A chance to see & photograph the incredibly beautiful and iconic Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana), plus a huge variety of other exotic species!

The huge Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing Trogonoptera brookiana is one of the most spectacular and iconic butterflies in the world. On this tour we visit one of the best locations, where it’s often possible to see up to 50 of these wonderful creatures settled together on the ground.

Your Greenwings guide Adrian was instrumental in banning the importation of specimens of this butterfly to the European Union. In his book “Butterflies of the World” he describes encountering a huge aggregation of brookiana at the location we visit on this tour:

“Rajah Brooke’s Birdwings are powerful flyers, capable of travelling from one side of a river to the other with no more than three or four wing-beats. Males congregate at hot sulphur springs, seepages and other sources of minerals. In May 2009 in Perak I came across one of the most stunning butterfly spectacles I have ever seen – a massive group of over 100 pristine T.brookiana settled on a small patch of ground on a quiet forest track. No photograph or words can begin to do justice to the beauty of these creatures; and to see such a huge aggregation was a sight guaranteed to blow the mind of even the most experienced entomologist. Try to imagine a quivering mass of 100 iridescent green butterflies, each measuring about 16cm (6.3in) across, crammed tightly together on a patch of ground the size of a small dining table. Then try to imagine the thrill of being so close that you could reach down and touch them. After taking a few photographs you edge gently away but the whole group erupts into flight and you are surrounded by a swirling mass of glittering green wings. You freeze on the spot, hoping not to scare them away; and they respond by gliding closely around you. One by one they resettle on the ground until they encircle you. After a couple of minutes they relax and outspread their glorious wings. You are utterly mesmerised. The huge privilege of such an experience is something you never forget.”

Of course, this tour is about much more than “just” brookiana, as we also visit a range of other sites in South Thailand and northern Malaysia, that are sure to produce a truly stunning array of exotic species including glittering red and blue Paralaxita metalmarks, many large and colourful Nymphalids, swallowtails, swordtails, intricately marked satyrs and stunning long-tailed hairstreaks. Take a look at the gallery to see a small selection of the beautiful butterflies photographed on previous trips!

Throughout the tour we will have Antonio Giudici as our local guide. Antonio probably knows more about the butterflies of Thailand and peninsular Malaysia than anyone else alive. We’ll have a private minibus and a professional driver throughout the tour. We’ll stay in comfortable hotels and resorts. All meals are included, but please note that for lunches we usually visit a 7-Eleven store and choose our snacks and drinks there, as this saves a lot of time and maximises our time in the butterfly habitats.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this tour begins at Nakhon Si Thammarat airport, but ends at Hat Yai airport (both in Thailand). International flights arrive and depart from Bangkok airport, but it is necessary to self-transfer to the domestic airport, which is about an hours drive away by free shuttle coach. You therefore need to allow at least 4-5 hours between arrival at Bangkok and departure from the domestic airport. Notes will be provided well in advance, to help you navigate the airport and get on the shuttle coach. Due to the possibility of delayed flights and missed connections, you may prefer to arrive at Bangkok a day early, and overnight at an airport hotel.

You will be met by Adrian and Antonio at Nakhon Si Thammarat airport on the afternoon of 7th August. The tour ends at Hat Yai airport on the evening of 18th August, although you may prefer to stay overnight at an airport hotel and depart on 19th.

VISAS: Currently UK passport holders do not need visas for entry to Thailand or Malaysia. Guests from other countries should refer to their Thailand and Malaysian Embassies to enquire whether visas are needed.