MYANMAR,

a country with an unspoilt natural environment and a fascinating culture.

During this fantastic birdwatching tour you will explore the country from the south, central, Chin Hills and eastern Myanmar in 16/17 days. We expect to see more than 350 species of birds (endemic bird species and some near-endemics)

Day 1:             Departure from Amsterdam

Day 2:             Yangon (Myanmar) arrival day
Arrive at Yangon international airport. Transfer and check in the hotel for one night stay. If we have time we will go birdwatching in Yangon  City where Little Grebe, Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, Lesser Whistling Duck, Common Moorhen, Oriental Darter, Little cormorant, Coppersmith Barbet, Mynas, Bee-eaters, Bulbuls, Tailorbird, Prinia and others will be seen. Overnight  hotel stay in Yangon.

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Day 3:             Hlawga Wildlife Park
In the morning, we will drive to Hlawga Wildlife Park for birdwatching. Here we will be able to see the rare Pale-capped Pigeon, Racket-tailed Treepie, Red Junglefowl, Green, Blue-tailed and Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters, Green-billed Malkoha,  Lesser Racket-tailed and Greater Racket-tailed Drongos, White-rumped Shama, Black-headed, Black-crested, Red-vented, Red-whiskered, Stripe-throated with red eyes and near-endemic Streak-eared Bulbuls, White-crested and Lesser Necklaced Laughing thrushes, Puff-throated and Chestnut-capped Babblers, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Ruby-cheeked, Olive-backed and Purple Sunbirds, some water bird species such as Oriental Darter, Spot-billed and Lesser Whistling Ducks, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Common Moorhen, White-breasted Waterhen, Red-wattled Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover and others. We can also see wintering bird species such as Osprey, Black-naped Oriole, Spotted Redshank, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Black-naped Oriole, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Oriental Reed, Greenish and Yellow-browed Warblers and Forest Wagtail. In the late afternoon we will drive back to Yangon. Overnight hotel stay in Yangon.

Day 4:             Yangon – Bagan

Early in the morning, we will take a flight to Bagan (1 hour)  for a two night stay.  We will spend the remainder of the morning exploring the area and we can see our first Myanmar endemic birds: the White-throated Babbler and Burmese Bushlark.
In the afternoon we will be birdwatching by wooden boat along the Ayeyarwaddy (Irrawaddy)  River to see White-tailed Stonechat, Sand Lark, Long-billed Pipit, Spot-billed Duck, River Lapwing, Great Thick-knee, Small Pratincole, Pied Kingfisher, thousands of Plain and Sand Martins, Indian Skimmer, River and Black-bellied Terns, Laggar Falcon and others. We can also see wintering bird species such as Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveller, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Temminck’s Stint, rare Greater Spotted Eagle, Harriers, Common Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon. Overnight  hotel stay in Bagan.

Day 5:             Bagan
We will be birdwatching the whole day in and around Bagan. Here we can see another two of Myanmar’s endemic birds which are Jerdon’s Minivet (recently split from White-bellied Minivet) and the rare Hooded Treepie, together with Myanmar near-endemic birds: Vinous-breasted Starling and Plain-backed Sparrow, Chinese Francolin, Yellow-legged Buttonquail, Rain Quail, Burmese Shrike, Spotted Owlet, Indian Nightjar, House Martin, Red Collared and Eurasian Collared Doves, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Brown Prinia and many more. We can also see wintering bird species such as Eurasian Wryneck, Brown Shrike, Red-throated Flycatcher, Siberian Rubythroat, Daurian Redstart and Yellow-streaked Warbler. Overnight hotel stay in Bagan.

Day 6:             Bagan – Mt. Victoria (Natmataung) National Park
In the early morning, we will drive south and cross the Ayeyarwaddy River by car, before continuing westwards. After crossing the river, we will travel throughout hilly semi-desert and dry deciduous forests with birdwatching stops en route. Here we can see again Jerdon’s Minivet, Hooded Treepie and Long-billed Pipit, together with the near-endemic White-rumped Falcon, White-eyed Buzzard, Collared Falconet, various species of Woodpeckers, Blue-throated and Lineated Barbets, Asian Barred Owlet, Alexandrine, Rose-ringed, Blossom-headed,  Grey-headed and Red-breasted Parakeets, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Small, Scarlet and Rosy Minivets, Common and Large Woodshrikes, Asian Paradise-flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush and others. In the late afternoon we will arrive at Mountain Oasis Resort, on the lower slope of Mt. Victoria where we will stay for six nights.

