Ventures Trip to Philippines

Palawan, Luzon and Mindana

Ashy Thrush by Irene Dy

Dec 25, 2025 – Jan 12, 2026

Ashy Thrush by Irene Dy

Leaders: Mark Welford, Simon Thompson, & local guide, Irene Dy.    
Difficulty Easy to moderate terrain. Easy to challenging birding.
Cost of Philippines Venture: $6750 per person from Manila, based on double occupancy ($575 single supplement) Price includes: All accommodation, three internal flights, all overland transport, all meals and snacks, all non-alcoholic drinks, guiding fees & tips, entrance fees, trip information packet, bird list, and guide/leader service throughout. Not included: Flight to the Philippines, alcoholic beverages, laundry, gratuities and items of a personal nature.

The Philippine archipelago has been geographically isolated from mainland Asia for 50 million years and as a result exhibits some of the highest avifauna endemism on earth with over 44% of its bird species unique to the Philippines, including such strikingly attractive species as Silvery Kingfisher, Philippine Trogon, Steere’s Pitta, and the amazing Philippine Eagle. However, much of the habitat of these birds is severely threatened. On this tour we visit some of the last remaining but intact rainforests in which we should find many of the Philippines wonderful endemics. This is a relatively easy tour to some of the most enjoyable birding areas in the Philippines.

Some of the Birds We Hope to See

Endemic Targets; Scale-feathered and Red-crested Malkoha, Blackish Cuckoo-shrike, Spotted Wood Kingfisher, Indigo-banded Kingfisher, Southern Silvery Kingfisher, Mindanao and Green Racquet-tail, Philippine Eagle, Pinsker’s Hawk Eagle, Philippine Falconet, Apo Myna, Red-eared Parrotfinch, White-cheeked Bullfinch, Bukidnon Woodcock, White-browed Shama, Yellow-breasted Fruit-Dove, Mindanao Wattled Broadbill, Black-faced Coucal, Philippine Fairy-Bluebird, Philippine Eagle-Owl, Everett’s Scops Owl, Philippine Frogmouth, Philippine Trogon, Azure-breasted Pitta, Rufous-lored Kingfisher, Buff-spotted Flameback, Visayan Broadbill, Mindanao Blue Fantail, Philippine Swamphen, Stripe-breasted Rhabdornis, Handsome Sunbird, and Mindanao White-eye, Palawan Flycatcher, Palawan Scops Owl, Red-vented Cockatoo, Lovely Sunbird, Falcated Wren-Babbler. Some other interesting good non-endemics; White-bellied Woodpecker, Chinese Egret, Gray-tailed Tattler, Barred Rail, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Black-chinned Fruit-Dove, Whiskered Treeswift, Little Pied Flycatcher, Blue-naped Parrot, Purple Needletail, Chinese Crested Tern and many more.