8 APR Depart the United States for your international flight to Thailand. Overnight somewhere 6-7 miles high in the sky.

9 APR Arrive in Bangkok in the evening for a good night's sleep at the Asia Hotel before beginning the tour the next day. Today's hotel is included in the tour fee but the meals are NOT.

10 APR Our first destination is Khok Kham, Samut Sakhon. Among the hundreds of shorebirds on the mudflats at Samut Sakhon every winter are a few individuals of the rare Spoon-billed Sandpiper. This bird will be our priority. After lunch we'll continue to Laem Phakbia to board a small boat and search for Malaysian Plover as we fill in many of the gaps on the first few pages of our checklists. We'll then move inland to the A&B Bungalow that will be our base for three nights, as we explore Kaeng Krachan National Park.

11-12 APR Both days will be spent birding in the mountains of Kaeng Krachen. This is the largest national park in Thailand and much less visited than Khao Yai, making a trip here a unique wilderness experience. Leopard and Gaur are both found in this region, and the fresh piles of Elephant dung on the road every morning are a constant reminder of the remoteness of this area. As we drive up the park's only road we first meander through drier lowlands with many dead snags good for woodpeckers, including the diminutive Heart-spotted. A little farther along, the road turns to dirt and starts to climb. Any stop here can produce such magnificent birds as Orange-breasted Trogon, Green Magpie, and Asian Paradise-Flycatcher. Closer to the top we will be searching for roving flocks of babblers. Among the more common White-crested Laughingthrushes we may find White-hooded Babblers, Black-throated Laughingthrushes, and White-browed Scimitar-Babblers, but the most coveted bird in this area is the Ratchet-tailed Treepie. There is a small population here that is completely isolated from the rest of the species in northern Viet Nam and surrounding areas. At the very top of the road, Wreathed Hornbill, Vernal Hanging-Parrot, and Gray Treepie are among the likely finds. Other highlights may include Bar-backed or Scaly-breasted Partridges, or the sight of hundreds of Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters gathered on snags to roost.

13 APR As we ascend the road into Khao Yai National Park, there is an immediate sense of wildness. Besides the Pig-tailed Macaques lining the roadsides, there are other signs of wilderness, real signs – "elephant crossing" "gaur crossing" "leopard crossing" "cobra crossing" and of course, "tiger crossing". The birdlife is just as mythical - Siamese Firebacks, Banded Kingfishers, and Blue Pittas are often seen on trails into the forest and last year, patient observers were regularly rewarded with a pair of the incredibly elusive Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoos near one of the campgrounds. Brown-backed Needletails hawk insects over the lakes, and watching the sunset as hornbills drift by on their way to roost is a great way to end the day. Seeing Great Eared-Nightjars come out of hiding to start their nightly patrols is icing on the cake. The next three nights will be at Juldis Khao Yai Resort.

14-15 APR Two more days of birding at spectacular Khao Yai National Park, with our nights at Juldis Khao Yai Resort.

16 APR After some last minute birding in the Khao Yai area we'll head to the airport for our flight north to Chiang Mai, where we'll stay at the Suriwongse Hotel. The remainder of our afternoon will be spent birding local wetlands. After dinner there will be time to explore Chiang Mai's fantastic night bazaar.

17 APR Towering cliffs on our way to Doi Ang Khang will give us an opportunity to search for Crested Treeswift and Crested Bunting, with various prinias on the grassy slopes. Nearer to Doi Ang Khang, flowering trees provide food for numerous bulbuls, and the show continues at the beautiful Angkhang Nature Resort where we'll spend the next two nights. The impeccably manicured landscapes are alone worth the visit, but seeing ten or more species of bulbuls in a day including the difficult Crested Finchbill make it especially enticing for birders.

18 APR In the surrounding highlands of Doi Angkhang, several trails provide access to dense scrubby hillsides where the babbler flocks include Golden Babbler, Silver-eared Mesia, Blue-winged Minla, and Black-backed and Rufous-backed Sibias. This is also the best spot for one of the more sought-after babblers - the Red-faced Liocichla - and we will spend ample time trying for good looks at this skulking rarity. Other stakeout birds we will target include Spot-breasted Parrotbill and White-browed Laughingthrush. A quick stop at the guard post at the Myanmar border can produce some interesting open country wintering birds to boost our trip list.

19 APR Our last morning at Doi Angkhang will be used to look for any of the difficult birds we may have missed and for a last minute show of the shrikes and bulbuls on the grounds near our hotel. After lunch we will drive to Thaton and check into the Maekok River Village Resort for the next two nights. Some great birds await us at the nearby Thaton Marsh.

20 APR Doi Lang is part of Doi Pha Hom Pok, the second highest mountain peak in Thailand, adjacent to the Burmese border. The habitat is moist, montane evergreen forest. We will start very early to Doi Lang with packed breakfast and spend only half the day as the birding is best before it gets too hot in the afternoon. At Doi Lang we will look for Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Jerdon's Bushchat, Black-throated Parrotbill, Scarlet Finch, and many additional exciting species. We will return to Thaton in the afternoon for a break, then go birding at Thaton Marsh in the late afternoon. Possibilities there include Marsh Harrier, Red-throated Pipit, Blue-breasted Quail, Bluethroat, and Siberian Rubythroat.

21 APR There will be one more morning at Doi Lang, then we pack up and head toward Inthanon. Along the way we'll be looking for new species, then there may be time to study Indian Roller, White-throated Kingfisher, or perhaps White-rumped Shama and Black-collared Starling on the grounds of the Inthanon Highland Resort, where we'll spend the next three nights.

22-23 APR The tallest peak in Thailand, Doi Inthanon has a number of species not easily found elsewhere in the country. The boardwalk through the famous "summit marsh" (actually a boggy forested area near the summit) is home to most of Inthanon's unique species. Yellow-bellied Fantail, Ashy-throated Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Chestnut-tailed Minla, and Rufous-winged Fulvetta will likely be seen here and nowhere else on our tour. An endemic subspecies of Green-tailed Sunbird is found only in this area and, by slowly and quietly walking the boardwalk several times, we hope to be rewarded with some of the more secretive residents such as Eurasian Woodcock, Pygmy Wren-Babbler, and White-browed Shortwing. Lower elevation flocks are good for Yellow-cheeked Tit and Spectacled Barwing, the iridescent Asian Emerald Cuckoo could be found anywhere, and local waterfalls have both White-capped and Plumbeous Redstarts. Collared Falconet, one of the smallest diurnal raptors in the world, is not too difficult to find in the dry forests at the base of the mountain. Both nights at Inthanon Highland Resort.


Our 2006 tour group poses at the top of Thailand!

24 APR We'll have one final morning to explore Doi Inthanon. We may use this time to search for Black-throated Parrotbills in patches of bamboo, Fire-capped Tits that sometimes winter in a local orchard, or take a final spin on the summit marsh's boardwalk. After lunch we'll drive to Chiang Mai for our flights to Bangkok. Then after some free time and dinner on your own, the tour ends and you'll begin your return flights to the US.

25 APR Return to the United States with MANY stories about your adventures in Thailand!

BIRD TREKS Thailand Tour will be led by Kamol and Patcharee Komolphalin from Nature Trails Birdwatching, the local experts in Bangkok and all of Thailand. They are intimately familiar with all parts of the itinerary.

Approximately $3695 from Bangkok, based upon double occupancy and a minimum of five participants. Single accommodations can be arranged for an extra fee of $455.

Expert guide service, all boat rides, all ground and air transportation within Thailand, all entrance fees, all meals (except as specified), and lodging for the entire tour, beginning the night of 2 April.
Does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages and beverages during meals, items of a personal nature, or international air transportation to Bangkok and airport departure tax. As opposed to most BIRD TREKS tours, tips are not included in the tour fee. Upon request BIRD TREKS will help you obtain the best possible airfare and coordinate arrivals into Bangkok.

A $900 deposit will assure your reservation on the tour. The balance of the fee is due 1 February 2008. Send your deposit SOON so that we can secure the least expensive airfare to Bangkok and reserve your spot on this exciting, exotic tour.

We offer the services of our exclusive BIRD TREKS travel agent, Lori Heathcote, in arranging your air travel. Lori has 22 years of experience in the travel industry and is a veteran birder. Contact her through Bailey Travel at 1-800-224-5399, or you can e-mail lori@baileytravel.com. By dealing with Lori you have the security of a 24-hour toll-free telephone number in case of any travel emergency. She can also assist you with all pre- and post-tour travel plans.

With written notice more than 90 days prior to the first day of the tour, 100% of your deposit will be refunded, minus a $100 service fee. With 30-90 days notice, you will receive a 50% refund of the full cost of the tour. No refund can be made with less than 30 days notice. You will receive a full refund if you provide a replacement for your spot on the tour. No partial refund can be given once a tour begins. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment in case of injury or illness to you or your family prior to or during a tour. Click on the following link to Access America or contact BIRD TREKS for information on obtaining this coverage.