Clean Air Adventure
Bird Watching Tour (16 days)
Itinerary Summery (Bird Watching-16 days)
Bird Watching Tour (16 days)
BIRD WATCHING TOUR IN BHUTAN
16 days
The birding tours to Bhutan systematically explore this beautiful Himalayan country for a whole host of special and range-restricted birds. Also, thanks to a small population and its Buddhist traditions, Bhutan has avoided the environmental ravages that have left its neighbors’ forests sadly degraded, and much of the scenery is quite spectacular. Here Majestic Mountain passes littered with prayer flags give way to pristine forests often dominated by massive dzongs (temple-fortresses), and we will have an opportunity to view up close the impressive artwork that adorns these structures and interact with the devout Bhutanese people. Traveling across the breadth of this remarkable country, we will pass through lush broad-leaved forests dripping with orchids, blazes of Spring rhododendrons and magnolias, seemingly endless coniferous forests, with arguably the most magnificent mountain scenery in the world as our backdrop!
Our Bhutan birding tour includes comfortable camping, often at breathtakingly beautiful sites, where our needs are catered for by a team of helpful camp assistants. Much of our Bhutan birding is done whilst walking the most productive sections of the only road winding its way across the Kingdom.Targets include Satyr Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Ibisbill, Rufous-necked Horn bill, Ward’s Trogon, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Beautiful Nuthatch and an astounding selection of wren-babblers and parrotbills. Join us on a Bhutan bird watching adventure through a paradise of culture, birds and scenic vistas, as we explore the heavenly riches of Bhutan on this thoroughly recommended and highly enjoyable tour.
Our new Highlights of Bhutan tour is a shorter and more cost-effective offering as compared to our standard Bhutan birding tour, yet nevertheless still showcases most of what this amazing country has to offer,including almost all of Bhutan’s most beautiful and sought-after birds. In addition, we’ll be among the very first foreign birders to explore there relatively new Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, refuge for about 150 over wintering Black-necked Cranes and scores of other great Himalayan species, making this Bhutan birding tour a true venture of discovery!
Bhutan bird watching tour is agree at favorite, combining some of the finest bird watching in the Himalayas with spectacular scenery. Despite its small size about 770 species of birds have been recorded in Bhutan. Bhutan is birding paradise and the ultimate destination for the birdwatcher and bird lovers around the world. Over 60% of the land is still forested and 26% of the land is protected as National Parks.It is an ideal place to see a wide variety of birds that are impossible or difficult to see anywhere else. Bhutan’s richly diverse and beautiful forests are some of the best remaining forest habitats in the Himalayas.
Bird watching tour in Bhutan is splendid experience as the country is claimed to be the major part of the high bio-diversity conservation hotspot known as Eastern Himalayan hotspots. The diversity of bird life of Bhutan is accentuated by the migrations of hundreds of species. The places like Paro, Thimpu, Punakha, Trongsa, Zhemgang etc hold specialty for the birding tour in Bhutan. Wintertime brings numerous species down to lower altitudes, including accentors, rose finches, grosbeaks, snow pigeons and pheasants such as the satyr tragopan, the Himalayan monal, and the blood pheasant.
Birds in Bhutan can be found from the glacial alpine regions of the north to the sweltering tropics of the south. The geography and altitude are also the most diverse areas of bird habitats ever found in a single country. Most widely known are the Black Neck Cranes, a rare and endangered crane, holds a special place in folklore and Bhutanese hearts.To injure a Black Neck Crane in Bhutan is going to prison for a lifetime. Even the casual observer can be sure to see the blue whistling-thrush, yellow blue magpie, the wall creeper, white-capped water red starts, spotted nutcracker in the pine forest and the red-billed choughs on the roofs on the dzongs. Around 50 species are the winter migrants such as ducks, waders, Birds of prey,thrushes, finches and buntings and others are the partial migrants: Cuckoos, swifts, bee-aters,warblers and flycatchers. It is also harbors more than 16 species of vulnerable birds: the palla’s Fish Eagle, white bellied Heron, satyr’s king Fisher, Rumped Honey Guid, Grey Bellied Traopan, Ward’s Trogaon, Blyth’s king Fisher, Purple Cochoa, Rufous Throated wren Babber, Red headed parrot Bill, Chestnut breasted partridge, Blyth’s Trogon, wood snipe, Dark Rumped swift, Rufous necked Hornbill, Grey crowned Prinia and the beautiful Nuthatch. The country is also home to species of bird that are in danger of extinction: the imperial heron and the rare black Necked crane. The country is an important winter habitat for the rare Black Necked Cranes that are spotted in Phobjikha in Western Bhutan, Bumthang in Center Bhutan and Bomdeling in Eastern Bhutan.
