Keang Krachan NP or Khao Yai NP in early Dec (1 Viewer)

[dwatsonbirder]

Bit of an update on the situation here, looks promising. Some positive news being reported elsewhere, with reduced tourism pressure allowing species to recover in some parks, sadly the reopening will fall in line with the breeding season - what chance of either Coral billed ground cuckoo back at Khao Yai, or even Gurney's pitta at Khao Nor Chu Chi (the former considerable more likely than the latter)?
Still no further development with regards to long-haul travel for UK citizens, probably for the best for a whole host of reasons at present!

 

[Tony Knight]

Bit of an update on the situation here, looks promising. Some positive news being reported elsewhere, with reduced tourism pressure allowing species to recover in some parks, sadly the reopening will fall in line with the breeding season - what chance of either Coral billed ground cuckoo back at Khao Yai, or even Gurney's pitta at Khao Nor Chu Chi (the former considerable more likely than the latter)?
Still no further development with regards to long-haul travel for UK citizens, probably for the best for a whole host of reasons at present!

Well I've booked up the first 2 weeks of Dec and am crossing my fingers that 1/ It will be ok to fly there AND BACK, 2/restaurants and tourist sites will be open in Bangkok 3/N Parks will be open and guides available ! If it doesn't look great a few weeks before we can defer to next year.

Tony

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Well I've booked up the first 2 weeks of Dec and am crossing my fingers that 1/ It will be ok to fly there AND BACK, 2/restaurants and tourist sites will be open in Bangkok 3/N Parks will be open and guides available ! If it doesn't look great a few weeks before we can defer to next year.

Tony

Good luck Tony, I'll be interested to hear how you get on. We've decided that it is just not worth the risk this year (both in terms of potential transmission and impact to our finances if flights cancel/unable to access NP's), and have delayed our plans until next year.

 

[Tony Knight]

Good luck Tony, I'll be interested to hear how you get on. We've decided that it is just not worth the risk this year (both in terms of potential transmission and impact to our finances if flights cancel/unable to access NP's), and have delayed our plans until next year.

We both had the confirmed virus quite badly for about 3 weeks March/April so are less concerned about catching it now. My wife has confirmed antibodies, I've not been tested but should have. We have a promise we can put back a year if we want as the deadline approaches so we will see the situation then.

 

[Tony Knight]

Good luck Tony, I'll be interested to hear how you get on. We've decided that it is just not worth the risk this year (both in terms of potential transmission and impact to our finances if flights cancel/unable to access NP's), and have delayed our plans until next year.

Hi Daniel. As an update, we postponed til Dec 2021 too but at least managed to get away for a week in Dubai in early Dec for some desert/Wadi birding and city tours/walks etc. https://www.flickr.com/photos/54189378@N02/albums
Tony

 

[YuShan]

Of these two parks I have only visited Khao Yai. I visited Thailand 31 Jan – 3 March 2019, solo, backpacking style on a seriously low budget (no guides, no private transport, walking, hitching and often camping).

Khao Yai was wonderful. It's very crowded, but the jungle trails were usually quiet. Apart from birds I have seen many other animals too. Bears were foraging within 100 metres from my tent and an elephant was pulling down trees close to my tent in the middle of the night (I moved my tent).

I explored Khao Yai on my own on foot, but sometimes I hitched to save time (which was very easy, Thai Tourists always stop for you).

I also have a report of this (with many birds but aimed at non-birders):

Thailand – Hiking Birdman

www.hikingbirdman.com

 

[Tony Knight]

Of these two parks I have only visited Khao Yai. I visited Thailand 31 Jan – 3 March 2019, solo, backpacking style on a seriously low budget (no guides, no private transport, walking, hitching and often camping).

Khao Yai was wonderful. It's very crowded, but the jungle trails were usually quiet. Apart from birds I have seen many other animals too. Bears were foraging within 100 metres from my tent and an elephant was pulling down trees close to my tent in the middle of the night (I moved my tent).

I explored Khao Yai on my own on foot, but sometimes I hitched to save time (which was very easy, Thai Tourists always stop for you).

I also have a report of this (with many birds but aimed at non-birders):

Thailand – Hiking Birdman

www.hikingbirdman.com

Thanks YuShan. Great report and amazing photos. My itinerary will be similar to yours as I start in Bangkok and travel to Chiang Mai and Do Inthanon, then briefly down to the Phuket area. I will have to try to get to Sri Phang Nga NP while there. We are staying at Khao Lak so it looks about an hours drive. Also a trip to those fishponds whilst in Bangkok looks a good plan !