Long Birding Tours

The birding itinerary presented hereunder is just as an example. We will do a new set of birding itinerary with new travel plan and access from different entry points in the south. The birding itinerary will contain information on culture and people, geography and demography, and habitat and biodiversity, and camp sites and birding areas. The itinerary will have a checklist of bird observed along the travel route.

Birding from SamdrupJongkhar to Tingtibe

Day 1: Guwahati –Samdrup Jongkhar (110km)

You will cross the border (India-Bhutan) and reach Samdrup Jongkhar, a major trade hub, the southern part of Bhutan in the east and spent a night in Samdrup Jongkhar town. You are in tropical broadleaved forest. People speak Sharchop (dialect of the easterners), one of the 18 local dialects of Bhutan. Sharchop is mainly spoken by the eastern Bhutanese.

Birding in Samdrup Jongkhar and nearby areas, will bring to you birds such as Lineated Barbet, Asian Fairy Bluebirds, Black-naped Monarchs and Rufescent Prinia, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Large Wood shrike, Crimson Sunbird, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Common Iora, Ashy Wood swallow, White-throated Bulbul, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Grey-throated and Striped-tit Babblers, Ashy Bulbul, Common Tailorbird, Black Redstart, White-rumped Sharma, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Blythe's Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Slaty Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Asian Palm Swift, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Grey-capped Woodpecker.

Day 2: Samdrup Jongkhar to Narphung

Your birding will remain within the upper limits of warm broadleaf forests. The journey from Samdrup Jongkhar to Narphung will take about two hours drive, however birding stops will entail extra time. Spend there for two nights camping. One day full birding exercise within Narphung areas, you will spot some birds like Little Bunting, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Rufous-throated Partridge, Cutia, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Wreathed Hornbill, Common Myna, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, Asian Pied Starling, Jungle Myna, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Common Kingfisher, Crested Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper, Black-backed Forktail, White-throated Kingfisher, Hill Myna. The Hodgson’s Frogmouth was recorded around Narphung for the first time in 2007(?).

Day 3: Narphung to Trashigang

Reaching Trashigang, you halt a night in hotel in Trashingang town and take a day to reach there. Birding along the motorable road, some of the birds you will find are Red-rumped Swallow, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Little Bunting, Tibetan Siskin, White-browed Shrike Babbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Common Hoopoe, Common Kestrel, Asian Black Eagle, Darjeeling Woodpecker, White-throated Laughing Thrush, Streaked/Bhutan Laughing Thrush, Grey-sided Laughing Thrush.

Day 4: Trashigang to Yongkola

You will cross Mongar town and camp at Yongkola or Norbugang for three nights, 2 days full birding around Yongkola, Norbugang and Namling areas and experience incredible birding day.

Along the road, from Trashigang to Yongkola, stop by at the bird hotspots area like Korila inhibited by cool-broadleaved forest and few locations. You will able to see some birds like Rufous-necked Hornbill, Crested Laughingthrush, Bhutan Laughingthrush, Black-faced Laughingthrush, White-throated Laughingthrush, Pygmy Blue flycatcher, Blue-throated flycatcher, Blue-fronted Flycatcher, Green Magpie, Bonelli's Eagle, Barn Swallow, Hill Prinia, Grey-winged Blackbird, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, Little Bunting, Wallcreeper.

Day 5: Yongkola to Namling (Camp at Yongkola)

Birding around Namling areas, you will see birds such as Mountain Scops Owl, Hill Partridge, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Ward’s Trogon, Collared Owlet, Asian Barred Owlet, White-throated Laughingthrush, Striated Laughingthrush, Golden Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Black-faced Warbler, Yellow-rumped Honey guide, Yellow-vented Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Common Tailorbird, Grey Bushchat, House Sparrow, Black Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Himalayan Bulbul, Red-flanked Bluetail, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Little Forktail, White-capped Water Redstart, Green-tailed Sunbird, Stripe-throated Yuhina, White-naped Yuhina, White-tailed Nuthatch, Plain-backed Thrush, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Large-billed Crow, Rufous-throated Wren Babbler, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Black-faced Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, White-spectacled Warbler, Yellow-vented Warbler, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Grey Treepie, Olive-backed Pipit.

