Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai Thailand map

Sites of interest

Doi Inthanon - big elevational range with variety of habitats, including summit boardwalk
Doi Ang Khang
Doi Lang
Doi Pha Hom Pok summit
Tha Torn - fields and paddies
Doi Chiang Dao
Other branches under consideration
- Mae Ping NP - dry forest, but adds a lot of driving (see Robby's maxim)
- Chiang Saen (Chiang Rai) - more waterbirds, but adds a lot of driving

Thai language difficult to learn, and reading signs/information will be near-impossible
Driving on left side of the road
Some steep roads cause issues for cars without low gears
Many sites can become extremely crowded on weekends, need to plan around this
Free-roaming dogs are apparently everywhere, causing a nuisance on roads
Avoid rainy season: May-Oct?
- From ThaiBirding's FAQ -
  
  The cooler season is usually December to mid February and this is the best time to visit northern Thailand which will have a good number of winter visitors through these months. However, if you are interested in Thailand's breeding forest species such as broadbills, pittas, forest kingfishers, trogons and suchlike then mid-February to June is a good time with the later end of that period being perhaps the best for the hardest to find species. Between August and October things are usually very wet and birding is very difficult, particularly in the forest.
How many of the birds are seen at hides? How good is the birding on trails?

Total: 7-10+ nights