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!

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.)

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 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

We did an afternoon/evening birding trip in December 2025 and it was fantastic for the whole family (2 parents, 2 teenagers). We went into this knowing little about local birds, and Thong was so generous with his knowledge and enthusiasm, not only for birds but also for his country and our experience in it with him. The entire experience of the trip (the car ferry, going to a couple of locations we would never have been to on our own) was a real highlight of our time in Cambodia, and I would recommend this to anyone with a fondness for nature and getting off the beaten path.