Destination: Koh Ker, Northern Cambodia
Focus: Birding in dry dipterocarp forest + exploring the ancient temple complex
Overview
Koh Ker, the former capital of the Khmer Empire (9th century), is surrounded by dry forest habitat that hosts some of Cambodia’s best bird species. This day trip is perfect for travelers wanting to combine temple exploration with wildlife observation in a peaceful, less-visited setting.
Cambodia birding tour highlights include: White-Rumped Pygmy Falcon, Rufous-winged Buzzard, Crested Serpent Eagle, Red-breasted and Blossom-headed Parakeet, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Brown Prinia, Rufescent Prinia, Small Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Ashy Drongo, Black-hooded Oriole, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Purple Sunbird, Asian Green Bee-eater, and Indochinese Roller.
Itinerary
5:00 AM – Pick-up from Siem Reap hotel by birding guide and divier
- Early departure to catch peak bird activity en route to Koh Ker (approx. 3 hrs drive). Stop at roadside and forest patches for species such as:
- Rufous-winged Buzzard, Indochinese roller, Burmese Shrike
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM – Morning Birdwatching in Koh Ker Forest
- Search for dry forest specialties like:
- White-browed Fantail
- Scarlet minivet
- White-rumped Falcon
- Black-headed Woodpecker
- Indochinese Cuckooshrike
9:30 AM – 11:00 PM – Temple Exploration
- Visit the Prasat Thom pyramid temple, Prasat Pram with strangler figs, and smaller satellite shrines.
- Learn about the history of Jayavarman IV’s short-lived capital.
- Picnic lunch or local restaurant near the temple complex.
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Afternoon Birding & Return to visit Beng Mealea Temple
- Continue birdwatching along forest edges and clearings for species like:
- Visit Main Temple (Koh Ker)
- Visit Beng Mealea Temple with bird watching
- Drive back to Siem Reap, arriving around 6:30 PM.
Best Season: December–April (dry season, best visibility)
Tour Includes: Bird guide, driver, transport, park entry fees, lunch, drinking water.
Tour Excludes: Personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, tips.
Included in the tour cost: All transport, road tolls, national park and all reserve entry fees, all meals from Lunch, and breakfast on the day of departure, bottled drinking water, boat trips, services of English-speaking birding guide and Temple Tours guide.
Not included in the tour cost: International flights, travel insurance, entry visa, alcoholic and soft drinks, tips, laundry, hotel mini bar, phone calls, and any other items of a personal nature.
Physical effort: This trip does not require any great physical effort in terms of long uphill hikes, but does require that participants are fit enough to walk, sometimes for 3-4 kilometres in hot conditions. The walking is mostly on a flat landscape, but some walking on even ground is needed to search for some key species. The physical effort required is well within the capabilities of most healthy people with the ability to deal with tropical climates.
Weather: Hot and dry weather is expected throughout this tour. There is always the possibility of a shower or two, given the world’s changing climate, but it is likely to be dry most, if not all, of the time. Midday temperatures are likely to be very hot, but most of the woodland sites we visit have low humidity. Wetland sites, however, can be fairly humid by their very nature. The tour has been paced so that we have plenty of time and are not forced to be birding throughout the heat of the day to see most of the birds.
Note: Other things to bring: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, and binoculars.
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