Birdwatching Tour - 15 Days

The flight to Paro is one of the most amazing and beautiful with a view of the Eastern Himalayan range. Your route parallels the mighty Himalayan Mountain chain, and if the weather is good, you can see Mt. Everest (Kathmandu sector). Upon arrival at Paro airport, you will be warmly welcomed by the tour representative from Timeless Bhutan Travels. You will then drive to your hotel through an enchanting valley with gaily decorated shingle-roofed houses and a willow-fringed river. Red- billed Choughs are quite common in this valley, and as we head to the hotel, we will stop to search for Black-tailed Crake, Ibisbill, Wallcreeper and Brown Dipper. With luck, we might encounter a regional specialty such as Rufous-fronted Bushtit.

Overnight in a hotel.

Altitude: 2,200 m / 7,217 ft

We will start early to the Chelela Pass for viewing some of the spectacular Himalayan Monal, Kalij Pheasant, Blood Pheasant and also the good selection of high-altitude birds like Grosbeaks, Rosefinches, Minivets, Tits, Yuhinas, Accentors and Thrushes. Towards evening, we will drive to Bhutan’s capital city Thimphu.

Overnight in a hotel.

Altitude: 2,400 m / 7,847 ft

We will head east out of Thimphu and up to the western slopes of the DochuLa Pass, the first of a series of high-altitude road passes that we will explore. Entering the pristine mixed forests of hemlock, fir, oak, magnolias, and rhododendrons, we should see a wealth of birds, including some species-rich feeding flocks. Quarrelsome Nutcrackers are common, and past highlights have included as Hill Partridge, Satyr Tragopan, Golden Bush Robin, Himalayan Cutia, Brown Parrotbill and Firetailed Myzornis.

Overnight in a hotel.

Altitude: 1,274 m / 4,179 ft

Continuing east, past the smaller Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, we will make a series of brief stops to scan the braided river channel. In the past, we have seen Pallas’s Gull and Pallas’s Fish Eagle here and have added several other species to the list. We will also check forest edges and explore some of the small patches of cultivation. We will then enter productive forest near the end of our journey, where we will stop to look for species such as Spotted Laughingthrush, Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, White-browed Bush Robin and White-winged Grosbeak.

Overnight in a hotel.

Altitude: 2,750 m / 9,022 ft

Leaving Nubding, we will follow the twisting road up over the Pele La pass and into Central Bhutan. We will spend much of the morning on the Pele La Pass searching for species such as Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, and the majestic Himalayan Monal. As stand of dwarf bamboo extends for about three miles below the pass, and we will search here for Great Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill and Goldenbreasted Fulvetta, one of the world’s most attractive passerines.

Overnight in a hotel.

Altitude: 2,100 m / 6,889 ft

Birding along the road, we will come across Yellow-browed Tit, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Striated Prinia, Striated Laughingthrush, White-throated Laughingthrush, White-crested Laughingthrush, Beautiful Nuthatch, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Brown-flanked Bush Warbler, Verditer Flycatcher, Lemon-rumped Warbler and Hume’s Leaf Warbler.

Overnight in a tent.

Altitude: 600 m / 1,968 ft

We will be exploring and birding in sub-tropical broad leaved forests. We will drive along the road and stop on the way for birding. In the evening, return toTingtibi for a night halt. Species we will see for the day trip include: Crested Bunting, White-rumped Munia, Olive-backed Pipit, White Wagtail, Streaked Spiderhunter and White-browed Scimitar Babbler.

Overnight in a tent.

Altitude: 600 m / 1,968 ft

Driving and birding along the road through sub-tropical broadleaved forests, we will find birds like Great Hornbill, Long-tailed Sibia, Beautiful Nuthatch, Rufous-necked Hornbill, White-rumped Munia, Spotted Forktail, Slaty-backed Forktail, Grey Bush Chat, Crested Bunting, Sultan Tit, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Red-vented Bulbul, Black Bulbul and Striated Prinia.

Overnight in a hotel or a tent.

Altitude: 160 m / 524 ft

We will go birding around Marangdooth in the morning, later we will cross by the Panbang town towards Nganglam. Birding on the spots, and highways.

Overnight in a hotel or a tent.

Altitude: 145 m / 475 ft

We will spend this day exploring the lush primary forests near Lingmethang in search of the area’s specialties. We are sure to see many new birds, such as Slender-billed Babbler, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Scaly Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Broad-billed Warbler, White-napped Yuhina and Rufous Throated Wren Babbler which are poorly
known and unfamiliar to most birders.

Overnight in a hotel or a tent.

Altitude: 1,660 m / 5,446 ft

Birding around Namling areas, you will see birds such as Mountain Scops Owl, Hill Partridge, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Ward’sTrogon, Collared Owlet, Asian Barred Owlet, White-throated Laughingthrush, Striated Laughingthrush, Golden Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Black-faced Warbler, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Yellow-vented Warble and Lemon-rumped Warbler.

Overnight in a hotel or a tent.

Altitude: 1,660 m / 5,446 ft

You will drive towards the north crossing Sengor village and Thrumshing La pass (3700m). From Yongkola to Sengor, you are entering inside the Thrumshing La National Park. On the way, you will come across the amazing Namling waterfall before reaching Sengor. For the day, you can observe species like Snow Pigeon, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Monal Pheasant, Whiskered Yuhina, and
Stripe-throated Yuhina.

Overnight in a hotel.

Altitude: 2,500 m / 8,202 ft

This morning, we make an early start to be at Tharpaling Monastery in the early hours as we hope to witness the monks feeding the Himalayan Monal, where the birds have become accustomed to this practice. Other species we will look at in the area include the rarely seen White-bellied Redstart, Alpine Accentor, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, flocks of Red-billed Chough, Black-billed Magpie
(endemic to Bumthang valley in Bhutan), Black-faced Laughingthrush and Plain Mountain Finch.

Overnight in a hotel.

Altitude: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft

After breakfast, we will drive to Paro and explore the valley and stop for Birding. Upon arrival, we will check in at the hotel and rest.

Overnight in a hotel.

Altitude: 2,200 m / 7,217 ft

Our representative will accompany you to the airport and ensure a smooth departure.