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Copyright © Birding 2 asia 2008. All rights reserved.

 

Laos

 

Time to explore!

 

Wednesday 10^th - Sunday 14^th December 2008

  

Group size; min. 2 – max 4

 

This is what must be the first ever, guided birding tour, to target quality bird

species in Laos.  Add 4 different types of unspoiled forests-all easily accessible-,

comfortable ‘on site’ accommodation, great food and beer Lao (best in Asia) and

one can only start wondering why 99% of world birders have been left out by

not recognizing Laos as a prime bird watching destination.  

Time to explore?  Obviously, we can’t run a tour without knowing the area pretty

well.  However, the bird list for the accessible parts of this area is something

which needs a boost and with such excellent and varied habitats present many

a specialty has still to be discovered, simple as that.  Your leader will know a

great deal of the accessible trails in the area but we’ve discovered a few trail-

heads which still need to reveal what is beyond.  We’re as excited as you are!

Birding2asia can’t wait to see the Ban Na Hin forest sites again and this is

reflected in the tour price that has been kept as low as possible, only just

covering expenses.   

 

More info on Red-collared Woodpecker and Na Hin forest on the Asian birding

sites database.

 

  

Crested Serpent Eagle is common in the              Na Hin Forest.

 

Tour itinerary

 

Day 1

A short flight from Bangkok brings us to Vientiane, capital of Laos, from where

we travel for 4 hours by car to Ban Na Hin, our base for the next 4 nights.

Depending on time and interests we might opt for either many stops en-route

which makes the journey longer, or arrive early for some initial birding. 

 

Day 2 + 3 + 4

Three full days to explore the 4 different types of forest.  All birding sites

are located close to our accommodation so we have the luxury to do short

trips and return for breakfast, lunch and dinner to our resort restaurant.

After familiarizing with the habitats and some general birding to build up

a decent species list we shall start to target the goodies, not at least

Red-collared Woodpecker and Sooty Babbler, as well as to search for species

which would be new for the area list but which can be expected because

the right distribution range, habitat and altitude are in place.

Pied Falconet, Blue – Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped Pittas and

Rufous-vented Laughingthrush and are just a few of the possibilities and all are

localized and highly-prized species that would make for exciting discoveries.

A full list of birds that have been seen in the area can be found here.

 

Day 5

A final morning at Na Hin forest before our return journey to Vientiane in

time for the afternoon flight to Bangkok.

 

General info : Comfortable resort style air-con rooms with private

facilities. All meals in the resort restaurant and snacks on the trail.

Transport by air-conditioned car or minibus.  Walking is easy and

most birding is done on level roadside/tracks/trails, but the occasional

steeper trail might get us to the best birds.  Weather is mostly pleasant

at this time of the year, but it can get fairly hot at noon.  The dry season has

started but an occasional afternoon shower can be expected.

 

  

Indian Roller                                                            Flatidae Nymp common in the Na Hin forest.

 

    

Forest stream                                                          and birding track.

 

   

Brown Shrike is common in surrounding farmland        while butterflies are plentiful in the forest.

 

           

Superb forest on limestone -Sooty Babblers!!!-                 Beauty fungus next to the trail.

 

   

Comfortable 'on site' air-con rooms                           and fantastic scenery wait for you in Laos!

 

All photos by Stijn De Win.