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Bhutan - Birds and more
Fully Escorted Tour - 14 Days / 13 Nights

Paro - Thimphu - Punakha - Gangtey - Trongsa - Zhemgang - Bumthang - Sengore - Yongkola - Bumthang - Thimphu - Paro

BEST SEASON - September to April

Accommodation is a combination of basic and tents. Accommodation in luxury hotels such as Uma, Aman can be arranged where available.

Bhutan has a rich birdlife among its hilly terrains and water bodies. Here we explore not only the birdlife but also Bhutan’s rich heritage of dzongs, festivals, interact with the locals and much more.

Day 1 and 2 – Arrive Paro. From the air enjoy breathtaking views of the Himalayas. You may even see the Everest (weather permitting). Drive through the beautiful valley of Paro to the capital city Thimphu ( about 2 hrs). Stay at hotel Dragon Roots.

Thimphu is a bustling town on the banks of the Thimphu Chhu and set gloriously in the hills of the Thimphu valley. It is home to the Bhutanese Royal Family, the Royal Government, to several foreign missions and development projects. Bhutan’s only golf course, a nine-hole circuit, is situated next to the magnificent Tashichoo Dzong. The following are some of the prominent places you will visit in Thimphu.

Sightseeing including – Folk Heritage Museum, Zorig Chusum Institute, Mini Zoo, Sangaygang view point – a perfect place to take pictures of Thimphu. Enjoy a night out in downtown Thimphu with music and dancing.

Visit Tashichho Dzon (Fortress of Glorious Religion). It was built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and was reconstructed into present structure by the late King, His majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the year 1962-1969.

Morning shuttle towards north of Thimphu at Jigme Dorji National Park in the Cheri valley for bird watching, (roughly 2350-2600m above sea level).

You will be birding through a path beside a swift-flowing stream traversing a lovely, mature, predominantly oak, forest.

Birds to look out for - Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Brown Dippers, Rufous-breasted Accentors, (near a foot bridge festooned with prayer flags), a sharp White-collared Blackbird, Buff-barred, Blyth’s Leaf and Golden-spectacled Warblers, Redstarts (Hodgson’s, Blue-fronted, Plumbeous and the gorgeous White-capped), Black-browed Tit, Green-tailed Sunbirds and Grey-backed Shrike, also a common bird. A mammalian highlight would be goat-like Common Gorals on the rocky hillside above the trail.

Day 3 and 4 - Drive to Punakha (Altitude: 1350m above sea level), enroute stopping for early morning birding on the east side of Dochula Pass, with lovely rhododendrons

Birds to look out for - Timaliids, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, White-browed Fulvetta (will become a regular hereafter), Rufous-vented and Stripe-throated Yuhinas, Fire-tailed Myzornis beside the road. You may also spot Bar-headed Goose and several species of ducks along the river

At Punakaha visit Punakha Dzong (fortress), built in 1637 by Zhabdrung which is remarkably located between the rivers of Mo (Female) Chu (river) and Pho (Male) Chu. Until the time of the second king it served as a seat of the king. Now it is the winter capital of the central monk body.

Drive further northwards along the Mo Chhu Valley and into the eastern side of the same Jigme Dorji National Park

Overnight at tents beside the river (1550-1670m) to a rough campsite beside the river.

Early morning birding upriver from the campsite in the national park and later bird down river.

Birds to look out for - Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Fork-tailed Swifts, Crested Kingfisher, Great and Golden-throated Barbets, Lesser Yellownape, Crimson-breasted Bay Woodpeckers, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Brown Dippers, Chestnut-headed and Slaty-bellied Tesias, Verditer Flycatcher, White-bellied Heron.

Overnight in tents.

Day 5 – Drive to Gangtey (Wangdue). (about 2 hours) Altitude: 2800m above sea level). Stay at hotel Dewachen, Phobjikha.

The valley of Phobjikha is well known as the winter home of the black necked cranes. Bhutan is home to around six hundred black necked cranes with Phobjikha being one of the popular places that the birds migrate to in the winter months from Tibetan plateau. These elegant and shy birds can be observed from early November to end of March. Overlooking the Phobjikha valley is the Gangtey Goenpa. This is an old monastery that dates back to the 17th century

Visit - Kham Sum Yule Lahkahang - built by HRH Azhi (Queen) Tshering Pem Wangchuck for a successful rule during the reign of the present Crown Prince, Daso Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck.

