Name: 2 Day Countryside and Kirirom National Park Birdwatching Adventure
Brand: Vana Adventure Travel
Price: 250 USD
Availability: InStock

Birding Tour in Cambodia

A two-day birding tour is ideal for those seeking to combine an interest in the countryside and forest birds of Cambodia with a variety of species as the top birds in this kingdom. The top birds are Cambodian Tailorbird, Oriental Pratincole, Brown Shrike, Collared kingfisher, Ashy Drongo, Chinese Francolin, Common Flameback, Black-naped Oriole, Greater Racket Tailed, Forest wagtail, White-rumped Shama, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Puff-throated Babbler, White-crested Laughingthrush, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Blue-eared Barbet, Black-naped Monarch and Mountain Imperial-pigeon.

Key information

English-speaking guide

Highlights

Birdwatching trip in the countryside and Kirirom National Park
Opportunity to see Cambodian Tailorbird, Oriental Pratincole, Brown Shrike, etc.
Ease of birding: Moderate with some very tricky species
Photographic opportunities: Good
Opportunity to relax and be one with nature
1-night accommodation
Meals and drinking water are included

Styles

Birding Tours

2 activity days

Group size: 2-8 participants

Accommodation

A local project homestay at Chambok Village

Chambok Community was established as an eco-tourism site back in 2003 with the assistance of NGO Mlup Baitong, Kirirom National Park, and local authorities. The goal of the Chambok Community was to financially assist in the protection of the community forest and prevent illegal logging in the area. Now there are just under 1400 hectares of forest protected as part of a Community Protected Area on which Chambok Community is located. Moreover, more than 500 families are supported through tourism here.

The Chambok site is an initiative developed in 2001 by a local environment organization Mlup Baitong, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment. The aim was to address the issues of deforestation and community livelihoods for villagers in the area, who depend on the forests to produce charcoal to make a living. Through community education programs, they were shown the benefits of protecting the forests for future generations.

Since then, the Chambok ecotourism project has developed to provide an alternative income to the villagers. Managed by the villagers of Chambok commune, all revenues from tourism stay in the community and help them to protect the forest and manage it sustainably.

Trained local guides are available to share their knowledge of the nature, history, and cultural aspects of the area. The site also has a visitor center and a restaurant where the local youth stage dance performances and Khmer food are served.

Chambok Eco-tourism Resort, around 70 km from Phnom Penh in Kampong Spue province, is just a few kilometers away from Kirirom Hillside Resort. But while Kirirom is an upscale luxury retreat, Chambok is a successful and sustainable community project. Unlike many similar schemes, Chambok is run with definite and realistic aims in mind conservation that benefits local communities through tourism. Ecotourism is very important for community development, explained Chan Sokha, KCD’s director. Chambok is managed by the community but benefits from it. The project supports families and the community.

Situated next to Kirirom National Park, Chambok has a lot of attractions and activities to offer to both local and international tourists who are strongly interested in nature. It is well known for its three streams, including the biggest with over 40 meters of beautiful waterfall. Tourists can take guided tours to one of those streams and enjoy the views while hiking through the forest.

The English-speaking guides will tell a lot about both animals living in the forests and plants growing there. Besides these three waterfalls, there is a unique opportunity to visit a bat cave and its hundreds of inhabitants.

Next to the Chambok ecotourism site, the Kirirom National Park is situated with a basic guesthouse and restaurant inside. The Kirirom Hillside Resort is a hotel containing several bungalows, a restaurant, a theme park, and a swimming pool at the border of Kirirom National Park. The small town of Treng Trayeung with its market and restaurants is close to Chambok as well.

Program

Trip facts

Species: 50 to 80
Habitats covered: Lotus fields, woodland, cultivation, rice fields, lowland broad-leaved and tropical moist forest
Expected climate: Humid in the lowlands with occasional rain showers
Group size: 2 to 8 with 1 tour leader

Itinerary

Day 1: Phnom Penh Countryside Birds and transfer to Chambok Community-Based Ecotourism

Vana Adventure Travel will pick you up from your accommodation in Phnom Penh at 5:30 a.m. for the morning tour, or you could go to the meeting point at the Independent Monument of Phnom Penh on your own. Then, you get a ferry crossing the Mekong River and drive to the birding site.

Upon arrival at the natural lake where the local farmers they growing lotus, paddy rice, and other vegetables, you will start to watch any birds such as little egret, Chinese porn heron, tern, Indian Roller, Bee-Eater, White-breasted waterhen, Purple Swamphen, Pheasant-Tailed Jacana, Bronze-winged jacana, oriental cormorant, Bee-eater and a numerous of wetland birds. You also have a chance to see some little Cormorant and oriental darters.

You will have a packed breakfast and take an easy walk to the Cambodian Tailorbird habitat. The Cambodian tailorbird is a species of bird endemic to Cambodia, likely confined to a single dense shrub habitat in the floodplain of the Mekong River. Then you have a relaxing and refreshing time during the landing transfer to Chambok Community Based Ecotourism for sunset birds and overnight stay with a local life experience.

Species: 30 to 50
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Local project homestay

Day 2: Forest birds of Kirirom National Park and back to Phnom Penh

You begin the sunrise birdwatching and walk around at an easy pace to see numerous forest birds such as Greater Racket Tailed, Forest wagtail, White-rumped Shama, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Puff-throated Babbler, White-crested Laughingthrush, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Blue-eared Barbet, Black-naped Monarch, Asian Brown Flycatcher and some of the countryside birds before we enjoy a local breakfast were served by a women group of the community.

Then, you have an option for a 5 to 14 km hike to see the birds of Kirirom National Park, the waterfall, the bat cave, the primary forest, and the pine forest. Throughout this national park hike, you have a chance to see the Great hornbill, Chinese Francolin, Common Flameback, Black-naped Oriole, Heart-spotted woodpecker, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Mountain Imperial- pigeon, Verditer Flycatcher and numerous forest birds.

After relaxing and enjoying a coffee or tea on the top of Kirirom National Park, you drive back to Phnom Penh where we are supposed to arrive around 3 or 4 p.m. to sign off your wonderful 2 day birding trip in Cambodia with Vana Adventure Travel.

Species: 20 to 40
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Food

The holiday includes meals as outlined in the itinerary.

Vana Adventure Travel can accommodate some of the most common dietary restrictions including vegan and vegetarianism, peanut allergies, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, etc. Please let Vana Adventure Travel know if you have any allergies / dietary restrictions while making the reservation.

Is halal food available?

If you’re staying in urban centers and tourist-friendly towns like Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, and Sihanoukville, you won’t have trouble finding restaurants owned by Muslims. Your dining options are also varied. There are restaurants and stalls serving Khmer halal food.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Lactose Free
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

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