11 Days Bhutan Bird Watching Tour

Distance: Paro – Thimphu: 55 km, Driving Time: 1.5 hours

Arrive on a morning international flight at Paro International Airport. After immigration and
customs formalities, meet your guide and begin a scenic drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital,
following the Paro and Thimphu rivers.
The rest of the day is kept light to allow proper acclimatization.

Afternoon Birding (North Thimphu Valley):
Drive towards the upper reaches of Thimphu valley, an excellent birding area with mixed
forests and streams.
Possible sightings include:
 Black-faced Laughingthrush
 Brown Dipper
 Spotted Laughingthrush
 Fire-capped Tit
Optional Sightseeing (if time permits):
 Memorial Chorten
 Tashichho Dzong (exterior)

Overnight: Thimphu

Distance: 75 km, Driving Time: 2hours

After breakfast, drive to Punakha, crossing the spectacular Dochula Pass (3,100 m), offering
panoramic views of the Himalaya ranges on clear days.
Descend through changing vegetation zones from cool temperate forests to warmer valleys.

Sightseeing en route & in Punakha:
 Chimi Lhakhang – Temple of Fertility (easy village walk)
 Punakha Dzong – One of Bhutan’s most majestic fortresses
 Punakha Suspension Bridge – One of the longest in Bhutan
Light birding opportunities along riverbanks and farmland.

Overnight: Punakha

Driving Time: 1–1.5 hours total (local drives)

Early morning drive to Menchuna village, then begin birding descending through cold broad-
leaved forests back toward Punakha. This altitudinal gradient makes the day extremely
productive.

Birding Highlights:
 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

Overnight: Punakha

Driving Time: 1 hour (local drives)

Drive to Tashithang, a rich birding area along riverine forests and warm broad-leaved
vegetation.

Birding & Wetland Species:
 Great Barbet
 Barred Cuckoo-Dove
 Magpie Robin
 Green Magpie
 Pallas’s Fish Eagle
 Osprey
 River Lapwing
 Ruddy Shelduck
 Eurasian Wigeon
 Common Merganser
 Pied Kingfisher
 Red-vented Bulbul
 Golden-throated Barbet
 Kalij Pheasant
 Orange-bellied Leafbird
 Common Buzzard
 Great Cormorant
 Crested Bunting
Relaxed birding along rivers, forests, and open fields.

Overnight: Punakha

Distance: 85 km, Driving Time: 3 hours

Drive to the beautiful Phobjikha Valley, crossing Lawala Pass. The landscape opens into a vast
glacial valley, famous for Black-necked Cranes (seasonal).

Sightseeing:
 Phobjikha Valley viewpoint
 Gangtey Monastery (optional)
Light birding around wetlands and meadows.

Overnight: Phobjikha

Distance: 90 km, Driving Time: 3-4 hours

Drive toward Trongsa, crossing Pelela Pass (3,300 m), the traditional boundary between
western and central Bhutan.
En route visit Chendebji Chorten and bird through warm & cold broad-leaved and coniferous
forests.

Possible Sightings:
 Mountain Bulbul
 Striated Bulbul
 Common Kestrel
 Spot-winged Grosbeak
 Mountain Hawk-Eagle
 Ward’s Trogon
 Satyr Tragopan
 Whiskered Yuhina
 Wallcreeper
 Himalayan Swiftlet
 Himalayan Monal
 Blood Pheasant
 Snow Pigeon
 Crossbills
 Fire-tailed Sunbird
 Plain Mountain Finch

Overnight: Trongsa

Distance: 70 km, Driving Time: 3 hours

Drive towards Tingtibi Valley, one of Bhutan’s least explored birding regions. Bird along forest
roads to Yeshi Zam, an excellent habitat for rare species.

Birding Highlights:
 Yellow-rumped Honeyguide
 Ward’s Trogon
 Satyr Tragopan
 Grey-chinned Minivet  Chestnut-breasted Partridge
 Striated Laughingthrush

Overnight: Tingtibi

Spend the entire day birding in and around Tingtibi forests, river valleys, and undisturbed
subtropical habitats.
Excellent chances to re-encounter rare and elusive species and photograph mixed hunting
parties.

Overnight: Tingtibi

Distance: 70 km, Driving Time: 3 hours

Morning birding again in Yeshi Zam and Namling areas, maximizing sightings.

Possible Species:
 Ward’s Trogon
 Satyr Tragopan
 Grey-chinned Minivet
 Chestnut-breasted Partridge
 Striated Laughingthrush
Later, drive back to Trongsa.

Overnight: Trongsa

Distance: 200 km, Driving Time: 7–8 hours

Early morning departure, driving westward across Pelela and Dochula Passes, with scenic
Himalayan views and comfort stops.
Arrival in Paro by evening.

Overnight: Paro

After breakfast, transfer to Paro International Airport for onward departure, concluding an
exceptional Bhutan Bird Watching Adventure.