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Best birdwatching destinations in Asia

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Raja Ampat
Vibrant coral reefs and lush tropical islands
8.9
Most people know this archipelago for its coral reefs, but its forests are just as special for birds. Wilson's bird of paradise lives on Waigeo and nearby islands, with a red back and curly tail feathers. Guides lead small groups to forest hides before sunrise. Travel between the islands is by boat.
Highlights:
  • 🌋 Explore Tofua volcano crater for panoramic sea views
  • 🚤 Kayak through crystal lagoons surrounding the hidden islands
  • 🐠 Snorkel at Manta Point, witness majestic manta rays
Sulawesi
Vibrant cultures and pristine mountain landscapes
7.8
Forest trails are easier to walk in the dry months, from about June to October. The island has dozens of birds found nowhere else. Tangkoko Nature Reserve in the north is a good place to look for hornbills. The maleo, a bird that buries its eggs in warm sand, also nests there.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Explore Toraja's ancient stone tombs and rituals
  • 🏔️ Climb Mount Rantepao for sunrise views
  • 🐠 Snorkel among coral reefs in Bunaken Marine Park
Tanjung Puting National Park
Orangutan paradise in Borneo jungle
7.3
Visitors travel by klotok, a slow wooden riverboat with a sleeping deck, along the Sekonyer River. Storm's storks, hornbills and kingfishers are often seen from the water. The boat stops at feeding stations where orangutans come to eat. Evenings on the deck are full of bird calls from the forest.
Highlights:
  • 🌳 Explore the lush rainforest on guided jungle treks
  • 🛶 Take a traditional klotok boat tour along Sekonyer River
  • 🦧 Observe wild orangutans at Camp Leakey feeding stations
Rajasthan
Desert palaces and vibrant cultural tapestry
8.4
This dry state in northwestern India also has green wetlands that fill with birds. Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 350 bird species. Painted storks nest in the trees and ducks cover the pools in winter. Hire a bicycle to ride the flat paths.
Highlights:
  • 🐪 Ride camels at Pushkar's vibrant morning market
  • 🕌 Stroll through Jodhpur's blue streets, visit Mehrangarh
  • 🏰 Explore Amber Fort's majestic palaces and gardens
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
9.3
Wild and quiet, this northern Japanese island has wide wetlands and snowy forests. Red crowned cranes gather near Tsurui in winter and perform their dances in the snow. Whooper swans rest on Lake Kussharo, where hot springs keep parts of the shore from freezing. Bring warm clothes and a long lens.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Explore historic Otaru Canal and its shops
  • 🏂 Ski or snowboard in world-famous Niseko resorts
  • 💧 Visit the spectacular Shirogane Blue Pond
Chitwan National Park
Wild Rhinos and Jungle Adventures
7.5
The park was created in 1973 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. More than 500 bird species have been recorded in its forests and grasslands. Canoe rides on the Rapti River pass kingfishers, storks and peafowl. Guides lead walks through the grassland to look for Bengal floricans.
Highlights:
  • 🐘 Watch elephants bathe and play in the river
  • 🚣‍♂️ Ride a canoe along the Rapti River at dawn
  • 🦏 Take a jungle safari to spot rare one-horned rhinos
Kaziranga National Park
Land of Rhinos and Wild Grasslands
7.5
The park is open from November to April, when roads are dry and many winter birds visit the wetlands. More than 450 bird species have been recorded here. Jeep safaris pass greater adjutant storks and Bengal floricans. Rhinos and elephants graze beside the pools, so the birding trips are full of other wildlife.
Highlights:
  • 🚙 Join a jeep safari to explore the diverse wildlife
  • 🦏 Spot the majestic one-horned rhinoceros in its natural habitat
  • 🐘 Embark on an exhilarating elephant safari in Kaziranga
Shiretoko National Park
Brown bears and drift ice in Hokkaido
8.3
Remote and wild, this peninsula in northeastern Hokkaido is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where sea and forest meet. Steller's sea eagles and white tailed eagles perch on drift ice in winter. Boat trips from Rausu go out to see them. Blakiston's fish owl, a huge owl, lives along the rivers.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Hike to Kamuiwakka Hot Falls and soak feet
  • 🛥️ Take a wildlife boat cruise to see bears
  • 🌲 Walk the scenic Shiretoko Five Lakes boardwalk
Sri Lanka
Ancient cities, tea hills and surf beaches
7.3
Though about the size of West Virginia, this island has 34 bird species found nowhere else. Sinharaja rain forest is a UNESCO site with many of these endemic birds. The Sri Lanka junglefowl, the national bird, is easy to see at Yala. Forest, wetlands and hills are all within a day's drive.
Highlights:
  • 🚂 Take a scenic train ride through the tea plantations to Ella
  • 🐘 Spot elephants on safari in Minneriya National Park
  • 🪨 Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress and admire its ancient frescoes
Khao Sok National Park
Ancient Jungle and Emerald Lake Paradise
7.8
Many visitors sleep in floating raft houses on Cheow Lan Lake and wake to bird calls. Long tail boats take small groups past limestone cliffs. Hornbills and kingfishers are often seen along the shore. Guided walks in the rain forest add trogons, barbets and bulbuls to the list.
Highlights:
  • 🐘 Trek into the jungle to spot wild elephants and gibbons
  • 🛶 Kayak through emerald waters surrounded by limestone cliffs
  • 🏞️ Stay overnight in floating bungalows on Cheow Lan Lake
Khao Yai National Park
Wild Elephants, Waterfalls and Jungle Trails
7.1
Compared with most Asian rain forests this park is easy to reach, about three hours by road from Bangkok. Great hornbills and Oriental pied hornbills fly over the trees. Watchtowers near ponds give good views of barbets and flycatchers. The trails are well marked and the visitor centre sells maps.
Highlights:
  • 🦅 Climb Nong Phak Chi observation tower for wildlife views
  • 🐘 Spot wild elephants and gibbons in the dense forest
  • 🌊 Hike to the stunning Haew Narok Waterfall viewpoint
Kanha National Park
Tiger paradise in magical wilderness
7.6
The core zone covers about 940 square kilometres of sal forest and open meadows. More than 300 bird species have been recorded here. Jeep safaris pass Indian rollers, paradise flycatchers and several kinds of woodpeckers. Tigers and barasingha deer share the same meadows, so the park is good for birds and mammals.
Highlights:
  • 🦜 Join a guided birdwatching tour through the sal forest
  • 🦌 Observe barasingha deer grazing in open meadows
  • 🐅 Spot Bengal tigers on an early morning jungle safari
Borneo
Wild rainforests meet unique wildlife
7.9
The island was joined to mainland Asia during the ice ages, which helps explain its rich forest wildlife. All eight Bornean hornbill species live here, including the huge rhinoceros hornbill. Danum Valley has canopy walkways and trails. Birders also look for the Bornean bristlehead, a strange bird found only on this island.
Highlights:
  • 🦇 Explore unique limestone caves in Gunung Mulu National Park
  • 🦧 See orangutans up close at Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
  • 🏔️ Climb Mount Kinabalu for unforgettable summit views
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Crystal waters and pristine wilderness
8.1
These islands in the Bay of Bengal are far from the mainland, so many of their birds live nowhere else. Look for the Andaman woodpecker and the Andaman serpent eagle in the forest. Chidiya Tapu near Port Blair has easy trails. Sea eagles often perch over the shore.
Highlights:
  • 🤿 Snorkel at Elephant Beach’s vibrant coral reefs
  • 🏰 Explore Cellular Jail, a historic colonial prison
  • 🏖️ Relax on Radhanagar Beach, Asia's best beach
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