Phnom Penh Birding Experience And Brunch

Superb local knowledge from passionate and articulate guides. Nothing too much trouble, and their local knowledge and adaptability made the tour perfect for sighting key local species, including the Cambodian Tailorbird. Mon and Thong are on-the-ground and keep recent sightings and bird activity in mind, and have an array of birding areas to select depending on conditions, season, guest needs and how the tour unfolds. As a nature conservationist myself I couldn't have asked for more insight and engagement from knowledgeable and passionate Cambodian naturalists in our guide Mon and company leader Thong.

Sok is a great, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide and this tour checks all the boxes if you want to go on a nearby birding tour with species variety. We heard and saw a total of 33 (Cambodian tailorbird, coppersmith barbet, hoopoe, variety of flycatchers etc.) had a lunch break in between and tuktuk as our mean of transportation. Can highly recommend this tour!

Wonderful experience birding with bong Vanna. We took a ferry across the river in the car to farmland and fields of lotus. He had everything for you, very prepared: water, sunblock, hat, binoculars and bug spray. We saw lots of smaller birds and he must have binoc eyes or something because he wasn’t using them and spotted the birds off the distance on a random tree branch. Lunch was provided at a cute resort, food was delicious. He also has camping options not advertised, but can be contacted via WhatsApp. Easy to talk to, quick to respond. My group had an amazing time. He quietly took candid pictures for us and sent them over. Appreciate his preparedness, communication, knowledge and friendliness.

My parents and I enjoyed a half day tour with Mon and Thong and I am happy to say that they were fantastic!! Both Mon and Thong are experienced guides and with their help I was able to see over 30 species (including 10 new ones for me) across the lotus fields and forest habitats, with particular highlights including black-winged kite and the Cambodian tailorbird. My parents and I especially appreciated having breakfast under a canopy in the lotus fields, which allowed us to not only look for birds but also appreciate the beautiful natural scenery. I would happily recommend these two guides to anyone looking for a trip out of the city to see the countryside and birds during their visit to Phnom Penh.

This experience was truly fantastic, and I already want to return so I can do it again! Communication to organise pickup was very helpful, and we were greeted by two super friendly and helpful guides. Massive credit to Thom and Sam - these guys made the day so much fun and we shared a lot of laughs. The birdwatching itself was incredible, I think we saw at least 40-50 different species. Most were at the wetland site and some in the forest. Our guides were super knowledgeable and great communicators, giving us a lot of insight on the birds, habitat, farming practices and local communities. Breakfast of local food and coffee was included and was soooo delicious, and the car we drove between sites in was really comfortable too. We felt really lucky to be able to experience this tour, can't recommend highly enough.

The morning started with an early morning pickup from the hotel. First stop, a latte and bird watching from the cafe deck. The guide Thong is fun and very knowledgeable. We had multiple stops with walks beside Lotus fields and forests, spotting over 30 species of birds. The brunch that ended the trip was great. A very good experience!

Really nice tour. Starts early, gets you out of the city, so it's a bit cooler. Definitely off the beaten path! I really enjoyed it. The guides really know their birds.

Our birding tour with Thong was just perfect. We saw over 30 different species over 3 idyllic locations and the brunch was divine. It was great to get out into the countryside and experience a different side of Cambodia so close to Phnom Penh. Highlight of our tour and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it

This trip was seamless from start to finish. Hotel pick up, ferry, brunch and binoculars included with a very knowledgeable brd guide. We saw over 40 bird species! Getting out of Phonm Penh and having a relaxing morning observing birdlife was refreshing and unexpected so close to the city. I highly recommend!

