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Itinerary – A Brown-crowned Scimitar-Babbler is perching on moss-covered branch in [14-Day] Birdwatching Tour – South & Central Highlands Vietnam.
Bird
Wildlife Watching journey

[14-Day] South & Central Highlands Birding Tour

A two-week birding journey from southern Vietnam’s lowland forest into the Central Highlands, linking Cat Tien, Da Lat, Yok Don, Mang Den and Ngoc Linh before a final morning at Son Tra. Built for birders wanting deeper habitat coverage and a strong focus on regional specialties.
Cat Tien National Park
Private
Moderate–challenging field pace
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Why This Route Works

Five very different birding landscapes in one journey

A changing journey from Cat Tien’s lowlands to the highlands of Da Lat, Mang Den and Ngoc Linh, with Yok Don and Son Tra adding two very different birding habitats.

Best for

Experienced birders with two weeks to explore southern and central Vietnam, especially those interested in regional and range-restricted species.

Keep in mind

Expect early starts, several long drives and simple stays in remote areas. Routes and targets may shift with weather, access and bird activity.

What We’ll Be Looking For

Birding highlights

Lowland pittas and pheasants, Da Lat Plateau specialties, Yok Don dry-forest birds, the distinctive laughingthrushes of the Kon Tum Plateau and high-elevation birding around Ngoc Linh make this one of Go-WILD’s most habitat-diverse regional routes.
Several specialist birds occur locally and can be difficult to find. The journey is designed around the right habitats and field windows.
Species_profile - Bar-bellied Pitta, a striking bird found in Vietnam's lowland seasonal tropical forests.
Strong Focus
Bar-bellied Pitta
Hydrornis elliotii
A key lowland forest target during the Cat Tien section.
chưa sửa
Strong focus
Collared Laughingthrush
Trochalopteron yersini
A distinctive highland specialty associated with the Da Lat Plateau.
White-rumped Falcon
Strong focus
White-rumped Falcon
Neohierax insignis
A specialised dry-forest target of the Yok Don section.
Intinerary - Schedule Tour - Wildlife tour from South - Central Highland of Vietnam.
Strong focus
Golden-winged Laughingthrush
Trochalopteron ngoclinhense
A difficult high-elevation target associated with the Ngoc Linh mountains.

Strong focus

Regional birds and habitats that actively influence where field time is invested across the journey.

Possible / seasonal / route-dependent

More difficult targets depend strongly on elevation, season, weather, access and current bird activi

Journey Itinerary

Fourteen days across South & Central Vietnam

The journey follows a continuous change in habitat and elevation, beginning in southern lowland forest and moving north through the highlands before finishing on the coast at Da Nang.
14 Days / 13 Nights
Ho Chi Minh City → Cat Tien → Di Linh → Da Lat → Yok Don → Mang Den → Ngoc Linh → Da Nang / Son Tra
Lowland evergreen forest Montane & pine forest Dry deciduous dipterocarp forest High-elevation evergreen & cloud forest Coastal hill forest field pace
Day 01-03
Ho Chi Minh City → Cat Tien — Southern Lowlands
Lowland forest · trails & hides · pittas · pheasants · dusk birding
Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Cat Tien and spend the first three days working the park’s lowland forest. Morning and afternoon sessions move between productive forest trails, hides, open edges and jeep-accessed areas, with field time focused on southern forest birds and current activity.
Overnight
Cat Tien National Park
Day 04-07
Di Linh → Da Lat — Into the Highlands
Nui San Pass · elevation change · Da Lat Plateau · montane specialties
Leave Cat Tien after a final morning session and climb toward Di Linh for the first taste of montane forest around Nui San Pass. Continue to Da Lat the following day, then spend two full days across selected plateau sites such as Ta Nung, Langbiang and Tuyen Lam, with the field focus shifting toward highland and range-restricted birds.
Overnight
Di Linh - Dalat
Day 08-09
Da Lat → Yok Don → Mang Den
Long transfer · dry dipterocarp forest · dry-forest specialties · northward transition
After a short final morning around Da Lat, travel to Yok Don for a late-afternoon introduction to its open dry deciduous forest. Bird again early the following morning before continuing north toward Mang Den. Although these are transfer-heavy days, Yok Don adds a habitat and bird community found nowhere else on this journey.
Overnight
Yok Don · Mang Den
Day 10-12
Mang Den → Ngoc Linh — Central Highland Forests
Montane forest · Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush · high ridges · cloud forest
Spend a full day in the montane forests around Mang Den before continuing toward Tu Mo Rong and the Ngoc Linh highlands. The following sessions move into higher-elevation evergreen and cloud forest, where cooler conditions and a more remote landscape introduce another distinct bird community.
Overnight
Mang Den · Tu Mo Rong
Day 13-14
Ngoc Linh → Da Nang & Son Tra
Final high-ridge session · long transfer · Son Tra finale · Da Nang departure
Begin with one final high-elevation session around Ngoc Linh before the long drive toward Da Nang. If timing allows, introduce Son Tra in the late afternoon, then return the following morning for a final birding session through the peninsula’s forest before the journey finishes at Da Nang Airport.
Finish
Da Nang
FIELD NOTE
The overall route remains stable, but individual trails, target areas and session timing may change with weather, access and recent bird activity.

practical

What to expect across two weeks

This is a long, field-focused birding journey rather than a difficult trekking expedition. Expect early starts, repeated forest sessions, several substantial road transfers and changing conditions from humid lowlands to cooler high-elevation forest.

walking

Moderate–challenging

starts

Early mornings

climate

Warm & humid

stay

Mixed accommodation

transfer

Multiple road transfers

style

Private
Included & Excluded
Included: private road transport throughout the journey, thirteen nights’ accommodation, meals listed in the confirmed itinerary, specialist bird guide, drinking water, entrance fees and planned local transfers required for field access. Not included: international or domestic flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, tips and activities not listed in the confirmed itinerary.
Binoculars, a spotting scope if desired, comfortable walking shoes or light hiking boots, lightweight long-sleeved field clothing, insect repellent, rain protection, a headlamp and warmer layers for Da Lat, Mang Den and Ngoc Linh.
This journey is arranged privately around suitable travel dates and current field access. Because several sections use remote accommodation and local field logistics, early planning is recommended so we can confirm the complete route before booking.
Final pricing depends on group size, travel dates, accommodation and current local transport and access arrangements. We provide a complete quotation once the full route has been checked.
Some longer transfer days are unavoidable, particularly between Da Lat, Yok Don, Mang Den and Da Nang. They are part of the route design because each region introduces a genuinely different habitat and bird community.

from the field

From lowland forest to the high ridges

Plan This Journey

Plan your South & Central Highlands birding journey

Tell us your travel dates, birding experience and priority species or families. We’ll review current access, seasonal conditions and realistic targets before shaping the detailed field plan.
14 days / 13 nights from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang
Five distinct birding landscapes
Southern and Central Highland specialties
Private route with flexible field decisions

Let’s plan your adventure!

Tell us a bit about your trip – we’ll send you a personalized itinerary soon! 

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