Why Bhutan bird watching tour takes so long to load?

Bird watching tours in Bhutan are one of the most amazing tours any birding enthusiast can take, with over 670 species of birds found in this tiny Himalayan kingdom. From border to border, from north to south and east to west, you can find more birds in this small area than any other comparable-sized region, outside the tropical jungles of Africa and South America.

Bhutan is a relatively modern country, in that they do have cars, roads, mobile phones, TVs, and modern technology. And while traditional values and ways of living are predominant in this modern age, travel from place to place in Bhutan can take a very long time. So if you are heading to Bhutan for a birding tour of different place, you will find it takes a while to get from one location to the next. And there are some very good reasons for this.

Reason 1: There are rich and diverse bird species to explore from west to east

Bhutan has a very high amount of forested land coverage from West to East, which means you have a huge area of viable bird watching locations to cover. If you are planning to travel to Bhutan from the west to east, then you will pass through vast tracts of forests, which in total cover more than 70 percent of the entire country at the last count. This high forest coverage makes it harder to spot birds from close by the highway, so you need to get into the region to find the best spots, which can take some time. And inside these large regions of forests, you have a wide variety and huge number of species to try and spot.

Birds to Expect in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha

In the western areas of Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha, you have hundreds of species of birds that are permanent residents, as well as plenty that only come along in the winter months or come back for summer. This part of Northwestern Bhutan is renowned for such permanent species as the Tibetan and Hill Partridges, Blood Pheasants, Tibetan Snowcocks, Kalij Pheasants, Eurasian Woodcocks, Wood Snipes, Bush Robins, Redstarts, and Snow Pigeons. The temperate and alpine conifer areas of this part of the western region also host such species as the Crimson-browed Finch, the Himalayan Monal, Himalayan and Bearded Vultures (used in Sky-Burials), Eurasian Wrens, Thrushes, Laughingthrushes, and Fulvetta. It is also possible to spot the rare White-tailed Eagle soaring above the mountains.

Birds to Expect in Phobjikha Valley

As well as the usual Black-Necked Cranes that are known to inhabit the valley in the winter, you can also find several dozen other species of birds that live in this beautiful valley throughout the year. Species including the Wood Snipe, the Himalayan Wood Owl, the Parrotbill, Hume’s Bush Warbler, Short-eared Wood Owls, the Oriental Skylark, and Brown Dippers are common sights in this valley.

Birds to Expect in Trongsa and Bumthang

For the Bhutan bird watching tour in the central regions, you can expect hundreds of different species, including birds that prefer either coniferous or deciduous forests, since this region has a blend of both. Black-Necked Cranes can be found in the valleys of Chumey, Tang and Choekhor in Bumthang, though their numbers are dwindling lately. You can also find plenty of other species, including: Greater and Lesser Adjutants, Indian Skimmers, White-crested Laughingthrushes, Slaty-backed Forktails, White-bellied Herons, Brown-flanked Bush Warblers, White-hooded Babblers, Large Niltava, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Spotted Doves, Collared Falconets, Great and Rufous-necked Hornbills, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Green Imperial and Mountain Imperial Pigeons, Orange-bellied Leafbirds, Common Hill Myna, and the stunning Purple Sunbird.

Birds to Expect in Far East Bhutan

Eastern Bhutan has more prominent deciduous and broad-leafed forests, which give rise to a huge range of avian species. The woodlands are interspersed with wetland valleys, which are preferred habitats for waders and waterfowl. You can see such birds as: the Grey-sided Laughingthrush, the Himalayan Cutia, the Crested Serpent Eagle, the Spotted Owlet, the Rusty-fronted Barwing, Spotted Forktails, Purple Cochoa, Yellow-vented Warblers, the Pale Headed Woodpecker, the Pied Falconet, and the Silver-breasted Broadbill. And these are just a few of the hundreds of species you can find, and are the more prominent, Look a little harder and get deeper into the forests, and you will find rarer species that few people get to see in real life.

Reason 2: It takes a long time to transfer from west to east Bhutan

Traveling across the country can take a long time, and while driving is the preferred method of travel for tourists in Bhutan, because of the stunning landscapes and spectacular scenery. It usually takes days to cross from west to east. The main road across the country, the Lateral Highway, is a relatively well-paved road, but the twists and turns and narrow stretches do not really allow for faster travel. And the further east you go, the more winding the roads become. One example is the road from Trongsa to Bumthang, which is only 68 kilometers, but takes over two hours to drive. Much longer than roughly the same distance from Paro to Thimphu.

FROM	TO	DISTANCE(KM)	DURATION
Paro	Thimphu	65	1 ¼ hours
Paro	Haa	65	1 ½ - 2 hours
Thimphu	Punakha	77	3 hours
Punakha	Gangtey	78	3 hours
Gangtey	Trongsa	120	4 ½ - 5 hours
Trongsa	Bumthang	68	2 hours
Mongar	Trashigang	91	3 - 4 hours
Trashigang	Samdrup Jongkhar	182	7 hours

Reason 3: Bhutan bird watching requires much time and patience

For anyone that has done a little birding in the past, then you will know that it is not something you can rush. Patience and time are the keys to successful bird watching, and if you really want to get the best sightings and photos, then you will have to learn to be still and patient for hours at a time. Some ardent twitchers have been known to spend 3-4 hours in one spot just to get one good photo.

Is it expensive for such a long Bhutan bird watching tour?

Generally-speaking, birding in Bhutan is no more costly than any other type of tour. As with all other kinds of Bhutan tours from sightseeing and trekking to mountain biking and cycling, the trip starts with the standard 200-250 US dollars per person per night. Then you have the added cost of your flights to Bhutan and the 40 dollars for the visa. And you have to add some money for personal expenses. While the trip is all inclusive, meaning you get the hotel and all meals included in the cost, as well as the cost of the guide, driver, and vehicle, you will have to pay for your own toothpaste and soap.

How to cut the cost of Bhutan bird watching tour?

It is possible to reduce the overall cost of a birding tour in Bhutan, though, with a little prudent planning. The longer you stay in Bhutan, the more it costs, and travel to Central and Eastern Bhutan means longer trips. If you stick to the areas of Western Bhutan around Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, you can reduce how much you spend on the overall tour. And you can still get to see hundreds of species of birds.

Birding in Bhutan in Off Season

The low seasons in Bhutan are cheaper than the peak seasons, by around 50 dollars per day. And for many of the migrant and resident species, the best times to come and see them is in the winter months from December to March. There are a lot of places that you can visit that are not too cold in winter, and the winter is the best time for the famous and auspicious Black-necked Cranes in Phobjikha.

Birding in Bhutan in Group

The other way to save money is to join a group of travelers for a group tour of Bhutan. Single and couple supplements are added for solo travelers and couples of 40 dollars per person for a solo travelers and 30 dollars per person for groups of two. By joining a group of three or more people, or organizing your own group, you can save that supplement, which is a huge saving on the overall cost.

Conclusion

While it can take a long time to spend birding in Bhutan, this is mainly due to the landscape and the roads in the country, as well as the fact that birds rarely come at your call, and you can often wait long periods to get the best views and photos. So if you are thinking of travelling to Bhutan for birding, be prepared for the long travel times and the waiting for that perfect sighting and even more perfect photo of these beautiful Himalayan birds.