Our standard birding tour to Bhutan covers many of the best birding sites in the country though it skips the less developed areas in the south around Royal Manas National Park. In addition to birding, Bhutan is a culturally fascinating country with elaborately decorated monasteries, also called dzongs, in many cities and even in remote places. Many of the mountain passes are adorned with banners as well in this deeply religious country. The topography of Bhutan offers majestic scenery in the foothills of the Himalayas, sometimes challenging roads that can be quite narrow on steep mountainsides in places, and of course superb birding from the lowlands near the southern border with India, subtropical foest in the foothills, temperate forest at middle altitudes, and alpine meadows in high elevation passes through the mountains. In 2021 Bhutan increased its sustainable development tax to $200/day for each person visiting the country, making tours quite expensive. However, the tax was temporarily reduced in 2023 to $100/day, and this reduction has been extended now through 2027, so the best time to visit this fascinating country is soon. Finally, we can honestly say that our prices for birding tours to Bhutan are much better than most competing tour operators because we rely on expert buides in Bhutan and do not have to pay the sustainable development tax and other expenses for a foreign guide to lead the tour.

Our tour begins with international arrival at the airport in Paro on the morning of the first day of our tour followed by transfer to the capital city of Thimphu. Flights from Delhi may arrive the night before, in which case an additional fee is added to the tour price. Many participants prefer arriving a day early in Paro, allowing time to enjoy a cultural tour of Paro after arrival. During the transfer to Thimphu for transfer to the Phobijka Valley, located in the mountains east of Punakha. We'll spend a day birding there before departing for Pele La Pass, Tharpaling Monastery, and Chumey. We then continue eastward to the bird rich area around Yongko La for 4 nights and 3 full days birding this exciting region. Then we retrace out route, birding our way back toward Trongsa with birding stops enroute at Namling and Sengar. After a full day birding south of Trongsa around Tingtibi, we proceed to Punakha for two nights, From Punakha we return to Paro, birding the high pass at Dochu La and the Paro Valley looking for the much sought after and uniquely different Ibisbill. Our last nights will be in Paro, with one day devoted to hiking up to Tiger's Nest Monastery and one day birding the highlands of Cheli La. The tour ends next morning at the airport in Paro.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFO
(Not on Menu Above)

• Country Map
• Accommodations
• Photos from Past Tours
• Travel Information

BIRDING LOCALES

• Chele La Pass
• Dochu La
• Jigme Dorji National Park
• Lower Lingmethang Road & Namling
• Mangde Chhu River Forest
• Mo Chhu River
• Phobjikha Valley
• Punakha
• Tharpaling Monastery
• Tiger's Nest Monastery Trail
• Tingtibi Area
• Upper Lingmethang Road & Sengor
• Yongko La
• Yotong La