Bhutan is a bird-watcher’s paradise as large area of natural habitat is protected. Due to the wide range of specific altitudinal and climatic conditions (from sub-tropical to alpine), the
Kingdom possesses an immense variety of birds within its small territory. Over 600 species have been recorded to date, this extensive list growing increasingly longer as more systematic birding is undertaken. The most high profile species include the Black-necked crane, Blyth’s/Satyr tragopan, Ward’s trogon, Monal pheasant, Wedge-billed, Long –billed, Bar Winged wren-Babblers, yellow-throated fulvetta and Rufus-necked hornbill. For a wider variety of birds and better sightings one should travel to the east of the country. Sengor and Limithang are known to be some of the finest areas.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Bhutan
Transfer to airport and fly to Paro then drive to Thimpu. You will see the Red-billed Choughs, Black-tailed Crake, Ibisbill, and Brown Dipper while driving. Arrive Thimpu. Dinner and over night at hotel.
Day 2: Drive to Punakha via Dochu La, On the way you will see a wealth of birds, including
some species-rich feeding flocks. Quarrelsome Nutcrackers are common, and past highlights have included a skulking Hill Partridge, a Satyr Tragopan, a Golden Bush Robin, an immaculate Cutia, a Brown Parrotbill, and even the gorgeous Fire-tailed Myzornis. Over night stay near Punakha.
Day 3: Explore the braided channels of the Mo Chhu River beside Punakha Dzong and its bird-rich subtropical forests. Here you will see White-bellied Heron, one of Bhutan’s rarest birds, brightly colored minivets and noisy Striated Laughingthrushes, and Ibisbills. In the afternoon we hope to be able to go inside Punakha Dzong, a fabulous fortified
monastery that’s still home to many hundred monks. Over night stay in Punakha.
Day 4: Drive to Wangdi Dzong where near by can be seen Pallas’s Gull and Pallas’s Fishing Eagle. Enter further the forest near the end of our journey, where we’ll stop to look for species such as Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, and the majestic Himalayan Monal. Spotted Laughingthrush, Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, White-browed Bush Robin, and White-winged Grosbeak also occur here. Over night stay in Gangtey.
Day 5: Drive through the Pele La pass and into Central Bhutan. A stand of ringal bamboo extends for about three miles below the pass, and we’ll search here for specialties such as
Great and Brown Parrotbills and Golden-breasted Fulvetta, surely one of the
world’s most attractive passerines. Over night stay in Trongsa.
Day 6: Drive through the bamboo-thronged Yotong La into the first of the four Bumthang valleys. Nutcrackers can be common, though we’ll have to spend a little more time
searching for the region’s real specialties: Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, White-browed and Rufous-breasted Bush Robins, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, and Fulvous, Brown, and Great Parrotbills. Over night stay in Jakar.
Day 7: Drive to Thimphu via Punakha and Dachula pass. Dinner and over night stay at hotel. You will encounters with some spice of birds that cab ne one you saw beofe or new ones.
Days 8: Exploring some cultural sites of the Thimpu city including handicraft center, memorial chhotren, Dzongs etc then drive back to paro. Dinner and over night at hotel.
Day 9: Morning drive to Satsam Chorten and then hike to Takstang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, the most photographed in Bhutan. Here it is being said that Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8 th century. Walk back to the road point and visit Kyichu
Day 10:
After breakfast, drive to Paro airport and farewell.
Tour cost: USD 2100 (1-3 person) and USD 1900 (4-12 person)
Single supplements charge: USD 180
Note: One person half of the tour cost for 12-14 person and group leader free of tour cost above 15 person.
Flight cost: It depends on the sector and USD 448 round trip if kathmandu sector
Visa: USD 20 and TDF: USD 10
Tour cost includes: Royalty fee, accommodation, all meals, sightseeing tours by private coaches, Bird and nature specialist, service of experienced and English speaking guide, all transportation within Bhutan, entrance fee to the monuments, permits, during trekking-all camping/kitchen gears, ponies or yaks for transportation of gears, trekking guide and cook etc.
Tour cost excludes: Bhutan visa fee, TDF, airfares, expense of personal nature travel insurance, drinks, cigarettes, laundry, telephone call and tipping etc.