Day 6: Yongkola to Jaineyla or Broksar (Lingmethang) (Camp at Yongkola): 20km

Birding Yongkola and Lingmethang areas, one can see birds like Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Sultan Tit, Lesser Yellownape, Slaty-backed Forktail, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Ashy Bulbul, Nepal Fulvetta, Golden Tree Babbler, Little Pied Flycatcher, White-rumped Munia, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Rufous-necked Laughingthrush, Mountain Bulbul, Striated Laughingthrush, Streaked Laughingthrush, Red-faced Liochichla, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Sapphire Flycatcher, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Grey-cheeked Warbler and Black-faced Warbler.

Day 7: Yongkola/Norbugang to Bumthang via Ura: 130km

You will drive towards north crossing Sengore village and Thrumshingla pass(3700m). From Yongokla to Ura, you are entering inside the Thrumshingla National Park. On the way, you will come across lovely and beautiful waterfall called Namling waterfall before reaching Sengore. You will also find large tract of old growth Fir forest. Reaching Bumthang, you will halt at Hotels. Bumthang is culturally rich district in Bhutan. One can see various monasteries and sacred sites.

For the day, you can observe species like Snow Pigeon, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Monal Pheasant, Whiskered Yuhina, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Rufous-vented Yuhina, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Broad-billed Warbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Green Shrike Babbler, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Streaked Laughingthrush, Spotted Forktail, Spotted Laughingthrush, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Great Barbet and many other species.

Forest type: Warm and Cool-broadleaved forest, Hemlock, Fir, mixed conifer and Blue pine forest.

Ethic group: Bumthap, speaking Bumthangpa language, a local dialect.

Day 8: Bumthang to Trongsa: 69km

You will drive along the road passing through various ecotypes; Blue pine forest, mixed conifer forest, Fir forest and finally crossing Yotongla pass and broadleaved forest. Then you are in another district, Trongsa. People there speak Mangdeb and Trongsab languages, local dialect. In Trongsa, you will stay overnight in hotels.

Along the road, you will find birds such as Grey-hooded Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Yellow-browed Tit, Green-backed Tit, Green Shrike Babbler, White-browed Fulvetta, Plain-backed Thrush, Plain Mountain Finch, Spotted Nutcracker, Black-faced Laughingthrush,, Rufous-vented Tit, Coal Tit Rufous-fronted Tit, Gold crest, Red Crossbill, White-winged Grosbeak, Alpine Accentor, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Blue-fronted Redstart, Hodgson's Redstart, Red-billed Chough, Rosy Pipit, Black-necked Crane(Gyesa), Ibisbill, Solitary Snipe, Wood Snipe, Buff-bellied Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, Himalayan Swift, House Swift, Asian House Martin and Red-rumped Swallow.

Day 9: Trongsa to Tingtibe

Today is your destination to Bird Festival in Tingtibe under Zhemgang district, central Bhutan. You will cross warm-broadleaved and Chir pine vegetation zones. People are called as Khengpa and speak Khengkha. When you are in station, you will camp nearby the festival ground or stay in the standard hotels in Tingtibe.

Birding along the road, you come across birds such as 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, Brownish-flanked Bush Warble, Verditer Flycatcher, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Hume's Warbler, Tickell's Leaf Warbler, Crested Bunting, House Swift, Common Kestrel, Chestnut-bellied Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Ashy Bulbul, Golden-fronted Leaf bird, Blyth's Leaf Warbler, Pacific Swift, Greater Spotted Eagle, Black Drongo, Ashy bulbul, Mountain bulbul, Striated bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Red-vented bulbul, Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Striated Yuhina, Black-chinned Yuhina, Whiskered Yuhina, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Asian Barred Owlet, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Spotted Dove.


Birding from Phuntsholing – Tingtibe

Day 1: Bagdora – Phuntsholing: 170km

You will enter southern Bhutan from Bagdora and stay overnight in hotels in Phuntsholing town. Forest type there is sub-tropical broadleaved forest. People are Lhotsampa and speak Lhotsampa or Nepali language.

Birding there, you will able to see birds like Black Kite, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Coppersmith Barbet, Lineated Barbet, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ibisbill, River Lapwing, Black Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Great Egret, House Crow, Maroon Oriole, Oriental Magpie Robin, Common Stonechat, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Barn Swallow, Oriental White-eye, Mountain Tailorbird, House Sparrow.

Day 2: Phuntsholing – Thimphu: 179km

Your travel from Phuntsholing to Thimphu will pass through sub-tropical broadleaved forest and Chir pine forest. Birding along the road, one can find birds such as Hill Partridge, Red Crossbill, Spotted Nutcracker, Black-faced Laughing Thrush, Rusty-checked Scimitar Babbler, White-browed Fulvetta, Grey-crested Tit, Green-backed Tit, Red-headed Bullfinch, Rufous-vented Tit, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Speckled Piculet, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Hodgson's Redstart, Grey-backed Shrike, White-capped Water Restart, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Common Sandpiper, Ibisbill, Great Cormorant, Common Merganser, Wallcreeper, Red-crested Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, River Lapwing, Oriental Skylark, Great Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Rufous-necked Hornbill, White-throated Laughingthrush, Chetnut-crowned Laughingthrush.

Day 3: Thimphu – Punakha: 64km

You will travel through Chir pine forest, mixed conifer forest and broadleaved forest and ascend to Dochu La a high mountain pass of 3116 masl. In Punakha, you will stay overnight in hotels.

Some of the species you will see along the road are Grey-winged Blackbird, White-collared Blackbird, Plain-backed Thrush, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Greenish Warbler, Great Barbet, Red-flanked Bluetail, Golden Bush Robin, White-browed Fulvetta, Rufous Sibia, Mrs Gould's Sunbird, Ashy-throated Warbler, Short-billed Minivet, Rosy Pipit, Maroon Oriole, Blue-fronted Redstart, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Rufous-breasted Bush Robin, Whiskered Yuhina Green-tailed Sunbird, Hill Partridge, Collared Owlet, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Red-vented Bulbul, Common Myna, Oriental Turtle Dove, Eurasian Hoopoe, Russet Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, White-throated Laughingthrush, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, White-browed Fulvetta, Black Bulbul, White-naped Yuhina, Common Merganser, Ibisbill, White-bellied Heron, Palla’s Fish Eagle.

Day 4: Punakha to Shatem Camp:

Crossing through Chir pine and broadleaved forest, you camp a night in Shatem in Jigme Dorji National Park. Birding along the road, you will see birds like Ruddy Shelduck, River Lapwing, Common Kingfisher, Common Merganser, Common Hoopoe, Siberian Stonechat, Rufous-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Long-tailed Shrike, Grey-backed Shrike, Hodgson's Redstart, Ibisbill, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Bar-headed Geese, Common Buzzard, Brown Dipper, Oriental Magpie Robin, Scaly-breasted Munia, Crested Bunting, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Grey-cheeked Warbler, Grey-hooded Warbler, Hume's Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Oriental White-eye, Grey Wagtail, Grey Treepie, Red-crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Teal, Ferruginous Duck, Pallas' Fish Eagle, Common Sandpiper, Crested Kingfisher, Rufous Sibia, Striated Prinia, Long-tailed Minivet, Dark-sided Flycatcher, White-throated Laughingthrush, Grey Treepie, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Red-tailed Minla, Black-throated Tit, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Scaly-backed Forktail, Striated Laughingthrush, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Nepal House Martin, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Nepal Fulvetta, Lesser Shortwing , Yellow-ventedWarbler, White-spectacled Warbler, White-throated Fantail, White-bellied Epornis, Rufous-capped Babbler, Great Barbet, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Kalij Pheasant, Asian Barred Owlet ,Large Niltava, Long-tailed Thrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush.

Day 5: Shatem camp to Phobjikha

Passing through Chir pine forest, broadleaved forest and Fir forest, you will reach Phobjikha valley, a place where Black-necked Crane roost in winter. People are Ngalop and speak Dzongkha, national language.

Along the road, you will see birds like Himalayan Greenfinch, Great Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Black-throated Sunbird, Himalayan Swiftlet, Scarlet Minivet, Long-tailed Minivet, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, White-tailed, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Oriental White-eye, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Speckled Piculet, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Rosy Pipit, Besra, Crested Serpent Eagle, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Chestnut-tailed Minla, White-throated Fantail, Green-tailed Sunbird, Mrs Gould's Sunbird, Winter Wren, Black-necked Crane, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Red-billed Chough, White-browed Rosefinch, Crimson-browed Finch, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Great Parrotbill.

