Kingdom of the Doucs: 2-Day Primate Photography Tour

Join our Kingdom of the Doucs tour for an unforgettable two-day primate photography adventure, featuring both the critically endangered Grey-shanked and striking Red-shanked Douc Langurs. This private, all-inclusive experience offers exceptional wildlife encounters, exclusive access to key habitats, and the chance to work alongside local conservationists.

Details

Summary
— Bookings Available Year-Round
— Departs from Da Nang or Hoi An
— Private tours for individuals or small groups with options for larger groups available upon request

Prices Starting From:
Single Person: $730 per person
Group of 2: $440 per person
Group of 3: $365 per person
Group of 4: $315 per person

Kingdom of the Doucs: 2-Day Primate Photography Tour

Code: DNMD01 | Categories: Mammal Watching & Primate Tours | Locations: Da Nang / Hoi An

Summary:

Vietnam is the only country in the world where all three species of the striking Pygathrix genus, known as the douc langurs, can be found. All three are visually stunning and critically endangered. Among them, the Red-shanked Douc Langur has earned global recognition as the most beautiful primate on Earth, and its last major stronghold is on the Son Tra Peninsula near Da Nang. Even more elusive is the Grey-shanked Douc Langur, considered as of the rarest and most difficult-to-see primates on the planet.

This is a serious, field-intensive wildlife tour designed for primate enthusiasts, naturalists, and photographers seeking close, ethical encounters with two of the world’s most sought-after primates. Led by an expert team with deep local knowledge, this tour prioritises photography, conservation insight, and exceptional access to rarely seen wildlife.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: The Red-shanked Douc Langurs of Son Tra Peninsula

Your tour begins in Da Nang, where we spend the day on the scenic Son Tra Peninsula, working alongside our trusted local guiding team. Our team are in the field daily, tracking and monitoring primates, birds, reptiles and butterflies, so you’ll benefit from their unmatched knowledge of the most up-to-date and reliable langur locations.

You’ll enter Son Tra pre-public access thanks to our special access, before spending the day observing and photographing the local Red-shanked Douc Langur population. These animals live in photogenic forested slopes with panoramic coastal backdrops, making for spectacular photographic opportunities.

Other primates found here include both Rhesus Macaque and Northern Pig-tailed Macaque. For those interested, the area also offers frequent encounters with unique birds, reptiles, mammals, and butterflies along the way.

In the afternoon, we transfer south to the quieter city of Tam Ky, where we stay overnight near protected habitat of the Grey-shanked Douc Langur. We’ll arrive late afternoon / early evening, check in, have dinner and enjoy an early night in preparation for a big day tomorrow.

Day 2: The Grey-shanked Douc Langurs of the Central Highlands

An early start sees us meeting up with the local conservation and ranger team, who will guide us into the heart of Grey-shanked Douc Langur territory. This restricted, no-public-access area is opened for our tours and other local conservation efforts. We access the site via motorbike (or on foot) through an extensive area of private forest and agricultural land.

We’ll spend the day searching for and photographing our big target, the Grey-shanked Douc Langur. The surrounding scenery is spectacular, and the experience of quietly observing these critically endangered langurs in the wild, is both a powerful and unforgettable.

At the end of the day, we’ll thank our conservation partners and make a donation to support their ongoing protection efforts. As the day draws to a close, we’ll transfer back to Da Nang or Hoi An and return you to your accommodation, where your tour and your time with us concludes.

Tour Highlights

Expert-led photographic encounters with two of Vietnam’s most endangered primates
Exclusive access to protected Grey-shanked Douc Langur habitat
Proven 100% success rate photographing both species on this tour to date
Opportunity to observe and photograph up to four primate species
Directly support local conservation efforts and community-based protection
Fully guided, all-inclusive experience with a small group focus
Led by our expert wildlife guiding team, specialists in primates, birds, and broader natural history for a deeper, more holistic experience
Supported by a professionally trained wildlife photography team

Single Day Options

For those short on time or focused on seeing just one of our douc species, check out our Red-shanked Douc Langur Safari and our Grey-shanked Douc: 1-Day Primate Tour

