Birdwatching vietnam national parks
19days 18Nights
Trip code:ADBW19
Highlights:
DETAILED ITINERARY:
DAY1: ARRIVAL SAIGON
Arrive in Saigon and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Saigon.
DAY2: SAIGON-CATTIEN NATIONAL PARK
Drive to Cat Tien National Park, 170km from Saigon in Dong Nai Province. Once off Highway One, the road passes through large areas of rubber plantations before branching off to the national park. Check in to park guest house on arrival and the driver and car return to Ho Chi Minh City. An incredible diversity of birds and mammals live in the forest and wetland habitats of Cat Tien, including an estimated 230 species of birds. Endangered birds that can be found here include Germans Peacock-Pheasant, Green Peafowl and the very elusive Orange-necked Partridge. Mammals that can sometimes be seen include wild boar, Samba Deer, the rare Black-shacked Duoc Languor, Yellow-cheeked and Crested Gibbon. The afternoon is free for birding along the road or trails. Overnight at Cat Tien (B, L, D)
DAY3: WATCHING BIRDS IN CATTIEN PARK
A full day of birding along the road and forest trails of Cat Tien. A jeep can be hired at the park headquarters to visit areas further a field such as Bird Lake to look for visiting waders or Crocodile Lake where Green Peafowl, Lesser Adjutant and Purple Heron may be seen. During the walk through the forest to Crocodile Lake look out for Bar-bellied and Blue-romped Pita, Red and Black and Banded Broadbill and Orange-breasted Trogon amongst others. Overnight at Cat Tien (B, L, D)
DAY4: IN CATTIEN PARK
Another full day to enjoy the rich bird life of Cat Tien. Species to look out for include Woolly-necked Stork, Siamese Fireback, Scaly-breasted Partridge, Bar-bellied Pita, Blue-romped Pita, Grey-faced Tit-Babbler, Great Salty Woodpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker and Heart-spotted Woodpecker. Overnight at Cat Tien.(B, L, D)
DAY5: CATTIEN-DALAT MOUNTAIN
A final morning of birding along the trails or perhaps the headquarters road where Green-eared, Blue-eared, Lineated, and if you are lucky, Red-vented Barbet, can often be seen perched high up in the roadside trees. Check out of the park guest house and meet up with the driver before leaving for the 150km drive to Dalat. It is a scenic drive through tea and coffee plantations to the cooler climes of the former colonial hill station, Dalat. Transfer to hotel on arrival in Dalat. The driver and car are available for transferring to birding sites around Dalat over the next three days. Overnight in Dalat. (B, L, D)
DAY6: BIRD WATCHING TOUR DALAT
A full day of birding at Mount Lang Bain where the evergreen forests are home to many interesting species including some endemics. Key species to be found at Mount Lang Bain include Silver Pheasant, Indochinese Cuckoo shrike, Eurasian Jay, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Cutie and Red Crossbill. This is also the place to see two of Vietnam’s sought after endemics, the Collared Laughing thrush and the Vietnamese Greenfinch. Mount Lang Bain is best avoided at weekends and holidays when it is a very popular destination for local tourists. Overnight in Dalat. (B, L)
DAY7: WATCHING BIRDS IN DALAT
Tuyen Lam Lake, only 3km from the centre of town, is Dalat’s other hotspot for birders. Take a boat to far side of the lake where a track leads through the pines to areas of remnant tropical evergreen forest. The rare and endemic Grey-crowned Crocias was re-discovered here a few years ago after not being seen for nearly 60 years. Other interesting species possible here include Slender-billed Oriole, Maroon Oriole, Refocus-backed Serbia, Black-hooded and White-cheeked Laughing thrush. Overnight in Dalat.(B, L)
DAY8: IN DALAT
The Ta Nung Valley, around 15km from Dalat, holds a few pockets of remnant evergreen forest where many of the Dalat specialties can still be found including Grey-crowned Cocoas, Black-hooded and White-cheeked Laughiingthrush, Grey-headed Parrot bill, Blue-winged Minla and Black-throated Sunbird. Overnight in Dalat.(B, L)
DAY9: DALAT-NHA TRANG
Transfer by road Down to Nha Trang Beach city. On arrival, transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure overnight in Nha Trang City.(B)
DAY10: NHA TRANG-HUE ANCIENT CAPITAL
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to catch the flight to Hue in central Vietnam. On arrival at Hue Airport follow the coast for 45km south down Highway One before turning inland on the road that leads to Bach Ma National Park, 20km away. On arrival the driver and car return to Hue and transfer by park vehicle to the summit guest house. The road from the park entrance to the park guesthouse near the summit is very scenic with sweeping vistas of undisturbed rainforest and the coastal plain. The park accommodation is in renovated colonial villas and the ruins of once grand holiday homes and hotels are scattered along the trails from this point up to the summit. There are many good trails for birders and for non-birders alike with several waterfalls and small lakes. Overnight at Bach Ma. (B, L, D)
DAY11: BACH MA NATIONAL PARK
Bach Ma National Park is a very well-run operation and knowledgeable park guides can be hired if required. Over 330 species of bird have been recorded at Bach Ma and specialties include the Annam Partridge, Crested Argus, Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo, Blyth’s Kingfisher, Ratchet-tailed Tree pie and Sultan Tit. Overnight at Bach Ma.(B, L, D)
DAY12: IN BACH MA
Another full day to explore the trails of Bach Ma. Other desirable species include Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped Pita, Red-collared Woodpecker and White-winged Magpie. Overnight at Bach Ma. (B, L, D)
