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Highlights

Habitats Covered: Sub-tropical and warm broad leaved forests with bamboo and banana undergrowth, cool broad-leaved forests, Coniferous forests with rhododendron undergrowth, wetlands, rocky slopes, rivers and pastures.

Top Birds: Satyr Tragopan; Himalayan Monal; Blood Pheasant; Ibisbill; Collard and Spot-winged grosbeaks; Fire-tailed Myzornis; Great, Fulvous and Lesser Rufous-headed parrotbills; Spotted, Grey-sided, Blue-winged, Rufous-chinned, Scaly and Lesser Necklaced laughingthrushes; Rufous-bellied and Bay woodpeckers; Mountain Imperial Pigeon; Red-headed and Wards trogons; Lesser and White-browed shortwings; Golden-breasted and Yellow-throated fulvettas; Fire-tailed and Crimson sunbirds; Long-tailed Sibia; Yellow-rumped Honeyguide; Spotted, Pygmy, Rufous-throated, Wedge-billed and Long-billed wren babblers; Black-headed Shrike Babbler; Slender-billed and Coral-billed scimitar babblers; Dark-rumped Swift; Black-backed and White-crowned forktails; Blue-eared Barbet; Beautiful Nuthatch; Rufous-necked, Wreathed, Oriental Pied and Great hornbills.

Top Mammals: Large-eared Pika; Himalayan Yellow-throated Marten; Assamese Macaque; Muntjac; Himalayan Striped Squirrel; Hoary-bellied Squirrel; Malayan Giant Squirrel; Hodgson’s Giant Flying Squirrel; Capped and Common Grey langurs.

Other attractions: Amazing butterflies; strong Buddhist culture, temples and fortresses, spectacular mountain scenery and magnificent forests.

Itinerary

You will be received and welcomed by our tour guide. Thereafter you will escort from the airport to your hotel.
Afternoon you will visit Rinpung Dzong (fortress on heap of jewels) built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder of Bhutan, and Ta Dzong. Ta Dzong was once a watchtower for the defense of the Paro Rinpung Dzong. It was turned into a museum of natural history in 1967. Evening freely stroll along the Paro river to for birding.

Today after breakfast you will drive to Chele la for birding and evening drive behind the Drugyel Dzong the ruin fortress.
The species found in this area are Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Kalij Pheasant, Ibisbill, Common Sandpiper, Crested Kingfisher, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Hoopoe, Nepal House Martin, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Spotted Nutcracker, Yellow-browed Tit, Grey-crested Tit, Rufous-fronted Tit, Black-throated Tit, Plumbeous Water Redstart,Brown Dipper, White-capped Water Redstart, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Eagle, Himalayan Buzzard, etc.

An early morning departure for our journey up through ancient pine and fir forests to Chele La Pass (3,822m), where there are fantastic views of the high Himalayan peaks of Jhomolhari (7,219m), Jichu Drake (6,989m) and down into the Paro and Ha valleys. Chele La gives us the opportunity to ascend above the tree line into alpine meadows and dwarf rhododendron scrub; here we have the possibility of finding the beautiful Himalayan Monal. We should also encounter: Blood Pheasant; Kalij Pheasant; Spotted Laughingthrush; Collard Grosbeak; Blue-fronted Redstart; Fire-tailed Sunbird; Himalayan Bluetail; Altai and Alpine accentors and the beautifully coloured Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch.

After that we will travels towards Thimphu. The route follows the Willow fringed Pa Chhu river and passes through forests of blue pine. Some of the best birding can be found at the sewage treatment plant where we should encounter migrant species such as: Tufted Duck; Ferruginous Pochard; Eurasian Wigeon; Ruddy Shelduck; Northern Pintail; Garganey and Northern Shoveler.

In Bhutan’s high elevation and the mixed evergreen and broad-leafed forests, there is an incredible wide range of birds, mammals, and flowering plants. Here it is possible to see species such as: Fire-tailed Myzornis, Mrs. Gould’s and Green-tailed sunbirds, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker and Green Shrike Babbler around the beautiful blossoms of the rhododendron bushes; Olive-backed Pipit, Gold-billed Magpie and White-winged Grosbeak.

we may see species such as; Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Fire-capped Tit, Red-billed Leiothrix, Scarlet Finch, Mountain Hawk Eagle and Eurasian Treecreeper. From here we continue down through the sub-tropical forests around Punakha where there are cactus, poinsettia and banana plants, then down to the green terraced fields of Punakha.

