List your tour

Central and Northern Thailand Birdwatching Journey

A 15-day small-group birding journey from Bangkok through central and northern Thailand, with mountain, forest, wetland and coastal birding led by an experienced Dutch tour leader together with experienced and licensed Thai bird guides.

  • Thailand Show on map
  • 15 days
  • Group 3-9 people
  • From: EUR 4,195
  • Next: Jan 16, 2028
  • Public tour
  • Pace: Active but unhurried birding across full field days, roadside stops, forest walks and photography hides.
  • Language: Dutch
  • City: Bangkok
Send inquiry
Central and Northern Thailand Birdwatching Journey
1/1

About this tour

Travel through central and northern Thailand on a 15-day small-group birdwatching journey led by an experienced Dutch tour leader (who speak Dutch, English and Thai) together with experienced and licensed Thai bird guides. The route begins in Bangkok and links Khao Yai, Doi Inthanon, the Fang highlands, Doi Angkhang, both sides of Doi Lang, the salt pans around Pak Thale and the rainforest of Kaeng Krachan.

The program moves between sharply different habitats. Limestone, lowland forest and open country give way to cooler mountain birding around Doi Inthanon and Doi Pha Hom Pok. Later, coastal mudflats and salt pans create opportunities for threatened shorebirds before the final days in tropical forest. Observation is balanced between walks, roadside stops and time in photography hides. Daily routes may change with access, weather and recent bird activity.

The scheduled departure runs from January 16 to 30, 2028. Group size is three to nine participants. The published price is EUR 4,195 per person sharing, with a EUR 390 single supplement. Accommodation, guiding, meals from dinner on day one through lunch on the final day, drinking water and soft drinks, park and hide fees, minivan transport, the Bangkok to Chiang Mai domestic flight and an online preparation meeting are included.

International flights to Bangkok, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks and additional specialty drinks are excluded. The pace is active but unhurried, with early starts on many days, walks of several kilometres and occasional long waits in hides. All sightings involve wild birds and cannot be guaranteed.

Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Thailand.

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Bangkok
Bangkok

Arrive in Bangkok and meet the group at the tour hotel. Guests who arrive early may join an optional afternoon walk in a local park before dinner.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 2
Limestone birding and Khao Yai

Travel toward Khao Yai with birding stops for limestone specialties and Siamese Fireback habitat. Continue to accommodation near the national park for an early start the next morning.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 3
Khao Yai National Park

Explore Khao Yai according to current activity, with possible high-elevation stops and fruiting trees for hornbills, trogons, barbets and forest birds. The exact route remains flexible around recent sightings.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 4
Flight north to Chiang Mai

Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, then begin northern birding in open and lower-elevation habitat. Continue to simple accommodation inside the national park area.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 5
High-elevation Doi Inthanon

Spend the day on Thailand's highest mountain, working from the summit zone down through changing elevations. Mountain specialties and winter visitors are the focus.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 6
Doi Inthanon and river birding

Return to productive mountain sections and spend time at a local hide before leaving the park. Add a river stop for Small Pratincole and Green Peafowl habitat, then continue to Chiang Mai.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 7
Fang and rice-field stops

Drive north toward Fang, using rice fields and wet ground along the route for additional open-country birds. Fang becomes the base for the next mountain excursions.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 8
Doi Angkhang

Bird the gardens, woodland and mountain slopes of Doi Angkhang. The guide adjusts stops to flowering trees, current conditions and recent records.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 9
Doi Lang east

Use the quieter eastern access road for highland species and feeding areas near the border. If access is closed, the day moves to another suitable section of Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 10
Doi Lang west

Explore western Doi Lang for Giant Nuthatch, Mrs. Hume's Pheasant, parrotbills, laughingthrushes and other mountain birds. Stops include established roadside and feeding locations.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 11
Return to Bangkok and the coast

Fly back to Bangkok and continue to the coastal salt pans around Pak Thale or Khok Kham. The afternoon provides a first opportunity to search for shorebirds.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 12
Salt pans, shorebirds and forest hide

Begin at the salt pans and coastal flats, with Spoon-billed Sandpiper and other threatened shorebirds among the priorities. Continue inland to a nature lodge and an afternoon forest-hide session.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 13
Kaeng Krachan rainforest

Bird the upper forest of Kaeng Krachan, including the Phanoen Thung sector when access and conditions allow. Broadbills, hornbills, trogons and Ratchet-tailed Treepie are among the possible highlights.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 14
Lower Kaeng Krachan

Return to the park with more attention to lower forest, the three-streams area and local hides. The route follows weather and recent bird activity.

Accommodation: Hotels, homestays and nature lodges
Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement. Along the central and northern Thailand route. Meals are included from the first dinner through final lunch. Most nights use comfortable hotels, with simpler private rooms and bathrooms in national-park areas.
Day 15
Return to Bangkok
Bangkok

Leave Kaeng Krachan for Bangkok and transfer participants according to flight times. Additional grassland or salt-pan birding may be possible for later departures.

Locations & map

  • Bangkok - Central Thailand Thailand (Arrival and departure city.)

Availability & pricing

Availability is confirmed after your inquiry.

DateStatusFrom
Jan 16, 2028 - Jan 30, 2028 open EUR 4,195
Package Amount Terms
Per person sharing EUR 4,195 / person Single traveler supplement: EUR 390

Included

  • Fourteen nights accommodation - Hotels, simple national-park lodging and nature-lodge accommodation.
  • Tour leadership and Thai bird guides - Jan-Peter Kelder leads the journey as tour leader together with experienced Thai bird guides.
  • Meals - From dinner on January 16 through lunch on January 30.
  • Drinking water and soft drinks - Included during the itinerary.
  • Park and photography-hide fees - Included for the planned program.
  • Minivan transport and tolls - Ground transport during the itinerary.
  • Bangkok to Chiang Mai domestic flight - Included as published by the operator.
  • Online preparation meeting - Held before departure.

Not included

  • International flight to Bangkok - Travel to and from Thailand is not included.
  • Travel insurance - Guests should arrange suitable cover.
  • Alcoholic and specialty drinks - Alcohol, fruit shakes and specialty coffees are not included unless specified.

Transport & stays

  • Private minivan and domestic flight Ground travel uses a minivan; the published program includes the Bangkok-Chiang Mai domestic flight. | Meet: Bangkok tour hotel. | Pickup: Arrival and departure arrangements are confirmed with the final travel documents.

Accommodations

  • Hotels, homestays and nature lodges (days 1-14) Shared room; single occupancy is available with the published supplement.

Policies & FAQ

Cancellation Policy

The operator's current booking and cancellation terms are provided with the confirmed proposal.

Payment Terms

The published price is EUR 4,195 per person sharing, with a EUR 390 single supplement. The payment schedule is confirmed after inquiry.

Insurance & Safety

Travel insurance is not included and should be arranged by each participant.
Follow guide instructions around roads, forest trails, heat, wildlife, photography hides and changing access conditions.
What level of fitness is needed?

Participants should be comfortable with early starts, walks of several kilometres and waiting quietly for extended periods in photography hides.

What language is the tour led in?

Jan-Peter is the Dutch-speaking tour leader and lives in Thailand. Experienced Thai bird guides guide the birding program with him.

Are bird sightings guaranteed?

No. The route is designed around productive habitats, but daily plans and sightings depend on access, weather and wild bird activity.

What is the group size?

The scheduled departure requires at least three participants and accepts no more than nine.

Send inquiry

Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.

Select Date
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun