8 Days Bhutan Bird Watching Tour to Phobjikha Valley

Highlights: Arrive in Paro and have sightseeing to Paro Rinpung Dzong and Ta Dzong.

Upon your arrival at Paro International Airport by Druk Air, your local guide and driver will meet you at the arriving hall of the airport. And they will have a brief introduction about themselves and then help you check in hotel.

After a short rest, you will start your sightseeing in Paro. visit the imposing Paro Rinpung Dzong (also named as Paro Dzong), a fortress once built to defend the valley from invasions. However, it now serves as an administration center and school for monks.

Later, you will proceed to visit Bhutan National Museum - Ta Dzong. The museum houses a large number of valuable collections. A visit to the National Museum will deepen your understanding of this country in a whole and broaden your eyes with numerous pieces of Bhutan treasures.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

Highlights: Start your birding adventure in Paro to spot Aberrant Bush Warbler, Himalayan Whistling Thrush, Long Tailed Minivet, etc.

Today, you will start your biding tour in Paro. The ideal birding spots in Paro cover the farmlands, the lower and upper broadleaved evergreen forests, the riversides, sub alpine forests, and shrubberies.

Some of the recorded bird species in Paro you can spot include Aberrant Bush Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Himalayan Whistling Thrush, Common Teal, Grey-headed Flycatcher Warbler, Green-backed Tit, Hodgson’s Redstart, Jungle Crow, Himalayan Brown Dipper, Crested Honey Buzzard, Himalayan Treecreeper, Hill Pigeon, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Rufous Turtle Dove, Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle, Stripe-throated Yuhina, and Longtailed Minivet.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Find Himalayan Whistling Thrush in Paro valley

Accommodation

The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.

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  Paro Olathang Hotel
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  Paro Tashi Namgay Resort
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  Paro Le Meridien Hotel

Highlights: Cross Dochula Pass and transfer to Punakha to watch birds like Himalayan Cutia, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Collared Grosbeak.

Today, you will be transferred to Punakha from Paro, covering a distance of about 125 kilometers. And it takes you about 5 hours to drive. On the way, you will have an excellent opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view of the solemn Bhutan Himalaya Ranges and even take photos at the impressive collection of 108 chortens at Dochula Pass (3,140m).

Upon arrival, you start birding in Punakha. The birds found in Punakha valley are Himalayan Cutia, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Collared Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, White-browed Fulvetta, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Plain Mountain Finch, Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Black-throated Parrotbill, Himalayan Bluetail, White-browed Bush Robin, Rufous-breasted Bush Robin, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Brown Bullfinch, Red-headed Bullfinch, Chestnut-tailed Minla, etc.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Biking visit the Punakha Dzong

Highlights: Have a birding adventure from Punakha to Gasa, including Jungle Owlet, Asian-barred Owlet, Osprey, White-bellied Heron, etc.

After an early breakfast, you start your birding adventure from Punakha to Gasa. In this Punakha to Gasa stretch, you will sight Jungle Owlet, Asian-barred Owlet, Osprey, White-bellied Heron, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Lesser Fish Eagle, Great Cormorant, Black-throated Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Black-throated Yuhina, Striped-throated Yuhina, Whiskered Yuhina, Straited Yuhina, Scarlet Minivet, Long-tailed Minivet, Grey-chinned Minivet, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, etc.

stay overnight in Punakha.

You will sight Asian-barred Owlet in Gasa

Highlights: Cross Lawala Pass and transfer to Gangtey to explore the stunning valley and sight Himalayan Greenfinch, Great Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, etc.

Today, you will transfer to the Phobjikha valley (3,000m). The distance between Punakha and Phobjikha is about 80 kilometers and will take you nearly 3 hours to finish this driving journey. The Phobjikha valley is one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country and it serves as the nesting grounds for the endangered Black-necked Crane in winter.

The bird species found in this valley include Himalayan Greenfinch, Great Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Black-throated Sunbird, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Oriental White-eye, Crested Serpent Eagle, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Chestnut-tailed Minla, White-throated Fantail, Green-tailed Sunbird, Mrs Gould's Sunbird, Winter Wren, Black-necked Crane, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Red-billed Chough, White-browed Rosefinch, Crimson-browed Finch, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Great Parrotbill, etc.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Cross Lawala Pass and sight Great Barbet

Accommodation

The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.

• 

  Gangtey Dewachen
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  Gangtey RKPO Green Resort
• 

  Amankora Gangtey

Highlights: Cross Pelela Pass and drive back to Thimphu for birds such as Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, Black-earned Kite, Blue-whistling Thrush, etc.

Today, you will drive back to Thimphu via Pelela Pass, where you can find Himalayan Monal, Spotted Laughingthrush, Himalayan Griffon, Brown Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill. You will have a stop at Dochula for lunch and then continue drive to Thimphu.

Thimphu valley is surrounded by beautiful stands of Blue Pine and temperate evergreen forests. The increasing human settlement has pushed birding spots at least 10 km, and now the ideal areas for birding are around the stream near Motithang and in and around Begana and Cheri villages.

Some of the bird species recorded here include Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, Black-earned Kite, Blue-whistling Thrush, Brown Parrotbill, Common Myna, Common Sandpiper, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Fire tailed Sunbird, Short-toed Lark, Golden-spectacled Warbler, Grey-backed Shrike, Hodgson’s Redstart, Laughing Thrush, Long-tailed Minivet, Oriental Skylark, Oriental Turtle Dove, Oriental White eye, etc.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Appreciate Blyth’s Leaf Warbler in Thimphu

Highlights: Transfer to Paro and hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery to sight birds like Blue Whistling Thrush, Hodgson’s and Blue-fronted Redstart, etc.

Today, you will first drive back to Paro from Thimphu (2,350m), the capital city of Bhutan. Covering a total distance of nearly 54 kilometers, it will take you about 1 hour to get to Thimphu from Paro (2,250m).

Then, you will start the hike to Taktsang Monastery (also known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery). You will spend 5 to 6 hours for the hike. Perched on the side of a cliff 900 meters above the Paro valley, Taktsang Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan.

On your way up, you will make regular birding stops while enjoying the scenery. Birds that can be seen in the valley here include Blue Whistling Thrush, Hodgson’s and Blue-fronted Redstart, Hoopoe, Rufous Sibia, White-collared Blackbird, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Long-tailed and Grey-backed Shrikes, and Yellow-billed Blue Magpie.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Find a Rufous Sibia in hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination.

The tour services end.