ASIA and THE MIDDLE EAST

Lists such as this one are of course highly subjective but the destinations listed and linked below are the ones we believe are the best in Asia and The Middle East. They have been chosen very carefully and for a multitude of reasons, but mainly based on personal experience of some of them and on dreams of visiting the rest, dreams resulting from what we have heard, read or seen.

Top destinations that didn't quite make it include Israel, Oman, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia and Western Indonesia (Sumatra, Java and Bali). If there are any other destinations you think should be on the list below then please Email us.

For each destination there is a very brief summary. For more details click on the destination name.

For more information click on Top 100 Birds, Top 100 Other Wildlife and Top 50 Other Natural Wonders.

Destinations

Arctic Russia
The richest tundra in the world where hundreds of thousands of swans, geese, ducks, shorebirds, seabirds and other waterbirds nest including Siberian and Sandhill Cranes, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Ross’s and Sabine’s Gulls, Emperor Goose, King, Spectacled and Steller’s Eiders, and White-billed Diver, as well as some landbirds, not least Great Grey, Hawk and Snowy Owls. All most likely between mid-June and mid-July.

Kamchatka, and the Kuril and Commander Islands
Brown Bear, Killer Whale and a chance of Blue, Fin, Sei, Sperm, Humpback and Grey Whales, Sea Otter and, on and around the Commander Islands, one of the greatest concentrations of marine mammals in the world, composed mostly of Northern Fur Seals and Steller’s Sealions. The numerous seabirds include Laysan and possibly Black-footed and Short-tailed Albatrosses, while other birds include Steller’s and White-tailed Eagles, and Harlequin Duck. Cruises usually sail in June and July.

Japan
‘Snow Monkeys’ (Japanese Macaques) bathing in hot springs, hundreds of Steller’s and White-tailed Eagles, thousands of Hooded and White-naped Cranes, Red-crowned Cranes ‘dancing’ in the snow, a chance of Black-footed, Laysan and Short-tailed Albatrosses, colourful ducks including Harlequin, Mandarin and Baikal, Blakiston’s Fish Owl and endemics such as Copper Pheasant, all in superb winter scenery, completed by Mount Fuji. The best time to visit during the winter is the second half of February.

Hong Kong
One of the best shorebird shows in the world, involving about 20,000 birds of over 30 species, virtually all in full summer plumage, and which may include Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Asian Dowitcher and Nordmann’s Greenshank, while also present are ‘pink’ Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins and other spectacular birds such as Blue Magpie, Black-capped Kingfisher, Fork-tailed Sunbird and, possibly, Great Spotted, Imperial and White-bellied Sea Eagles. The peak time for shorebirds, including Spoon-billed Sandpiper, is April.

Central China
A chance of Giant Panda, as well as Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, ‘Golden’ Takin, Red-and-white Flying Squirrel and equally elusive birds such as Temminck’s Tragopan, Golden Pheasant, Mandarin Duck, Crested Ibis, Ibisbill and Wallcreeper. Visitors may see none of these but the reserves here offer the best chance of seeing Giant Panda in the wild, especially in mid-March to April and the first half of November. The best time to look for birds is late May-early June.

Sichuan
Very little chance of seeing Giant Panda in the wild but one of the few places in the world where there is a chance of Red Panda. The long list of fabulous birds includes many ‘pheasants’, parrotbills, laughingthrushes and robins, as well as Black-necked Crane, Grandala, Firethroat, Crested and White-browed Tit Warblers, Golden-breasted Fulvetta and Hume’s Groundpecker, all in the stunning mountainous terrain at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. May is usually the peak time to look for most birds.

Nepal
Indian Rhinoceros, Asian Water Buffalo, Gaur and Gharial, as well as a chance of Tiger and Sloth Bear, with birds such as Indian Peafowl, Bengal Florican, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Himalayan Cutia, Ibisbill and Wallcreeper, as well as a chance of Himalayan Monal and Satyr Tragopan in a country with more birds than any other region of similar size in Asia. All in some of the most stunning landscapes in the world, especially certain parts of the Himalayas, notably the view of the Annapurnas from Pokhara. The best times to visit are mid-April to the end of May (high Himalayas) and November to March, especially March (lowlands).

Northeastern India
Indian Rhinoceros, Asian Elephant, Hoolock Gibbon, Asian Water Buffalo, Ganges River Dolphin, and birds such as Himalayan Monal, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Long-tailed Broadbill, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Himalayan Cutia, Sultan Tit, Green Cochoa, Beautiful Nuthatch, Ibisbill and Wallcreeper, as well as a chance of tragopans. The best times to visit are mid-April to the end of May (high Himalayas) and mid-November to March, especially March (lowlands).

Northwestern India
The best place in the world to look for Snow Leopard, high up in Ladakh, hunting Blue Sheep, Argali and Urial. The best times to look are the first half of March and the second half of November, not the best time for birds (which is May-June) but they may include Lammergeier, Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, White-browed Tit Warbler and Guldenstadt’s Redstart.

