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Bhutan Birding Odyssey
Tour Overview
Our most comprehensive 20-night and 21 days birding tours are guided by our senior birding guide with long years of experience in guiding international birding clients for the past many years. This tour starts in the southeast of Bhutan entering from the Indian state of Assam working our way to a central, bit of south, and eventually finishing in the western part of Bhutan.
On this tour, we’ll cover a wide variety of habitats and all the main birding sites in the country at a very comfortable pace. You can experience the elevation from 150m up to 3890m
You will likely see all the key species of Bhutan including four species of Pheasants, Ward’s Trogon, Ibisbill, five species of Parrotbills, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, and Beautiful Nuthatch, one of the most sought-after specialties of the Bhutan avifauna. We will also focus on the super skulker species like Tesias, Shortwings, and Wren Babbler. All in all, we will show you over 320 birds and 10 – 15 species of mammals such as three species of langurs, including the nearly endemic Golden Langur. Himalayan Giant Squirrel, Yellow-throated Marten, and Himalayan Goral.
Other highlights include a visit to Bhutan’s most scenic icon and a most important destination for pilgrimages Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), the most beautiful and impressive Punakha Dzong, and visiting a typical Bhutanese farmhouse to experience the local hospitality.
Tour Outline
Day 1 | Guwahati – Samdrup Jongkhar: 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) |
Day 2 | Samdrup –Deothang – Samdrup Jongkhar: exploring the forestpatches and small stands of bamboo around the Samdrup Jongkhar and Deothang, we’llalso be looking along the rocky streams: Overnight: Samdrup Jongkhar |
Day 3 | Samdrup Jongkhar – Morong: After our finalmorning exploring the lowland forest between Samdrup Jongkhar and Deothang. We willhead further north Morong. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent birdinga stretch of mossy, mid-altitude broad-leaved forest around Morong. (Overnight:Morong) |
Day 4 | Morong – Trashigang: 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.) |
Day 5 | Trashigang – Mongar – Yongkala: En route to Yongkala, we stop at Kori La for birding. In the afternoon we will reach lower Limithang road. (Overnight: Yongkala) |
Day 6 – 7 | Yongkala – Namling – Limithang Road: We spend two full days birding along this incredible 80 km long road, ranked amongst the ten top birding sites in Asia. (Overnight: Yongkala) |
Day 8 | Yongkala – Namling – Sengor: 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) |
Day 9 | Sengor – Phrumshingla –Sengor: we’llbe birding around Sengor – Phrumshingla stretch searching for the high-altitude species that are particular confine to this area. (Overnight: Sengor) |
Day 10 | Sengor – Phrumshingla – Bumthang: Todaywe cross one of the high passes, the Phrumshing La, at 3800m. Phrumshing La isthe prime habitat for many high-altitude species; we’ll spend morning time around the pass. Continue our drive to Bumthang. (Overnight: Bumthang) |
Day 11 | Bumthang – Trongsa: 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) |
Day 12 | Trongsa – Zhemgang: 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) |
Day 13- 14 | Zhemgang – Tingtibe Road: These two days We’ll explore the entire stretch of Zhemgang – Tingtibe and Gomphu road, the road that leads to the Manas National Park. (Overnight: Tingtibe) |
Day 15 | Zhemgang – Trongsa –Phobjekha: We head back to Trongsa today, birding manysites on the way looking for any species we might have missed earlier. CrossingTrongsa, we’ll make stops along the way to search for any interesting species thatcome along our drive. After a fairly long drive, we reach the Phobjekha valley, a sacred wintering ground for the Black-necked Crane. (Overnight: Phobjekha) |
Day 16 | Phobjekha – Pelela – Punakha:Afteran early breakfast, we drive to the Pele la pass (4000 m) and spend the morninghours birding along the old road at Pele la for high-altitude species. Later wedrive to Punakha, traveling through the valley of Wangdiphodrang; Afternoon.Visit the impressive Punakha’s Punthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of GreatBliss) standing on the confluence of the two rivers, the Phochu and Mochu.(Overnight: Punakha |
Day 17 | Punakha – Jigme Dorji National Park: We will spend the whole day birding inside the Jigme Dorji National Park and along the Mo Chu River. (Overnight: Punakha) |
Day 18 | Punakha – Thimphu: 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 a nature walk. (Overnight: Thimphu) |
Day 19 | Thimphu – Paro: 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’sNest monastery, from here you can hike to one of the most beautiful and holiest temples in Bhutan. (Overnight: Paro) |
Day 20 | Paro – Chelila Birding: 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) |
Day 21 | Departure |
What to Expect?
This birding tour will be on selected sites that do not pose any threats such as steep slopes. During these trips, you should expect yourself to walk at least 6-7 kilometers on average per day
Like elsewhere, the best time for watching birds is in the morning. You can expect an early start in the morning most of the time. However, a couple of very early mornings are required to look for high elevation dwelling Pheasant that comes out to the roadside early in the morning.
Accommodation on this tour is generally simple but comfortable. The hotels are generally spacious, clean, and comfortable, built-in westernized Bhutanese style, and all rooms have private facilities. However, due to the limited availability of good lodges and hotels in some remote parts of the country, you will spend a couple of nights in basic hotels or tented camps.
Inclusion
What is Included?
- • All internal taxes and charges (including SDF)
- • Accommodation on twin sharing basis
- • All meals, tea, snack and bottled water
- • All travel with a licensed local birding guide
- • All surface transfers by a private vehicle
- • Camping equipment and haulage for camping and trekking tours
- • All entry fees to monuments, Museum and National Parks
- • Bhutan Visa Fee
What is not Included?
- • Optional tours/excursions, personal & incidental expenses.
- • Tips, laundry, phone calls, and bars.
- • International and domestic air fare, and insurance
Guide Details
Sherab Dorji, after completing his high school education, was selected to be an archer for the Bhutan Olympic Committee. As an archer, he traveled to many different countries representing Bhutan in both regional and international competitions. This great opportunity gave him the chance to become very familiar with other cultures.
He occasionally began to take some trips into the wilder areas of Bhutan with Norbu his cousin during his free time as an archer and he started to fall in love with nature. He then decided to quit his profession as an archer and became a full-time birding guide. He was also fortunate to be chosen as one of the several guides to receive special, extensive bird watching training given by well-known American birder Tom Stephenson (Co-Author of The Warbler Guide).
Today, Sherab is one of the top-grade birding guides in the country with many years of guiding experience in guiding international birding clients.
Review
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21 Days
Price and Availability
From
USD
6,150
/Per Person
Based on twin/double room
Tour Map
Tour Facts
Availability:
Space Available
Group Size:
08
Duration:
21 Days
Activity Level:
Moderate Days
Guide Language:
English