Today we will spend the morning, birding in this beautiful pristine forest area of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park, at an elevation of 1,400m. This area is much warmer than we have previously experienced, which means a very early rise in order to catch bird activities in the beauty of the warm broad-leaved forest. Here we may encounter: River Lapwing; Red-headed Trogon; Gray-headed Woodpecker; Greater Yellownape; Striated Bulbul; the glowing Little Niltava; the three Tesias; Ferruginous Flycatcher and Spotted Wren Babbler (a constant singer with a beautiful voice!), and the dazzling Scarlet Finch, Nepal Fulvetta, Slaty-backed and Spotted Forktail. When the heat of the day increases, birding lessens so we will drop down to Punakha and spend time exploring the dzong where we will get a glimpse of Bhutanese religion and culture.

The dzong’s position at the confluence of the Mo and Pho Chhu is quite spectacular. In April the front of this majestic building is highlighted by the blossoming of the Jacaranda Trees; their purple flowers softening the giant walls, encouraging your eye to the intricate hand-carved and painted windows. In the late afternoon, as the heat lessens we will drive along the Pho Chhu River, where it is hoped that as well as seeing a number of interesting waterfowl, we will also see: Ibisbill; Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler; Palla’s Fish Eagle and the globally threatened White-bellied Heron.

Today we travel to Trongsa on the western slopes of the Back Mountain National Park, crossing from Western to Central Bhutan. In the forested valley below Pele La we will look for the Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush; Black-eared Shrike Babbler; Fire-capped Tit; Rufous Woodpecker; Speckled Piculet; Greater Yellownape and Ward’s Trogon (rare). Returning to our vehicles we will continue climbing up through mixed forests ablaze with flowering rhododendrons and magnolias, to the pass at Pele La. Here prayer flags flutter in the breeze and on clear days the views across to snow topped Jhomolhari (7,314m), marking the border between central and western Bhutan, are quite breath taking. Birding along the pass we will look for Great Parrotbill; White-browed Rosefinch and Himalayan Griffon Continuing our journey we descend through more beautiful rhododendron forests and thickets of dwarf bamboo where we will stop to bird, looking for the brilliant Spotted, Black-faced and Chestnut-crowned laughingthrushes; Rufous-vented, Whiskered and Stripe-throated yuhinas; Oriental Skylark; and Yellowish-bellied bush Warbler, who can often be heard before seen.

In Trongsa we will settle in to our hotel from where there are magnificent views of Trongsa Dzong, an imposing structure, situated on a spur above the Mangde Chhu gorge.

This morning we will gradually make our way up to Yotong La Pass (3,425m) through cascading waterfalls and more magnificent rhododendron and magnolia forests. Our camping crew will be waiting with hot breakfast setup on the roadside, so that we can bird and breakfast at the same time! Some of species that are regularly seen here are: Chestnut-headed Tesia; Rufous-vented Yuhina; Black-faced Laughingthrush; Black-eared Shrike Babbler; Solitary Snipe; White-browed Bush Robin; Indian Blue Robin; Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker; Rufous-bellied Woodpecker and White-winged Grosbeak.

Descending through silver fir and spruce forests we come to the upland valley of Chumey, the religious heartland of Bhutan where there are many ancient cultural and religious sites dating as far back as the 7th century. This is the only place we can find the Black-billed Magpie.

One of the common birds around this area is the Red-billed Chough often seen feeding in the buckwheat fields. In the late afternoon we will drive up to the nearby Tharpaling monastery to see the Himalayan Monals at close range where the monks feeds them on a regular basis.

Leaving Chumey very early, we climb through forests of larch, silver fir, spruce and towering hemlocks, until reaching camp just below Thrumshing La (3,780m), here we will begin to explore the upper reaches of this magnificent stretch of road where Blood Pheasants feed by the road side in the mist and where, once more we have breathtaking views of the eastern Himalayas. From here we can also see the village of Sengor where we will be camping for the night.
Species we will encounter are flocks of Gray-crested, Coal, Green-backed, Yellow-browed and Black-browed tits; Mrs. Gould’s and Green-tailed sunbirds; Rufous-gorgeted and Ultramarine flycatchers; Ashy-throated, Lemon-rumped, Large-billed and Blyth’s leaf-warblers; White-browed and Rufous-winged fulvettas; Stripe-throated Yuhina; Green Shrike-Babbler; Satyr Tragopan (rare); Eurasian Sparrowhawk; Upland Buzzard; Mountain Hawk-Eagle; Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush; Himalayan Forest Thrush; White-collard Blackbird; Himalayan Bluetail; White-browed Bush Robin; Blue-fronted Redstart; Rufous-bellied Niltava; Rusty-flanked and Brown-throated treecreepers; Gray-sided Bush-Warbler; Black-faced and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrushes; Red Crossbill; Red-headed Bullfinch; White-winged and Collared grosbeaks and Gold-naped Finch.