What's Included

Expert private guide specialising in primates, photography and wildlife
Dedicated driver throughout the tour
Pickup and drop-off from your accommodation
All meals throughout the tour
Non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day
Water bottles and snacks available in the vehicle
All necessary entrance tickets and permits
Bonus equipment including binoculars, spotting scope and species checklists
Collaboration with local conservation team, including a direct donation to support their ongoing efforts
Comprehensive insurance coverage
First aid and a COVID-safe environment

Group Size

This is a private tour designed for individuals or small groups. We can accommodate up to six participants, though for the best experience, we strongly recommend splitting into two smaller groups to ensure more intimate, high-quality primate encounters.

Photography Opportunites & Notes

This is a specialist tour experience designed specifically for wildlife photographers and dedicated wildlife watchers. With years of field refinement, this tour has become highly focused on delivering exceptional opportunities to photograph our target species in the wild.

For serious primate photographers, we recommend a telephoto lens of 600mm or more, ideally mounted on a lightweight, portable, and sturdy tripod. However, excellent results can still be achieved with more versatile gear, all images on this page were taken using a standard 100–400mm lens.

If you’re unsure what equipment to bring, or would like tailored advice based on your gear and shooting style, feel free to contact our expert team, we’re always happy to help you prepare for the best possible photographic experience.

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Discover More in Central Vietnam

If this tour caught your eye, you might also enjoy some of our other specialist primate & mammal-watching experiences in the region, each with its own unique focus and highlights. Below are some of our most popular and recommended options, perfect for discovering more of what Central Vietnam has to offer. Thinking of doing more than one? Let us know and we’ll be happy to create a customised package to suit your journey.

Primates of Central Vietnam: 7-Day Expedition

One of our most sought-after tours, this immersive journey showcases the very best of primate viewing in Central Vietnam. Beginning in Da Nang and ending in Dong Hoi, the all-inclusive itinerary offers the rare opportunity to encounter up to nine primate species, including four critically endangered ones. Traverse an incredible variety of landscapes, from the sweeping Annamite Mountains and jagged limestone karsts of Quảng Bình to the lush coastal forests near Da Nang. Perfect for both wildlife watchers and photographers.

Bach Ma 3-Day Primates & Mammals Tour

Discover one of Vietnam’s most rewarding primate and mammal-watching destinations, Bach Ma National Park. Home to a spectacular array of Annamite Range endemics, rarities, and sought-after species, you’ll wake to the sound of gibbons singing, venture deep into the forest after dark for civets, and spend your days exploring this vast and magnificent mountain range in search of everything from giant squirrels to muntjacs.

Hatinh Langur: 3-Day Primate Conservation Tour

The Hatinh Langur is a critically endangered primate, found in the limestone cliffs of Quảng Bình province, Central Vietnam. On this exclusive Next Continent tour, you’ll see, photograph, and study these rare animals in one of their last wild habitats, an area with no formal protection. This tour goes beyond wildlife viewing. You’ll join local villagers and conservationists working to protect the langurs, with part of your tour fee funding reforestation and rewilding efforts. It’s a rare chance to actively support conservation while experiencing a unique, hands-on ecotourism adventure.

Tailor Your Experience

Looking to enhance your experience? Whether it’s adding an extra day, making an additional stop, arranging pick-up from a distant location, hiring a camera, or combining your tour with another one of our amazing experiences, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch today, and let our experts craft a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices tailored to your needs

Tour Reviews

We just returned from a very special primate tour with Next Continent's Thanh and Huy. They took my wife and I on their Kingdom of the Doucs Primate Photography Tour which was simply a world class wildlife experience. We had many wonderful shots and sighting of the red-shanked douc on day one and subsequent repeat sightings of much more elusive grey-shanked doucs almost immediately after breakfast on day two. Thanh mentioned how lucky we were to be with such a peaceful group of very relaxed doucs for over an hour, feeding and wandering through the canopy. We are back with hard drives full of monkey photos and couldn't be happier! We are coming back in January to do their full mammal and primate watching tour from Cat Tien right up to the north, can't wait!