Avian Naturescapes

-Validity from immediate to 31st October 2011 only
-Prices are based on twin sharing of rooms
-Single supplement charges will apply if you wish for a single room.
-Prices are valid for a fixed validity period and subject to revision whenever possible to allow for savings from off-peak periods and new promotions by the hotel.
-Trip is subject to a minimum of only 1 confirmed place.

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Notes

This is only a sample itinerary, and the routes and timing may change according to local weather & environmental conditions, but the content of the trip will remain essentially the same as stated above.

The guiding for all my Guided Nature Photo Safaris are not outsourced. Be assured that I, myself will be personally leading each and every one of the tours offered on this website. For the 3 Photo Safaris to Southern Thailand, I will have a local Thai assistant guide to facilitate the language barrier but I will be primarily be leading the group.

This program is well structured for the bird photographer with ample time allocated to allow for getting a better photograph and there will be regular feeding stations where the photographer will be able to get near to the birds without much difficulty.

This is a Instructional Guided Photo Safari.

Have no concerns if you are a beginner bird photographer as there will be full on-hand instructions & tips on site on actual shooting techniques so that you can learn to take great pictures on the fly. I will be there to guide you on proper camera metering, WB and exposure settings, proper handling techniques for your setup and also advice on the compositional and creative aspects of bird photography. Tips on techniques & tools used in post capture image editing will also be available after hours.

The peak hours for bird activity at the venues in this itinerary is from 0700hrs to 1100hrs and again from 1530hrs to 1700hrs.

All trips are available all year round, but prices may be adjusted for peak periods (school & public holidays).

Advance booking is required for adequate forward planning. Kindly allow minimum two months prior to departure date.

Personal Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase relevant & adequate travel insurance to cover your entire stay in Malaysia that includes this trip. Be assured that there is no high risk activity offered in this itinerary that is not covered by a standard travel insurance policy.

We can purchase travel insurance for you if you are not covered at an additional charge of MYR 70.00 per person.

Payment & Deposit

- Payment of 50% is required upon confirmation of booking (confirmation is subject to availability of rooms)

- The balance of the payment must be made 14 days prior to the date of commencement of trip.

- We reserve the right to cancel the booking should the payment not received by the deadline given.

Payment can be made by fund transfer to any of the following bank accounts :

- Maybank (MBB) Account Number : 107152135075

- CIMB Bank Account Number : 07140006886059

(note - all under account holder name ”CHOO TSE CHIEN”)

For convenience, payments and booking deposits can also be accepted in your local home currency using Paypal. Please request for conversion to your local currency for this.

Contact

Please contact me at tsechien@me.com or by calling +60124748354 (if in Malaysia, just dial 0124748354) if you are interested in getting a place on this this trip.

Southern Thailand Explorer I , 4 Days / 3 Nights- ex Hat Yai, Thailand

(Full board (F/B), guiding fees, all transportation, accommodation inclusive all meals B/L/D)

Thale Ban National Park is located in the Ban Wang Prachan and Tambon Wang Prachan region about 40kms from the town of Satun. The park covers an area of 19,600 hectares, encompassing the Kupang Pulot and Hua Kraming National Forest Reserves and the Pa Khuan Bo Nam Puyu Forest Area in Amphoe Mueang Satun’s Tambon Ban Khuan and Tambon Puyu.

This area was declared a national park on 27th October 1980. The word “Thale Ban” refers to a subsiding sea or a sea which is a result of the subsidence of earth between Khao (Mount) Chin and Khao (Mount) Mot Daeng. In fact, Thale Ban is a large freshwater lake covering an area of about 10,120 hectares. Most of this area is a mixture of mountains and dense forest.

Wild animals found here include serows, elephants, tapirs, common wild pigs, monkeys, gibbons, and the Khiat Wak or Giant Asiatic toad and also known as the Malayan giant toad). The toad is considered as a symbol of Thale Ban. It looks like a combination of a frog and a toad. It has a tail and it's call sounds like a puppy.

The lakeside, particularly in the rainy season, teems with this unique animal life. For bird-watchers, this place offers an opportunity that is not be missed. There are various species of bird, such as whiskered treeswifts, stripe-throated bulbuls, chestnut-naped forktails and woodpeckers.

Attractions in the Thale Ban National Park

Bueang Thale Ban is a freshwater lake located in the middle of a valley flanked by the Chin and the Wang Pra mountain ranges. The lake covers an area of about 780 hectares. There is an abundance of freshwater fish and shellfish. Around the lake are Bakong plants (Hanguana malayana), which grow densely. There are lakeside pavilions for recreation, as well as a wooden path around the lake.

