Trip Length: 14 days
Activity Level: Easy to Moderate

The itinerary suggested below is following the east-west lateral highway starting from Paro (west) to Shemgang (central Bhutan). It covers a wide range of areas from tropical forests to temperate forests. The birds mentioned are high probability species in those particular areas. During the orientation dinner, guests will be issued a complete bird checklist.

Trip Details

Season
April – June and September – November

Weather
Temperatures will vary greatly based on our altitude and current weather. Ranges from high 70’s, low 30’s. Climate is normally warm during daytime but nights can be pretty cold in winter with temperatures falling below freezing level. Monsoon does shower in summer (heaviest in July, August) and sometimes even in spring and autumn.

14-Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Paro by Drukair
On arrival you will be met by your guide, drive to hotel and check into your hotel and then have an early lunch. After lunch follow the Paro riverbed to watch Ibis Bill, Crake, Himalayan Buzzard, Kestrel. Overnight in Paro at Janka Resorts, Dekhyid Tesorts or Rema Resorts.

Day 2 – Paro/Thimphu
Total driving time: 1hour. We will drive one hour by bus to Thimphu and enjoy some cultural sights before lunch. After lunch, we will  drive to Dodena, here you may see black-faced laughing thrush, brown dipper, spotted laughing thrush, fire-capped tit, etc. Overnight Thimphu at Hotel Ser-Nya or Riverview Hotel.

Day 3 – Thimphu/Punakha
Total driving time: 3 hours. Morning drive to Dochula area and birding in mixed coniferous forests, make short excursion following footpath to Trashigang Monastery. In this area you may see Satyr Tragopan, Spotted Nutcracker, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Yellow billed Magpie, Chestnut Tailed Minla, Collard Blackbird, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Brown Bullfinch, etc. Afternoon, birding towards Punakha. Overnight Punakha at Zangtopelri Hotel or Damchen Resorts or Baps.

Day 4 – Punakha
Drive back to Menchula and start birding descending to Punakha in cold broad-leaved forests. You may see Scarlet Finch, Black Drongo, Chestnut bellied Nuthatch, Slaty backed Forktail, Gorgeted Flycatcher, White throated Laughingthrush, Eurasian Jay, Wedge Tailed Green Pigeon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Verditer Flycatcher, treecreepers . Overnight Punakha at same hotel.

Day 5 – Punakha/Trongsa
Total driving time: 5 hours. We will be passing through warm/cold broad-leaved and coniferous forests. You may see Mountain Bulbul, Striated Bulbul, Common Kestrel, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Ward’s Trogon, Satyr Tragopan, Whiskered Yuhina, Wall Creeper, Himalayan Swiftlet, Himalayan Monal Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Snow Pigeon, Cross bills, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Plain Mountain Finch, etc. Overnight in Trongsa at Yangkhill Resort or similar.

Day 6 – Trongsa/Tingtibi
Morning birding to Yeshi Zam, best place for spotting Yellow-rumped Honeyguide. Birding in cold broad-leaved forests. Birding in Namling areas. These areas possess the best-unexplored forests in Bhutan. You may see Ward’s Trogon, Satyr Tragopan, Grey chinned Minivet, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Striated Laughingthrust, etc. Overnight at Camp.

Day 7 – Tingtibi/Tingtibi

Birding in warm broad-leaved forests. You may see Rufous-necked Hornbill, Blue-throated Bee-eater, Maroon Oriole, Racket-tailed Drongo, Red-headed Trogon, Grey Treepie, Grey Nightjar, Hill Prinia, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Great Hornbill, Beautiful Nuthatch etc. Overnight at Camp.

Day 8 – Tingtibi/Bumthang
We will spend all day birding from the road during our long drive. Yontungla Pass is an opportunity to watch for Pheasants, especially Blood Pheasants. As you descend towards the Geytsa Valley, there is a nice patch of bamboo forests. This forest is the best area to watch for Parrot-bill. Overnight Bumthang Mountain Lodge, River Lodge, Swiss Guest House or Chumey Resorts.

Day 9 – Bumthang-Sengor
Long drive today but great birding along the road. Look out for rare birds like Wards Trogon and other Tragopan species. Trumshingla Pass on today’s drive is the best area for Pheasant watch. Overnight Sengor camp.

Day 10 – Sengor Excursion
The roadside birding is exceptional here. We will drop from 3,500 m to 300 m above sea level. The lowest area is called Lingmethang. Overnight back to Camp.

 Day 11 – Return to Bumthang
Overnight Bumthang Mountain Lodge, River Lodge, Swiss Guest House or Chumey Resorts.

Day 12 – Return to Punakha
Total driving time: 8-9 hours. Overnight at Zangtopelri Hotel, Damchen Resorts or Baps.

Day 13 – Punakha/Paro
Drive to Tashithang and birding in warm broad-leaved forest. You may see Great Barbet, Barred Cuckoo Drove, Magpie Robin, Green Magpie, Palla’s Fish Eagle, Osprey, River Lapwing, Ruddy Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Merganser, Pied Kingfisher, Red-vented Bulbul, Golden throated Barbet, Golden throated Barbet, Kalij Pheasant, Orange bellied Leaf bird, Common Buzzard, Great Cormorant, Crested Bunting, etc. Towards evening take the 4-5 hours drive to Thimphu. Overnight Thimphu, Hotel Ser-Nya or Riverview Hotel.

Day 14 – Departure
Drive to Paro Airport for departure by Drukair.