Island

Target Species - Lesser Adjutant, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle, Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon Overheads - Two boat trips, exposed and hot Time - One full day Season - January to April

Surin Islands

Target Species - Beach Stone-Curlew, Large Green Pigeon, Great-billed Heron, Nicobar Pigeon Overheads - Three boat trips and an overnight on the islands Time - Two full days (it can be visited on a one day trip but only a few hours are spent on the island and the birds can easily be missed Season - November to March

Khlong Saeng 1

Target Species - Great Argus and other rare forest birds. Also Asian Elephant, Gaur and other mammals. Overheads - Two boat trips and a hard forest trek. This trip is done from the back of Khao Sok reservoir which we often visit as part of our tours anyway. Time - One full day Season - All year

Khlong Saeng 2

Target Species - Storm's Stork and other rare forest birds. Also Asian Elephant, Gaur and other mammals. Overheads - Two boat trips and a hard forest trek. This trip is done from the back of Khao Sok reservoir which we often visit as part of our tours anyway. Time - One full day Season - All year

Chumphon rivermouth

Target Species - Pale-capped Pigeon Overheads - A boat trip. This is done as part of an overnight stop while driving between south Thailand and central Thailand Time - One afternoon or one morning Season - November to February

Man Islands

Target Species - Fairy Pitta, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Himalayan Cuckoo, Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Mugimaki Flycatcher, yellow-vented Flycatcher and many more. Overheads - A long drive and two boat trips Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - April (These are northbound passage migrants falling out onto an island)

Mekong River

Target Species - Mekong Wagtail, Great Stone-Curlew Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - March to June

Phu Khiao WS

Target Species - White-winged Duck, Austen's brown Hornbill (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March

Phu Suan Sai NP

Target Species - Short-tailed Parrotbill, Indochinese Yuhina, Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Blue-naped Pitta (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March

Chiang Saen lake

Target Species - Baer's Pochard (plus other ducks) Overheads - A boat trip Time - One afternoon Season - December to March

Doi Phu Kha NP

Target Species - Beautiful Nuthatch, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (plus many other birds) Overheads - A long drive, a steep walk Time - Three days (includes driving time) Season - November to March