Wedged amidst the jagged contours of the Himalayas, between India and Tibet, lies the timeless Kingdom of Bhutan. Immersed in tradition, folklore, and deep-seated Buddhist beliefs, Bhutan has in recent years opened up and taught the world a few lessons on almost every aspect of conservation. Its legacy, endless tracts of Himalayan forest carpeting the foothills of snow-capped ranges, transcends reverence and respect for all things natural. Top quality target birds like the enigmatic Ibisbill, dazzling Himalayan Monal, outrageous Satyr Tragopan, localized Ward's Trogon, remarkable Rufous-necked Hornbill, Blyth’s Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Beautiful Nuthatch and the breathtaking Fire-tailed Myzornis await the few devoted souls that venture into this rich kingdom. One of Bhutan’s greatest appeals is that it has retained much of its traditional practices and beliefs, and remains a country virtually uninfluenced by the west, making it not only a great birding destination, but also culturally fascinating. If you have not yet been to Bhutan, don’t panic, because it’s as near to timeless as a place can get.

Day 1: Arrival in Paro. Birding starts with a bang, going straight after one of our biggest target birds, Ibisbill, on the rocky banks of the Paro River. We may also find River Lapwing and Black-tailed Crake.

Day 2: Cheli la to Thimphu. Dawn sees us on the cool alpine meadows of Cheli la searching for the iridescent Himalayan Monal, a bird so colorful that the Nepalese have nicknamed it the “bird of nine colors”. We‘ll also sift through flocks of pink rosefinches and chunky grosbeaks. In the thicker forests below we hope to track down Spotted and Black-faced Laughingthrushes.

Day 3: Thimpu to Cheri Valley. En route to Jigme Dorji NP along the exquisite Cheri Valley, we should bump into Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Brown Dipper, White-collared Blackbird and Hodgson‘s and Blue-fronted Redstarts. In the afternoon we visit the magnificent Trashi Chhoe Dzong temple, for our first of many fascinating cultural diversions. 

Days 4-6: Thimpu to Punakha (Mo Chhu Valley). The day starts at 10,000 feet on the western slopes of Dochu la, soaking up breathtaking views of the Central-Eastern Himalayan range. These pristine mixed forests of hemlock, fir, oak, and rhododendron hold a spectacular set of target species, any of which will leave us breathless and craving for more. Among these we‘ll search for the vivid scarlet shape of a male Satyr Tragopan, one of the unbelievable horned pheasants that draw many birders to the Himalayas. Other cool stuff up here includes remarkable Gold-billed Magpies, gorgeous Golden Bush Robins, immaculate Cutias, and the scintillating Fire-tailed Myzornis. Later, we descend to the small town of Punakha and visit its impressive Dzong, before heading to Jigme Dorji NP. Over the next two days we should be rewarded with Black Eagles, Red-headed Trogons, cute Slaty-bellied Tesias, Small Niltavas, Black-chinned Yuhinas, a trio of forktails, several furtive wren-babblers, and with luck Pallas‘s Fish Eagle or White-bellied Heron.

Day 7: Punakha to Gangtey Gompa (Probjikha Valley). The atmospheric oak woods of Gangtey la hold another top target in the form of Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, and will also give us a shot at Blue-winged Minla, Whiskered Yuhina, Rufous Sibia, and the wonderful Ward ‘s Trogon. Late in the day we visit the Gangtey Gompa monastery for another smattering of Bhutanese culture.

Day 8: Probjikha Valley to Trongsa. Before reaching the sacred wintering grounds of the Black-necked Crane, we hit the summit at Pele la, where Kalij Pheasant, Spotted Forktail, White-browed Rosefinches, and White-winged Grosbeaks occur. Scattered bamboo stands provide refuge for several cute parrotbills, and roadside scrub holds Stripe-throated Yuhina and Rusty-tailed Flycatcher.

Days 9-12: Trongsa to Shemgang road to Tingbiti. We drop in elevation as we head towards Tingbiti, birding several forested valleys on the way, searching for the impressive Rufous-necked Hornbill, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Rusty-fronted Barwing, and Yellow- throated Fulvetta. We‘ll base ourselves at Tingbiti and target the low elevation forests for tiny Speckled Piculets, and a whole host of cool laughingthrushes such as Rufous-chinned and Blue-winged. Right near our mountain camp we‘ll seek out massive Great Hornbills, Pin-tailed Green Pigeons, Lesser Yellownapes, and incandescent flocks of Scarlet Minivets, Sultan Tits, and Orange-bellied Leafbirds. A brace of cool woodpeckers are also on the long list of possibilities, including a real  ‘cutey ‘ in the form of the diminutive, pink-breasted White-browed Piculet and the scarce Pale-headed Woodpecker. This is also our best chance for the impressive golden leaf monkey.

Day 13: Trongsa to Jakar. A very early start at Yotung la could yield Darjeeling Woodpecker, Chestnut-tailed Minla, the localized Gold-naped Finch, and the unusual Great Parrotbill. In the afternoon we visit another attractive temple, Jakar Dzong for a more relaxing afternoon.

Day 14: Jakar to Sengor. Thrumsing la is prime country for Blood Pheasants, and also holds Red-flanked Bluetails, Spotted Nutcrackers, and ghostly Snow Pigeons. The dense conifers of the Ura Valley hold gems like Mrs. Gould‘s Sunbirds, Orange-gorgeted Flycatchers, Bar-winged Wren-babblers, and Red-headed Bullfinches. In the afternoon we‘ll make a dramatic descent to Sengor to overnight.

Days 15-18: Sengor to Yongko la and Lingmethang road. Today we hit Bhutan‘s wet subtropical forests and one of the finest birding areas in the Himalayas. Over the next four days we will be combing the lush forested valleys in order to track down awesome Rufous-necked Hornbills, shy Blue-naped Pittas, Golden-throated Barbets, mixed parrotbill flocks, Collared Treepies, strange Slender-billed Scimitar-babblers, Black-headed Shrike-babblers, gorgeous Golden-breasted Fulvettas, and vermillion Scarlet Finches, to name just a few of the varied and staggering possibilities in this wonderfully rich area.

Day 19: Yongko la to Mongar-Narphung. An extremely early start will be needed so that we ensure we have enough time to bird the broadleaf forests around Kori la, as we have a long drive ahead of us. Around the pass we may run into giant Great Barbets, stunning Short-billed Minivets, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatches, Rufous-necked Laughingthrushes, and a brace of cool babblers, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler and Hoary-throated Barwing.

Day 20: Narphung la to Samdrup Jongkhar. Birding subtropical forest around Narphung may bring in the tiny Pied Falconet, hulking Wreathed Hornbill, superb Silver-breasted Broadbill along with more parrotbills and immaculate forktails.

Trip info:

CLIMATE: Mostly cool to cold. Generally dry during the day except at the passes where rain, sleet, fog, and even snow can appear. Warmer and humid beyond Lingmethang. Most of the tour is spent between 6,500-9850 ft. (2000-3000 m.), with occasional visits to mountain passes over 13,000 ft. (4000 m.).

DIFFICULTY: Moderate. There are a few optional strenuous hikes and several very early starts.