15 Days Classic Bhutan Bird Watching Tour

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 (2,250m). 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: Transfer to Thimphu to spot birds like Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, Black-earned Kite, Blue-whistling Thrush, etc.

Today’s tour will first transfer you to 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.

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: Cross Dochula Pass and start birding in Punakha, including Himalayan Cutia, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Collared Grosbeak.

Today, you will drive from Thimphu to Punakha (1,242m). The distance between Thimphu to Punakha is 71 kilometers, and it will take you 3 hours to get there. 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.

Birding Yellow-billed Blue Magpie in Punakha

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.

Sight Great Barbet in Gangtey 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.

• 

  Gangtey Dewachen
• 

  Gangtey RKPO Green Resort
• 

  Amankora Gangtey

Highlights: Transfer to Trongsa and watch birds like Blood Pheasant, Yellowish-billed, Bush Warbler, etc.

Today’s tour will take you to Trongsa. With a distance of about 130 kilometers, it takes you about 5 hours to transfer.

En route to Trongsa, you can visit Chendebji Chorten, a large Buddhist Stupa. The Chendebji Chorten is a large white structure built in likeness to the famous Bodhunath Stupa located in Kathmandu in Nepal. Built by Lama Shinda from Tibet in the 19th century AD, the Stupa is believed to have been constructed at a spot where an evil spirit was subdued by the Lama. Another striking feature of the Temple is the eyes painted at the four cardinal points of the temple.

Trongsa covers a range of habitat from tall, dense, evergreen forest characterized by moss and lichen, covered oak and rhododendron together with broad-leaved trees such as horse-chestnuts, laurels, maples, and alders. Birds found here include the Himalayan Griffon, Himalayan Swiftlet, Lammergeier, Snow Partridge, Purple Cochoa, Scalybreasted Wren Babbler, Longtained Minivet, Himalayan Monal Pheasant, Speckled Wood Pigeon and Rufousbellied Bulbul.

Stay overnight in Trongsa.

Chendebji Chorten

Highlights: Cross Yotongla Pass and transfer to Bumthang to spot Goldcrest, Blyth's Pipit, Common Sandpiper, etc.

On today’s trip of 68 kilometers, there is altitude variation from 2,100 m in Trongsa to Yotongla Pass at 3,400 m and then descend to Bumthang valley at 2,600 m and the vegetation changes from temperate forests of Trongsa to coniferous and mixed alpine of Bumthang. 3 hours are required for the transfer.

You can spot birds at Yotongla Pass, farmland in the valleys and riverside of Chamkhar Chhu River, including Goldcrest, Blyth's Pipit, Common Sandpiper, Little Bunting, Redbilled Chough and Cormorant. 

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Get to Bumthang and watching Goldcrest

Highlights: Explore the picturesque village in the Ura Valley.

Today’s journey will take you to explore the picturesque village in the Ura Valley. Ura is the highest valley of Bumthang. It takes about 2 hours to drive from Bumthang to Ura valley.

To reach here, you will pass through amazingly open countrysides, occasionally run into forests. Large sheep pastures line the road and the route also crosses 3,600 m high Ura La Pass and later descends into Ura by long loop crossing fields and pastures. Located at an altitude of 3,100 m, Ura village has characteristically closed clustered houses which is quite unusual in Bhutan.

Stay overnight at camp.

Explore Ura Valley and watching Great Barbet

Highlights: Cross Thrumshingla Pass and explore the subtropical forests of Limithang to spot Black Bulbul, Blyth’s Pipit, Bronzed Drongo, etc.

Today, you will leave Ura valley and head for Limithang. It will take you about 3.5 hours to drive the 80 kilometers distance. Along the route, you will pass through large forests of firs, often dotted with bushy rhododendrons. The road for a few kilometers is precipitous in the extreme, until you reach the pass at Thrumshingla (3,750 m), the highest pass Bhutan. Then the road descends to the village of Sengor, a tiny settlement of shingle roofs and lush fields, where is home to these mountain's most special bird, Himalayan Monal.

After arriving at Limithang, you will go to explore the subtropical forests of this region. The important species available to sight here include Black Bulbul, Blyth’s Pipit, Bronzed Drongo, Gould’s Shortwings, Redheaded Bullfinch, Speckled Piculet, Grey Wagtail, Whitethroated Munia, Whitebrowed Blue Flycatcher, Yellowbellied Flowerpecker, Bluebeaed Bee-Eater, Parrotbill, Honeyguide, Redvented Bulbul, Lesser Racket-Tailed Drongo, Fantail Warbler and Rufousthroated Hill Partridge.

Stay overnight at camp.

Himalayan Monal

Highlights: Enjoy a special cultural experience by visiting Mongar Dzong and Trashigang Dzong.

Today’s journey is more about cultural sightseeing. You will drive from Limithang to Trashigang via Mongar, requiring about 4 hours’ drive to complete the distance of about 118 kilometers.

The first stop you will pay a visit is Mongar Dzong, built at the beginning of the 19th century. However, the present structure dates from 1953, when it was formed on the command of Bhutan's Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Besides being the administrative center of the region, it also houses the Drukpa monastic community.

Then you head for Trashigang Dzong, overhanging the Gamri River by more than 400 m. Unlike most other Dzongs in the Kingdom, it has only one courtyard. The Dzong now serves as the administrative seat for the district and part of it occupied by the Drukpa monastic community.

Stay overnight in Trashigang.

Visiting Trashigang Dzong

Highlights: Explore the local market in Mongar.

After breakfast, you will drive back to Mongar. In the afternoon, you can go to the local market to have an exploratory tour in Mongar town.

Stay overnight in Mongar.

Exploratory tour in Mongar town

Highlights: Head back to the cultural heartland of Bumthang to visit Yathra Weaving Centre.

You will start today’s tour from a morning drive. With a long distance of about 198 kilometers, it will take you 7 hours to drive. Upon arrival at Bumthang, have lunch and then head for Yathra Weaving Centre and local market.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Visit Bumthang Yathra Weaving Centre

Highlights: Pay a visit the village house in Punakha.

After a long drive from Bumthang to Punakha, you will go to visit the village house in Punakha valley and mingle with local people.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Visit Punakha

Highlights: Visit local people and experience local farmer life.

Today, you will continue to drive back to Paro. You can experience life as a local farmer and visit Paro markets.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Visit Paro markets

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.