DAY13: BACH MA-HANOI- TAM DAO NATIONAL PARK
There is time for some early morning birding before meeting up with the driver and transferring to Hue Airport for the lunchtime flight to Hanoi. On arrival in Hanoi transfer directly to Tam Dao, a hill stations an hour and a half by road from the airport. Transfer to hotel on arrival in Tam Dao. The driver and car return to Hanoi. Overnight in Tam Dao.(B, L)
DAY14: IN TAM DAO
There are several good trails in the hills above the town, the Water Tank Trail and the Radio Transmitter Trail in particular are normally quite productive. Species to look out for here include the Grey Laughing thrush, Chestnut Bulbul, Black-chinned Yakima and Fork-tailed Sunbird. Overnight in Tam Dao.(B, L)
DAY15: IN TAM DAO
another full day to explore the forest above Tam Dao. Winter visitors that are possible here include Black-breasted Thrush, Japanese Thrush and Fujian Niltava. Overnight in Tam Dao.(B, L)
DAY16:TAM DAO-HANOI-CUCPHUONG NATIONAL PARK
Time for some early morning birding before meeting up with the driver and transferring by road to Hanoi and continuing on to Cuc Phuong National Park, three hours south of the capital. The driver and car return to Hanoi. Overnight at Bong Sub-Station Cuc Phuong.(B, L, D)
DAY17: WATCHING BIRDS IN CUCPHUONG
The first national park to be established in Vietnam, Cuc Phuong is an area of limestone hills covered with large tracts of primeval rainforest. Key bird species here include Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Bar-bellied, Blue-rumped and Eared Pitta, White-winged Magpie, Limestone Wren-Babbler, Fujian Niltava and Pied Falconets. Overnight at Bong Sub-Station Cuc Phuong.(B, L, D)
DAY18: BIRDWATCHING CUCPHUONG PARK
A full day’s birding on the trails of Cuc Phuong. The birding is good at Cuc Phuong with over 300 species recorded in the park. Endangered mammals such as Indochinese Tiger, Clouded Leopard and the rare Delacour Langur also inhabit the forests of Cuc Phuong though they are seldom seen. Other possible bird species include Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Ruddy Kingfisher, Silver-breasted Broadbill and White-tailed Flycatcher. Overnight at Bong Sub-Station Cuc Phuong. (B, L, D)
DAY19: CUC PHUONG -HANOI
A final morning of birding before meeting up with the driver and heading back to Hanoi in the afternoon and transferring to Noi Bai Airport for departure flight or to the hotel in town, end of service. (B, L)
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
INCLUSION
All transportation and transfers with well experienced driver
Domestic flights: Nha Trang-Hue, Hue-Hanoi
English speaking guide
All accommodation based on twin share with daily breakfast
Meals as indicated in the tour detailed itinerary
Water during trekking
Relevant permits and fees.
EXCLUSION
International flights
International departure tax (14USD)
Visa fees (25USD)
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Tips and gratuities
Hotel Conditions:
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City
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First Class: 4 stars
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Superior: 3 stars
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Tam Dao
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Local Hotel
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Local Hotel
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Cuc Phuong
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Park Guest house
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Park Guest house
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Bach Ma
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Park Guest house
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Park Guest house
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Cat Tien
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Park Guest house
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Park Guest house
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Dalat
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Saigon Dalat
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Golf 2 - 2**
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HCM City
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Duxton
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Elios
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Nha Trang
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Yasaka Saigon
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Que Huong
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Tour Cost:
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Hotel Category
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Tour costs in USD /Per person in group of
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Single supplement
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1
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2
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4
|
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First Class:
4 stars
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3617
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2177
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1751
|
649
|
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Superior Class:
3 stars
|
3385
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2061
|
1635
|
368
|
Vietnam National Parks:
[Cuc Phuong Park][Babe Park][Cat Tien Park][Bavi Park][Bach Ma Park][Phong Nha Park][Tam Dao Park]
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