Thailand Raptor Tour

The best raptor migration in Southeast Asia!

Every autumn hundreds of thousands of raptors in Indochina follow four main migration routes originating in remote Siberia, northern China and Mongolia, across the region through Thailand and Malaysia, into Indonesia, the Philippines, to Papua New Guinea, and even northern Australia.

Wieder eine für Greifvogelfans in gewohnter Weise perfekt geplante Reise von Raptours, mit bester fachkundiger Führung, Unterkunft und Verpflegung.”

Dr. Dieter G. Haas, Germany. 2013 Edition

 

“Un viaje con 32 especies de rapaces avistadas resulta sorprendente. Un guía experto en el tema que contrata guías locales para no perder detalle de otras especies no es habitual. Resultado, una excursión ornitológica para guardar en forma indeleble en el espíritu.”

Norberto Oste, Argentina. 2015 Edition

One of these routes, the East Asia Continental Flyway, lies along the Kra Isthmus, the land bridge connecting the Thai‑Malay Peninsula with the continent. Located on the coast of the South China Sea, Khao Dinsor—much like Veracruz in southeastern Mexico—is witness to a fantastic raptor migration. Over one quarter million of diurnal birds of prey of some 25 species fly past this point every autumn.

The raptor highlights here include up to 125,000 Chinese Sparrowhawks, over 40,000 Oriental Honey Buzzards, 15,000 Gray‑faced Buzzards, more than 10,000 Japanese Sparrowhawks, and thousands of Shikra. The jewel of Khao Dinsor is, however, the massive flight of over 150,000 Black Bazas!

Bird the oldest rainforest on Earth!

At 160 million years-old lowland tropical forests at the wondrous Khao Sok National Park—a few hours’ drive from Khao Dinsor—are considered to be the oldest in the world. Here we will target resident raptors including Lesser, and Gray-headed Fish Eagles, Bat Hawk, and Black‑thighed Falconet.

The Perfect Raptor Vacation

Witness the spectacular raptor migration that takes place in this new hawk‑watching Mecca, and experience the wonderful local seafood and culture. Relax in our comfortable hotel by the beach near the hawk‑watch. Take a dip in the hotel’s swimming pool, or take an authentic Thai massage, or just take it easy on the floating restaurant and cabins at the Khao Sok reservoir. At Sahpli, after the flight easies down in the afternoon, enjoy your favorite drink at the hotel’s beachside bar.

Make a difference!

Raptours®, L.L.C. will make a financial contribution to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for every member that signs up for this tour. Join us on this tour and make a lasting contribution to raptor conservation.

Raptours®, L.L.C. is also a sponsor of the Chumphon Raptor Center. Join us on this tour and learn about raptor identification and migration ecology while helping fund raptor conservation worldwide.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (IATA Code BKK), meet with Raptours staff, and transfer to hotel. Dinner at the hotel (also lunch if arriving in the morning). Welcome briefing in the evening.

Day 2

8:00 AM, breakfast at hotel restaurant. 9:00 AM, check‑out. 9:15 AM-4:30 AM, drive to Saphli area, our base for the next few days. Check‑in at the Nana Beach Hotel. 7:00 PM, dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Evening presentation “Common Raptors at Khao Dinsor”, by Sergio Seipke. Night in the Nana Beach Hotel.

Days 3–7

For the next 5 days our daily routine will be quite the same. Most days will go as follows: 7:00 AM, breakfast at our hotel. 8:00‑8:10 AM, drive to the Chumphon Raptor Center. Hike uphill on concrete trail to the lookouts or stay in the Center’s parking lot according to preference (the hike uphill is a moderately demanding one, tour leader will discuss with individual participants about the best course of action here). All the raptors species at Khao Dinsor can be seen from both the lookouts up the hill and from the Center’s parking lot. Picnic lunch or snacks, or drive back to hotel for a late lunch depending on flight circumstances. Between 3:00 and 4:00 PM, go back to the hotel. Relax at swimming pool or hotel room, get a Thai massage, take a dip in the sea, or enjoy a drink at the hotel’s beachside bar. 6:30 PM, dinner at hotel or short walk to eat out. Night in the Nana Beach Hotel.

The flight at Khao Dinsor is dominated, in approximate order of abundance, by Black Baza, Chinese Sparrowhawk, Gray‑faced Buzzard, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Shikra, Japanese Sparrowhawk. Less abundant migrants include Eastern and Pied Harriers, Crested Serpent Eagle, Besra, Booted Eagle, and Steppe and Japanese Buzzards. At all times, resident raptors such as Brahminy Kite, Crested Goshawk and White‑bellied Sea Eagle may pop up at the lookouts. Rarities at Khao Dinsor include Short‑toed Snake Eagle, Indian Black Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Greater Spotted Eagle.

Short local trips in the afternoon to see resident raptors will be also a possibility. We may also visit an alternative migration site: Radar Hill, depending on flight conditions. On Day 7 Sergio will give the evening presentation “Raptors of Khao Sok National Park”.

Day 8

7:00 AM, breakfast. 8:00 AM, checkout. 8:15 AM, head south to be at the Khao Sok reservoir by noon. 12:15‑1:15 PM, boat ride to floating hotel. 1:30 PM, check‑in and lunch at the hotel’s restaurant. 2:30-6:00 PM, boat ride to look for Oriental Hobby, White‑bellied Sea Eagle and Lesser Fish Eagle, among other raptors. 6:30 PM, dinner at hotel. Night in floating hotel.