Two days are spent exploring the Thrumshing La National Park.In this breathtaking landscape we will bird in a protected area of pristine forests using a paved yet rarely used road, providing the ultimate beneficiary birding opportunities. It is here in this birding hotspot that we can look for some of Bhutan’s most prized bird species: Satyr Tragopan; Beautiful Nuthatch; Fire-tailed Myzornis and Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler. These are species that are difficult to find elsewhere.

After birding the upper elevations above Yongkola, acknowledged being one of the great birding roads of the world, we will slowly descend to our Yongkola camp at approximately 1,889m. From a pass at 3,780m dropping to approx. 900m, the road takes us through some of the most beautiful forests in the entire Himalayas, where some of the most exotic species thrive in the pristine habitats. We have time to explore the wonderfully rich, subtropical, warm and cool, broad- leaved forests along the lower section of this road where ancient trees are festooned with orchids adding a riot of colour to this verdant land.

Trails criss-cross the forests, but few birders venture far into their depth consequently, exactly what avian delights may be around the corner may be a complete surprise. Here we should encounter:Hill and Rufous-throated partridges; Rufous-bellied Eagle; Crested Serpent Eagle; The rare Rufous-necked Hornbill (the forests of Bhutan are the stronghold for this impressive species); Speckled Wood-Pigeon (another rare bird); Blue-bearded Bee-eater and Ward’s Trogon (the male of the species is truly handsome) and two of the Himalayas’ rarest birds, the cobalt Blue-fronted Robin, and the elusive and strange Wedge-billed Wren Babbler; Lesser Yellownape; Golden-throated and Blue-throated barbets; Large and Oriental hawk-cuckoos; Collared Owlet; Himalayan Treepie; Gray-chinned, Short-billed and Long-tailed Minivets; Yellow-bellied Fantail; Blue-capped Rock-Thrush; Lesser Shortwing; Verditer Flycatcher; Large Niltava; Hodgson’s Redstart; Black-headed (rare), Plumbeous and White-capped Water redstarts; Slaty-backed Forktail; Rusty-flanked Treecreeper; Sultan, Black-throated, Rufous-fronted, Yellow-browed and Yellow-cheeked tits; Mountain and Ashy bulbuls; Hill and Striated Prinias; Chestnut-headed, Slaty-bellied and Gray-bellied Tesias; Gray-sided Bush Warbler; Gray-hooded, White-spectacled, Chestnut-crowned, Broad-billed and Black-faced warblers; White-crested, Striated, Rufous- necked, Gray-sided, and Blue-winged Laughingthrushes; Streak-breasted, Coral-billed and Slender-billed scimitar-babblers; Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler (a little known and endangered species); Rufous-capped and Golden babblers; Red-billed Leiothrix; Himalayan Cutia; Rufous-bellied, White-browed and Black-eared shrike-babblers; Rufous-fronted Barwing; Bar-throated Siva; Red-tailed Minla; White-naped, Whiskered and Black-chinned yuhinas; and the amazing Golden-breasted and Yellow-throated fulvettas (unknown elsewhere); Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill (rare); Fire-breasted Flowerpecker; Crimson-browed Finch; Spot-winged Grosbeak; Scarlet Finch (again, incredibly beautiful males).

Two days are spent exploring the Thrumshing La National Park.In this breathtaking landscape we will bird in a protected area of pristine forests using a paved yet rarely used road, providing the ultimate beneficiary birding opportunities. It is here in this birding hotspot that we can look for some of Bhutan’s most prized bird species: Satyr Tragopan; Beautiful Nuthatch; Fire-tailed Myzornis and Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler. These are species that are difficult to find elsewhere.

After birding the upper elevations above Yongkola, acknowledged being one of the great birding roads of the world, we will slowly descend to our Yongkola camp at approximately 1,889m. From a pass at 3,780m dropping to approx. 900m, the road takes us through some of the most beautiful forests in the entire Himalayas, where some of the most exotic species thrive in the pristine habitats. We have time to explore the wonderfully rich, subtropical, warm and cool, broad- leaved forests along the lower section of this road where ancient trees are festooned with orchids adding a riot of colour to this verdant land.

