Day 1: Paro to Thimphu
Arrivals into Bhutan's Paro airport this morning. From here we set out onto the Lateral Road, the extraordinary feat of engineering that bisects Bhutan, travelling east to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, for the night. At Thimphu we will spend the afternoon around the town's sewage pools looking for Ibisbill, Black-tailed Crake, Brown Dipper and our first taste of the unequivocally Himalayan species we can expect to see throughout the tour.
Day 2: Thimphu to Punakha via Dochu La
This morning we set out eastwards towards Punakha for the night. This journey will take us over our first high pass, Dochu La at 3,150m. Against spectacular views of the Eastern Himalayan ranges we can expect to encounter our first high elevation species at the pass in lush mixed forests of hemlock, fir, oak and rhododendron, such as Fire-tailed Myzornis, Rufous Sibia, White-browed Fulvetta, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Scaly-breasted Cupwing and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush. We will spend the remainder of the day at Punakha, beginning at Lamperi Botanical Gardens where we will be looking for Brown Parrotbill, Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler, Hoary-throated Barwing and Hodgson's Redstart, among others. We will also spend time along the Pho Chu River, looking for the critically endangered White-bellied Heron alongside River Lapwing, Crested Kingfisher, Plumbeous and White-capped Redstarts, three species of forktail, and Pallas’s Fish-eagle. We may also find time to make a brief visit to Punakha's impressive Dzong, one of the most beautiful in the country, which stands at the confluence of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu Rivers.
Day 3: Punakha to Trongsa
Today we drive to Trongsa for the night. Although a long journey, the drive will take us through a diverse range of habitats, cool broadleaved forests, stands of bamboo, scrublands, farmlands and small settlements, and there will be ample time for birding along the way. We can expect to encounter a rich variety of birds today, such as Himalayan Cutia, Blyth's Shrike-Babbler, Grey-bellied Tesia, Black-faced Warbler, Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, Fire-capped and Black-browed Tits, Bhutan Laughingthrush, Speckled Woodpigeon, Himalayan Cuckoo, and Golden-breasted Fulvetta. In the forests around Nobding, we will look for Ward's Trogon, with the chance of Yellow-rumped Honeyguide among the nests of Giant Rock Bees on roadside cliffs.
Day 4: Trongsa to Tingtibi
This morning we will set out on the journey to Tingtibi in the foothills of the remote Zhemgang district, an area renowned for its extensive forest cover, among the highest anywhere in Bhutan. Leaving Trongsa, we will head south past settlements, farmland and scrub, and later through a series of forested valleys. We will spend much of the day birding along the road to Dakphel in moss-draped, mid-altitude broadleaved forests of the foothills, as we target lower elevation species that we are unlikely to find later in our journey. In this productive area we will encounter a rich selection of birds, perhaps including Red-faced Liocichla, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, Rusty-cheeked and White-browed Scimitar-Babblers, White-browed Shrike-Babbler, White-bellied Erpornis, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Common Green Magpie, Grey-chinned Minivet, several flycatchers including Pale Blue, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Sultan Tit, Beautiful Nuthatch, Rufous-bellied Eagle and Mountain Hawk-Eagle. This will be the first of two nights camping in the area, and staying in a well chosen spot will give us the opportunity to listen out for night birds such as Asian Barred and Collared Owlets, and if we are lucky Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl.
Day 5: Tingtibi, Gomphu Road and Royal Manas National Park
We will spend today at Tingtibi, birding along the quiet and little-used Gomphu Road that runs through a superb tract of mid-altitude broadleaved forest in the foothills, protected as Royal Manas National Park. In these forests, and in particular the extensive stands of bamboo, we will be looking for a number of notable species including White-hooded Babbler, Pale-headed and Bay Woodpeckers, White-browed Piculet, Pale-billed and Grey-headed Parrotbills, Grey-throated Babbler, Rufous-faced Warbler, Long-tailed Broadbill, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Red-headed Trogon, Wreathed and Rufous-necked Hornbills, and the elusive Blyth's Kingfisher. Several viewpoints along the road will offer a glimpse of the Mangdue Chu River, where we have a further chance of finding the critically endangered White-bellied Heron. This area also offers our best chance of an encounter with the attractive endemic primate, Golden Langur.
Day 6: Tingtibi to Bumthang
Today we will retrace our journey back to Trongsa, making stops along the way for any species we may so far have missed. We will then travel further east to Bumthang for the night. This will take us through some wonderful rhododendron forests at 3,425m Yutong La, where we will encounter skulking high-altitude species such as Spotted Laughingthrush, the curious Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler, Brown and Great Parrotbills and White-browed Shortwing.