Northern India
Tiger, Asian Elephant, Gharial, Mugger Crocodile, a chance of Sloth Bear and birds such as Indian Peafowl, Sarus Crane, Black-necked and Painted Storks, Brown and Tawny Fish Owls, White-crested Laughingthrush and Blue Magpie, with a chance of Ibisbill and Wallcreeper, make this A Top Ten Destination in the world. The best time to visit is November to March.

Western India
Lion, Wild Ass and Blackbuck, a good chance of Leopard and Striped Hyaena, and even a chance of Wolf, thousands of Demoiselle Cranes, possibly thousands of harriers, at the largest harrier roost in the world, and other spectacular birds such as flamingos, pelicans, Indian Peafowl, Painted Stork, Indian and MacQueen’s Bustards, Crab Plover, Cream-coloured and Indian Coursers, Hypocolius and White-bellied Minivet. December to February is the best time to visit.

Sri Lanka
Asian Elephant and Asian Water Buffalo, and a good chance of Blue Whale and Leopard, as well as rich coral reefs and birds such as Indian Peafowl, Black-necked and Painted Storks, Brown Fish Owl, Indian Pitta, Pied Thrush and about 30 endemics. The best time to visit is early April when Blue Whales are usually present close in shore and birds such as Indian Pitta and Pied Thrush, which are winter visitors, are usually still present.

Maldives
Several species of whale including a chance of Blue, several species of dolphin including some in their hundreds, the chance to swim with Manta Rays, rich coral reefs with turtles, and a few seabirds such as White-tailed Tropicbird, all in the picturesque surroundings of coral atolls with palm-fringed beaches. The best times to visit are the second half of January and mid-October.

Vietnam
Some of the most beautiful primates in the world including Buff-cheeked Gibbon, Black-shanked and Red-shanked Douc Langurs, and Delacour’s and Hatinh Langurs, and many classic South East Asian birds such as Green Peafowl, Silver Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Great Hornbill, Blue Magpie, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Sultan Tit, trogons, sunbirds, leafbirds, broadbills, laughingthrushes, pittas and minivets, as well as localized species such as Spoon-billed Sandpiper and endemics including Grey-crowned Crocias. February-March is the best time to look for birds.

Southern Thailand
Some beautiful primates including White-handed Gibbon, many fabulous birds, especially pittas, broadbills, hornbills, barbets, trogons, leafbirds, sunbirds and kingfishers, including Banded and Gurney’s Pittas, as well as Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo, Rail Babbler and Nicobar Pigeon, and even a chance of Whale Shark and Manta Ray over the rich coral reefs offshore. Any time between November and March is a good time to visit, especially February-March for birds.

Malay Peninsula
A chance of Malayan Tapir, some beautiful primates including Siamang and White-handed Gibbon, and many fabulous birds, not least pittas such as Banded and Garnet, broadbills, hornbills, barbets, trogons, leafbirds, Asian Fairy Bluebird, sunbirds, kingfishers, Great Argus, Sultan Tit, Rail Babbler and Blue Nuthatch, some in possibly the oldest lowland rainforest in the world, while offshore there are some excellent scuba-diving and snorkeling sites. Any time between March and October is a good time to visit.

Sumatra
(Sumatran) Orang-utan, Siamang, White-handed Gibbon and leaf monkeys as well as lots of spectacular birds including hornbills, broadbills, trogons, pittas, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Temminck's Sunbird, Blue Nuthatch, leafbirds and endemics such as Sumatran Cochoa, all in some beautiful but fast disappearing forests. May to September is normally the driest time of the year and June is the peak month to visit in search of birds.

Borneo
Arguably the best lowland tropical rainforest experience in the world and A Top Ten Destination in the world thanks to the presence of Orang-utan, Proboscis Monkey, Bornean Gibbon, Western Tarsier, ‘flying’ frogs, lizards, snakes and squirrels, a rich flora which includes Rafflesia, the largest flowering plant in the world, and numerous spectacular birds including Great Argus, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Temminck's Sunbird, trogons, broadbills and pittas, all surrounded by rich coral reefs. The best time to visit is April to October, especially late June to early August.

Philippines
The chance to swim with Dugongs, Manta Rays and Whale Sharks, as well as numerous coral reef fish, Philippine Tarsier, Philippine (Monkey-eating) Eagle and other birds such as Palawan Peacock Pheasant, hornbills, Philippine Cockatoo, kingfishers, pittas, broadbills and the endemic rhabdornises, just some of around 200 endemic species. The peak time for birds is usually mid-January to mid-March and the peak time for Whale Sharks is usually February to May.

Sulawesi and Halmahera
Tarsiers, Bear Cuscus, macaques, some of the world’s most spectacular localized birds such as Wallace’s Standardwing, Knobbed Hornbill, Maleo, Ivory-breasted Pitta and Purple-bearded Bee-eater, as well as Olive-flanked Whistler which is now in a family of its own, and what may be the richest seas in the world. The best time to visit these wonderful islands is mid-July to October.

Komodo
Komodo Dragon, rich coral reefs with Green Turtles and a few birds such as Yellow-crested Cockatoo and Flame-breasted Sunbird. The best time to visit is August-September which is usually the (relatively) coolest time of year.