Birding Tours in Asia

Summary of tours

Asia offers some of the most exciting birdwatching opportunities on Earth, with more than 3,800 recorded species, including many endemics, monotypic families, and globally threatened birds. Our expertly guided Asia birding tours cover South Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, showcasing everything from colorful forest pheasants and pittas to rare cranes, shorebird spectacles, and a multitude of iconic species. Each itinerary highlights regional specialties, diverse habitats, and seasonal migrations, while also providing chances to see iconic mammals like Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, and Giant Panda. Whether you’re a hard-core world lister, photographer, or casual birder, our Asia birding tours combine wildlife, scenery, and unforgettable travel experiences.


Introduction to Asia

Asia is the Earth’s largest and most populous continent and supports dense and large human settlements as well as vast and barely populated areas. Located primarily in the Eastern and Northern Hemispheres, Asia shares the continental landmass of Eurasia with the continent of Europe and the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with both Europe and Africa. Asia is subdivided into 49 countries and six regions: North Asia, Central Asia, Western Asia (Near East), South Asia (Indian Subcontinent), East Asia (Far East), and Southeast Asia.

In terms of biogeography, the Asian continent is made up of four biogeographic realms, the whole of the Indomalayan realm (also known as the Oriental Region), a large portion of the Palearctic realm (the entire Eastern Palearctic, and a thin sliver of the easternmost edge of the Western Palearctic), part of the northeast of the Afrotropical realm (the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula), and the northwest of the Australasian realm (eastern Indonesia).

Asia has extremely diverse climates and geographic features and ranges from Arctic (Siberia is one of the coldest places in the Northern Hemisphere) and Subarctic in the north to tropical in southern India and Southeast Asia, and is dry in the interior. The Himalayas between Nepal and China is the tallest mountain range in the world, the Yangtze River in China is the longest river in the continent, and the famous Gobi Desert is in Mongolia, Central Asia.

Following International Ornithological Congress (IOC) taxonomy, v10.2 (December 2020), the bird list of Asia stands at a staggering 3,832 species, 423 of these are globally threatened and several are monotypic families, like IbisbillCrab-ploverSpotted ElachuraGrey HypocoliusHylocitreaRail-babblerWallcreeper, and Przevalski’s Finch. We have an extensive range of exciting tours covering the breadth of the region, these are outlined below with links provided to more specific details like detailed tour itineraries, trip reports, client testimonials, and photo/video galleries. These tours make an ideal bird holiday:

Read More About Asia

South Asia (Indian Subcontinent) Birdwatching Tours

India Birdwatching Tours

India offers so much for the visiting birdwatcher and provides an excellent option for anyone interested in birds and wildlife, whether that be listing species, photographing them, or just enjoying them. Our Northern India tour provides an amazing Himalayan foothill birding experience, with opportunities for IbisbillWallcreeperIndian Skimmer, and Bengal Tiger at Corbett National Park. In Northwest India we have the chance to observe Asiatic Lion at the fantastic Gir National Park, plus top birds like Crab-ploverGrey Hypocolius, and Demoiselle Crane, while in Northeast India, in the amazing Eastern Himalayas at Eaglenest, spectacular birds like Temminck’s TragopanSpotted ElachuraBugun Liocichla can be found, while below on the plains of Kaziranga National Park we can find White-winged Duck and Greater One-horned (Indian) Rhinoceros. Birdwatching in Southern India results in loads of Nilgiri and Western Ghats endemics like Malabar TrogonBlack-and-orange Flycatcher, and Nilgiri Thrush and many more. We also have a specific tour extension looking for the Endangered (BirdLife InternationalForest Owlet, a great add-on to our other longer tours. For those looking for more endemics, our Andaman Islands tour is sure to suit with Andaman WoodpeckerAndaman Hawk-Owl, and Andaman Crake on the cards. Most of our Indian tours are during the early part of the year, though we do have one very good Monsoon Specialties tour looking for the Critically Endangered (BirdLife InternationalGreat Indian Bustard along with Lesser FloricanGreen Avadavat, and Indian Spotted Creeper. Incredible ancient cultures and amazing food to go with the great birds, wildlife, and scenery are on offer throughout India.


Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan Birdwatching Tours

Further Indian Subcontinent (South Asia) tours include an endemic-filled birding adventure in Sri Lanka where we find all the island’s endemics and specials like Serendib Scops OwlSri Lanka Blue MagpieSri Lanka FrogmouthMalabar Trogon, and Red-faced Malkoha, along with overwintering beauties like Pied ThrushKashmir Flycatcher, and Indian Pitta. Our Nepal tour offers an easy introduction to Himalayan birding with some of the most spectacular scenery, great mammals (Bengal Tiger is possible), and the endemic Spiny BabblerBhutan is great year-round, and we have spring and fall (autumn) tours. Key birds in Bhutan include Ward’s TrogonWhite-bellied Heron, and Black-necked Crane. As with all our Indian Subcontinent tours these amazing destinations offer so much more than just the birds. We also offer short extensions to our Bhutan tours in Northeast India, visiting Nameri and Kaziranga National Parks for more great birds and wildlife.