Our birding tour started early in the morning at 5:30 a.m. with our guide Thong. We crossed the Mekong River by ferry and watched the sunrise over the water. It’s worth turning around too – the view back at Phnom Penh’s skyline in the soft morning light is beautiful. We joined the tour at the end of the rainy season (mid-October). The weather was already great, and there was no need for rain gear. Our first stop was along one of the Mekong’s flooded branches, where we saw many water birds such as kingfishers, herons and also bee-eaters. A special highlight was the Cambodian Tailorbird, which we could observe very well. Thong is an excellent guide with deep knowledge of local birdlife. He easily identifies birds by sound and movement and has a real passion for sharing what he knows. Thanks to him, we learned a lot about the habitats and behavior of different species, and we spotted far more birds than we would have on our own. After the early start, we enjoyed a hearty local breakfast. Later, we visited a temple area surrounded by forest, partly flooded during the wet season. The reflections and colors there were stunning, and we continued birding while exploring the site. (but don’t forget to apply insects repellent!) All in all, it was a wonderful and well-organized birding experience. We highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in nature and birds. (Even those who are not dedicated birders will enjoy the scenery and the peaceful atmosphere. It’s a great experience to share with your partner or friends.)

TLDR: This trip was a highlight of my visit to Cambodia, easily 10/10. If you are into birds and don't have lots of time for a longer bird tour but wish to familiarise yourself with a lot of what you might encounter in open habitats in Cambodia, this is absolutely a terrific tour! Be prepared for lots of mud (bring shoes which won't slip off), sunlight (sunscreen/sleeves and a lot of water), and mosquitos (insect repellant)! The tour included good options for water, hot drinks, and even insect repellant, but with these sorts of things if you have a system which you're used to (i.e., insect repellant you're not allergic to, etc), you're best off bringing your own just to be sure. I had no problems at all, but I'm sure many interested tourists might have their own particular considerations. --- Thong picked me up at 0530 (a bit before that, so if you're ready about ten minutes early then you can jumpstart the day! I wasn't ready yet, and Thong waited paitently for me), and en route to the ferry to cross the river we picked up the dedicated guide, Mon (the Magnificent!). I was the only guest that morning, so while I paid a bit more than if others had also booked, I also got to ask as many questions as I wanted about what we passed, what we saw, and even who we heard. We went first to a site about 30-45 minutes outside of the city, and when it got too muddy to continue Mon and I got out and walked. This first site was along exposed terrain between lotus fields--absolutely beautiful scenery, and lots of wetland/field birds. There were many bitterns, lots of Cambodian Tailorbirds (as well as Common), and rollers, bee eaters, drongos, coucals, prinias, etc. We were fortunate enough to get both White-breasted Waterhen and Black-winged kites, both toward the end of this site (so I hadn't been sure we'd get to see them). Likewise, we saw some Oriental Pratincoles only at the very end of this site walk, so I had been already anticipating that I'd need to look elsewhere for them. Mon helped me match so many bird songs and calls to the respective species, which was SO helpful for the rest of my trip in Cambodia! We slogged out through the mud back to the vehicle and got several more sightings along the way--a really excellent location! The next site was a small woodland around a Wat, and while it was apparently less populated than usual, Mon helped me locate and ID my first Collared Kingfishers, Blue-winged Pitta, Malkoha, Babblers, and Shama. We finished by going to a gorgeous restaurant next to a pond (more wetland habitat for birdwatching!) and eating a selection of delicious Khmer food (Beef loklak and Samlong koko). This was an absolutely terrific tour early in my time in Cambodia, and helped me to understand the birds around me and the challenges they face (habitat loss, etc) as well as a great opportunity to learn more about Khmer culture, food, and lifestyle. 10/10, I hope you enjoy this tour as much as I did!

I thoroughly enjoyed birding with Thong. Very knowledgeable, lovely area to bird in, great birds seen. I would highly recommend any tours with him. Rosalie.

I recently joined a birding tour with Vana Adventure Travel in Phnom Penh and it turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my travels. Although I was initially excited to meet Mr. Thong, the founder, due to his incredible reputation and expertise in birding, he was unfortunately called away for a government engagement. However, I was lucky to be guided by Mr. Sokmon – and what a fantastic guide he was! He was right on time, picking me up at 5 AM sharp from my hotel, and ensured I had my morning coffee before we started the tour – a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the day. Sokmon’s passion for birds is infectious, and his knowledge is truly impressive. He was able to identify birds by sound alone and gave detailed explanations about each species we encountered. It was obvious he had done his homework and was deeply committed to providing a rich, educational experience. The tour was not only informative but also very comfortable. By around 9:30 AM, they had fresh fruits prepared – a refreshing treat in the Cambodian heat. After an exciting morning of bird watching and photography, we headed for a delicious Cambodian lunch with a scenic view – the perfect way to wind down. The experience didn’t end there. Mr. Thong, although not physically present for the tour, continued to stay in touch throughout my trip, sharing tips and locations around Phnom Penh for spotting rare birds. Thanks to his guidance, I even managed to meet him on my last day at Wat Phnom – and that’s where I captured stunning photos of the Narcissus Flycatcher and Ferruginous Flycatcher. What a way to end the trip! Vana Adventure Travel is more than just a tour company – they are passionate birders and amazing hosts. Whether you're a beginner or an avid birder, I highly recommend them for a truly enriching experience.