Mount Victoria (Natmataung) National Park

Days , 7, 8, 9 and 10:           Mt. Victoria (Natmataung) National Park
We will be birdwatching for five full days at Mt. Victoria (Natmataung National Park). Natmataung (Mt. Victoria) National Park is a major focal point of the tour since it holds a great variety of eastern Himalayan bird species together with some Myanmar endemic and near-endemic bird species.
The habitat of the higher altitudes of Mt. Victoria is characterized by pine, oak, rhododendron and evergreen forestswith shot grassland.
Here we can see White- browed Nuthatch, Myanmar’s fifth and most irresistible  endemic bird which is known only on this site. Other distinctive birds that could be seen in this area are Myanmar near-endemic birds: Mount Victoria Babax (recently split from Chinese Babax), Brown-capped Laughing thrush and Whistler’s Warbler, rare and shy Blyth’s Tragopan, Hill Partridge, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Slaty-backed and Rufous-gorgetted Flycatchers, White-browed Shortwing, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Yellow-browned and Black-browned Tits, Striated Bulbul, Brown Bush, Ashy-throated and Black-faced Warblers, Slender-billed Scimitar, Scaly-breasted Wren, Pygmy Wren, and Green Shrike Babblers,  White-browed Fulvetta, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Fire-tailed Sunbird and others.

At mid-altitude Mt. Victoria is covered by pine and evergreen forests with dwarf bamboo also occurring in the understory and in thickets in open areas. Here we can see the Myanmar near-endemic bird Black-throated Prinia (recently split from Hill Prinia), rare Mrs Hume’s Pheasant, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Grey-chined, Long-tailed and Short-billed Minivets, Long-tailed and Black-breasted Thrushes, Indian Blue Robin, Spotted Forktail, White-tailed Nuthatch, Black-bibbed Tit, Broad-billed and Aberrant Bush Warblers, Red-faced Liocichla, Cutia, Streak-throated Barwings, Blue-winged and Red-tailed Minlas, Black-throated Parrotbill, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Spot-winged Grosbeak and others.

At lower altitudes. the mountain has pine and deciduous forests  where we can see Myanmar near-endemic Stripe Laughingthrush, Hodgson’s Frogmouth, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Scaly Thrush, Yellow-cheeked and Black-throated Tits, Crested Finchbill, Striated Prinia, Brownish-flanked Bush, Russet Bush, Grey-hooded and Grey-crowned Warblers, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Spot-throated and Spot-breasted Scimitar Babblers, Nepal and Rusty-capped Fulvettas,  Silver-eared Mesia, Mrs Gould’s and Green-tailed Sunbirds and many more.In alle hoogtezones vinden we Myanmar’s bijna endemische vogelsoorten – Chin Hills Wren Babbler en Assam Laughingthrush – Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Crimson-breasted en Darjeeling Woodpeckers, Great en Golden-throated Barbets, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Green-backed Tit, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler en Grey Sibia

At all altitude zones we can see Myanmar near-endemic bird species: Chin Hills Wren Babbler (recently split from Long-tailed Wren Babbler) and Assam Laughing thrush (recently split from Chestnut-crowned Laughing thrush), Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Crimson-breasted and Darjeeling Woodpeckers, Great and Golden-throated Barbets, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Green-backed Tit, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler and Grey Sibia.  Many raptors such as Black Baza, Oriental Honey and Common Buzzards, Changeable Hawk, Mountain Hawk, Crested Serpent and Black Eagles, Besra, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kesterl and Oriental Hobby can be also seen.
We may also be able to see wintering species such as Chestnut, Grey-sided and Eyebrowed Thrushes, Orange-flanked Bush Robin, Black Redstart, Buff-throated, Hume’s, Radde’s and Tickell’s Leaf Warblers, Common Rosefinch, Chestnut and Little Buntings.

Day 11:           Mt. Victoria (Natmataung National Park) – Bagan
Morning, return to Bagan for one night stay with birdwatching stops en route. Overnight hotel stay in Bagan.