Best Travel Time: February,March, October, November are the best seasons. January, April, May, and September are okay for visit.
Tour level: Easy
Itinerary Summery (Bird Watching-16 days)
Days:16 days – Night: 15 nights
Outline Itinerary
Day: Arrive in Paro
Your journey by flight to Kingdom of Bhutan offers remarkable views of the world highest mountains including Mount Everest, additionally, landing in the heart of Himalaya is like nowhere in the world. On arrival in Paro international airport our representative will receive you and transfer to the hotel. After a break stroll into Paro Town for adaptation. Overnight in Paro.
Day 2; Paro Bird watching
After breakfast begin the birding along the banks of the Paro Chhu river and continue on the Drukgyel dzong,where you will spot the Ibis Bills, Black Faced Laughing Thrush, Brown Dipper,spotted Laughing Thrush, the fire –capped Tit and more. Later drive to Chelela,west of the Paro valley where you will spot Kalij pheasant, blood pheasant,Himalayan Monal, satyr Tragopan and other birds species. Overnight in Paro.
Day 3: Paro to Wangduephodrang
We will checkout from the hotel and drive to Punakha -Wangdue, fours hour drive from Paro to Wangdue Phodorang – Punakha valleyis across spectacular Dochula pass. On a clear day, you will see panoramic views of snowcapped peaks of eastern Himalayan range, including Bhutan’s highest peaks. From Dochula, we will enter into the mixed coniferous forests to spot for the Satyr Tragopon, Darjeeling woodpecker, spotted Nutcracker, yellow billed Magpie, Large Hawk cuckoo, chestnut –tailed minal, Ultramarine Flycatcher, collared Blackbird, Brown Bullfinch and more. Overnight in Wangduephodrang.
Day 4: Wangduephodrang to Trongsa
Driving through a warm broad leaved forest, across the Black Mountain up to the Pelela pass at the altitude of 3300m. The birds you will spot are; Scarlet Finch, White throated Laughing Thrush, Eurasian Jay, verditer Flycatcher and exotic Pigeon. Blood Pheasant, Yellowish-billed, Bush Warbler,Great Parrot bill, White Winged Grosbeak, Fire-tailed Myzornis and Maroon-backed Accentor. After having Lunch continue our journey to Trongsa. Overnight in Trongsa.
Day 5:Trongsa to Zhemgang.
After breakfast drive to Zhemgang with pack lunch. Today we may see the following birds beside the good opportunity to see the golden langure – an animal endemic to Bhutan. Here you’ll see Chestnuts Breasted Partridge, Ward’s Trogon, Rufus Necked, Great Horn Bill and Blue-napped Pitta,Blue fronted Robin, Wedge Billed and Bar winged Wren Babblers and many more.Dinner and overnight in Zhemgang.
Day 7: Zhemgang to Tingtingbi.
Today we will explore the birds from Zhemgang till Tingtingbi. You can spot Rufous-Necked Hornbill, Blue Throated bees eater,collared falconet, chestnut –breasted partridge, Timalids, wren-babblers,Laughing thrushes, scimitar-Bablers, Streaked spider Hinder and green Magpie. Dinner and overnight stay at Tingtingbi; night at Camp.
Day 08: Tingtingbi to Trongsa.
After an early breakfast, drive to Trongsa with your pack lunch. We will stop wherever necessary if we spot birds on our way back to Trongsa. Overnight in Trongsa.
