Black-necked Crane, found in  Phubjikha valley during winter season 

Bhutan’s has recorded around 700 species of birds, of which mostly endangered ones like Black Neck Cranes, Accentors, Rose finches, Grosbeaks, Snow pigeons and Pheasants, the Himalayan Monal and the Blood pheasant.

Even the casual observer can be sure to see the blue whistling-thrush, yellow blue magpie, the wall creeper

Duration: 16 Nights – 17 Days

DAY 1 – Arrive at Paro

On lending at Paro International airport, our representatives from Bhutan Great Trip will welcome you and escort you to the hotels for check-in and then after refreshment, we will guide you on the birding tour and other information that are necessary  by our guide specialized in Birding. After lunch, we will look in the farmlands, evergreen forests, the riversides and shrubberies for some birds’ species like Aberrant Bush Warbler (Cettia flavoivacea), Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum), Himalayan Whistling Thrush (Myiophonus caeruleus), Common Teal (Ana crecca), Greyheaded Flycatcher Warbler (Seicercus xanthoschistos), Greenbacked Tit (Parus monticolus), Hodgson's Redstart (Phoenicurus hodgsoni), Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Himalayan Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasi), Crestee Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) etc.Overnight at hotels in Paro.

DAY 2 – Paro – Thimphu via Chele La Pass

Begin the birding adventure today. Drive up early to the Chelela pass to catch the elusive Himalayan Monal, the amazing Blood Pheasant, and the most sought after of all pheasants, the mythical Satyr’s Tragopan. After breakfast at Chelela, drive to the capital, Thimphu. On the return drive, there will be opportunities to run into Kalij Pheasants, White-winged Grosbeak, White-browed Rose finch, Spotted Nutcracker, Rufous Sibia, White-browed Fulvetta, Brown Parrot bill, Stripe-throated Yuhina and various Eurasian warblers. Before calling it a day, take a short trip to downtown Thimphu where we usually see Ibis bill, River Lapwing, Ruddy Shelduck, and assorted shorebirds along the riverbed. Night halt at hotel, Thimphu

DAY 03 – CHERI VALLEY

After early breakfast we drive to the north of the capital to Cheri, a quiet Buddhist retreat that is also the home of various species of birds. The river banks at Cheri are the haunts of Yellow-rumped Honey guide, Rufous-bellied woodpecker, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, Blue fronted Red starts, Rufous flanked, yellow brown Tit, and Blacked faced Laughing thrushes, Wall creeper and many others. Lunch will be served at the location. Night halt at River view hotel, Thimphu

DAY 4 – Thimphu to Punakha via Dochu La

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 wait 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),Blackchinned, Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis),  etc. When we reach Punakha, we will check-in in the hotels and after lunch, we will again look for bird in the valley like Fulvous breasted Pied Woodpecker (Picoides macei), Large Grey Babbler (Turdoides melcolmi), ), Black breasted Sun bird (Aethopyga saturata), Red breasted Rose finch (Carpodacus puniceus),Himalaya Tree Pie (Dendrocitra vagabunda), Little Bunting (Emberiza striolata).Night halt at Hotel.

DAY 5-Punakha – Tashithang

Drive northwards to Tashithang, a thickly forested base for Bhutan’s extremely challenging northern trek routes. Here, at an elevation of 5,000 feet above the sea level, comb for species such as Crested Kingfisher, Lesser Short wing, Greater Yellow nape, Bay Woodpecker, Orange-bellied Leaf bird, Little and Slaty-backed Forktail, Pygmy Wren-babbler, Golden Tree-Babbler, Striated and Rufous-chinned Laughing thrush, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, tesias, Golden-spectacled and Broad-billed Warbler, Small Niltava and Black-throated Tits. Also, if lucky, spot a pair or two of Yellow-throated Martins and flocks of Assamese Macaques or the extremely rare Twany Fishing Owl. This area is known for its excellent hawk watching spots. Night halt at Hotel.

DAY 6 – Punakha - Trongsa

Get another go at spotting the White-bellied Heron during an excursion along the river and up through a forest of cool broadleaf and evergreen trees to Pele-la, the pass that divides eastern and western Bhutan. The diverse habitats along the way should present numerous prospects of seeing a great range of species such as Cutia, Great Barbet, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Long-tailed Minivet, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, White-throated Laughingthrush, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Yellow-bellied Bush-Warbler, Ashy-throated Leaf Warbler, and Verditer. Ward’s Trogon is usually sighted along this road. Night halt at Trongsa.

