Bhutan Birding/Cultural Tour

Print Email

Detailed Trip Description

Bhutan remained isolated from the rest of the world for centuries. It is the only country in the region which was never colonized. Having remained in isolation for centuries Bhutan has been able to preserve its natural resources. Today Bhutan has been recognized as one of the ten global hot spots. Bhutan's terrain is almost 65% forest, which has helped to preserve many species of birds and animals. There are almost 650 different species of birds living in Bhutan.

Print Email
 

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Thimphu

 
Paro -Thimphu.
Sightseeing

Arrive Paro International airport from Delhi. After clearing immigration, drive east through an enchanting valley with its decorated shingle- roofed houses and willow-fringed river. Red billed Choughs are quite common in this valley and as we head east, we'll stop to search for Ibisbill and Brown Dipper.

Hotel

Overnight Thimphu.


Day 2 - Punakha

 
Thimphu - Punakha.
Sightseeing

Head east out of Thimphu, up onto the western slopes of Dochu la, the first of a series of high altitude road passes. Entering the pristine mixed forests of hemlock, fir, oak, blossoming magnolias, and rhododendrons we should see a wealth of birds including some species rich feeding flocks. Quarrelsome Nutcrackers are common and other highlights may include a skulking Hill Partridge or Satyr Tragopan, Golden Bush Robin, an immaculate Cutia, Brown Parrotbill, or even a gorgeous Firetailed Myzornis. We'll venture off road onto a couple of trails that enable us to explore the forest more thoroughly.

Hotel

Overnight Punakha.


Day 3-4 - Punakha

 
Sightseeing

Staying three night in Punkha you will get to see some wonderful species along MoChhu river and the bird-rich subtropical forests it contains. Your route will take you past the spectacular Punakha Dzong. We should see an impressive array of species, including the White bellied Heron, one of Bhutan's rarest specialties. We are sure to encounter several parties of brightly colored Minivets, noisy Straited Laughingthrushes and may also see more Red headed Trogon, and Wedge tailed Piegon. We can spot fire capped Tit breeds here, as well as White gorgeted Flycatcher and rare Yellow vented Warbler.

Sightseeing

We will also search for variety of skulkers including White browed Shortwing, Spotted and Pygmy Wren Babblers and all three species of tesia.

Hotel

Overnight Punakha.


Day 5 - Punakha

 
Punakha - Gangtey.
Sightseeing

Continuing east, past Wangdue Dzong (a monastery and fortress combined), we will make a series of brief stops to scan the braided river channel. We have seen Palla's Gull and Palla's Fishing Eagle regularly here. We also check forest edges and explore some of the small patches of cultivation. We will enter productive forests near the end of our journey and will stop here to look for species such as Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan or majestic Himalayan Monal. Spotted Laughingthrush, Yellowish bellied Bush Warbler, Rusty flanked Treecreeper, and White winged Grosbeak also live here.

Sightseeing

We will also make our proper search for Ward's Trogon, perhaps Bhutan's premier avian prize.

Hotel

Overnight Gangtey Gompa.


Day 6 - Bhutan

 
Gangtey - Trongsa.
Sightseeing

Leaving Gangtey we will flow the twisting road over the Pelela Pass and into Central Bhutan. A stand of bamboo extend for about three miles below the pass and we will search here for specialties such as Great and Brown Parrotbills, and Goldenbreasted Fulvetta, surely one of the world's most attractive passerines.

Hotel

Night in Trongsa.


Day 7 - Bumthang

 
Trongsa - Bumthang.
Sightseeing

We will initially head south. Our main target is the rare and little known Yellow rumped Honeyguide but we should see a number of other species perhaps including Emerald Dove, Large Niltava, and Russet Bush Warbler. The Valley here is also a good area for the rare Golden Langur. Retracing our route we will climb over a pass into the first four valleys and rolling hillsides covered in spruce and fir and the avifauna alters equally abruptly. Nutcrackers can be common, though we will have to spend a little more time searching for Beautiful Rosefinches.

Hotel

Overnight Bumthang.


Day 8 - Bumthang

 
Bumthang -Lingmethang.
Sightseeing

Continuing our circuit east we will climb across the Thrumsingla 12, Bhutan's highest road pass at 465ft. The road then plunges dramatically down into rich semitropical rain forests. This is the Lingmethang road, perhaps Asia's premier birding road. Many of Bhutan's most sought after birds can be found here including the Chestnut breasted Partridge, Ward's Trogon, the majestic Rufous necked Hornbill, Blue napped Pitta, Blue fronted Robin, and wedge billed and Bar winged Wren Babblers.

