The Bhutan Birding Tour
The Bhutan Birding Tour is designed for those interested in understanding and watching birds in Bhutan. This is also for those who are studying birds. This is a 9 day’s itinerary covering the destinations of Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangdue. The tour also gives the opportunity to explore other aspects of Bhutan such as the cultural aspects.
Tour Highlights
- Opportunity to see and understand birds in Bhutan, many of them either extinct in other Places or vulnerable.
- Opportunity to visit the Dochula Pass, one of the most famous places in Bhutan.
- Opportunities to walk around less touristy places and villages in Punakha and Paro.
- Travel hassle free with your own guide and driver. Travel as per your convenience and visit places as per your interest. We are flexible with the itineraries except for the confirmed overnight destinations. Enjoy a real holiday.
- Personal attention by the tour operators.
- A private traditional cultural show and experience of the traditional hotel stone bath.
- Wonderful day hike to the abode of gods and monks, the world famous, Taktshang Monastery (Tigers’ nest)
- Visit to the age old Lhakhang (Monasteries/ temples) and dzongs ( Fortress)
- Opportunity to explore villages, visit to village houses and interact with local people.
- Opportunity to play archery (the national game of Bhutan) and many more.
Trip Rating: Easy – Moderate
Travel Type: Bird Watching, Hikes, Tour, Photography, Nature, Culture, People and lifestyle, Villages, etc
Total Duration: 8 Nights, 9 Days
Destinations: Paro, Thimphu and Punakha/ Wangdue
Arrival: Paro Airport
Departure: Paro Airport
Day 1. Arrive Paro
Day 2: Paro:
Day 3. Paro – Thimphu (65km, 1.5 – 2hrs):
Day 4: Thimphu:
Day 5: Thimphu – Punakha (76 km, 2.5 – 3 Hrs.)
Day 6. Punakha (Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park)
Day 7. Punakha (Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park)
Day 8: Punakha – Paro:
Day 9. Departure:
Detailed Itinerary – The Bhutan Birding Tour
Day 1. Arrive Paro
Arrive Paro from Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu or Bangkok. You shall be received by your Bhutanese guide from Neptune Holidays – Bhutan upon arrival and check in hotel. After lunch visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong and the Ta Dzong (fortress), towards evening walk along the Paro River, looking for one of the target birds (Ibis bill). Other birds such as the White-collared Blackbird, River Lapwing, and the Black-tailed Crake may be seen too.
Overnight in Hotel.
Day 2: Paro:
After breakfast, hike to visit the Taktshang Monastery, one of the country’s most famous tourist attractions.
After lunch, visit the Kyichhu Lhakhang and the Drukgyel Dzong.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 3. Paro – Thimphu (65km, 1.5 – 2hrs)
Early Morning drive to Chelela Pass at 3890 m. The Chelela pass is a cool Alpine meadow and we could see mainly three different species of Pheasants i.e., colorful Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasants and Kalij Pheasants. Other birds that can be seen around this are Rose Finches, Grosbeaks, and Laughing Thrushes, etc. Drive to Thimphu. In the evening, explore the Thimphu valley and town.
Overnight in Hotel.
Day 4: Thimphu:
In the morning drive towards the base of the Cheri Monastery and hike to the Monastery. During the hike we may see Spotted Laughing Thrushes, Chestnut–crowned Laughing Thrushes, White-throated Laughing Thrushes, Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers, Brown Dippers, and White-collared Blackbirds. In addition we can see Goral (mountain goat) around the monastery. Drive back to Thimphu. In the afternoon visit the Sangaygang view point (for a great view of the Thimphu valley), Takin Preserve Centre (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan), Changangkha Monastery and the Tashichhodzong, a beautiful medieval fortress/ monastery that houses Government offices and the King’s Throne room. Altitude of Thimphu: 2350 m.
Overnight in Hotel
Day 5: Thimphu – Punakha (76 km, 2.5 – 3 Hrs.)
In the early morning, drive to Punakha over the Dochula pass (3150m). Our day starts from this pass with the breathtaking views of the eastern Himalayan range. The mixed forest of hemlock, fir, oak, and rhododendron here is good habitat for many bird species, including: Satyr Tragopans (the bird that draws many birders to the Himalayas), Fire-tailed Myzornis, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers, Rufous-breasted Bush Robins, Black-eared Shrike Babblers, and Yellow-billed Blue Magpies. Later, we descend to the Punakha valley, stopping at Lobesa for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the impressive Punakha Dzong, which is said to be one of the most beautiful dzongs in all of Bhutan.
Overnight in hotel or Camp.
Day 6. Punakha (Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park)
For the next two days, we spend the full day birding inside the Jigme Dorji National Park and along the Pho chhu. Here, we have the potential to see: Red–headed Trogons, Cute Slaty-bellied and Chestnut-headed Tesias, Small Niltavas, Black-chinned Yuhinas, a trio of Forktails, several Wren Babblers, Woodpeckers, Laughing Thrushes, and with luck, Pallas’s Fish Eagles and White-bellied Herons, birds with a population of less than 200 worldwide.
Overnight in hotel or Camp
Day 7. Punakha (Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park)
As described in day 5.
Day 8: Punakha – Paro:
After breakfast, drive to Paro. After Lunch visit the spend your time walking the villages and visits to village houses. Experience the traditional hot stone bath.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 9. Departure:
After breakfast, drive to Paro Airport and farewell.
Important Notes
The comfort, convenience and interest of the travelers is very important to us. We are flexible with the itinerary. Sightseeing can be done as per the convenience and interests of the guests. If it is of interest to the guest, they may choose to visit places that may not be in the itinerary, except for the change of overnight destination.
We reserve the right to change the itinerary or hotels anytime as may be required to, in case of unforeseen contingencies (natural/man made) or unavailability of hotels.
Some of the sites to be visited may be closed on government holidays or during breaks. In such cases we shall do other sightseeing in its place.
This itinerary can be tailor made for any duration or within any destination and can be combined with any kind of activities such as trekking, rafting, walking tour, cycling, etc.
It is advisable to book tours in Bhutan at least 6 months prior to the travel date because of limited Bhutan tourism infrastructures and inventories.