We would 100% recommend this company! Thong was an expert guide, we saw some amazing rare and scarce species, as well as iconic Cambodian species like the Cambodian Tailor Bird, Cinnamon Bittern, and Black Bittern. Definitely the best birding guide in Phnom Penh!

Thong is a wonderful guide and human. He collected me early morning from the hotel and we went to three different locations and got over 50 species. Snacks and brunch and great conversation as well as dozens of lifer species. Thong is extremely knowledgeable and easy to be around. I highly recommend!

Two of us did the birdwatching tour with Thong in Phnom Penh and had a lovely experience which I would recommend to anyone - keen birder or interested newbie. The pickup and vehicle were great and we had some wonderful birding time at two different sites - both beautiful in their own right. Thong really knows his birds, is sharp eyed and is also excellent at explaining where the birds are - at one point we had 2 different kingfishers, a beeeater and a cuckoo in our binoculars. This is a well designed tour, with snacks and coffee to watch the sun come up, a good breakfast later and then onto some shadier spots. It was also very interesting to go on the ferry and learn more about Cambodia. We had our own binoculars so didn’t need the ones provided but they were of good quality.

We had an amazing day!. Although we opted for the afternoon tour instead of the morning we still saw 35 species of bird including Coppersmith Barbet, Black Naped Monarch, White Throated Rock Thrush, Yellow Bittern and the Cambodian Tailorbird. We crossed the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers by ferry and proceeded to a forested area where we spent the first couple of hours. We then stopped off to the habitat of the Cambodian Tailorbird before finishing in a wetland area where we watched the sunset over the city! Our guide Thong was so knowledgable and interesting. He took his camera and the birds are his photos that I have posted. he finally took us for a bite to eat back in Phnom Penh. I can't recommend this tour enough if you like bird watching!

We had a wonderful morning with Thong. He picked us up 5.30am from hotel and we had an interesting trip on the ferry to other side of river to Phnom Penh city. He took us to a wetland area, teeming with life, where we had great sightings of an amazing array of birds, all new to us. He looked after us so considerately, bringing us mango fruit and cold water. He took us to great place for breakfast, overlooking a lake with swallows and a bee eater perched on reeds clearly visible with the naked eye. We then went to a forested area around a temple, where the bird watching was superb. Thong was very skilled at finding the birds and helping us find them. We had great sighting of Cambodian Tailor Birds, plus 44 other birds! My favourites were the White Rumped Shama and the Shikra. We were delighted to have seen so many beautiful birds! It was an absolute pleasure to meet Thong and his trip is brilliant. Binoculars were available from Thong too. he also provided us with the bird list of our sightings. Fantastic to get the chance to see great wetland and forest areas so close to the city. Hugely enjoyable. Thank you Thong!

We had a wonderful morning with Thong. He picked us up 5.30am from hotel and we had an interesting trip on the ferry to other side of river to Phnom Penh city. He took us to a wetland area, teeming with life, where we had great sightings of an amazing array of birds, all new to us. He looked after us so considerately, bringing us mango fruit and cold water. He took us to great place for breakfast, overlooking a lake with swallows and a bee eater perched on reeds clearly visible with the naked eye. We then went to a forested area around a temple, where the bird watching was superb. Thong was very skilled at finding the birds and helping us find them. We had great sighting of Cambodian Tailor Birds, plus 44 other birds! My favourites were the White Rumped Shama and the Shikra. We were delighted to have seen so many beautiful birds! It was an absolute pleasure to meet Thong and his trip is brilliant. Binoculars were available from Thong too. he also provided us with the bird list of our sightings. Fantastic to get the chance to see great wetland and forest areas so close to the city. Hugely enjoyable. Thank you Thong!

