Loading...
14 Days
Feathers of Bhutan
Southern Bhutan birding discovery
Duration
14 Days
Difficulty
Moderate
Destinations
Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Zhemgang, Royal Manas
Best Time
March-May, October-November
Overview
Southern Bhutan birding discovery penetrating into the subtropical and tropical zones of Royal Manas National Park and Zhemgang forests. Target lowland specialists including Great Hornbill, Beautiful Nuthatch, Golden Langur sightings, and over 426 recorded species in Royal Manas alone. Experience jungle camping and pristine riverine habitats rarely accessed by birders.
Journey Highlights
Royal Manas National Park
Zhemgang forests
Tingtibi and Pantang
Subtropical broadleaf forests
Riverine habitats
Tailored Itinerary
1
Day 1: Arrival in Paro | Drive to Thimphu & Riverside Birding
Arrive Paro, drive to Thimphu stopping at Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge for riverine birds. Visit Buddha Dordenma. Evening birding at Thimphu sewage ponds for Solitary Snipe, Black-tailed Crake, Ibisbill, and Wallcreeper. This productive wetland stop is especially useful for Solitary Snipe and Black-tailed Crake, while also helping cover missed riverine species.
Experience Highlights
- Airport arrival with a smooth welcome and Himalayan valley orientation
- Thimphu sewage pond birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Tachogang Lhakhang visit for deeper insight into Bhutanese history, symbolism, and living tradition
- Buddha Dordenma as a richer guest experience with context, story, and place
Hotel in Thimphu
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
2
Day 2: Thimphu to Gangtey (Phobjikha) | Alpine Passes & Broadleaf Forests
Drive to Phobjikha Valley via Dochula Pass with Fire-tailed Myzornis. Explore Royal Botanical Park for Ward's Trogon, Parrotbills, and Grey-sided Laughingthrush. Continue through broadleaf forests with multiple birding stops. Dochula acts as an important transition zone between alpine and subtropical habitats, often rewarding careful scanning across elevations.
Experience Highlights
- Lawa La Pass species with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Phobjikha Valley arrival with a smooth welcome and Himalayan valley orientation
- Royal Botanical Park exploration as a richer guest experience with context, story, and place
- Dochula Pass birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
Hotel in Gangtey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3
Day 3: Gangtey to Trongsa | High-Altitude Birding at Pele La
Morning birding at Pele La Pass (3,400m) targeting Satyr Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, Fire-tailed Myzornis, various Rosefinches and Finches. Descend to Trongsa with roadside birding for mixed forest species. Morning coverage on the quieter old road improves chances for pheasants, rosefinches, and other montane specialists before traffic builds.
Experience Highlights
- Pheasant searching with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Alpine specialist observation with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Trongsa arrival with a smooth welcome and Himalayan valley orientation
- Pele La Pass birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
Hotel in Trongsa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4
Day 4: Trongsa to Tingtibi | River Valleys & Subtropical Forest
Descend along Mangde Chhu River to subtropical Zhemgang. Target Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Hornbills, Trogons, Beautiful Nuthatch, Rufous-headed Parrotbills, and critically endangered White-bellied Heron. Chance for Golden Langur. As the route descends into subtropical zones, riverine clearings and forest edges support hornbills, trogons, and several conservation-priority species.
Experience Highlights
- Hornbill and parrotbill searching with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Mammal observation with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- River valley birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Subtropical forest exploration to recharge, adapt to altitude, and enjoy the mountain atmosphere
Lodge in Tingtibi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5
Day 5: Tingtibi | Gomphu Road & Zhemgang Forest Exploration
Full day birding around Tingtibi and Zhemgang. Morning targets include Golden Langur, Hornbills, Beautiful Nuthatch. Afternoon on Gomphu Road toward Manas for Parrotbills, Laughingthrushes, and possibly Pale-headed Woodpecker. These foothill forests and bamboo thickets are among southern Bhutan's most productive areas for rare and localized lowland birds.
Experience Highlights
- Rare species searching with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Forest and bamboo habitats to recharge, adapt to altitude, and enjoy the mountain atmosphere
- Gomphu Road exploration as a richer guest experience with context, story, and place
- Zhemgang-Tingtibi road birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
Lodge in Tingtibi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6
Day 6: Tingtibi to Pangbang | Tropical Lowland Forests & Camping
Continue to tropical lowland forests with Bhutan Laughingthrush, Great Hornbill, Beautiful Nuthatch, and Ward's Trogon. Arrive at Pangbang for overnight jungle camping experience in Bhutan's southern wilderness. Morning and evening sessions are prioritized when bird activity is at its peak.
Experience Highlights
- Subtropical species with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Lowland forest birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Pangbang arrival with a smooth welcome and Himalayan valley orientation
- Jungle camping setup to recharge, adapt to altitude, and enjoy the mountain atmosphere
Camping at Pangbang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
7
Day 7: Royal Manas National Park | Tropical Wilderness & Bird Diversity
Full day in Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan's oldest protected area. Over 426 bird species including Great Hornbill, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Blyth's Kingfisher, Broadbills, and numerous woodpeckers. Home to Bengal Tiger and Golden Langur. Royal Manas is Bhutan's oldest protected area and supports exceptional tropical diversity, with over 426 species recorded.