DAY 7 – Trongsa to Shemgang

Drive deep into the interior of an area known as the Black Mountain National Park, via the town of Zhemgang and finally to Tingtibhi, the night halt. The path cuts through dense jungles that contain a plethora of wildlife species like the Black-Eagle, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Speckled Piculet, Lesser Yellownape,and the Golden Langur (a strikingly beautiful monkey species that is found only in Bhutan ). Flowers and fruiting trees that attract sun birds will be plentiful enroute along the descent to the lowest elevation. This entire region is very rich in wildfire and has thus been declared as a protected area by the Bhutanese government. Night halt in camp at Tingtibhi (2000 feet)

DAY 8 – Zhemgang Road

Start birding early. Breakfast and lunch will be served at birding points in the forests. The bamboo groves around Tingtibhi are usually the haunts of Lesser Rufus-headed Parrot bills and Streaked Laughing thrushes while the fruiting trees attract Golden-throated Barbets, Wedge-tailed and Pin-tailed Green-Pigeon and Scarlet Minivets. This area is also the best chance of encountering the Rufus-necked Hornbill. Chances are you will see flocks of Yellow-bellied and White-throated Fantail and other species like yuhinas, minlas, fulvettas and sibias. Night halt in camp at Tingtibi

DAY 9 – Zhemgang to Trongsa

Return to Trongsa today and en route look for birds that may not have been seen earlier. Expect to see the Mountain-Imperial Pigeon, Golden-throated Barbet, Great-pied Horn bill, White-browed Piculet, Nepal House-Martin, Fulvous-breasted, Grey-capped, Gray-headed Green Woodpeckers, laughing thrushes, White-throated, Greater Neck laced, Rufus-chinned, Blue-winged and Red-faced Liocichla. Beautiful Nuthatch is another species found in this region. Night halt at Trongsa

DAY 10 – Trongsa to Bumthang

A relaxed trip waits to Bumthang, the next night’s halt, just about 67 kilometers away. The aim here should be to spot the Yellow-rumped Honey guide, then climb the Yotongla Pass and enter the forests of spruce and fir abruptly changing the avifauna. The Bumthang valley, one of the most beautiful in the country, is home to Beautiful Rosefinch, Eurasian Sparrow hawk, Spotted Laughin gthrush, Ibis bill and Snow Pigeon. The Himalayan Black Bear is commonly spotted in this valley.

After lunch in Bumthang, explore the valley in the afternoon visiting, among others, the textile shops, the Jakar Dzong (fortress), ancient monasteries, the local brewery, and a stupas under which, legend has it, lies the severed head of a Tibetan General who tried to invade Bhutan.Night halt at Bumthang.

DAY 11 – Bumthang to Sengor 

Early drive east wards. Cross a pass and enter the Ura valley for a stop to visit the village. The Ura locality is not only beautiful but has plenty of bird species. After the stopover, climb up to the Thrumsing La pass (12,400’), the highest point on of the journey, and then begin a long descent to Sengor. Night halt in tent at Sengor.

DAY 12, 13 and 14 Limithang extensive bird watcing

The next three days should be the highlights of the tour, scouring the Limithang valley for birds. The Limithang area, situated at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 12,400 feet, boasts some of the country’s most pristine forests, unrivalled in the density of tree species, and thus is a natural haven for birds. The endless stretches of forests, the quaint villages and a sleepy road which winds through the valley are all frequented by flocks after flocks of birds of all shades that make the entire area a visual delight for bird lovers. Here we have the greatest chance of seeing famous Bhutanese birds that may have been missed elsewhere during the trip like the Rufus-necked Horn bill, Ward’s Trogon, Satyr Tragopan and endless others.

The objective here is to track down, among others, the Collared Scops-Owl, Collared Owlet, Himalayan Swiftlet, Striated, Black-crested, White-cheeked, Red-vented, Ashy, Black and Mountain Bulbuls, Golden-breasted and Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Slender-billed Rusty-cheeked, Streak-breasted, and Coral-billed Scimitar-Babblers, Hill and Rufecent Prinia, Gray-headed Canary Flycatcher, Common Tailor bird, Ashy, Bronzed, Lesser Racquet-tailed and Hair-crested Dorangos, and Scarlet Finch.

DAY 15 – Limithang to Bumthang

From this day on, retrace the journey back to western Bhutan, the airport and eventually the flight home. It doesn’t however mean that no new birds will be added to the sighting list. Night halt at Bumthang.

DAY 16 – Bumthang to Paro

Night halt at Paro

DAY 17 – Paro to Bangkok

We will drive to Paro international Airport and our guide and driver will bid you farewell for safe 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.