Our birding tour with Thong of Vana Adventure Travel was fabulous. Thong was prompt in picking us up and took us out into the countryside to look for birds as well as to learn some of the local culture. We thoroughly recommend this tour. If we were staying longer we would definitely take more trips with him.

I was picked up at my hotel in Phnom Penh and driven by Thong Chea to several diverse areas for bird watching. He took great care to make sure we found a variety of water, forest and open farmland birds. We saw nearly 40 different species but the highlight was the endemic Cambodian Tailorbird. I would highly recommend this trip to other keen birdwatchers.

Excellent and professional. Thong is very knowledgeable and attentive guide. Highly recommended to anyone who want to enjoy birding experience in Cambodia Thank you Thong for showing me a wonderful experience.

I had Excellent experience with Thong the owner. Took ferry and went to 3 sites seeing many new lifers for me including endemic Cambodian tailorbird and migratory Oriental pratincole with lots of young chicks we were able to get close to. He knows all the good spots-speaks good English, had yummy food too. I wish I had more time as he is available for multiple day trips as well. He truly enjoys his job making the whole experience that much more enjoyable!

Well worth getting up so early for! Our guide Thong and driver were on time, exceptionally knowledgeable about the local birds and viewing spots and a lot of fun! We drove out to the rice fields, saw the sun rise and immediately started spotting birds! Overall, we were able to add about 40 species of birds. Our guides were so attentive to our questions. We felt the "bird nerd" love! We went to multiple sites to take advantage of potential special bird species sightings. We were treated to a basket of fruit full of local foods. We topped off our outing with brunch at a fantastic Cafe. The local food was delicious. We also enjoyed bird watching right there on the Cafe site! This excursion is a must for visiting "bird nerds"! Thank you for a very memorable time.

I had an amazing day with Thong, who is a fantastic bird guide. I had no idea so much birdlife existed just 45 minutes from Phnom Penh. We saw many unique species including the Cambodia tailor bird and spending the day with Thong was an absolute pleasure. He is smart and personable. I 100% recommend this tour.

Had a splendid time - outside of the concrete jungle areas of Phnom Penh - watched the sunrise colors, gazed at birds, and walked through the fields - a magical moment. Learned a lot about birds and about life in Cambodia in general. Thong is a splendid guide - extremely energetic and enthusiastic, knowledgeable about birds and wild life, and passionate about nature and environmental conservation.

I’ve been to Cambodia 4 times and was looking for a unique experience. This was a perfect event! We traveled across the river to Kandal, arriving in time for a beautiful sunrise. We visited 3 different areas and saw 45+ bird species. Thong is an expert guide- super informative and knowledgeable, and able to spot birds quickly. Binoculars and scope provided. If you’re at all interested in birds, and are looking for a local experience- this is a fantastic tour. Note: There is a minimum 2 ticket sign up. I would encourage you to reach out to Thong to see if any other solo travelers are interested so you don’t necessarily pay for both tickets if you are a solo traveler like me. Private tour was pretty awesome, though.

This was a wonderful experience. Thong Chea runs an excellent tour. The first morning was birding in the countryside around Phnom Penh. I didn’t see any other tourists. Many birds were documented and we had brunch in a village restaurant. We then drove to Chambok ecotourism community and the Kirirom National Park in the Cardamom Mountains. We walked in the magnificent forest and saw many bird species. The next day we had another walk to the beautiful waterfall. Lunch was perfect with the local villagers. We then drove to the native pine forest. The whole weekend was a wonderful experience . Thong Chea was excellent and extremely knowledgeable. Narith Sour, working with Thong, was excellent too. I would definitely go on this tour again. I was very much looked after and enjoyed every moment.