Experience Highlights
- Forest track birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Nocturnal wildlife sounds as a richer guest experience with context, story, and place
- Riverine corridor species with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Royal Manas exploration as a richer guest experience with context, story, and place
Camping at Pangbang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8
Day 8: Pangbang to Gelephu | Southern Plains & Borderland Birding
Drive to Gelephu near the Indian border through lowland forests and open landscapes. Roadside birding with grassland, wetland, and forest patch species different from highland birds. The surrounding grassland, wetland, and forest-patch mosaic adds a distinct lowland species set compared with the highland valleys.
Experience Highlights
- Transit day with birding stops with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Gelephu arrival with a smooth welcome and Himalayan valley orientation
- Lowland forest birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Grassland species with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
Hotel in Gelephu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9
Day 9: Gelephu to Punakha | Cultural Transition & Mid-Elevation Birding
Drive north through Tsirang District to Punakha. Birding for Scimitar Babblers, Flycatchers, Forktails, Kingfishers, White-bellied Heron, Minlas, Bullfinches, and Fire-tailed Myzornis along rivers and forests. This corridor marks a clear ecological transition from subtropical foothills back to river-fed central valleys.
Experience Highlights
- Mid-elevation species with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- River and forest birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Punakha Valley arrival with a smooth welcome and Himalayan valley orientation
- Tsirang District passage with wide Himalayan panoramas and changing alpine landscapes
Hotel in Punakha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10
Day 10: Punakha | Exploring Jigme Dorji National Park
Early morning scan for White-bellied Heron on Pho Chhu River. Full day in Jigme Dorji National Park via Punakha Dzong. Target Yellow-vented Warbler, diverse leaf warblers, Shrike-babblers, Nuthatches, and Fantails. Birding follows forest trails and riverine edges with unhurried time for observation, photography, and listening for calls in mixed habitats.
Experience Highlights
- Forest and riverine habitats with serene waterside scenery and excellent photo opportunities
- Guided visit to Punakha Dzong, Bhutan's riverfront masterpiece at the confluence of two rivers
- National park birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- White-bellied Heron search with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
Hotel in Punakha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
11
Day 11: Punakha to Paro | Mountain Passes & Forest Trails
Scenic drive to Paro crossing Dochula Pass. Optional forest walk to Lungchutse Monastery through hemlock, fir, rhododendron, and bamboo forests with excellent birding. Visit Paro Dzong and National Museum. Dochula acts as an important transition zone between alpine and subtropical habitats, often rewarding careful scanning across elevations.
Experience Highlights
- Forest species observation with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Paro cultural sites as a richer guest experience with context, story, and place
- Lungchutse Monastery trail along scenic routes linking culture, nature, and local life
- Dochula Pass birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
Hotel in Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
12
Day 12: Paro | High-Altitude Birding at Chele La Pass
Early drive to Chele La Pass (3,988m), Bhutan's highest motorable pass. Target Kalij Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Blood Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, various Laughingthrushes, Grosbeaks, Rosefinches, and Sunbirds. This is one of the finest high-altitude birding locations in the western Himalayas, with habitats shifting from lower forest edges to alpine slopes.
Experience Highlights
- Alpine specialist observation with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- High-altitude species with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Chele La Pass birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Pheasant and monal searching with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
Hotel in Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
13
Day 13: Paro | Hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest Monastery)
Iconic hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery (3,120m) through Blue Pine forests. Birding for Laughingthrushes, Accentors, Woodpeckers, Snow Pigeon, Alpine Accentor. Near waterfall: Little Forktail and Water Redstarts. The trail combines spiritual pilgrimage with excellent forest birding through Blue Pine and mixed conifer habitat.
Experience Highlights
- Forest trail birding with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Monastery visit for deeper insight into Bhutanese history, symbolism, and living tradition
- Waterfall species with focused spotting across river, forest, and ridge habitats
- Tiger's Nest hike (5-7 hours) along scenic routes linking culture, nature, and local life
Hotel in Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
14
Day 14: Departure from Paro | Farewell Bhutan
Transfer to Paro International Airport. Conclude your comprehensive Southern Bhutan Birding Discovery with memories of pristine forests, rare birds, and Bhutanese hospitality.
Experience Highlights
- Departure with lasting memories of Bhutan's culture, landscapes, and warm hospitality
- Comfortable transfer to the airport with support for smooth check-in and departure
Meals: Breakfast
Inclusions
- Sustainable Tourism Fee (USD $100 per night)
- All monument, entrance, and park fees
- All transfers and sightseeing
- All meals: Full board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Unlimited drinking mineral water
- Accommodation (hotels and forest lodges)
- Expert birding guide with spotting scopes
- Bird checklists provided
- English-speaking licensed tour guide and driver
- Transportation in comfortable SUV
Exclusions
- Airfare
- Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, spa, telephone, shopping)
- Bank or transaction charges
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips and gratuities for guide and driver
- Personal binoculars and camera equipment
Booking Protocol
Contact us to book this comprehensive southern Bhutan birding expedition.
Interested in this journey?
Experience the magic of Bhutan with a personalized itinerary and a free quote tailored exactly to your vision.
Request Expert QuoteVisual Exploration
Executive Summary
- Duration
- 14 Days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Destinations
- Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Zhemgang, Royal Manas
- Best Season
- March-May, October-November
Living Traditions
Festivals of Bhutan
Experience vibrant Tshechu festivals featuring sacred mask dances, ancient rituals, and colorful celebrations that have been passed down through centuries.
Download 2026 Festival Dates (PDF)
Ready to Begin Your Story?
Let's plan your perfect journey to the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Get a personalized itinerary and expert guidance for your adventure.
Bespoke JourneysPersonalized ItinerariesLocal Expertise