The real birds of Langkawi
These half-day trips include sightings of rainforest birds, hill top birds, mangrove forest birds, and rice paddy field birds.
Langkawi is home to approximately 200 species of birds, of which about one third are migrants who winter here between mid-December and mid-April. This tour is suitable for both serious birders and nature enthusiasts. The most suitable hours to observe birds in Langkawi are early mornings and early evenings when they are most active.
What do I get to do?
Birdwatching in Langkawi's great outdoors. A great environment to relax and feel close to nature.
Adventure rating and remarks
1 - Light walking required.
Cost
RM 170 per person for one session or RM 290 for both sessions
Itinerary for each session
Pick up from hotel and transfer to multiple locations for birdwatching. This will include rainforest, rice paddy fields, mangrove swamps, wetlands, hills and ponds. Return to hotel after session is over.
Session one
MORNING BIRDS - 7.30am – 11.00pm
This is the most active time for rainforest birds so an early start provides the best opportunities to see them. We visit open corridors in the rainforest and may see flower peckers, hill mynas, dollarbirds, green pigeons, drongos, tailor birds, babblers, bulbuls, sunbirds, eagles, woodpeckers, oriental-pied hornbills and others.
The next destination is a mangrove forest to search out brown-winged kingfishers, white-collared kingfisher, black-capped kingfisher, white-bellied sea eagle, bhraminy kite, common sandpiper, little heron and others.
Then we visit rice paddies in search of sandpipers, plovers, lapwings, pond herons, egrets, bitterns, white throated kingfishers, blue-throated bee-eaters, chestnut-headed bee-eaters, blue-tailed bee-eaters peaceful doves, spotted doves, plain-backed sparrow and others.
Session two
AFTERNOON BIRDS - 4.30am – 8.00pm
We begin at a village pond frequented by lesser whistling-ducks, little egrets, little herons, moorhens, little grebes, chinese pond herons, needle-tailed swifts, striated swallow and many others.
At Gunung Raya, Langkawi’s highest peak we may see great hornbills, wreathed hornbills, and other rainforest species -- amazing birds and the highlight of our trip. The great hornbill that measures 1.3meters (4 feet) from tip of beak to tip of tail is the largest Langkawi bird.
The final destination takes us to the west coast of Langkawi overlooking wetlands and a final chance to observe purple swamphens, watercocks, white-breasted waterhens, slaty-breasted rail, and ruddy-breasted crakes before the sun dips into the horizon.
NOTE: Naturalist can change the bird sighting place according to bird migration season and places in langkawi. These tours are small and highly personal with a maximum of 12 persons.
What does it include?
- Binoculars
- Return Transfer to the hotel
- Birder Buddy
- Drinking Water
- Experienced birdwatching guide
What does it exclude?
Items not mentioned above
What do I need to bring?
- Light cotton wear (avoid white and other bright colors)
- Shorts
- Sandals or Sport Shoes
- Hat
- Sunscreen lotion
- Insect repellant
Best time to visit
Langkawi can be visited all year round. The peak season for Langkawi is from November to February
Getting here
Langkawi is easily accessible by a one hour flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Malaysia Airlines (www.mas.com.my) and AirAsia (www.airasia.com) have daily flights to Langkawi.
Joining and finishing point
This tour begins and ends in Langkawi at the resort of your choice, should you wish to book that with us. You may wish to select a number of other adventure tours in Langkawi to combine with your holiday such as air-trekking, ATV riding and mangrove kayaking. Please indicate to us your interests.