Trails criss-cross the forests, but few birders venture far into their depth consequently, exactly what avian delights may be around the corner may be a complete surprise. Here we should encounter:Hill and Rufous-throated partridges; Rufous-bellied Eagle; Crested Serpent Eagle; The rare Rufous-necked Hornbill (the forests of Bhutan are the stronghold for this impressive species); Speckled Wood-Pigeon (another rare bird); Blue-bearded Bee-eater and Ward’s Trogon (the male of the species is truly handsome) and two of the Himalayas’ rarest birds, the cobalt Blue-fronted Robin, and the elusive and strange Wedge-billed Wren Babbler; Lesser Yellownape; Golden-throated and Blue-throated barbets; Large and Oriental hawk-cuckoos; Collared Owlet; Himalayan Treepie; Gray-chinned, Short-billed and Long-tailed Minivets; Yellow-bellied Fantail; Blue-capped Rock-Thrush; Lesser Shortwing; Verditer Flycatcher; Large Niltava; Hodgson’s Redstart; Black-headed (rare), Plumbeous and White-capped Water redstarts; Slaty-backed Forktail; Rusty-flanked Treecreeper; Sultan, Black-throated, Rufous-fronted, Yellow-browed and Yellow-cheeked tits; Mountain and Ashy bulbuls; Hill and Striated Prinias; Chestnut-headed, Slaty-bellied and Gray-bellied Tesias; Gray-sided Bush Warbler; Gray-hooded, White-spectacled, Chestnut-crowned, Broad-billed and Black-faced warblers; White-crested, Striated, Rufous- necked, Gray-sided, and Blue-winged Laughingthrushes; Streak-breasted, Coral-billed and Slender-billed scimitar-babblers; Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler (a little known and endangered species); Rufous-capped and Golden babblers; Red-billed Leiothrix; Himalayan Cutia; Rufous-bellied, White-browed and Black-eared shrike-babblers; Rufous-fronted Barwing; Bar-throated Siva; Red-tailed Minla; White-naped, Whiskered and Black-chinned yuhinas; and the amazing Golden-breasted and Yellow-throated fulvettas (unknown elsewhere); Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill (rare); Fire-breasted Flowerpecker; Crimson-browed Finch; Spot-winged Grosbeak; Scarlet Finch (again, incredibly beautiful males).

Today we will drive towards Thimphu and on the way continue birding.

Post early breakfast we will drive towards Paro.
On the way we will visit some important monumnents like Khamsum Yulley Namgay Chorten, Buddha Point and Memorial Chorten.
After reaching Paro we will visit Paro Dzong and the museum.

Today we will hike up Tiger Nest one of the most famous monument in the world.
On the way we will spot some birds.

Post breakfast your guide and the driver will drop you at the airport to see off.

Today you exit Bhutan and connect with your onward journey. Our Indian agent will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to Guwahati airport where you connect with your flight to Delhi/Calcutta for your International connection.
En-route you will stop at the Garchawk garbage dumpsite where you have the opportunity to see the rare Lesser and Greater Adjutants; Yellow-wattled Lapwing; Bornze-winged Jacana; Pied Kingfisher; Purple Heron and Little Cormorant.

General Inclusions

  • Accommodation 3 Star Hotel (Twin sharing basis)
  • All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
  • Dedicated Vehicle
  • Dedicated English speaking guide
  • Visa
  • Royalty fees
  • Airport transfers
  • Monumental fees

General Exclusions

  • Flight tickets
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Shoppings

Payment & Cancellation Policy

Payment Terms

  • The approval of tourists VISA is contingent on the full payment of the tour
  • Flight ticket payment is subject to the Ticketing Time Limit issued by the airlines

Tour Cancellation and Refund Policy

  • 30 to 15 days prior to arrival - 20% of the total tour cost will be levied as cancellation fee.
  • 14 to 7 days prior to arrival - 50% of the tour cost will be levied as cancellation fee.
  • Less than a week prior to arrival - 100% cancellation charge will be levied as cancellation fee.

Flight Ticket Cancellation and Refund Policy

  • Subject to the cancellation terms of the Airlines.

Rescheduling Tour Dates

  • There are no charges for rescheduling your trip. However the package cost may increase, hotel rates, airline charges are subject to change depending on your new travelling dates.

All Bhutan Birding

  Duration : 14 Nights & 15 Days

  Tour Type : Private

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