There are 2 beautiful waterfalls here - One is Namtok Ya Roi originates from a source in the Hua Kraming Forest. The waterfall has nine tiers and visitors can swim in a pool at each tier. The other is Namtok Ton Plio which originates from Mount Chin. This large and beautiful multi-tiered waterfall flows from a high cliff. Both are weekend favourite among locals.

Birds such as malkohas, woodpeckers, broadbills, sunbirds, flowerpeckers, babblers, kingfishers (even the sought after forest dwelling Rufous-collared kingfisher), barbets and plenty more are found here.

The mangrove area in Krabi town is a site for the rare Masked Finfoot (a vagrant winter visitor)and other interesting species as such ruddy Kingfisher and stork-billed Kingfisher.

Thale Noi

Thale Noi means "small sea" in Thai and it is in fact a large fresh water lake. The size of the lake is as large as Penang Island. Thale Noi is mostly freshwater (although it becomes slightly saline for a part of the year) to the north of Lake Songkhla in Phattalung province. Thale Noi is one of the largest freshwater lakes in southern Thailand and is classified as a 'Non-Hunting Area' and is protected by the Department of Forestry.

This area is covered with rich reed beds, lotus swamps and grass beds and there is an area of Melaleuca woodland. There are facilities for birdwatchers and boat trips for those that wish to find a large number of species including rarer species bird such as painted storks and black-headed ibises.

The low season is June-September which is the nesting period. Species that are prevalent here are those of the heron and stork family such as yellow bittern, great egret, painted stork, purple heron, ducks such as lesser whistling duck, cotton pygmy goose, and garganey; grebe; rails such as white-browed crake, white-breasted waterhen, watercock, common moorhen, and even the eurasian coot; jacanas such as pheasant-tailed jacana and bronze-winged jacana; cormorants such as great cormorant and little cormorant; black-winged stilt; Brahminy kite; red-wattled lapwing; whiskered tern; common kingfisher; and barn swallow.

The best time to study flora and fauna is during October - March when there is an abundance of birds and pink lotus in full bloom cover the reserve. Moreover, tourists can visit villages and see cottage industries like reed mat making. Thale Noi has been declared the first world wetland site in Thailand.

Itinerary :

DAY 1

(Only lunch & dinner is included)

Hat Yai to Thale Ban National Park

0700hrs pick up at the hotel in Hat Yai and then drive to Thale Ban National Park which is about 1.5 hours drive away. Check into bungalow inside the park area and to spend the remaining part of the day birding until last light.

Overnight accommodation is a bungalow inside the park area. Standard room, no air-conditioning, with attached shower & toilet

DAY 2

(Breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

Thale Ban National Park

Bird watching & photography inside park for entire day.

Overnight accommodation is a bungalow inside the park area. Standard room, no air-conditioning, with attached shower & toilet

DAY 3

(Breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

Thale Ban National Park to Tha Le Noi Lake

After breakfast, we will drive about 3 hours to Thale Noi. Check in at the resort upon arrival and then to spend the remaining part of the day bird watching & photographing around the head office park on foot.

Overnight accommodation at Thalenoi Resort

DAY 4

(Only breakfast & lunch is included)

Tha Le Noi Lake to Hat Yai

Early morning boat ride for bird watching & photography along the lake side. This boat ride will last approximately 5 hours and will cover about 35 kms of the shores of Tha Le Noi. We will have lunch upon return to shore and in the evening we will proceed to drive back to Hat Yai (journey of about 2 hours) to end of the trip.

(please advice if you require a post night's stay in Hat Yai so that we can try to arrange a booking for you OR your departure flight times so that we can time your arrival at Hat Yai airport departures appropriately)

Inclusions : the following are included :

- Pick up and drop off anywhere in Hat Yai or Hat Yai International Airport.

-3 nights accommodation as indicated in itinerary based on twin sharing.
-Park entrance fees & camera permits.

- All transportation costs by private 4WD including fuel and toll.

- Includes all meals (B/L/D) daily as indicated (L/D only on 1st day and B/L only on last day).

-Personal bird photography guide for entire duration of tour (4 days).

Exclusions : the following are not included :

- Transport to Hat Yai (and Thai Entry Visa if required).

- Personal travel insurance.

- Any orders on alcohol.

- Additional meals and snacks.

- Additional activities not specifically listed in above itinerary.

- Other incidentals - telephone calls, laundry, paid wifi internet access, room minibar charges.

Prices :