Day 9: Trongsa to Bumthang, Jakar.
Drive us to Jakar, Bumthang via Yotongla pass at 3,400m altitude through temperate forests of Trongsa to coniferous and mixed alpine Bumthang. In Bumthang, you will spot some birds like: Goldcrest, Blyth’s pipit, common sandpiper, Little Bunting, Red-billed chough and Cormorant. Overnight in Jakar.
Day 9: Jakar to Ura
Jakar to Ura is 48 km, about one and a half hour drive. To reach here, the road climbs to Jakar valley Bhutan amazingly open country side, only occasionally running into forest. Large sheep pastures line the road up to 20 km behind the southern tip of the Tang valley. The route crosses Ura la pass (3,600m) with a magnificent view of Mount. Gangkhar Puensum. Villages in Ura have clustered houses, which is quite unusual in Bhutan. Above Ura village (3,100m) is a new temple dedicated to Guru Rinpoche. Inaugurated in 1986, it contains a huge statue of the master and remarkable paintings of the cycle of his teachings. Since last 25 years Ura has been transformed from a marginal community to prosperous valley. You can also visit Mebar Tsho ( Flaming Lake). Overnight in camp.
Day 10: Ura to Sengor
Drive to Sengor via Thrimshing La pass at altitude 3,800m. In the vicinity of sengor you will spot birds like: Yellow-billed Magpies, Fire-tail Mizoram and Jungle Fowl and Satyr Tragopan, Nutcraker birds,Warblers, Fork-tailed and Robin Birds. Overnight in Sengor.
Day 11: Sengor to Yotongla
Travel to Yotongla towards the eastern Bhutan at the altitude of 1,855m through rich sub-tropical rain forests. You can stop at Namling at at latitude of 3,000m, the Bhutan’s most sought after birding area and many avid bird watchers spend many days in Namling. A full day explore the Bhutan’s best birding in the Namling forestspot: ward’s Trogon, Satyr Tragopan, Grey chinned Minivet, Chestnut Breasted partridge amongst a host of the other birds. Overnight in camp.
Day 12: Yotongla to Trongsa
Drive back to Trongsa, and after arrival in Trongsa visit Trongsa dzong, The Watch tower ( Ta –dzong) and by evening explore into Trongsa Town. Overnight in Trongsa.
Day 13: Trongsa to Punkha-Tashithang
Along the Mochu river you will spot species like; White-bellied Heron, Tawny Fish, River Lapwing,Red-headed Trogon, Grey b-headed woodpecker, striated Bulbul, little Nitava, Pymy Blue Flycatcher, Pygmy wren-Babbler, Rufous-chinned Laughing Thrush, Red–Faced Liocichla, Scarlet Finch, Wren-Babbler, Ibisbill, Bar-headed Geese,Great-headed Gulls and More. Overnight in Punkha.
Day 14: Thimphu
Thimphu, the modern capital town of Bhutan, the Thimphu valley is surrounded by fine stands of Blue Pine and temperate evergreen forests. The increasing human settlement has pushed birding spots at least 10km and now the ideal areas for birding are around the stream near Motithang and in and around Begana and Cheri villages.
Few of the bird species recorded here are: Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos), Redrumped Swallow (Hirunda daurica), Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus melaschistos), Grackle or Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa), Grey Wagtail (Motacilla caspica), Whitebellied Yuhina (Yuhina xanthoteuca), Upland Pipit (Anthus sylvanus), Plumbeous Redstart (Rhyacornis fuliginosus).
Day: 15; Thimphu
Morning drive to Mini Takin Zoo, the national animal of Bhutan, Takin and then drive to Cheri, in north Thimphu valley to spot Ibisbill, crested Pied Kingfisher, Rufous-billied woodpeckers, Hoopoe, Nepal House Martin, Long-Tailed Minivet, Mrs. Gould’s sun bird, White Tailed Nuthatch and more. Overnight in Thimphu.
Day; 16; End of your Birding Tour in Gross National Happiness country, Bhutan.
After breakfast drive to Paro airport for departure.