My sister and i booked this tour, and we couldn't ask for a better first time birding experience in Cambodia. Overall out local bird expert guide, Thong, has a wealth of local bird knowledge, and an easygoing and friendly attitude to make us immediately at ease. We got picked up right on time at our hotel, and took the refreshing ferry ride to the Kandal province to start the trip. We saw so many different local birds with the help of Thong, his ability to identify birds through sights and sounds are top notch! In one particular instance, he spotted with his naked eyes an Indian roller perched perfectly still within a thick shady canopy, from over 100 yards away, and we still wondered where he got his bionic eyes from! You just have to be there to see what an impressive great this was! We had two rest stops, first one for coffee, water and fresh fruits, and the second for an excellent lunch (included with the price). Our tour was just my sister and i, so we rode in a tuk-tuk, it was a little bumpy at time, but our driver Mr Yat was very good at making sure we were comfortable, and we enjoyed the experience overall. Really fellow birders if you are ever in Phnom Penh and want to spend a birding tour with an kind, friendly, and knowledgeable local guide, contact Vana Adventure Travel and ask for Mr Thong Chea. And go and do some birding!

BIRD WATCHING. The drop down bar did not have the EXCELLENT tailor made trip i did. My trip was two days of bird-watching in various habitats. Day 1 was Phnom Pehn countryside ( various habitats ). we then drove to the Chambok Ecotourism community, where we had time to bird in the local forest. The overnight stay in a homestay was basic but very much enjoyed, and included the best home cooking i could have hoped for. Day 2, woke up early, to benefit from the bird-watching in Kirirom National Park. After breakfast, we drove to a higher altitude, to bird-watch in pine forests, yet another new habitat. Thong, is a professional, attentive and experienced guide. I saw birds which were truly beautiful and thrilling to see. He knows the calls, so, after hearing then first, he was able to locate many new species for me to enjoy. His knowledge of bird behavior and their habitats was assuring of successful location of some shy or elusive species. without Thong, i would not have seen many of them. The Pitta was my favourite, and what AMAZING views. I look forward to going back for a longer tour.

What a morning!! My partner and I went on this trip when we were travelling around Cambodia. Thong was a fantastic guide, so friendly and knowledgable. The tour exceeded our expectations. We were taken to spots in Phnom Penh that only a local would know to bird watch and had a brilliant brunch at a fantastic local restaurant. We saw many, many birds including the endemic Cambodian Tailorbird. I hadn’t packed my bins for my travels but it didn’t matter as Thong had all the equipment with him for us to use including bins for both of us, a scope, birding books and a checklist to mark off each bird we saw. Thong is also a fantastic photographer who managed to get shots of the birds we saw and sent them over to me afterwards. There was plenty of little things that made the trip nice like plenty of cold water available, a fresh fruit stop and a brilliant tuk tuk driver who took us everywhere. It really was a fantastic morning - I can’t recommend this tour enough!

It was an extraordinary chance to be able to observe the birds of Cambodia with such enthusiastic and competent guides as Thong Chea and his sidekick, Morn! Just after leaving Phnom Penh centre at 2:30 p.m. and crossing the Mekong River by ferry, the first observation site in the vast forest site of a pagoda. Beautiful and serene atmosphere to listen and discover the national star, the hectic Cambodian tailorbird (identified in 2009), and the delicious ornate sunbird. Thanks to our guides we were able to see and hear many birds! In the fading light, our guides then led us to the second observation site, in vast and superb lotus fields (start of the current harvest). Thong Chea and Morn have spared no effort to enable us to see, hunt down and identify more and more birds, passerines and waders, whether sedentary or migratory: herons, bitterns, great caucal, black-winged stilts, cuckoos, flycatchers, beeaters, bulbuls, shamas, Malaysians, fantails, oriental magpies, etc. The sudden flight of a bittern cinnamon, the theft of a hundred ibis or the successive flights of dozens of birds gathering before returning to their respective dormitories were particularly striking for us. The organization of this walk was perfect, from the bottles of water provided as the walk progressed (in March it is already very hot in Cambodia), to the tasting of fresh fruit facing the sunset over the marshes and lotus fields, to the final dinner always near the birds, in a local restaurant, to exchange on everything we had just observed. Finally, crossing the Mekong at nightfall and returning to the hotel at 8:30 p.m. We can only highly recommend this ornithological outing for both beginner and experienced bird watchers, as the guides are passionate and exciting.