Birding & Flora Fauna Tours

From $6570

Birding Watching in Bhutan

Tour Overview

Our most comprehensive 20 nights and 21 days birding tours guided by our senior birding guide with the long years of experience in guiding international birding clients for the past many years. This tour starts from southeast of Bhutan entering from the Indian state of Assam working our way to a central, bit of south and eventually finish in the western part of Bhutan.

On this tour, we’ll cover different wide varieties of habitats and all the main birding sites in the country at a very comfortable pace. You can experience the elevation from 150m up to 3890m. You will likely see all the key species of Bhutan including four species of Pheasants, Ward’s Trogon, Ibisbill, five species of Parrotbills, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide and Beautiful Nuthatch, one of the most sought-after specialties of the Bhutan avifauna. We will also focus on the super skulker species like Tesias, Shortwings, and Wren-Babbler. All in all, we will show you over 320 birds and 10 – 15 species of mammals such as three species of langurs, including the nearly endemic Golden Langur. Himalayan Giant Squirrel, Yellow-throated Marten, and Himalayan Goral.

Bird Watching

Other highlight include visit to Bhutan’s most scenic icon and most important destination for pilgrimages Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), most beautiful and impressive Punakha Dzong and visit a typical Bhutanese farmhouse to experience the local hospitality.

DAY 1: GUWAHATI – SAMDRUP JONGKHAR

We’ll meet at Guwahati airport in the Indian state of Assam. Transfer to Bhutan through the plain of Assam. In the evening birding around Samdrup Jongkha. (Overnight: Samdrup Jongkhar)

DAY 2: SAMDRUP – DEOTHANG – SAMDRUP JONGKHAR

Exploring the forest patches and small stands of bamboo around the Samdrup Jongkhar and Dewatahgn we’ll also be looking along the rocky streams: Overnight: Samdrup Jongkhar

DAY 3: SAMDRUP JONGKHAR – MORONG

After our final morning exploring lowland forest between Samdrup Jongkhar and Deothang. We will head further north Morong. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent birding a stretch of mossy, mid-altitude broad-leaved forest around morong. (Overnight: Morong)

DAY 4: MORONG – TRASHIGANG

We will have a before-breakfast outing. After breakfast at the campsite, we make our way to Trashigang stopping along the way for birding. (Overnight: Trashigang.)

DAY 5: TRASHIGANG – MONGAR – YONGKALA

En route to Yongkala, we stop at Kori La for birding. In the afternoon we will reach lower Limithang road. (Overnight: Yongkala)

DAY 6 & 7: YONGKALA – NAMLING - LIMITHANG ROAD

We spend two full days birding along this incredible 80 km long road, ranked amongst the ten top birding sites in Asia. (Overnight: Yongkala)

DAY 8: YONGKALA – NAMLING – SENGOR

After early breakfast, we’ll be moving uphill in search of high altitude species. En route to Sengor, we’ll make several stop for any missing species. Evening birding around Sengor. (Overnight: Sengor)

DAY 9: SENGOR – THRUMSHINGLA – BUMTHANG

we’ll be birding around Sengor – Phrumshingla stretch searching for the high altitude species that are particular confine to this area. (Overnight: Sengor)

DAY 10: SENGOR – PHRUMSHINGLA – BUMTHANG

Today we cross one of the high passes, the Phrumshing La, at 3800m. Phrumshing La is the prime habitat for many high altitude species; we’ll spend morning time around the pass. Continue our drive to Bumthang. (Overnight: Bumthang)

DAY 11: BUMTHANG - TRONGSA

After early breakfast we hit our road to Trongsa, en route birding at Yotongla, after lunch, we will have the opportunity to visit the impressive Trongsa Dzong. (Overnight Trongsa)

DAY 12: TRONGSA – ZHEMGANG

Today on our drive to Zhemgang, we will have lots of stops at several forested valleys. This is also our best chance for the Golden Langur, a rare monkey near endemic to Bhutan and only discovered in the 1950s. In the evening birding along Zhemgang – Dakphel road. (Overnight: Tingtibe)

DAY 13 & 14: ZHEMGANG – TINGTIBE ROAD

These two days We’ll explore the entire stretch of Zhemgang – Tingtibe and Gomphu road, the road that lead to the Manas National Park. (Overnight: Tingtibe)

DAY 15: ZHEMGANG – TRONGSA – PHOBJEKHA

We head back to Trongsa today, birding many sites on the way looking for any species we might have missed earlier. Crossing Trongsa, we’ll make stops along the way to search for any interesting species that comes along our drive. After a fairly long drive, we reach the Phobjekha valley, sacred wintering ground for the Black-necked Crane. (Overnight: Phobjekha)

DAY 16: PHOBJEKHA – PELELA – PUNAKHA

After an early breakfast, we drive to the Pele la pass (4000 m) and spend the morning hours birding along the old road at Pele la for high altitude species. Later we drive to Punakha, traveling through the valley of Wangdiphodrang; Afternoon. Visit the impressive Punakha’ s Punthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Bliss) standing on the confluence of the two rivers, the Phochu and Mochu. (Overnight: Punakha)

DAY 17: PUNAKHA – JIGME DORJI NATIONAL PARK

We will spend the whole day birding inside the Jigme Dorji National Park and along Mo Chu River. (Overnight: Punakha)

DAY 18: PUNAKHA – THIMPHU

Today after early breakfast we will make our way to Dochu La. Leaving the almost tropical Punakha Valley, we ascend through mixed evergreen and broad-leaved forests to the pass at 3140 meters stopping en route at Lamperi Botanical Park and take nature walk. (Overnight: Thimphu)

DAY 19: THIMPHU – PARO

In the early morning before breakfast we visit the local sewage pond and along the Wang Chu, back to the hotel for breakfast, then Take two hrs. drives to the parking lot at the base of the Tiger’s Nest monastery, from here you can hike to one of the most beautiful and holiest temples in Bhutan. (Overnight: Paro)

DAY 20: PARO – CHELILA BIRDING

Very early in the morning drive to the cool alpine meadow of Chelila pass (3890m) for the high altitude species. This is the highest pass on the car road. Evening: visit the typical Bhutanese farmhouse to experience the local hospitality. (Overnight: Paro)

DAY 21: DEPARTURE

VALUE-ADDED OPTIONS

In addition to offering independent, flexible tour options, Bhutan Travel Bureau can also arrange a variety of “add on” options to provide a more in-depth experience of Bhutan. These include:

Cooking lessons
A farmhouse stay
“Ara” (rice liquor) brewing lessons
Monastery experience
Evening dinner & culture show

Alternatively, you can awaken your senses with a range of wellbeing and spa retreats offering yoga, pilates, meditation, healing bodywork, hot stone baths and massage.

BHUTAN TOUR DATES:

All of our Bhutan tours are private, tailor-made journeys for independent travel on dates of your choosing. We can easily customise your Bhutan tour to spend more in the places doing the activities that you are interested in. Please click on the ‘Tailor-Design This Tour’ tab above to begin customising this tour to your requirements. This tour can be experienced all year around.

WHAT WE INCLUDE IN OUR TAILOR MADE BHUTAN TOURS:

Bhutan Tourist Tariff Royalty & Visa fees.
All private excursions and transfers in superior air-conditioned vehicle.
Local English speaking guide/tour leader.
Experienced driver.
Accommodation in carefully selected, highest standard government approved hotels & guesthouses.
All meals in Bhutan.
All entrance fees and permits.

NOT INCLUDED:

All personal expenses such as bars, beverages, laundry, telephone and tips.
Medical / Travel Insurance.

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