Days 9–10

7:00 AM, breakfast. 8:00 AM, ride on long-tailed boat to target raptors including Osprey, Lesser and Gray‑headed Fish Eagles, White‑bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Crested Honey Buzzard, Blyth’s and Wallace’s Hawk‑Eagles, among others. If we are lucky, Black‑thighed Falconet, too. 1:30 PM, lunch either at floating hotel or at another floating restaurant. In the afternoon another boat ride, and before sundown visit place where a pair of Bat Hawks roost to see them take off. 7:30 PM, dinner. Night in floating hotel.

Day 11

6:30 AM, breakfast, 7:30 AM, checkout. 7:45-8:45 AM, boat ride back to pier. 9:00-11:00 AM, drive to Phuket to target Black-thighed Falconet and local Peregrine Falcons, lunch and birding at the beach. Catch our flight to Bangkok in the afternoon. Check‑in at the hotel upon arrival. 9:00 PM, dinner. Night in hotel near airport.

Day 12

7:00 AM, breakfast at hotel restaurant. 8:00 AM, check‑out. 8:15-10:30 AM, drive to Kaeng Krachan National Park. We may see Jerdon’s Baza, Oriental Honey Buzzard, and Gray‑faced Buzzard. If we are lucky, maybe even a leopard! 2:30 PM, late lunch and check‑in at hotel. Watch raptors in the rice fields around Petchaburi in the afternoon. We expect to see Brahminy and Black-shouldered Kites. We will visit a bat cave before sunset. Several accipiter species, Gray-faced Buzzard and Peregrine Falcons come to catch them when millions leave the cave in a 15-minute window! 8:00 PM, dinner at hotel. Overnight near the park.

Day 13

7:00 AM, breakfast and checkout. 8:00 AM, visit nearby bird water-holes to try to see red jungle fowl and pheasants. At mid-morning drive into the park once again. This time we will drive to the highest reaches of the park to target Mountain Hawk‑Eagle. Picnic lunch in the park. 2:00‑6:30 PM, drive back to Bangkok where the tour ends.

Day 14

Catch flights back home… or, stick around in Bangkok for a relaxing couple of days and then fly on to Kathmandu, Nepal and meet with participants of the Nepal Raptor Tour (5-19 November) to target a combined total of 60+ Asian raptor species on both tours!

Target Species

common name

1. Osprey
2. Oriental Honey Buzzard
3. Crested Honey Buzzard
4. Black Baza
5. Jerdon’s Baza
6. Crested Serpent Eagle
7. Black Kite
8. Brahminy Kite
9. Chinese Sparrowhawk
10. Japanese Sparrowhawk
11. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
12. Shikra
13. Besra
14. Crested Goshawk
15. Eastern Marsh Harrier
16. Pied Harrier
17. White-bellied Sea Eagle
18. Lesser Fish Eagle
19. Gray-headed Fish Eagle
20. Short-toed Snake Eagle
21. Bat Hawk
22. Changeable Hawk-Eagle
23. Mountain Hawk-Eagle
24. Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle
25. Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle
26. Greater Spotted Eagle
27. Booted Eagle
28. Rufous-winged Buzzard
29. Gray-faced Buzzard
30. Eastern Buzzard
31. Steppe Buzzard
32. Black-thighed Falconet
33. Collared Falconet
34. White-rumped Falcon
35. Common Kestrel
36. Oriental Hobby
37. Peregrine Falcon

Latin Name

1. Pandion haliaetus
2. Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis
3. Pernis ptilorhynchus torquatus
4. Aviceda leuphotes
5. Aviceda jerdoni
6. Spilornis cheela
7. Milvus migrans
8. Haliastur indus
9. Accipiter soloensis
10. Accipiter gularis
11. Accipiter nisus
12. Accipiter badius
13. Accipiter virgatus
14. Accipiter trivirgatus
15. Circus spilonotus
16. Circus melanoleucos
17. Haliaeetus leucogaster
18. Ichthyophaga humilis
19. Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
20. Circaetus gallicus
21. Macheiramphus alcinus
22. Nisaetus cirrhatus
23. Nisaetus nipalensis
24. Nisaetus alboniger
25. Lophotriorchis kienerii
26. Clanga clanga
27. Hieraaetus pennatus
28. Butastur liventer
29. Butastur indicus
30. Buteo japonicus
31. Buteo buteo vulpinus
32. Microhierax fringillarius
33. Microhierax caerulescens
34. Polihierax insignis
35. Falco tinnunculus
36. Falco severus
37. Falco peregrinus

Suggested Field Guides

Kasorndorkbua, C., C. Chinuparawat, and C. Nualsri.. 2008. A Photographic Guide to the Raptors of Thailand. Amarin Printing and Publishing Co., Bangkok, Thailand. (Thai, with English common names).

Robson, C. 2002. Birds of Thailand. Princeton Field Guides, Princeton, New Jersey.

Tour Map

Tour Raptor Expert

Thai Expert Guide

Tour Showcase

Terms

Raptours, L.L.C. reserves the right to alter this itinerary as necessary, or to cancel the tour prior to departure, with full refund to participants.

Raptours, L.L.C. or its agents may decline to accept or retain any person as a member of this tour at any time.

No smoking will be permitted while with the group, either when indoors or in the field.

Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.

All passengers will be required to sign a hard copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form upon meeting with the tour leader in Bangkok.

No participants will be allowed in the group without a signed copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form.

Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Form
(including Terms)