 

North and Central Asia Birdwatching Tours

Mongolia, China, Taiwan, and Japan Birdwatching Tours

Central Asia provides some of the most remote and thrilling birding opportunities in Asia and our Mongolia tour offers Henderson’s Ground JayWhite-naped CraneKozlov’s Accentor, and Altai Snowcock. Our East Asia tours include China (Yunnan, Sichuan, and Qinghai), Japan, and Taiwan. In Yunnan we look for White-eared Night HeronMrs. Hume’s Pheasant, and Giant Nuthatch as well as enjoying some amazing forest bird-feeding stations, while in Sichuan pheasants abound with Chinese Monal being one of the best, along with Giant LaughingthrushGrandala, and Przevalski’s Finch. On the Tibetan plateau of Qinghai Tibetan SnowcockIbisbill, and Crested Tit-warbler can be found. The small island of Taiwan supports 28 endemic birds (including Mikado PheasantSwinhoe’s Pheasant, and Taiwan Blue Magpie) and some top world birds like Fairy PittaChinese Crested Tern, and Black-faced SpoonbillJapan is a winter wonderland where endemic birds and cranes form a focal point, with Hooded CraneRed-crowned CraneWhite-naped Crane, and others all possible. The mighty Blakiston’s Fish Owl and Steller’s Sea Eagle are both highlight birds too.

 

Southeast Asia Birdwatching Tours

Thailand Birdwatching Tours

Southeast Asia is a biodiversity hotspot and is home to 20% of the world’s flora and fauna with over 2,500 bird species recorded from the subregion. Thailand has a national list of over 1,000 species, we have three tours to the country, these offer amazing birding, fantastic photographic opportunities, and great food. Central Thailand is a magnet to overwintering shorebirds with Spoon-billed SandpiperWhite-faced Plover, and Nordmann’s Greenshank being the most-wanted. Blue PittaCoral-billed Ground Cuckoo, and Great Hornbill are found in the forests here. Northern Thailand holds some excellent resident birds like Giant Nuthatch, Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, and Rusty-naped Pitta, with a plethora of northern migrants like Siberian RubythroatBaer’s Pochard, and Pied HarrierSouthern Thailand is full of hornbills, pittas, and trogons with Malayan Banded Pitta, Critically Endangered (BirdLife InternationalHelmeted HornbillGreen BroadbillCrested (Shrikejay) Jay, and Scarlet-rumped Trogon.

Asia Gallery

Testimonials from our Asia birding tours

The 2016 Northern India Birding Ecotours trip was everything I had hoped for and more. As a novice both when it came to Asian birds and Indian travel, the trip couldn’t have been better. Andy Walker, our guide, was brilliant at finding the expected birds and some amazing rarities and getting us good looks. I managed close to 400 lifers combined with Fatehpur Sikri, the Taj Mahal, some fascinating glimpses of rural India and a spectacular time in the Himalayan foothills. Our driver, van, train travel and hotels were all comfortable and worked like clockwork. Thanks for the trip of a lifetime.

Hume - On Andy and India - February 2016

Highlights of the Western Ghata and Nilgiri tour included seeing the regional endemic bird species such as Nilgiri Blue Robin, White-bellied Blue Robin, Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Sri Lanka Bay Owl, giant squirrels and Asian Elephants. The local cuisine was also a highlight! Dylan was friendly and professional with a good sense of humour. He knew when to be intense, when to lighten up on the birding and was always cordial. Dylan was never demeaning when answering questions. Our local guides were excellent, especially in Thattekad and Masinagudi.

Ira - On Dylan and India - February 2020

We spent three weeks with Andy in Thailand and enjoyed the trip thoroughly. Andy worked so hard to find the birds, and get us on them. He was very patient and took the time we needed. He knew all the best places to go, knew what birds would be expected, identified them in an instant and still managed to find some pretty good rarities along with the known birds, Himalayan Cutia anyone? And we spent literally hours getting great looks at Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Andy got us very close without disturbing the birds or any other birders. It was a highlight of the trip. We are hoping to see Andy in York later this year for a days birding on his home patch!

Bob and Terrie - On Andy and Thailand - January 2017

Join our newsletter for exclusive discounts and great birding information!

 

Thank you!