Best of Bhutan Birding

We’ll meet at Guwahati airport in the Indian state of Assam. Transfer to Bhutan through the plain of Assam. In the evening birding around Samdrup Jongkha. (Overnight: Samdrup Jongkhar)

After our final morning exploring lowland forest between Samdrup Jongkhar and Deothang. We will head further north Morong. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent birding a stretch of mossy, mid-altitude broad-leaved forest around morong. (Overnight: Morong)

We will have a before-breakfast outing. After breakfast at the campsite, we make our way to Trashigang stopping along the way for birding. (Overnight: Trashigang.)

En route to Yongkala, we stop at Kori La for birding. In the afternoon we will reach lower Limithang road. (Overnight: Yongkala)

We spend two full days birding along this incredible 80 km long road, ranked amongst the ten top birding sites in Asia. (Overnight: Yongkala)

After early breakfast, we’ll be moving uphill in search of high altitude species. En route to Sengor, we’ll make several stops for any missing species. Evening birding around Sengor. (Overnight: Sengor)

Today we cross one of the high passes, the Phrumshing La, at 3800m. Phrumshing La is the prime habitat for many high altitude species; we’ll spend morning time around the pass. Continue our drive to Bumthang. (Overnight: Bumthang)

After early breakfast we hit our road to Trongsa, en route birding at Yotongla, after lunch, we will have the opportunity to visit the impressive Trongsa Dzong. (Overnight Trongsa)

Today on our drive to Zhemgang, we will have lots of stops at several forested valleys. This is also our best chance for the Golden Langur, a rare monkey near endemic to Bhutan and only discovered in the 1950s.
In the evening birding along Zhemgang – Dakphel road. (Overnight: Tingtibe)

These two days We’ll explore the entire stretch of Zhemgang – Tingtibe and Gomphu road, the road that lead to the Manas National Park. (Overnight: Tingtibe)

We head back to Trongsa today, birding many sites on the way looking for any species we might have missed earlier. Crossing Trongsa, we’ll make stops along the way to search for any interesting species that comes along our drive. After a fairly long drive, we reach the Phobjekha valley, sacred wintering ground for the Black-necked Crane. (Overnight: Phobjekha)

After an early breakfast, we drive to the Pele la pass (4000 m) and spend the morning hours birding along the old road at Pele la for high altitude species. Later we drive to Punakha, traveling through the valley of Wangdiphodrang; Afternoon. Visit the impressive Punakha’ s Punthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Bliss) standing on the confluence of the two rivers, the Phochu and Mochu. (Overnight: Punakha)

We will spend the whole day birding inside the Jigme Dorji National Park and along Mo Chu River. (Overnight: Punakha)

Today after early breakfast we will make our way to Dochu La. Leaving the almost tropical Punakha Valley, we ascend through mixed evergreen and broad-leaved forests to the pass at 3140 meters stopping en route at Lamperi Botanical Park and take nature walk. (Overnight: Thimphu)

In the early morning before breakfast we visit the local sewage pond and along the Wang Chu, back to the hotel for breakfast, then Take two hrs. drives to the parking lot at the base of the Tiger’s Nest monastery, from here you can hike to one of the most beautiful and holiest temples in Bhutan. (Overnight: Paro)

Very early in the morning drive to the cool alpine meadow of Chelila pass (3890m) for the high altitude species. This is the highest pass on the car road. Evening: visit the typical Bhutanese farmhouse to experience the local hospitality. (Overnight: Paro)

Departure