Day 1: The tour begins this morning at Padang International Airport (PDG) on the west coast of Sumatra. This will be followed by a long drive, but we arrive at our guesthouse in Keresek Tua for dinner, settling in to our base for the next four nights to explore the adjacent Mount Kerinci.

Day 2-3-4: Three full days birding on this excellent mountain. New hides are attracting a suite of once mythical species which now give regular and excellent photographic opportunities! These include Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant, Salvadori’s Pheasant, the exquisite Red-billed Partridge, and even the rare Schneider’s Pitta. Most of Sumatra’s montane endemics can be found here, with the best being Sumatran Trogon, Sumatran Frogmouth, Rusty-breasted Wren-Babbler, Sumatran Wren-babbler, Shiny Whistling-Thrush, Brown-winged Whistling-Thrush, Sumatran Blue Robin, and Sumatran Shortwing. We should also see some great species shared with Java, Borneo, or Malaysia, like the gorgeous Pink-headed Fruit Dove, Salvadori's Nightjar, Rajah Scops Owl, Sunda Owlet, Blue Nuthatch, Rufous-vented Niltava, and Long-tailed Sibia. Nights at Keresek Tua.

Day 5: Final morning birding on the mountain before driving to Sungai Penuh, where we will spend the next four nights.

Day 6-7-8: The submontane forest in this area provides a different set of species to what we will have become used to in previous days. In particular, the Critically Endangered and superbly beautiful Sumatran Ground Cuckoo has become extremely reliable here over the past two years, and this will of course be our main target. Other endemics likely to be seen include Sumatran Green Pigeon, Graceful Pitta, Blue-masked Leafbird, Sumatran Leafbird, Cream-striped Bulbul, Sumatran Bulbul, Spot-necked Bulbul, Sumatran Drongo, and Sumatran Treepie. Those who want to see Sumatran Cochoa will need to take a longer hike to the higher altitudes. Other specialties shared with Java or Borneo include Fire-tufted Barbet, Black-browed Barbet, the tricky Marbled Wren-Babbler (this being one of the best places to see it), the declining Ruby-throated Bulbul, plus Sunda Forktail, Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush, and Black Laughingthrush (now known to actually be a Scimitar Babbler!).

Day 9: After a final morning birding in the area, we will return to Padang for overnight.

Day 10: Tour ends with morning departures from Padang International Airport (PDG).

Most people will fly into Padang via Kuala Lunmpur, where the famous Mountain Peacock-Pheasant and Ferruginous Partridge hide on the city outskirts is easy to arrange before or after this tour. We are also able to arrange visits to the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant and Bulwer’s Pheasant hides in Malaysian Borneo, so may be able to coordinate a plan between multiple interested participants to help reduce costs. Please let us know at the time of booking if either of these options interest you.