On to Gangtey valley. Look for - the sharp tricolor race of Long-tailed Shrike, Brown Parrotbill, Rufous-vented Tit and Russet Sparrow.

Day 6 – Drive to Trongsa. Altitude: 2200m above sea level. Stay at Yangkhil Resort.

Trongsa forms the central hub of the kingdom and is historically the place from where attempts at unifying the country were launched.

Early morning birding at Pelela pass. Look out for - Rosy Pipits, Dusky Thrushes, Alpine Accentor, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, White-browed and Dark-breasted Rosefinches, Red-headed Bullfinch, White-winged Grosbeaks.

Visit Trongsa Dzong: It was built by Chhogyel Mingyur Tempa (sent by Zhabdrung to unify Eastern Bhutan to bring under the rule of the Desi) in the year 1644 and was enlarged in the 17th century by the Desi (secular ruler) Tenzin Rabgye.

Day 7 – Drive to Zhemgang on the famous Zhemgang road. The Zhemgang road runs south from Trongsa, traversing a steep sided valley and most of the way bordering the Mange Chu. There are several major ups and downs between Trongsa and Tingtibi, and you will come across lots of vegetation varying from surprisingly dry Chir Pine forest to much more lush temperate and finally subtropical sections.

Look out for - Booted Eagle, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Ashy Drongos, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, sparrowhawk, Rufous-necked Hornbills, Rufous Woodpecker, Hill Prinia, Blue-throated Flycatcher, White-throated and Himalayan Bulbuls, Crested Bunting, and Golden Langurs.

Overnight at the camp at Tintibi

Day 8 – Drive to Bumthang. Altitude: 2600m above sea level. Stay at Mepham Guest House.
After a final morning birding, drive back to Trongsa with birding on the way back too. From Trongsa we will climb over a pass into the first four valleys and rolling hillsides covered in spruce and fir and the avifauna alters equally abruptly.
Look out for – Nutcrackers , Beautiful Rosefinches.

Day 9 – Drive to Sengore. Continue further east and cross the Thrumsing La (3700m) one of the highest passes on the motorable road. The road descends spectacularly into rich semi-tropical rainforest near Lingmethang. Many of Bhutan’s most sought after birds can be found here.

Birds to look out for - Hill Partridge, Satyr Tragopan, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Mountain Hawk-eagle, Chestnut- bellied RockThrush, Orange-Flanked and White-browed Bush-Robin. You may also spot Tibetan Siskin, Red crossbill, Red-headed Bullfinch, White-winged and Collared Grosbeaks and the dappers, Gold-naped Finch, in addition to a host of confusing but very nifty rose finches.

We will camp at Sengor, in the midst of truly breathtaking scenery at about 3000 m.

Day 10 and 11 - Drive to Yongkola, explore the upper elevations of Lingmithang road to look for some of Bhutan’s most prized bird species.

Birds to look out for are - Satyr Tragpan, Blood Pheasant, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Slender-billed Scimitat-babbler and Bar-winged Wren-babbler.

Birding along the road to Namling (2300m), one of the greatest birding areas. From the pass at 3700m , this road leads us through some of the most beautiful and rich forests in the entire Himalayas. We have almost three days to explore the wonderful rich subtropical warm and cool broad-leaved forest along sections of this road. Orchids abound and the understory of the forest is often relatively clear, although the higher strata are often strung with enormous woody vine and lianas.

2 nights in the camp catered by the camping crew.

Day12 – Drive to Bumthang after early morning birding and continue exploring for birds on the way.

Overnight at Swiss guest house.

Day 13 – Drive to Thimphu (about 7 hrs), with brief stops for birding on the way.

Overnight at Hotel Dragon Roots, Thimphu

Day 14 – Drive to Paro for flight to onward destination.

The trip is littered with opportunities taken as they arise - this could include a trip to the local Karaoke centre, an impromptu archery competition with the guides, visiting farm houses and tasting the local cuisine, celebrations, meeting with monks and meditating in the monasteries, visiting a bar in a local’s living room or the chance to see a fashion show attended by members of the royal family!

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