Day 6: Phobjikha - Trongsa

You will cross Pelela pass, fir and broadleaved forests. In Trongsa, one will overnight in hotels. People there speak Mangdeb and Khengkha. Driving along the road, you will find birds such as White-collared Blackbird, Winter Wren, Himalayan Monal, Satyr Tragopan, Alpine Accentor, White-browed Rosefinch, Great Parrotbill, Dark-throated Thrush, Hoary-throated Barwing, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Rufous Sibia, White-browed Bush Robin, Black-throated, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Eurasian Jay, Himalayan Swiftlet.

Day7: Trongsa - Tingtibe

Today you shall arrive to the final destination- the Bird Festival 2015 site in Tingtibe crossing through broadleaved forest, vast areas of settlement and mixed chirpine broadleaf forest. People there speak khengkha as their local dialect. There you either camp or stay in hotels.

Birding along the road, one can see Yellow-browed Tit, White-throated Laughingthrush, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Verditer Flycatcher, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Hume's Warbler, Tickell's Leaf Warbler, Crested Bunting, House Swift, Eurasian Kestrel, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Ashy Bulbul, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Blythe's Leaf Warbler, Pacific Swift, Greater Spotted Eagle, Black Drongo, Ashy Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Striated Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Striated Yuhina, Black-chinned Yuhina, Whiskered Yuhina, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Asian Barred Owlet, Grey-headed Parrotbill, White-crested Laughingthrush, Speckled Woodpigeon, Spotted Dove, Beautiful Nuthatch.

Birding from Gelephu to Tingtibe

Day 1: Guhawati/Bagdora to Gelephu

You are entering southern part of Bhutan from Guhawati or Bagdora. You will halt overnight in Hotels in Gelephu town. People there speak Lhotsampa language or Nepali. The area comprise of sub-tropical broadleaved forest. Birding there, one can see birds such as Black Kite, House Sparrow, Jungle Babbler, Silver-eared Mesia, Oriental White-eye, Red-vented Bulbul, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Wallcreeper, Hill Myana, Common Myana, Chenut-tailed starling, Grey Bushchat, Plumbeous Water Redstart, White-capped Water Redstart, Verditer Flycatcher, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Scaly Thrush, Blue Whistling Thrush, Brown Dipper, Asian Paradise-flycatcher, Grey-chinned Minivet, Rosy Minivet, Ashy Woodswallow, House Crow, Common Green Magpie, Grey Treepie, Long-tailed Shrike, Grey-backed Shrike, Hooded Pitta, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Grey Heron, Little Heron, Steppe Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Red-headed Vulture, Black Eagle, Red-wattled Lapwing, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Oreng-breasted Green Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Crested Treeswift, Red-breasted Parakeet, Indian Cuckoo, Blyth’s Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Yellow-rumped Hornbill, Great Barbet, Lineated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, Speckled Piculet, Rufous Woodpecker, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Ruddy Shelduck, Indian Peafowl.

Day 2: Gelephu – Tingtibe: 100km

You are travelling from southern Bhutan to central Bhutan through sub-tropical broadleaved forest to Chir pine forest. Along the road, Hill Partridge, Red Junglefowl, kalij Pheasant, White-browed Piculet, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Honey Guide, Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Great Barbet, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Common Hoopoe, Ward’s Trogon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Crested Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Large-Hawk Cuckoo, Oriental Cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, House Swift, Himalayan Swiftlet, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Owlet, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Black-tailed Crake, Palla’s Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Common Kestrel, Great Cormorant, White-bellied Heron, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Eurasian Jay, Common Green Magpie, Grey-backed Shrike, Grey Treepie, Large-billed Crow, Maroon Oriole, Scarlet Minivet, Spangled Drongo, Black Drongo, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Long-tailed Thrush, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Blue Whistling Thrush, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Verditer Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, White-capped Water Redstart, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Hodgson’s Redstart, Spotted Forktail, Grey Bushchat, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Wallcreeper, Beautiful Nuthatch, Sultan Tit, Nepal House Martin, Black Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Striated Bulbul, Striated Prinia, Oriental White-eye, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Buff-barred Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Mountain Tailorbird, Black-faced Warbler, White-crested Laughingthrush, White-throated Laughingthrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Cutia, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Chestnut-tailed Minla, White-naped Yuhina, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Golden Babbler, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Ruseet Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, White-rumped Munia and Red-headed Bulfinch.