Guide recommendation for birding Doi Inthanon....and other reserves. (1 Viewer)

[Tony Knight]

Strong recommendation for Chintana of www.windowofthailand.com. I was lucky enough to be guided by Chintana for 3 days earlier this month in Doi Inthanon. Her husband, who usually does more of the cultural guiding, came along as driver and very useful additional spotter. Great spotter, guide, and great company. Contact details - [email protected].
Tony

 

[S_Man]

Can you give an idea how much it would cost per person or group?
There is nothing about prices on the website... I remember seeing many guides in Thailand while I was travelling alone, it was obvious they would be a great help to find and target more species, but I never asked them about their conditions.
I suppose she's 'Game' I remember her 10 years ago in Sri Pangna, very busy trying to find a Blue-banded Kingfisher with 2 European guys...

 

[Andy Adcock]

Can you give an idea how much it would cost per person or group?
There is nothing about prices on the website... I remember seeing many guides in Thailand while I was travelling alone, it was obvious they would be a great help to find and target more species, but I never asked them about their conditions.
I suppose she's 'Game' I remember her 10 years ago in Sri Pangna, very busy trying to find a Blue-banded Kingfisher with 2 European guys...

Twenty years ago, Yothin was charging $150 for half day at the Gurneys Pitta site, this was for a group of up to four IIRC. I don't think you'll get much change out of $200 per day these days, more if they provide a vehicle and a driver.

This is purely guesswork.

It's a real irritation with me that companies are not up front about their prices.

 

[S_Man]

Twenty years ago, Yothin was charging $150 for half day at the Gurneys Pitta site, this was for a group of up to four IIRC. I don't think you'll get much change out of $200 per day these days, more if they provide a vehicle and a driver.

This is purely guesswork.

It's a real irritation with me that companies are not up front about their prices.

Thanks, it's certainly worth it to see (more) birds in less time, if you can afford, of course.
Else one could try to talk with local guards/rangers, some had tips or offered services and information directly when I was there, but even when I found a bird specialist, some didn't really speak English so it's better to have a birdguide (book) at hand with pictures to communicate. And there is no guarantee, they already have their job...

 

[Andy Adcock]

Thanks, it's certainly worth it to see (more) birds in less time, if you can afford, of course.
Else one could try to talk with local guards/rangers, some had tips or offered services and information directly when I was there, but even when I found a bird specialist, some didn't really speak English so it's better to have a birdguide (book) at hand with pictures to communicate. And there is no guarantee, they already have their job...

When we did Doi Inthanon and Doi Chiang Dao over twenty years ago, I don't recall any guides being available?

 

[S_Man]

When we did Doi Inthanon and Doi Chiang Dao over twenty years ago, I don't recall any guides being available?

I was thinking maybe Nick Upton was already there, and checking thaibirding.com his website started in 2004! I don't know him, but I suppose he should have a good idea of the guides situation then! Almost 10 years later I organized my trip largely thanks to this freely available data.
Once there I came across Yoshin in Kao Nor Sushi, younger Shintana and Ike from Phuket Birdwatching, all busy touring clients... also more 'important' people, one Pitta specialist coming from Japan together with a Thai, both guiding an American birder, and more...
Looking at some webpages, it seems the situation is less intense recently, I expected tourism would be back to pre Cold 19 levels? I hope there are still some birds left...

 

[Andy Adcock]

I was thinking maybe Nick Upton was already there, and checking thaibirding.com his website started in 2004! I don't know him, but I suppose he should have a good idea of the guides situation then! Almost 10 years later I organized my trip largely thanks to this freely available data.
Once there I came across Yoshin in Kao Nor Sushi, younger Shintana and Ike from Phuket Birdwatching, all busy touring clients... also more 'important' people, one Pitta specialist coming from Japan together with a Thai, both guiding an American birder, and more...
Looking at some webpages, it seems the situation is less intense recently, I expected tourism would be back to pre Cold 19 levels? I hope there are still some birds left...

Yes, Nick has been around for a long time.

 

[S_Man]

Not that it matters, but now I think Shintana was with a birdforum member in the agricultural college in Chian Mai when I met her... the girl 'Games' in Sri Pang Gna was a different guide...

 

[tony.saw]

Yes, Games is a different guide and now runs Baan Maka nature lodge, Kaeng Krachan

 

[S_Man]

Yes but this is a man in Baan Maka isn't it, I was thinking about a female guide with that nickname, small stature, (maybe married to an European?), sadly I'm totally unable to remember names. She also looked very professional that's why I mentioned her.

 

[tony.saw]

Games now runs Baan Maka