Phenomenal birding trip through lotus fields and a small Wat woodland! - 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!

Great Torimi experience - It was my first time exploring birds in Cambodia. It was rainy season so I wasn't expecting much, but I was able to meet a lot of strange birds. Tong, our guide, was very knowledgeable about birds and found and taught us about them before I did, and they were breeding and living well right next to the big city. Now I want to come in the dry season. Thank you for tons of knowledge and service.

Great morning birding. - I thoroughly enjoyed birding with Thong. Very knowledgeable, lovely area to bird in, great birds seen. I would highly recommend any tours with him. Rosalie.

Unforgettable Birding Experience with Vana Adventure Travel – Phnom Penh - I recently joined a birding tour with Vana Adventure Travel in Phnom Penh and it turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my travels. Although I was initially excited to meet Mr. Thong, the founder, due to his incredible reputation and expertise in birding, he was unfortunately called away for a government engagement. However, I was lucky to be guided by Mr. Sokmon – and what a fantastic guide he was! He was right on time, picking me up at 5 AM sharp from my hotel, and ensured I had my morning coffee before we started the tour – a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the day. Sokmon’s passion for birds is infectious, and his knowledge is truly impressive. He was able to identify birds by sound alone and gave detailed explanations about each species we encountered. It was obvious he had done his homework and was deeply committed to providing a rich, educational experience. The tour was not only informative but also very comfortable. By around 9:30 AM, they had fresh fruits prepared – a refreshing treat in the Cambodian heat. After an exciting morning of bird watching and photography, we headed for a delicious Cambodian lunch with a scenic view – the perfect way to wind down. The experience didn’t end there. Mr. Thong, although not physically present for the tour, continued to stay in touch throughout my trip, sharing tips and locations around Phnom Penh for spotting rare birds. Thanks to his guidance, I even managed to meet him on my last day at Wat Phnom – and that’s where I captured stunning photos of the Narcissus Flycatcher and Ferruginous Flycatcher. What a way to end the trip! Vana Adventure Travel is more than just a tour company – they are passionate birders and amazing hosts. Whether you're a beginner or an avid birder, I highly recommend them for a truly enriching experience.

A must-do experience for wildlife enthusiasts - We would 100% recommend this company! Thong was an expert guide, we saw some amazing rare and scarce species, as well as iconic Cambodian species like the Cambodian Tailor Bird, Cinnamon Bittern, and Black Bittern. Definitely the best birding guide in Phnom Penh!

Highly Recommend! - Thong is a wonderful guide and human. He collected me early morning from the hotel and we went to three different locations and got over 50 species. Snacks and brunch and great conversation as well as dozens of lifer species. Thong is extremely knowledgeable and easy to be around. I highly recommend!

Wonderful day - Two of us did the birdwatching tour with Thong in Phnom Penh and had a lovely experience which I would recommend to anyone - keen birder or interested newbie. The pickup and vehicle were great and we had some wonderful birding time at two different sites - both beautiful in their own right. Thong really knows his birds, is sharp eyed and is also excellent at explaining where the birds are - at one point we had 2 different kingfishers, a beeeater and a cuckoo in our binoculars. This is a well designed tour, with snacks and coffee to watch the sun come up, a good breakfast later and then onto some shadier spots. It was also very interesting to go on the ferry and learn more about Cambodia. We had our own binoculars so didn’t need the ones provided but they were of good quality.

Phnom Penh Afternoon Bird Tour - We had an amazing day!. Although we opted for the afternoon tour instead of the morning we still saw 35 species of bird including Coppersmith Barbet, Black Naped Monarch, White Throated Rock Thrush, Yellow Bittern and the Cambodian Tailorbird. We crossed the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers by ferry and proceeded to a forested area where we spent the first couple of hours. We then stopped off to the habitat of the Cambodian Tailorbird before finishing in a wetland area where we watched the sunset over the city! Our guide Thong was so knowledgable and interesting. He took his camera and the birds are his photos that I have posted. he finally took us for a bite to eat back in Phnom Penh. I can't recommend this tour enough if you like bird watching!

We saw so many beautiful birds 😊 - We had a wonderful morning with Thong. He picked us up 5.30am from hotel and we had an interesting trip on the ferry to other side of river to Phnom Penh city. He took us to a wetland area, teeming with life, where we had great sightings of an amazing array of birds, all new to us. He looked after us so considerately, bringing us mango fruit and cold water. He took us to great place for breakfast, overlooking a lake with swallows and a bee eater perched on reeds clearly visible with the naked eye. We then went to a forested area around a temple, where the bird watching was superb. Thong was very skilled at finding the birds and helping us find them. We had great sighting of Cambodian Tailor Birds, plus 44 other birds! My favourites were the White Rumped Shama and the Shikra. We were delighted to have seen so many beautiful birds! It was an absolute pleasure to meet Thong and his trip is brilliant. Binoculars were available from Thong too. he also provided us with the bird list of our sightings. Fantastic to get the chance to see great wetland and forest areas so close to the city. Hugely enjoyable. Thank you Thong!

We saw so many beautiful birds! - We had a wonderful morning with Thong. He picked us up 5.30am from hotel and we had an interesting trip on the ferry to other side of river to Phnom Penh city. He took us to a wetland area, teeming with life, where we had great sightings of an amazing array of birds, all new to us. He looked after us so considerately, bringing us mango fruit and cold water. He took us to great place for breakfast, overlooking a lake with swallows and a bee eater perched on reeds clearly visible with the naked eye. We then went to a forested area around a temple, where the bird watching was superb. Thong was very skilled at finding the birds and helping us find them. We had great sighting of Cambodian Tailor Birds, plus 44 other birds! My favourites were the White Rumped Shama and the Shikra. We were delighted to have seen so many beautiful birds! It was an absolute pleasure to meet Thong and his trip is brilliant. Binoculars were available from Thong too. he also provided us with the bird list of our sightings. Fantastic to get the chance to see great wetland and forest areas so close to the city. Hugely enjoyable. Thank you Thong!