Ashy Bulbul, found in Zhemgang District

For these 10 days birding tours, we will be able to walk around the birding paradise in Bhutan – this includes places like Zhemgang District where  we will able to distinguish some of the endangered species of birds such as Rufus-necked Hornbill, Beautiful Nuthatch and the rare Ward’s Trogon. You will learn that birding in Bhutan is extraordinary and it is best the South East Asia.

Duration: 10 Days and 9 nights

Day 1: ARRIVE PARO

On arrival at Paro International Airport you will be welcomed by our representative from Bhutan Great Trip and they will escort you to hotels for check-in and after refreshment, our guide will give a an overview of birding and other information that are necessary. The then the team will then look for some birds nearby Pachu riverbed. You will spot some Ibis bills, Common Kingfisher, Crested Kingfisher and some accentors among the rocks and bushes. Later we will visit Drukgyel Dzong and Kitchu temple on return. Evening at leisure at Paro town. Overnight hotel in Paro.

Day 02: Paro - Thimphu

Drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, when we reach there we will check-in in the hotel and after refreshment we will  go for birding around the stream near Motithang and in and around Begana and Cheri villages, the common bird that could be spotted are Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos), Redrumped Swallow (Hirunda daurica), Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus melaschistos), Grackle or Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa), Grey Wagtail (Motacilla caspica), Whitebellied Yuhina (Yuhina xanthoteuca), Upland Pipit (Anthus sylvanus), Plumbeous Redstart (Rhyacornis fuliginosus).Overnight at hotels in Thimphu.

Day 03: Thimphu - Punakha.

Right after breakfast we will drive to Punakha, on the way we will stop by Dochula pass (3,050m) which offers most spectacular view over eastern Himalaya, from there we will drive to Punakha, but on the wat we will stop to see some of the birds like Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis), Speckled Babbler, Stachyris pyrrhops, Blackchinned Yuhina (Yuhina nigrimenta), Wood Pigeon (Columbia hodgsonii), Black chinned, Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis), etc. When we reach Punakha, we will chek-in in the hotels and after lunch, we will again look for bird in the valley like Fulvousbreasted Pied Woodpecker (Picoides macei), Large Grey Babbler (Turdoides melcolmi), Blackbreasted Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata), Redbreasted Rosefinch (Carpodacus puniceus),Himalaya Tree Pie (Dendrocitra vagabunda), Little Bunting (Emberiza striolata).

Day 04: Punakha - Phobjikha 

Right after breakfast, we will then drive to Phobjikha which will take us about 2-3 hours and we will stops by on the way for birding as we pass through forest of oak and rhododendron, it’s a nice way to capture some of the birds that are hardly found. When we reach Phobjikha valley, which is one of the most important wildlife reserve in the country, we can spot birds Redheaded Bullfinch (Pyrrhula erythrocephala), Scarlet Finch (Haemmatospiza sipahi), Whitetailed Nuthatch (Sitta himalayensis), like Amur Falcon (Falco vesertinus), Redmantled Rosefinch (Carpodacus rhodochlamys), Firebreasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum ignipectus),  Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Great Pied Hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Common Hill Partridge (Arborophila torqueola), Snow Pigeon (Columba leuconota), etc.Overnight at hotel in Phobjikha.

Day 05: Gangtey - Bumtang

Early morning right after breakfast, we will drive to Trongsa, this stretch covers a range of habitat from tall, dense, evergreen forest covered with oak and rhododendron together with broad-leaved trees.  Bamboo is another important habitat in this region, some of the birds that could be spotted  are Snow Partridge, Himalayan Monal Pheasant, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Himalayan Griffon  , Scalybreasted Wren Babbler , Himalayan Swiftlet, Lammergeier Longtained Minivet, and Rufousbellied Bulbul .Overnight at hotels in Bumtang.

Day 06: Bumthang - Ura

We will drive early morning to Ura, which takes about 1 hours by car. It is the last and the highest valleys of Bumthang and to reach here, the road climbs through amazingly open countryside, occasionally running into forests, some of the bird that are spotted are Yellowbellied Flowerpecker, Grey Wagtail, Whitethroated Munia Bluebeaed Bee-Eater Black Bulbul  , Parrotbill , Honeyguide , Redvented Bulbul , Lesser Racket-Tailed Drongo , Speckled Piculet, and Rufousthroated Hill Partridge.

Day 7: Ura –Limithang-Mongar

From Ura, we will ride to Mongar, On the way you will do birding at Trumshingla Pass (3800 meters). From Thrumshingla Pass you will drive down to Lingmithang. The habitat changes from conifers to subtropical forest. Most of the birds in this area were Satyr Tragopan, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Long-billed Thrush, Blue-winged Laughingthush, and Golden-breasted. A good birding site is found near town at 750 meters from which a bridge crosses the river. Most of the species are generally found in dry subtropical ravine forests and near the rice paddies. The highlights of Lingmithang are Basra, Ashy Bulbul, Sultan Tit, Blue-throated and Golden-throated Barbet, Gray-headed Woodpecker, Kalij Pheasant, Rufous-cheeked Scimitar-babbler, Gray-sided Bushwarbler, and Little Niltava, Yellow throated Fulvetta, Red-headed Parrotbill and Crimson Finch.  Overnight at the hotels in Mongar.

Day 08: Mongar - Bumtang

After breakfast drive back to Bumtang which will take us about 5 hours. Afternoon  we will visit some of the cultural sites like visit to Kujey temple, Jambay Lhakhang and Jakar Dzong beside visit to Mebar tsho (burning lake). Overnight at the hotels, Bumtang.

Day 09: Bumthang - Thimphu

After breakfast, drive to Thimphu en route visiting village houses and mingling with local people. Stop at Thimphu for overnight stay.

Day 10: Thimphu – Paro – Depture.

We will drive early Morning to Paro airport for flight to onward destination. Our guide and driver will there to see off you for save journey.

Detail costing for this tour

Land cost: USD $ 1800.00 (USD $ 280.00 per night) 

Visa Fee: USD $   40.00

Tourism Development Fund: USD $   10.00

Net package cost per person: USD $ 1850.00 + Airfares 

What’s included?

a)    Expert leadership

b)    All accommodations

c)    All meals

d)    All transportation during the tour

e)    All activities as noted in the itinerary

f)       Bottled water while on drive and hiking

* All rates based on three or more traveling together on twin room sharing basis.

SURCHARGE

Individual tourists and smaller groups of less than three persons shall be subject to the following surcharges:

a)    Single Individual: US$ 40/ per night halt

b)    Group of 2: US$ 30/ per person per night halt

c)    The 10% agency commission payable to agents abroad shall not be deductible from the surcharge.

d)  The surcharge will not be applicable to representatives of foreign travel agents on business study or promotional visit duly approved and cleared by TCB.