Category

Short birding tours

Destinations

Cuc Phuong & Tam Dao

Duration

7 - days

Hotel

standard

Price

500 - 1800 USD

Day 1 (B, L, D)

Pick up from hotel in Ha Noi or Noi Bai airport, then drive to Cuc Phuong National Park (about 3 hours without traffic delays) and stop en route at Van Long Van Long Nature Reserve, 30km from Cuc Phong. There we will take a sampan ride to look for birds and to visit some dramatic limestone cliffs that are one of the last haunts of the critically endangered Delacour’s Leaf-Monkey.

Overnight at Cuc Phuong HQ (3 nights)

Day 2 & 3 (B, L, D)

We will spend 2 full days exploring and birding in Vietnam’s oldest National Park, an area of lowland forest and lakes easily accessed by a paved road. It is rich in bird species and we have our last chances here for both Pitta species, Red-collared Woodpecker and White-winged Magpie as well as a supporting cast which includes Malayan Night-Heron, Pied Falconet, Eared Pitta, Silver-breasted Broadbill, White-tailed Flycatcher, Fujian Niltava and the annamensis subspecies of Limestone Wren-Babbler.

Day 4 (B, L, D)

We will spend our last morning in Cuc Phuong looking for White-winged Magpie, and Rachet-tailed Treepie if we missed them earlier.

This afternoon, we will drive to Tam Dao Mountain for 2 nights.

Overnight at Gia Le Hotel (3 nights)

Day 5 & 6 (B, L, D)

Our targets in Tam Dao are the Blue-naped Pitta, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Grey Laughingthrush, and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler. Seeing several other sought-after species will be the best way to finalise our trip, and here we may see Ashy Bulbul, Black-throated Laughingthrus, Chestnut Bulbul, Fujian Niltava, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Spot-necked Babbler, Chestnut-collared Yuhina (split from Striated), Greater Rufous-headed and Short-tailed Parrotbills, and Collared Treepie.

Day 7 (B, L)

We will spend this last morning seeking to see species what we haven't gotten on the mountain or to move a bit lower down the mountain for some other interesting species like Fork-tailed Sunbird, Red-billed Magpie, Grey Treepie and some wintering thrushes.

The trip ends with a transfer to your airport or to your Ha Noi hotel

Price:

Single supplement: $180

Included: Bird guide, travel by private car, lunch and entrance fees. Also provided: birding spotting scope, bird ID manual