Bhutan's Birdlife

Paro · Thimphu · Punakha · Paro — best for first-time birders, bird photographers and travellers who want to experience Bhutan's major western birding habitats without spending too much time on the road.

Route: Paro → Thimphu → Punakha → Paro

1. Day 1 · Riverine Birding

   Arrival & Paro River

   Arrive at Paro International Airport and be welcomed by your birding guide. After check-in and lunch, head out for an afternoon of birding along the Pa Chhu, looking for Ibisbill, Brown Dipper, White-capped Water Redstart, Plumbeous Water Redstart and River Lapwing. Close the day with an evening walk around Paro.

2. Day 2 · High-Altitude Birding

   Chele La

   An early departure for Chele La for a day of birding through conifer, rhododendron and high-altitude habitats, searching for Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Fire-tailed Myzornis and Himalayan Bluetail. Enjoy a packed breakfast or picnic on the mountain before returning to Paro for an afternoon of rest, optional valley birding, and reviewing photographs and the day's checklist.

3. Day 3 · Forest & Changing Habitats

   Paro → Thimphu → Punakha

   After an early breakfast, drive towards Punakha with birding stops around Dochula and Lamperi, continuing through changing forest habitats. Following lunch, arrive in Punakha for an afternoon of birding along the river corridor.

4. Day 4 · River & Forest Birding

   Punakha

   An early morning of birding around the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu in search of White-bellied Heron, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Lesser Fish Eagle, Osprey, Jungle Owlet and Asian Barred Owlet, alongside sunbirds, yuhinas and other subtropical forest species. After lunch, continue with afternoon riverbank and forest-edge birding, a photography session, and an evening checklist review.

5. Day 5 · Forest Birding

   Punakha → Thimphu

   Dawn birding around Punakha followed by breakfast, then drive towards Thimphu with birding stops around Dochula and Lamperi and further forest-edge birding along the way. Continue to Thimphu for an evening of birding around suitable valley habitat.

6. Day 6 · Final Western Birding

   Thimphu → Paro

   Early morning birding around Thimphu before the scenic drive to Paro. Spend the afternoon birding along the Pa Chhu and Paro Valley, with a final photography session and a review of the complete bird checklist with your guide, closing with a farewell Bhutanese dinner.

7. Day 7

   Departure · Paro Airport

   An optional early morning of birding around Paro before breakfast and the transfer to Paro International Airport for your departure from Bhutan.

Paro · Thimphu · Punakha · Phobjikha · Thimphu · Paro — best for dedicated birders who want more time in Bhutan's mountain forests and the unique Phobjikha Valley.

Route: Paro → Thimphu → Punakha → Phobjikha → Thimphu → Paro

1. Day 1 · Pa Chhu

   Arrival in Paro

   Arrival at Paro International Airport and a welcome from your birding guide. After check-in and lunch, spend the afternoon birding along the Pa Chhu, with an evening exploring around Paro.

2. Day 2 · High-Altitude Forest

   Chele La

   An early departure for a full morning of high-altitude birding at Chele La, searching for Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan and Fire-tailed Myzornis, with a picnic breakfast and lunch on the mountain. Return to Paro with time for optional afternoon birding.

3. Day 3 · Forest Transition

   Paro → Thimphu → Punakha

   An early departure with birding around Dochula and Lamperi, continuing through changing forest habitats. After lunch, arrive in Punakha for an afternoon of river birding.

4. Day 4 · Riverine & Subtropical Birding

   Punakha

   A full day of birding around the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu in search of White-bellied Heron, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Lesser Fish Eagle, Osprey, Jungle Owlet and Asian Barred Owlet, moving between forest-edge and riverbank habitats with time for photography and an evening checklist session.

5. Day 5 · Black Mountain Forests

   Punakha → Phobjikha

   Early morning birding around Punakha followed by breakfast, then drive towards Phobjikha with birding stops through the Black Mountain region. Arrive in Phobjikha for an afternoon of valley birding and sunset birding.

6. Day 6 · Mountain Valley Birding

   Phobjikha

   An early morning exploring the Gangtey Nature Trail and surrounding forest, searching for Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Great Parrotbill, laughingthrushes and Fire-tailed Myzornis across meadow and forest-edge habitats, with a winter focus on Black-necked Crane observation. Spend the afternoon on relaxed birding and photography.

