: Western 2026
One of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Malaysia is a federation of 13 states split across two distinct regions. One region is West Malaysia (or Peninsular Malaysia) and this area will be the focus of this small-group Bird-Photo-Tour. [The other region is East Malaysia on the island of Borneo, where Bird-Photo-Tours Asia also runs another bird photography workshop]. Peninsular Malaysia sits at the foot of the Malay Peninsula, the backbone of which, the Titiwangsa Range, is draped in pristine montane forest with the lowlands carpeted in extensive tropical rainforest melting into vast mangrove forests along the coast. The combination of this diverse and outstanding habitat results in some of the most exciting bird photography in South East Asia. This Bird-Photo-Tour will aim to produce close photographic encounters with some of the most appealing, unique, distinctive and specialised birds to be found in Peninsular Malaysia including Pittas / Trogons / Broadbills / Hornbills / Pheasants / Partridges / Kingfishers / Laughingthrushes / Owls / Babblers / Bee-eaters / Barbets / Sunbirds and Bulbuls.
Broadbills: Banded Broadbill / Black-and-Yellow Broadbill / Black-and-Red Broadbill / Green Broadbill
Owls / Frogmouths: Dusky Eagle Owl / Barred Eagle Owl / Spotted Wood Owl / Blyth's Frogmouth
Kingfishers: Blue-eared Kingfisher / Rufous-collar Kingfisher / Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher / Collared Kingfisher / Stork-billed Kingfisher
Laughingthrushes: Black Laughingthrush / Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush / Malayan Laughingthrush
Pheasants / Partridges: Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant / Malayan Partridge / Red Junglefowl
Babblers: Short-tailed Babbler / Ferruginous Babbler / Black-eared Shrike-Babbler / Buff-breasted Babbler / Chestnut-winged Babbler / Abbott's Babbler / Streaked Wren-Babbler / Large Wren-Babbler
Woodpeckers: Buff-necked Woodpecker / Rufous Piculet / Greater Flameback
Pittas / Trogons: Western Hooded Pitta / Garnet Pitta / Mangrove Pitta / Red-headed Trogon / Orange-breasted Trogon
Others: Raffles Malkoha / Black-thighed Falconet / Dark-necked Tailorbird / Chestnut-naped Forktail / Orange-headed Thrush / Siberian Blue Robin / Fire-tufted Barbet
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Day 0-1 Kuala Lumpur District, Selangor State [1N, 0D, 0S]. Arrive in Kuala Lumpur. Photographic Targets: Black-and-Yellow Broadbill / Yellow-vented Bulbul / Rufous-backed Kingfisher / Raffles Malkoha / Black-thighed Falconet / Blue-eared Kingfisher / Blyth’s Frogmouth / Buff-necked Woodpecker / Rufescent Prinia.
Days 1-2 Kuala Selangor District, Selangor State [1N, 0D, 2S]. Drive 1-2 hours, 65km to Kuala Selangor District. Photographic Targets: Dusky Eagle Owl / Greater Flameback / Collared Kingfisher / Stork-billed Kingfisher.
Day 2-4 Larut, Matang and Selama District, Perak State [2N, 1D, 4S]. Drive 2-3 hours, 210km to Larut, Matang and Selama District. Photographic Targets: Hooded Pitta / Rufous-collared Kingfisher / Chestnut-naped Forktail / Orange-headed Thrush / Siberian Blue Robin / Long-tailed Parakeet / Spotted Wood Owl / Copper-throated Sunbird.
Days 4-6 Jerantut District, Pahang State [2N, 1D, 4S]. Drive 3-4 hours, 200km to Jerantut District. Photographic Targets: Garnet Pitta / Yellow-bellied Bulbul / Short-tailed Babbler / Ferruginous Babbler / Banded Broadbill / Green Broadbill / Black-and-Red Broadbill / Black-and-Yellow Broadbill / Large Wren-Babbler.
Days 6-9 Raub District, Pahang State [3N, 2D, 6S]. Drive 3-4 hours, 200km to Raub District. Photographic Targets: Red-headed Trogon / Orange-breasted Trogon / Black Laughingthrush / Blue Nuthatch / Black-eared Shrike-Babbler / Lesser Shortwing / Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush / Malayan Laughingthrush / Malayan Partridge / Rufous-browed Flycatcher / Streaked Wren-Babbler / Buff-breasted Babbler / Blue whistling Thrush / Silver-eared Mesia / Dark-necked Tailorbird / Pygmy Cupwing / Fire-tufted Barbet / Black-throated Sunbird.
Days 9-11 Temerloh District, Pahang State [2N, 0D, 2S]. Drive 2-hours, 160km to Temerloh District. Photographic Targets: Mangrove Pitta / Rufous Piculet / Chestnut-winged Babbler / Abbott’s Babbler / Mangrove Blue Flycatcher / Hooded Pitta.
Day 11-12 Bentong District, Pahang State [1N, 0D, 2S]. Drive 2-3 hours, 200km to Bentong District. Photographic Targets: Mountain Peacock-Pheasant / Hairy-backed Bulbul / Red-bearded Bee-eater / Black-and-Yellow Broadbill / Black-and-Red Broadbill.
Day 12-14 Kuala Lumpur, Selangor State [2N, 1D, 4S]. Drive 1-2 hours, 120km to Kuala Lumpur District. Photographic Targets:Black-and-Yellow Broadbill / Yellow-vented Bulbul / Rufous-backed Kingfisher / Raffles Malkoha / Black-thighed Falconet / Blue-eared Kingfisher / Blyth’s Frogmouth / Buff-necked Woodpecker / Rufescent Prinia.
[Key: N: Night / D: Full Day / S: Session / Half-Day]
Liew is a nature lover who enjoys photographing the natural world in all its glory from landscapes to flora and fauna. Liew started enjoying birds twenty years ago through the prism of his camera and has since become a reputable bird photographer graduating from using a 200mm lens to a 100-400mm lens onto a large 600mm. With patience and significant time spent in the field photographing birds, Liew is now one of our top bird photography guides in Peninsular Malaysia with a portfolio of images that includes the rare Malayan Rail Babbler, Giant Pitta and Garnet Pitta. Outside of Peninsular Malaysia, Liew is widely travelled in Borneo, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Liew is an experienced bird photography guide who can not just provide expertise in finding and locating the birds of Peninsular Malaysia but can also provide photographic expertise too.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping.
