Khao Nor Chuchi Bird Watching 3 Days Trip
A focused 3-day private birdwatching tour to Khao Nor Chuchi, Thailand’s most important lowland rainforest reserve and the last stronghold of the critically rare Gurney’s Pitta. The trip combines intensive forest birding with a mangrove excursion near Krabi Town.
About this tour
Khao Nor Chuchi (also known as Khao Pra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary) protects one of the last remaining lowland rainforests in Peninsular Thailand. Covering approximately 150 square kilometers, this area supports the most diverse lowland bird community in the region, with over 200 resident and migratory species recorded.
The sanctuary is world-famous as the only known site in Thailand supporting a potentially viable population of Gurney’s Pitta, with several confirmed territories. In addition to this iconic species, the forest is home to many lowland specialists that are rare or absent elsewhere in Thailand.
This 3-day private tour is designed for birders who want maximum time in the field. You will explore multiple forest trails at different times of day, increasing chances of seeing pittas, babblers, kingfishers, trogons, and forest specialists. The final day adds a contrasting habitat with a mangrove birding trip near Krabi Town, offering excellent opportunities for kingfishers, shorebirds, and mangrove specialists.
With easy walking trails, experienced local bird guides, and comfortable accommodation, this tour is ideal for both serious birders and enthusiastic nature lovers.
The sanctuary is world-famous as the only known site in Thailand supporting a potentially viable population of Gurney’s Pitta, with several confirmed territories. In addition to this iconic species, the forest is home to many lowland specialists that are rare or absent elsewhere in Thailand.
This 3-day private tour is designed for birders who want maximum time in the field. You will explore multiple forest trails at different times of day, increasing chances of seeing pittas, babblers, kingfishers, trogons, and forest specialists. The final day adds a contrasting habitat with a mangrove birding trip near Krabi Town, offering excellent opportunities for kingfishers, shorebirds, and mangrove specialists.
With easy walking trails, experienced local bird guides, and comfortable accommodation, this tour is ideal for both serious birders and enthusiastic nature lovers.
Birds you can spot
Abbott's babbler
Malacocincla abbotti
target
Malacocincla abbotti
target
Ashy Tailorbird
Orthotomus ruficeps
target
Orthotomus ruficeps
target
Asian Fairy-bluebird
Lacedo pulchella
target
Lacedo pulchella
target
Banded Bay Cuckoo
Cacomantis sonneratii
target
Cacomantis sonneratii
target
Banded Broadbill
Eurylaimus ochromalus
target
Eurylaimus ochromalus
target
Barred Cuckoo
Phaenicophaeus curvirostris
target
Phaenicophaeus curvirostris
target
Black-naped Monarch
Hypothymis azurea
target
Hypothymis azurea
target
Black-throated Babbler
Stachyris nigricollis
target
Stachyris nigricollis
target
Blue Rock Thrush
Monticola solitarius
target
Monticola solitarius
target
Blue Whistling Thrush
Myophonus caeruleus
target
Myophonus caeruleus
target
Blue-eared Kingfisher
Alcedo meninting
target
Alcedo meninting
target
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Merops philippinus
target
Merops philippinus
target
Blue-winged Pitta
Pitta moluccensis
target
Pitta moluccensis
target
Blue-winged Pitta
Pitta megarhyncha
target
Pitta megarhyncha
target
Brown-breasted Bulbul
Pycnonotus blanfordi
target
Pycnonotus blanfordi
target
Brown-throated Barbet
Psilopogon mystacophanos
target
Psilopogon mystacophanos
target
Brown-winged Kingfisher
Pelargopsis amauroptera
target
Pelargopsis amauroptera
target
Buff-spotted Flameback
Chrysocolaptes lucidus
target
Chrysocolaptes lucidus
target
Common Flameback
Dinopium javanense
target
Dinopium javanense
target
Common Iora
Aegithina tiphia
target
Aegithina tiphia
target
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
target
Alcedo atthis
target
Cream-vented Bulbul
Pycnonotus simplex
target
Pycnonotus simplex
target
Crested Fireback
Lophura ignita
target
Lophura ignita
target
Crested Partridge
Rollulus rouloul
target
Rollulus rouloul
target
Crimson-breasted Barbet
Psilopogon haemacephalus
target
Psilopogon haemacephalus
target
Crimson-winged Woodpecker
Psilopogon rafflesii
target
Psilopogon rafflesii
target
Diard's Trogon
Harpactes diardii
target
Harpactes diardii
target
Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps indica
target
Chalcophaps indica
target
Golden-throated Barbet
Psilopogon henricii
target
Psilopogon henricii
target
Greater Coucal
Centropus sinensis
target
Centropus sinensis
target
Green Broadbill
Calyptomena viridis
target
Calyptomena viridis
target
Green Iora
Aegithina viridissima
target
Aegithina viridissima
target
Green-eared Barbet
Gecinulus viridis
target
Gecinulus viridis
target
Gurney's Pitta
Hydrornis gurneyi
target
Hydrornis gurneyi
target
Hooded Pitta
Pitta sordida
target
Pitta sordida
target
Indian Scops Owl
Otus bakkamoena
target
Otus bakkamoena
target
Jambu Fruit Dove
Ptilinopus jambu
target
Ptilinopus jambu
target
Javan Frogmouth
Batrachostomus javensis
target
Batrachostomus javensis
target
Large Frogmouth
Batrachostomus auritus
target
Batrachostomus auritus
target
Large Niltava
Hydrornis caeruleus
target
Hydrornis caeruleus
target
Large Wren-Babbler
Malacopteron magnum
target
Malacopteron magnum
target
Large-tailed Nightjar
Caprimulgus macrurus
target
Caprimulgus macrurus
target
Ochraceous Bulbul
Alophoixus ochraceus
target
Alophoixus ochraceus
target
Orange-headed Thrush
Geokichla citrina
target
Geokichla citrina
target
Oriental pied hornbill
Anthracoceros albirostris
target
Anthracoceros albirostris
target
Oriental White-eye
Zosterops palpebrosus
target
Zosterops palpebrosus
target
Plaintive Cuckoo
Cacomantis merulinus
target
Cacomantis merulinus
target
Puff-throated babbler
Pellorneum ruficeps
target
Pellorneum ruficeps
target
Red-eyed Bulbul
Pycnonotus brunneus
target
Pycnonotus brunneus
target
Rusty-naped pitta
Blythipicus rubiginosus
target
Blythipicus rubiginosus
target
Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler
Sasia abnormis
target
Sasia abnormis
target
Spotted Greenshank
Tringa guttifer
target
Tringa guttifer
target
Stripe-throated Bulbul
Pycnonotus finlaysoni
target
Pycnonotus finlaysoni
target
Sula Island Honeyeater
Indicator archipelagicus
target
Indicator archipelagicus
target
Sulawesi kingfisher
Actenoides concretus
target
Actenoides concretus
target
Sumatran Coucal
Phaenicophaeus sumatranus
target
Phaenicophaeus sumatranus
target
Sumatran Trogon
Harpactes oreskios
target
Harpactes oreskios
target
Sunda Woodpecker
Psilopogon incognitus
target
Psilopogon incognitus
target
Taiwanese Collared Kingfisher
Halcyon coromanda
target
Halcyon coromanda
target
Tiger Shrike
Lanius tigrinus
target
Lanius tigrinus
target
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
target
Halcyon smyrnensis
target
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Pycnonotus goiavier
target
Pycnonotus goiavier
target
Itinerary ▼
Day 1
Khao Nor Chuchi Lowland Forest
Pick-up from hotel or airport
Transfer to Khao Pra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary (Khao Nor Chuchi)
Arrival and check-in at Morakot Resort (air-conditioned rooms)
Lunch
Afternoon birdwatching session in lowland rainforest
Focus on forest specialists and a first attempt to locate Gurney’s Pitta
Return to resort
Dinner and overnight
Transfer to Khao Pra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary (Khao Nor Chuchi)
Arrival and check-in at Morakot Resort (air-conditioned rooms)
Lunch
Afternoon birdwatching session in lowland rainforest
Focus on forest specialists and a first attempt to locate Gurney’s Pitta
Return to resort
Dinner and overnight
Day 2
Khao Nor Chuchi Trails
Early breakfast
Morning birding walk along Trails A, B, C, and D
Target species include pittas, kingfishers, barbets, and babblers
Lunch
Afternoon birdwatching at Trail U
Continued search for Gurney’s Pitta and other lowland specialists
Late afternoon transfer to hotel in Krabi Town
Dinner and overnight
Morning birding walk along Trails A, B, C, and D
Target species include pittas, kingfishers, barbets, and babblers
Lunch
Afternoon birdwatching at Trail U
Continued search for Gurney’s Pitta and other lowland specialists
Late afternoon transfer to hotel in Krabi Town
Dinner and overnight
Day 3
Mangrove Birding, Krabi Town
Early breakfast
Transfer to Jao Fah Pier
Mangrove birdwatching trip by boat with local guide
Excellent chances for kingfishers, mangrove specialists, and shorebirds
Return to pier
Lunch
End of tour
Transfer to hotel or airport
Transfer to Jao Fah Pier
Mangrove birdwatching trip by boat with local guide
Excellent chances for kingfishers, mangrove specialists, and shorebirds
Return to pier
Lunch
End of tour
Transfer to hotel or airport