16 Days In-Depth Central Bhutan Bird Watching Tour

Highlights: Arrive in Paro and transfer to Thimphu to spot birds like Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, Black-earned Kite, Blue-whistling Thrush, etc.

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. Then, you will be transferred 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 (2,250m).

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: Get to Jigme Dorji National Park to spot Ruddy Shelduck, River Lapwing, Common Kingfisher, etc.

After breakfast, your guide will drive you towards Jigme Dorji National Park, crossing through Chir pine and broadleaved forest. More than 365 species of birds have been recorded and 200 are believed to be residing in this national park and is the second largest protected areas of Bhutan.

Here you can spot Ruddy Shelduck, River Lapwing, Common Kingfisher, Common Merganser, Common Hoopoe, Siberian Stonechat, Rufous-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Long-tailed Shrike, Grey-backed Shrike, Hodgson’s Redstart, Ibisbill, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Bar-headed Geese, Brown Dipper, Oriental Magpie Robin, Scaly-breasted Munia, Crested Bunting, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Grey-cheeked Warbler, Grey-hooded Warbler, Hume’s Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Oriental White-eye, Grey Wagtail, Grey Treepie, Red-crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, etc.

After birding, you will go back to Punakha and head for the beautiful Punakha Dzong. Standing by the riverside of Pho Chu and Mo Chu, Punakha Dzong is one of the most impressive buildings and one of the top favorite attractions in Bhutan. More importantly, the rectangular shape fortress is also an honorable treasury where preserves numerous Buddhist relics and historical legacies.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Get to Jigme Dorji National Park to spot Common Kingfisher

Highlights: Head to Tsirang to spot the birds like Wall Creeper, Striated Prinia, Golden-throated Barbets, etc.

After early breakfast, you will drive to Tsirang, that was very recently open for the visitors. The drive will take you through some of the least explored forests of the country. You will have several stops along the way for birding.

Some of the birds you can find here include Wall Creeper, Striated Prinia, Golden-throated Barbets, Blue-throated Barbets, Ashy Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Blue Rock thrushes, Chestnut-bellied Rock thrushes, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Crested Serpent Eagle, Common Kestrel, Striated Laughingthrush, White-throated Laughingthrush and more since this part has never been explored.

Stay overnight at Darachu Campsite.

Birding Black-crested Bulbul in Tsirang

Highlights: Go deep into forests from Tsirang to Darachu Road to sight Beautiful Nuthatch, Cutia, Rufous-necked Hornbill, etc.

Today, you will go to explore the entire stretch from Tsirong to Darachu Road. The subtropical moist forests here host many good species of bird, including Beautiful Nuthatch, Cutia, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Rufous-throated Wren Babbler, Spotted Elachura, Slaty-backed, Spotted Forktails, Little Forktails, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Nepal Fulvetta, Rufous Sibia, Orange-flanked Bush Robin, Grey-chinned Minivet, Long-tailed Minivet, Winter Wren, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Grey-throated Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, etc.

Stay overnight at Darachu Campsite.

Rufous-necked Hornbill

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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  Gangtey Dewachen
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  Gangtey RKPO Green Resort
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  Amankora Gangtey

Highlights: Transfer to Gelephu to watch low elevation specialties of birds, like Great Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Collared Falconet, etc.

Today, after the final morning birding in this wonderful forest, you will head to a lower elevation targeting the varieties of low elevation specialties including Great Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Collared Falconet, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Common Green Magpie, Grey Treepie, Oriental Magpie Robin, White-rumped Shama, Asian-pied Starling, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Sultan Tit, Ashy Bulbul, White-throated Bulbul, Lesser Laughingthrush, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Jungle Babbler, Golden Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Indian Roller, Rufous Sibia, Long-tailed Sibia and Streaked Spider hunter.

Stay overnight at Gelephu.

Transfer to Gelephu to watch low elevation specialties of birds - Rufous-necked Hornbill

Highlights: Transfer to Tingtibi to spot Barred Cuckoo Dove, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Black Serpent Eagle, etc.

Early in the morning, you will climb from the foothills to experience lots of changes in the elevation, starting from the 150 m to the 2500 m. Drive goes through some of the best forests in this kingdom.

You will go to spot Barred Cuckoo Dove, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Black Serpent Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Indian Pond Heron, Long-tailed Broadbill, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Maroon Oriole, White-throated Fantail, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Black Drongo, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Blue Whistling Thrush, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Sultan Tit, Grey-hooded Warbler,  Black-faced Warbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Blue-winged Minla, White-breasted Parrotbill Accentor, and Maroon-backed Accentor.

Stay overnight at Tingtibi Camp.

Barred Cuckoo Dove

Highlights: Search for birds like Pale-billed Parrotbill, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, etc., along the way to Royal Manas National Park.

After early breakfast, you will head south to the Royal Manas National Park. Along the way, you will have several stops to search for the number of species including Pale-billed Parrotbill, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Great Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Eagle, Scarlet Minivet, Grey-chinned Minivet, Ashy Drongo, White-tailed Nuthatch, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Spot-winged Grosbeak. You will also have very good chance of sighting endangered Golden Langur along the drive.