Day 7: Thrumsing La to Sengor, Namling and Yongkala along the Lingmethang Road
On day 7 we continue our journey east to Yongkala for the night. First, we will ascend to 3,780m into the towering firs of Thrumsing La, the second highest mountain pass in Bhutan. The dense forest here with its thick understorey of rhododendron is prime habitat for the dazzling Himalayan Monal, together with Spotted Nutcracker, Wallcreeper, White-browed Bush-Robin and Altai Accentor. The pass marks the start of the ornithologically celebrated Lingmethang Road, the section of the Lateral Road between here and the Shonkhar Chu Valley, widely regarded as one of the finest birding sites in Asia. Passing through pristine forest spanning over 3,150m of altitude, this road offers incredible access to pristine forests across the altitudinal range. We will spend the next four nights divided between Yongkala and Sengor, where we can expect an incredible diversity of species in temperate coniferous forests at higher elevations and subtropical broadleaved woodland at lower levels. These include Ward’s Trogon, Gould’s and Lesser Shortwings, Scaly Laughingthrush, Bar-winged Wren-babbler, Snow Pigeon, Blood Pheasant, flycatchers including White-gorgeted, and an incredible selection of warblers and tits.
Day 8-9: Yongkala and the Lingmethang Road
Over these two days we will thoroughly explore the stretch of road between Thrumshing La in the west and Lingmethang in the east, possibly as far as the Shonkhar Chu Valley. We will encounter a diverse range of habitats here, with lower elevations characterised by scrub, subtropical forest and areas of cultivation, mid-altitudes dominated by broadleaved forests and with temperate coniferous forests, rhododendrons and open meadows at the highest altitudes. Birdlife is abundant and varied here, and our primary focus will be on locating some of Bhutan's most sought after species, which include Himalayan Cutia, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Beautiful Nuthatch, White-breasted Parrotbill, and Hodgson's Frogmouth. We can also expect to find some of the region's more elusive and secretive residents in the dense understorey, such as Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler, Coral-billed Scimitar-babbler, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Long-billed Wren-Babbler, the diminutive Pygmy Cupwing, the monotypic Spotted Elachura, and Slaty-bellied Tesia.
Day 10: Sengor
We will retrace our steps this morning, to spend our final night along the Lingmethang Road camping at Sengor. These higher elevations will offer habitats and species that differ significantly from those we have experienced over the past three days. In spruce, hemlock, fir and rhododendron we will be looking for a variety of new birds, perhaps including Grey-crested Tit, White-naped Yuhina, Scarlet Finch, Brown Bullfinch, Red Crossbill, Alpine Thrush, Golden Babbler, Green Shrike-Babbler, Golden Bush-Robin, Striated Laughingthrush, Blyth's Swift and Himalayan Swiftlet. Sengor is also renowned as a reliable site for the star-studded Satyr Tragopan, and we will make a special effort to locate this spectacular Himalayan pheasant.
Day 11: Sengor to the Chumey Valley
Today we will retrace our journey back to Bumthang district to spend the night in the Chumey Valley. This will give us opportunity to revisit Thrumshing La, looking and listening for any high elevation species we may so far have missed. From here we will descend into the pastoral Ura Valley, where we will look for Plain Mountain Finch, Russet Sparrow, Yellow-browed Tit and Green-tailed Sunbird before driving on to Chumey. In the late afternoon, we will make a visit to a mountain monastery in search of Himalayan Monal. These magnificent birds gather here to feed on grain provided by the monks and we can look forward to some truly incredible views at close quarters.
Day 12: Chumey to the Phobjikha Valley
We will continue our westward journey today, passing through Trongsa as we make our way to the Phobjikha Valley for the night. In the first part of the drive we will ascend through swathes of fir and spruce to Yotong La. At 3,425m the pass is another excellent place to look for several skulkers including Black-faced Laughingthrush, Grey-sided and Hume's Bush-warblers, and Scaly-breasted Cupwing, as well as White-winged Grosbeak, Dark-sided and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers, and roving tit flocks. As we descend from the pass via a series of switchbacks we will pass through some wonderful rhododendron forest where we will have another chance to find the unmistakeable Fire-tailed Myzornis. At Trongsa, we will have the opportunity to visit the imposing Trongsa dzong, the largest in Bhutan, before continuing our drive southwards into the Phobjikha Valley at the edge of the Black Mountain Range. Later this afternoon we'll explore the vast glacial valley’s mosaic of grass, scrub and farmsteads that supports a good number of species including Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Chestnut-bellied Rock-thrush, Grey-hooded Warbler and Striated Prinia.
Day 13: Pele La to Paro
An early start this morning takes us up to 3,420m at Pele La, where we will spend an enjoyable morning birding along the abandoned old road which promises a rich selection of high elevation specialities. Open meadows and rhododendron forests offer ideal habitat for looking for Bhutan Laughingthrush, Himalayan and Long-tailed Thrushes, Collared Grosbeak, Black-throated Parrotbill, White-throated Redstart, Dark-rumped and Himalayan White-browed Rosefinches, Chestnut-tailed Minla and Red-headed Bullfinch, with Bearded Vulture overhead. This is also prime pheasant habitat, and we will have a further chance to find both Himalayan Monal and Satyr Tragopan here, and with much luck we may even locate a delightful Red Panda before we make our way back to Paro for a two night stay.
Day 14: Chele La
The final day of the tour will take us to Chele La, at 3890m the highest pass accessible by road in Bhutan. Ascending above the treeline we can expect to encounter a final selection of high-altitude specialities, in particular Blood Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant, Darjeeling and Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers, Orange-flanked and Golden Bush-Robins, Himalayan Bluetail and Himalayan Griffon.
Day 15: Depart Paro
Departures from Paro international airport today.