Camping

Overnight camp/modern Bhutanese house in Lingmethang.


Day 9-10 - Bhutan

 
Sightseeing

Explore the fabulous, lush primary forests in search of the area's specialties. These include the special area where the Rofous necked Hornbill spend mid day resting. Some of the rare species are slender billed and Coral billed Scimitar Babblers, Scaly and Blue winged Laughing thrushes, Greater Rofous headed Parrotbill, Broad billed Warbler and Rofous throated Wren Babbler.

Camping

Overnight camp in Lingmethang.


Day 11 - Bumthang

 
Lingmethang – Bumthang.
Hotel

Retrace to Bumthang checking the missed places.

Hotel

Overnight Bumthang.


Day 12 - Bumthang

 
Bumthang sightseeing.
Sightseeing

After breakfast you will visit the following places:, Jakar Dzong (fortress), Jambey Lhakhang (one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan), Kurjey Lhakhang (temple of Guru Rinpoche's body print), Tamshing Lhakhang (see old Buddhist paintings), Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake),

Hiking

Short hike to Thangbi Monastery in the afternoon and explore Thangbi village.

Sightseeing

You can spend the evening exploring Bumthang town.

Hotel

Overnight in Bumthang.


Day 13 - Bumthang

 
Day hike to Petsheling (6-hour roundtrip).
Hiking

Today you will hike to the Petsheling Monastery. It is located about three hours hiking distance above the Swiss Guesthouse on a steep incline. It offers fine panoramic views of the central Bumthang valley.

Hiking

You can also hike beyond the monastery across the ridge and feel the spirit of the mountains and monastery.

Relaxation

In the evening you can relax in the town.

Hotel

Overnight in Bumthang.


Day 14 - Wangdi Phodrang

 
Bumthang – Wangdiphodrang.
Sightseeing

Early morning drive to Wangdiphodrang. Evening walk around the Wangdi town.

Hotel

Overnight in a hotel in Wangdi.


Day 15 - Wangdi Phodrang

 
Sightseeing

In the morning, visit Wangdi Dzong and Chhimmy Lhakhang (built by Lam Drukpa Kinley, who is known as the divine madman). Heirless couples are blessed with a stone phallus (believed to be of the master’s) in his temple.

Food and Dining

Lunch with the locals in a village.

Sightseeing

Visit a farm house near Chhimmy Lhakhang. After lunch visit Punakha Dzong.

Hotel

Overnight Wangdiphodrang.


Day 16 - Thimphu

 
Wangdi –Thimphu.
Sightseeing

Morning drive to Thimphu. Visit the kings memorial chorten, painting school and zulikha nunnery.

Shopping

Afternoon visit the Sunday market.

Hotel

Overnight in Thimphu.


Day 17 - Paro

 
Thimphu –Paro.
Private Car Service

Morning drive to Paro visit Kyichu lhakhang.

Hiking

Afternoon hike to Taktsang.

Hotel

Overnight hotel in Paro.


Day 18 - Paro

 
Commercial Flight

Fly out.


Request more info

Not the trip you were looking for?

Click here to find experts to book your trip (it's free!)

Submit Inquiry to Travel Specialist

Trips you may also be interested in

Essence of the Last Sangri-la
This tour will take you deep into the heart of Central Bhutan, till Bumthang valley. You will travel crossing the three high mountains passes: Dochula at 3100m, Pelela at 3300m and Yotongla, the highest at 3400m. Bumthang is the spiritual home of the Bhutanese people and is dotted with some ...
Crystal Water Rafting
Rafting is not so popular in Bhutan. Some of our clients prefer to embark on this adventurous sport as a part of their cultural tour. Water sports in Bhutan is at its infancy stage, we combine rafting as a part of the tour package so that our clients can feel ...
Druk Path Trek
It is a beautiful trek passing through awe-inspiring mountains and vales. You will come across several lakes filled with trouts. This is a short five days trek which leads from paro to Thimphu or vice versa, crossing the chain of mountains that separates the two valleys. Although the route is ...
Beautiful Laya Gasa Trek
Picturesque farmland, alpine pasture, impressive peaks and numerous isolated Dzongs providing a great deal of cultural interests. Spectacular camp site, beneath some of Bhutan’s most impressive peaks, of which the most notable are Jhumolhari and Jichu Drake, are also the features of this trekking route. Numerous isolated Dzongs and scattered ...
Search for travel inspiration