Stay overnight at Pangbang Eco Camp.

Search for birds like Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, etc.

Highlights: Explore the Royal Manas National Park for birds like Hornbills, Pallas fishing Eagle, Red-headed Trogon, etc.

Today you will start exploring the Royal Manas National Park. Lying in south central Bhutan, the park is connected at the southern border with India’s Manas Tiger Reserve, a World Heritage Site. To the north, it borders the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. The Royal Manas National Park is extremely rich in wildlife species. More than 365 species of birds have been officially recorded in Royal Manas National Park with an additional 200 believed to be in residence.

Bird species found here include the four species of Hornbills, Pallas fishing Eagle, Red-headed Trogon, White-throated Kingfisher, rare and little known Blyth’s Kingfisher. Collared and Asian-barred Owlet, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Emerald Dove, Wedge-tailed and Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Collared Falconet, Long-tailed Broadbill, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Orange-bellied and Golden-fronted Leafbird, Common Green Magpie, Black-naped Monarch, Hair-crested, Lesser and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Large and Small Niltava, Verdieter and Pale Blue Flycatcher, Spot-winged Starling Ashy, White-throated and Red-whiskered Bulbul and many more.

Stay overnight at Pangbang Eco Camp.

Explore the Royal Manas National Park for birds like Hornbills etc.

Highlights: Head back to Zhemgang for birds like Cutia, Blyth’s Shrike Babbler, Rusty-fronted Barwing, etc.

After final morning birding in Pangbang, you will head back to Zhemgang today. Along the way back, you can look for species that you might have missed earlier on your way to Pangbang. Today you will also have many photography opportunity along the way, stopping at the famous and beautiful twin waterfall.

In the evening, you will also take opportunity for birding along the Dakphel road in Zhemgang looking for the species like Cutia, Blyth’s Shrike Babbler, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Coral-billed and Streaked-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-chinned and Rufous-necked Laughing thrush, Red-faced Liocichla, Black-chinned, Whiskered and Striated Yuhina, Blue-winged Minla. You will also make a special effort to find Beautiful Nuthatch, which is one of the rarest species of Nuthatch in the world.

Stay overnight at Tingtibi Campsite.

Blyth’s Shrike Babbler

Highlights: Transfer to Trongsa and spot Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers, Crested Buntings, Long-tailed Shrikes, etc.

Before winding up your way to Trongsa, you can first drive back to the location of the Beautiful Nuthatch to give one final try if you didn’t find it yesterday.

Then you will drive to Trongsa with lots of stops at the several-forested valleys on the way. You may see the following birds, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers, Crested Buntings, Long-tailed Shrikes, Rufescent and Striated Prinias, Rufous and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, Common Green Magpie, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Common Kestrel, Rufous-necked and Bhutan Laughing thrush. Silver-eared Mesia, Black-throated and Green-tailed Sunbird, Oriental Turtle and Spotted Dove, Grey Treepie and many more. You will also look for rare and little known Yellow-rumped Honey, one of the two species of Honey guide that occurs in Asia.

Stay overnight in Trongsa.

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers

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

After breakfast, you will drive to Phobjikha valley (3,000m). The distance between Trongsa and Phobjikha is about 78 kilometers and will take you about 2 hours to finish this driving journey. On the way to Phobjikha, you will get amazed by the beauty and serenity of the rich flora and fauna. 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.

explore the stunning valley and sight Great Barbet

Highlights: Drive back to Paro and enjoy your birding experience in Paro valley to spot Aberrant Bush Warbler, Himalayan Whistling Thrush, Long Tailed Minivet, etc.

Today, you will get up early and say farewell to the charming Gangtey valley. About a 5-hour drive will bring you back to Paro. You will encounter the Simtokha Dzong en route. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha Dzong is often said to be the first dzong in Bhutan.

After arriving at Paro, you start birding. 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.

Enjoy your birding experience in Paro valley to spot Himalayan Whistling Thrush

Highlights: Cross Chelela Pass to spot Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasants and Kalij Pheasant, etc.

Very early in the morning, you will drive to the cool and stunning alpine meadow of Chelela pass (3890m). This is the highest pass accessible by car in Bhutan. Here you can find three different species of Pheasants: the colorful Himalayan Monal, flocks of Blood Pheasants and Kalij Pheasant.

Besides you will also spot the other species like White-browed, Dark-rumped and Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Plain Mountain Finch, White winged and Collared Grosbeaks and Black-faced and Spotted laughing thrushes, Alpine and Rufous-breasted Accentor, Snow Pigeon, Hodgson’s Tree creeper, Spotted Nutcracker, Darjeeling and Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Grey-crested, Coal, Rufous-vented and Rufous-fronted Tits.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Cross Chelela Pass to spot Himalayan Monal

Highlights: Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery to find birds like Blue Whistling Thrush, Hodgson’s and Blue-fronted Redstart, etc.

In the morning after breakfast, you will start your 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.

Next, you will begin your return tour to Paro. In the afternoon, you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most beautiful temples built by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo in the 7th century.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery to find birds

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.