Day 12:           Bagan – Kalaw
Today we will take a short flight to Heho and then a  short drive to Kalaw for a two night stay with birdwatching stops en route. Overnight hotel stay in Kalaw.

Day 13:           Kalaw
After a short drive to the evergreen forest area, we will be birdwatching the whole day here. We can see Myanmar near-endemic birds: Burmese Yuhina, Dark-backed Sibia and Indochinese Cuckooshrike, White-browed Laughingthrush, Streaked Wren, Golden, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar, White-browed Scimitar, White-browed Shrike  and Rufous-fronted Babblers, Silver-eared Mesia, Rusty-capped and Grey-cheeked Fulvettas, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Sooty-headed, Mountain, Black, Ashy and Brown-breasted Bulbuls, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Sliver-breasted and Long-tailed Broadbills, Black-breasted Thrush, Vivid Niltava, White-crowned Forktail, White-capped Water Redstart, Bianchi’s and White-tailed Leaf Warblers, Black-throated Sunbird, Black-headed Greenfinch, Crested Bunting and many more.

We can also see wintering birds such as Grey-backed Shrike, Daurian Redstart, Chestnut-flanked and Japanese White-eyes, Spotted Bush Warbler and Chestnut Bunting. Overnight hotel stay in Kalaw.

Day 14:           Kalaw – Inle Lake
We will drive a short distance to Nyaung Shwe and then take a boat ride to watch for birds on Inle Lake. Here we can see the rare Jerdon’s Bushchat, very rare Sarus Crane, Collared Myna, Glossy Ibis, Purple Swamphen, Ruddy-breasted and Black-tailed Crakes, Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas, Black-winged Stilt, Oriental Pratincole, Cinnamon and Yellow Bitterns, Lesser Whistling and Spot-billed Ducks, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Plaintive Cuckoo, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Plain and Yellow-bellied Prinias and Striated Grassbird. We can also see migrant bird species such as the very rare Baer’s, Ferruginous, Red-crested and Common Pochards, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Common Coot, Grey-headed Lapwing, Marsh Sandpiper, Brown-headed Gull, Harriers, Steppe Eagle, Bluethroat, Dusky and Black-browed Reed Warblers and Yellow-breasted Bunting. There are also breeding or roosting colonies of Little, Cattle and Intermediate Egrets, Indian Pond, Chinese Pond and Black-crowned Night Herons, Little Cormorant, Vinous-breasted, Chestnut-tailed, Black-collared and Asian Pied Starlings. Common, Jungle, White-vented and Collared Mynahs can be seen in the evening. Overnight hotel stay on Inle Lake.

Day 15:           Inle Lake – Yangon
We have a final morning birdwatching on Inle Lake and then drive to Heho for our flight to Yangon. Overnight hotel stay in Yangon

Day 16:           Departure
City tour or visit to the famous Shwedagon Pagoda, the city’s primary Landmark, with its magnificent golden stupa. Transfer to Yangon international airport for the departure flight home.

Practical information
Tour price :	£ 3500
Tour date :	2nd – 18th March 2015
Tour code	15 Myanmar (Please mention code with booking)
Single room surcharge	€ 750,-
From and to	Amsterdam – Singapore – Yangon
Travel Itinerary	will be sent 4 weeks before departure
Local transport	Minibus, boat, local flight
Difficulty of walks:	light walks
number of participants	Minimum 4 and maximum 8 persons
Accommodation	Good hotels and lodges on a full board basis
Guides	Dutch and local guide
Climate	Tropical and dry at this time of  year. Some chance of a shower

 

Itineraty

Day1:               Departure Schiphol;

day 2:               Arrival in Yangon and check in hotel. City tour

day 3:               Hlawga Wildlife Park

day 4:               Yangon – Bagan;

day 5:               Bagan;

day 6 – day 10:  Departure to Mount Victoria Natmataung NP;

day 11:             Back to Bagan;

day12:              Local flight to Heho and transfer to Kalaw;

day 13:             Kalaw;

day 14:             Kalaw and Inle Lake boat trip

day 15:             Inle Lake  transfer to Heho and flight to Yangon;

day 16              City tour Yangon

day 17              Arrival Amsterdam