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In Quest of Bhutan’s Tragopan
Tour Overview
Through our experience, we have learned most of the birders visiting Bhutan are interested in seeing our colorful Pheasants, especially Satyr Tragopan, one of the top 10 most beautiful birds of the Indian Subcontinent. It is classified as Near Threatened by the international union for the conservation of nature (IUCN) and Birdlife international.
After much research in finding out the best season for seeing this species, we have designed this 14 nights and 15 days tour. Apart from seeing Satyr Tragopan, you will likely see some of the most sought-after species like Ward’ Trogon, Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant, Beautiful Nuthatch, and two species of Hornbills. All in all, we will show you over 250 birds, and 10 – 15 species of mammals in 16 days. Other highlights include the visit to some of the beautiful ancient fortress and temples in 15 days!
This tour is led by Tshering Dorji our young and promising guide, as a young and enthusiastic birder; Tshering is now familiar with the calls, behavior, distribution, and habitats of Bhutan birds.
Tshering has also represented the guide association of Bhutan (GAB) to make the presentation on the birds of Bhutan during the first-ever meeting of the Citizen Birders of Bhutan.
Tour Outline
Day 1: Arrive Paro – transfer Thimphu | The flight into the Himalayas is one of the most scenic and breath taking one with the views of some of the tallest mountains in the world. On your arrival at the Paro international airport, our representative will receive you. Drive to Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan (2hrs) drive. Evening birding around sewage pond and Wang Chu in Thimphu. (Overnight: Thimphu) |
Day 2: Thimphu – Punakha | Early morning drive to Punakha over the Dochula Pass (3150). Our day starts from this pass with the breath-taking views of eastern Himalayas ranges. En route to Punakha stop at Lamperi Botanical. Afternoon: Visit Punakha Dzong, one of the most beautiful Dzong in the country. (Overnight: Punakha) |
Day 3: Punakha – Phobjekha | Early morning you’ll wind up your way to the Phobjekha Valley. En route we’ll spend couple of hours birding the entire stretch of Nobding and continue our journey to Phobjekha. (Overnight: Phobjekha) |
Day 4: Phobjekha – Trongsa | Morning we’ll drive to the Pelela pass (3400) and spend our morning hours birding along the old road searching for the high altitude species. Continue your drive to Trongsa; the remainder of the afternoon will be spent exploring the nearby broad-leaved evergreen forest nearby Trongsa. (Overnight: Trongsa) |
Day 5: 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 6: Zhemgang – Tingtibe – Gomphu Road | We’ll explore the entire stretch of Zhemgang – Tingtibe and Gomphu road, the road that led to the Manas National Park. (Overnight: Tingtibe) |
Day 7: Tingtibe – Trongsa – Bumthang | We head back to Trongsa today, birding many sites on the way looking for any species we might have missed earlier. Crossing Trongsa, Continue our journey to Bumthang. After a fairly long drive, we reach the Bumthang valley. (Overnight: Bumthang) |
Day 8: Bumthang – Phrumshingla – Sengor | we drive from Bumthang to Sengor going over Phrumshingla (3800m). Later in the evening, we will be birding around Sengor. (Overnight: Sengor) |
Day 9: Sengor – Namling – Yongkala | In the morning before we hit our road to Yongkala, we’ll bird around Sengor and Phrumshingla area. Then we will wind up our way to Yongkala en route birding along the forest of Namling and Yongkala. (Overnight: Yongkala) |
Day 10 & 11: Yongkala – Namling – Limithang Road | We’ll spend two entire day birding Namling, upper and lower Limithang road, one of the finest birding areas in the Himalayas: (Overnight: Yongkala) |
Day 12: Yongkala – Trongsa | we will be re-tracing our way back. So basically, we will be looking and listening to the flocks. Overnight: Trongsa |
Day 13: Trongsa – Paro | Drive should take us about 6hrs. Re-tracing journey back; we will stop whenever we run into the flocks. Overnight: Paro |
Day 14: Paro – Chelela Birding | Very early in the morning, drive to the cool and stunning alpine meadow of Chelila pass (3890m). Drive back to Paro for lunch. Afternoon free time to stroll around Paro town |
Day 15 | Departure: After breakfast transfer to airport for 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
Tshering Dorji after completing his high school in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. instead of continuing his studies, he decided to undergo training in a tour guiding school. After successfully completing his tour guiding course he started traveling across the country as an apprentice with the senior nature guides exploring and studying birds in particular and nature in general. Today, Tshering is familiar with the calls, behavior, distributions, and habitats of Bhutan birds.
In the year 2018, coinciding with world ranger day, the first meeting of the Citizen Birders of Bhutan was held. Tshering was selected to represent the Guide Association of Bhutan (GAB) to make the presentation on the birds of Bhutan in the presence of many high-profile people including the Minister for Agriculture and Forests.
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14 Days
Price and Availability
From
USD
4600
/Per Person
Based on twin/double room
Tour Map
Tour Facts
Availability:
Guaranteed Departure
Group Size:
08
Duration:
14 Days
Activity Level:
Moderate Days
Guide Language:
English