Duration: 7 days
Entry Point: Paro, Western Bhutan
Exit Point: Paro, Western Bhutan
Total Area Coverage: West to east Bhutan birding areas
Tour Summary
Tour’s target –Get sightings of Satyr Tragopan, Ward’s Trogon, Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasants, Beautiful Nuthatch, Ibisbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, White-bellied Heron, varieties of Wren Babblers, and many more birds. Also see mammals like
Golden Langur, Common Langur, Capped Langer, Goral, Himalayan Black Bear, Golden-throated Martin and Flying Squirrel. Other opportunities include Bhutan’s places of historical and cultural interests plus amazing mountains, landscapes, flora, and unique lifestyle.
Detailed Itinerary
Paro
On arrival at Paro airport, you will be received by our company’s representative. After check in at the hotel, we will visit the nearby places of cultural interest like fortresses, monuments and temples. After lunch, preferably around late afternoon, we will scour Paroriver for Ibisbill. We may be able to see other birds like White-collared Blackbird, River Lapwing and Black-tailed Crake.
Night halt in Hotel, Paro
Paro – Thimphu. (2 hrs)
We will leave very early for Chelela pass (3,890 m). This cool alpine meadow carpeted with beautiful alpine followers and stunning landscapes is the highest road point in Bhutan. We will comb this area for pheasant species like the Kalij Pheasant, Himalayan Monal and Blood Pheasant. We will have sightings of Laughingthrush, Rosefinch and Grosbeak. After lunch back at our hotel in Paro, we will take a three-hour hike to the Tiger’s Lair or Taktshang, a famous 17th century temple built on a sheer cliff-face. Towards evening, we take the hour-long drive to the capital city, Thimphu.
Night halt at hotel, Thimphu
Thimphu
We drive to the north of Thimphu in the morning and then hike to Cheri monastery where, enroute, we hope to catch sightings of the various species of Laughing Thrush
– Spotted, Chestnut-Crowned, White-throated – plus Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Brown Dipper and White-collared Blackbird. We should be able to see Mountain Goats in the vicinity of the monastery.
After lunch back in the hotel, we visit places of cultural, social and religious interests, in and around the capital. These include TashichhoDzong, the palace-fortress of the king, the world’s tallest Buddha, Folk Heritage Museum, and if time permits a traditional archery match at Changlimithang.
Night halt at hotel, Thimphu
Thimphu-Punakha/Shaten (5 hrs)
Today, literally, will be our communion with nature. We drive to Dochula Pass (3,150 m) where we absorb and savor the beauty of the mighty Himalayas. We skirt through forests of hemlock, oak, fir and oak besides an amazing array of rhododendron species. This mixed forest habitat spawns the beautiful Satyr Tragopan, a rarity of the Himalayas. Other species we will come across include the Rufous-breasted Bush Robin, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, and Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Fire-tailed Myzornis and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher.
We visit the exquisite fortress-palace called PunakhaDzong and head to our destination at Shaten inside the JigmeDorji National Park.Evening drive back to Punakha.Overnight at hotel.
Punakha – JigmeDorji National Park – Gangtey/ Phobjikha
Early morning check out from Hotel than drive one and half our to the JigmeDoringNastional park, we scour the park for half days, primarily the river banks and the foothills, for what should be our opportunity to sight prized bird species. If lucky, we could even catch a glimpse of White-bellied Heron, a rarity with less than 200 alive worldwide. Another rarity found here is the Pallas’s Fish Eagle. Other species found include the Red–headed Trogon, Black-chinned Yuhina, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Small Niltava, Forktails, Wren-babblers, Woodpeckers and Laughingthrushes.
After lunch drive to Phobjikha valley where, enroute, we will look for Ward’s Trogon, Yellow-rumpedHoneyguide and other flocks of mixed species. We will stopover for the sighting of various species of Bush Warbler and Laughingthrush which dwell in the dwarf bamboos in the vicinity of Gangteyla pass.
The highlight of our visit to Phobjikha, however, is the Black-necked Crane. As the bird’s biggest wintering ground, we should be able to sight many. Afterward, we will visit the Information Centre for the crane and also take time to see the majestic 17th century Gangteymonastery.over night at hotel.
Gangtey/ Phobjikha – Paro190km (7/8hrs drive)
Early morning our first birding spot is thePelela pass (4,000 m) where high altitude species are often spotted. These include varieties of Finches and Bush Warblers, Brown Parrotbill, Spotted Laughingthrush and Himalayan Griffon.
Lunch on the way.
Upon arrive to Paro visit ParoRimpongDzong, KichuLhakhaing the old temple in Bhutan built in 659 A.D and evening walk around the paro town. Overnight at hotel.
Paro – Delhi/Bangkok/ Katmandu
After breakfast drive to Paro international Airport and fly out.