Duration

11 Days 10 Nights

Country

Bhutan

Maximum Traveller

Min Pax

Attributes

Height

150-3988 meters

Weather

11 Days Rufou-necked Hornbill Tour

Gelephu, Paro, Punakha, Thimphu, Trongsa, Tserang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang Birding Tour

Bhutan is a paradise for bird lovers with over 770 recorded species, and many more yet to be discovered. The country is also home to critically endangered species such as the White-bellied Heron, and numerous threatened and vulnerable species including the Satyr Tragopan, Beautiful Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Ward’s Trogon, Black-necked Crane, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler, Blyth’s Kingfisher, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Blyth’s Tragopan and Wood Snipe.
The best birding seasons in Bhutan are spring, autumn, and winter in southern Bhutan. The country boasts a remarkable environmental record, maintaining 72% of its natural forest cover, with 51.44% of the land area falling under protected areas. Bhutan features diverse elevations ranging from 150 meters to over 7,400 meters, divided into three main ecological zones: Alpine Zone (Above 4000 meters): Characterized by alpine meadows. Temperate Zone (2000 to 4000 meters): Featuring coniferous or cool broadleaf forests. Subtropical Zone (150 to 2000 meters): Rich in subtropical broadleaf forests

Itinerary
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Itinerary

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Day 1 - Arrive at Paro international airport
Day 1: Arrive at Paro international airport
Drive for approximately 1.5 hours to Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan. Birding or relaxing depending on your flight schedule. Thimphu is situated at an elevation of 2,200 meters.
Day 2 - Thimphu to Punakha
Day 2: Thimphu to Punakha
Drive approximately 1 hour to Dochula Pass at an elevation of 3,150 meters. Hike down to Lamperi Botanical Park for morning birding amidst Rhododendron and mixed cool broadleaved forests. Then, continue driving to Punakha for an overnight stay. Punakha is situated at an elevation of 1,200 meters.
Day 3 - Punakha to Tashithang
Day 3: Punakha to Tashithang
Drive approximately 1.5 hours to Tashithang for a day-long birding experience in the warm broadleaved forest, then return to Punakha for an overnight stay. Optional: visit Punakha Dzong. Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungthang Dewachen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness), was founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637. It serves as the winter residence for the central monastic body and houses the district administrative offices. The dzong is situated at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (Male River) and Mo Chhu (Female River).
Day 4 - Punakha to Gelephu
Day 4: Punakha to Gelephu
Drive approximately 6 hours to Gelephu elevation approximately 200 meters. Visit the White-bellied Heron Captive Breeding Center and the information center at Chanchey Tserang. Journey through the Chirpine forest, exploring the critically endangered, White-bellied Heron along the Punatshangchu River. Stop at Darachu for birdwatching to observe subtropical birds such as the Rufous-necked Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Crested Serpent Eagle, Long-tailed Broadbill, and Scarlet Minivet. Overnight stay in Gelephu.
Day 5 - Gelephu to Tingtibe
Day 5: Gelephu to Tingtibe
Drive approximately 4 hours to Tingtibe, passing through Tamala Pass at an elevation of 1,700 meters. Enjoy birdwatching along the way through cool broadleaved, warm broadleaved, and subtropical forests. Tingtibi is located at the boundaries between Royal Manas National Park in the south and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in the north. Overnight stay in Tingtibe, situated at an elevation of approximately 600 meters.
Day 6 - Tingtibe to Zhemgang
Day 6: Tingtibe to Zhemgang
Enjoy birdwatching in the rich biodiversity of the warm broadleaved forests around Tingtibi, which offers a wonderful opportunity to observe a variety of bird species in their natural habitat, including the critically endangered, White-bellied Heron. Then, drive to Zhemgang for an overnight stay, situated at an elevation of approximately 1,800 meters.
Day 7 - Zhemgang to Trongsa
Day 7: Zhemgang to Trongsa
Explore the cool broadleaved forests around Zhemgang in search of the critically endangered Beautiful Nuthatch. Along the way, observe birds in the settlement areas, then continue driving to Trongsa for an overnight stay, situated at the elevation of 2,200 meters.
Day 8 - Trongsa to Phobjikha
Day 8: Trongsa to Phobjikha
Drive approximately 3.5 hours to Phobjikha via Pelela Pass elevation of 3,200 meters, enjoying birding along the way through cool broadleaved mixed with coniferous forests. From Gangtey, hike down to Phobjikha Valley, the largest marshland in the country, protected under the Ramsar Convention. Visit the Black-necked Crane Information Center. Overnight stay in Phobjikha, elevation approximately 2,700 meters.
Day 9 - Phobjikha to Paro
Day 9: Phobjikha to Paro
Drive approximately 5.5 hours to Paro via Pelela Pass to explore the Pheasant habitat such as Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan and alpine birds. Then drive to Paro for overnight stay.
Day 10 - Paro to Chelela Pass
Day 10: Paro to Chelela Pass
Drive approximately 1.5 hours to Chelela Pass, reaching elevations up to 3,988 meters, the highest motorable road in Bhutan and a prime spot for pheasant spotting, such as the Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, and Kalij Pheasant. Enjoy birding through the subalpine mixed coniferous forests (Eastern Himalayan fir, spruce, hemlock, and larch) and cool broadleaved forests. Return to Paro for an overnight stay.
Day 11 - Depart from Paro international airport.
Day 11: Depart from Paro international airport.
You may have some free time in Paro for last-minute shopping or birdwatching around Paro Valley, depending on your flight schedule.

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Itinerary

Itinerary Expand All

Day 1 - Arrive at Paro international airport

Day 1: Arrive at Paro international airport

Day 2 - Thimphu to Punakha

Day 2: Thimphu to Punakha

Day 3 - Punakha to Tashithang

Day 3: Punakha to Tashithang

Day 4 - Punakha to Gelephu

Day 4: Punakha to Gelephu

Day 5 - Gelephu to Tingtibe

Day 5: Gelephu to Tingtibe

Day 6 - Tingtibe to Zhemgang

Day 6: Tingtibe to Zhemgang

Day 7 - Zhemgang to Trongsa

Day 7: Zhemgang to Trongsa

Day 8 - Trongsa to Phobjikha

Day 8: Trongsa to Phobjikha

Day 9 - Phobjikha to Paro

Day 9: Phobjikha to Paro

Day 10 - Paro to Chelela Pass

Day 10: Paro to Chelela Pass

Day 11 - Depart from Paro international airport.

Day 11: Depart from Paro international airport.

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