7. Day 7 · Montane Forests

   Phobjikha → Thimphu

   Dawn birding followed by breakfast, then birding around the Pele La and Black Mountain habitats on the way to Thimphu, with afternoon forest birding and an evening to rest.

8. Day 8 · Final Birding

   Thimphu → Paro

   Early morning birding around Thimphu before driving to Paro for an afternoon along the Pa Chhu and Paro Valley. Close with a final photography session, completing the bird checklist with your guide, and a farewell dinner.

9. Day 9

   Departure · Paro Airport

   Optional early morning birding before breakfast and the transfer to Paro International Airport for departure from Bhutan.

Paro · Thimphu · Punakha · Phobjikha · Trongsa · Tingtibi · Trongsa · Phobjikha · Paro — best for serious birders, wildlife photographers and travellers who want to experience Bhutan's major ecological zones: alpine, montane, temperate and subtropical.

Route: Paro → Thimphu → Punakha → Phobjikha → Trongsa → Tingtibi → Trongsa → Phobjikha → Paro

1. Day 1 · Riverine Birding

   Arrival in Paro

   Arrive at Paro International Airport and be welcomed by your birding guide. After check-in and lunch, spend the afternoon birding along the Pa Chhu, with an evening walk around Paro.

2. Day 2 · Alpine & High-Altitude Birds

   Chele La

   An early morning departure for a full day of birding around Chele La and its mountain forest, searching for Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Kalij Pheasant and Fire-tailed Myzornis, with a picnic lunch before returning to Paro.

3. Day 3 · Forest Transition

   Paro → Thimphu → Punakha

   An early departure with birding stops around Dochula and Lamperi, continuing through changing forest habitats. After lunch, arrive in Punakha for an afternoon of river birding.

4. Day 4 · River & Subtropical Birding

   Punakha

   A full day of riverbank and forest-edge birding around the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, searching for White-bellied Heron, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Lesser Fish Eagle, Osprey and other riverine species, with an afternoon photography session and evening checklist review.

5. Day 5 · Black Mountain Forests

   Punakha → Phobjikha

   Dawn birding followed by breakfast, then a scenic drive towards Phobjikha with birding stops along the route. Arrive in Phobjikha for an afternoon of valley birding.

6. Day 6 · Mountain Valley

   Phobjikha

   Dawn birding along the Gangtey Nature Trail through forest and meadow habitats, searching for Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Great Parrotbill, laughingthrushes and Fire-tailed Myzornis, with a winter focus on Black-necked Crane observation and an afternoon of relaxed birding and photography.

7. Day 7 · Montane Forest

   Phobjikha → Trongsa

   Early morning birding followed by breakfast, then drive towards Trongsa with birding around Pele La and forest birding along the route, including the Chendebji and Bji Zam area where conditions permit. Arrive in Trongsa for afternoon local birding.

8. Day 8 · Descending Into Subtropical Bhutan

   Trongsa → Tingtibi

   Early morning birding around Trongsa before a gradual descent into warmer subtropical forests, birding along the Mangde Chhu corridor towards Tingtibi in search of Red-headed Trogon, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Chestnut-breasted Partridge and Hill Partridge, with further afternoon birding around Tingtibi.

9. Day 9 · Full-Day Subtropical Birding

   Tingtibi

   A full day dedicated to subtropical birding with no long-distance driving — dawn birding through forest trails, bamboo habitats, river corridors and forest edges, with time for photography, a midday rest, further afternoon birding and an evening checklist review.

10. Day 10 · Second Full Birding Day

    Tingtibi

    A second flexible day dedicated entirely to finding birds, with the route chosen according to recent sightings, weather, bird activity, target species, habitat conditions and local guide knowledge.

11. Day 11 · Forest Birding

    Tingtibi → Trongsa

    Early morning birding followed by a gradual return towards Trongsa, with birding stops and forest-edge birding along the route. Arrive in Trongsa for an afternoon of rest or local birding.

12. Day 12 · Montane Forests

    Trongsa → Phobjikha

    Early morning birding, then a return journey through mountain forests with birding around Pele La, continuing to Phobjikha for afternoon and evening valley birding.

13. Day 13 · Return to Western Bhutan

    Phobjikha → Paro

    Dawn birding followed by breakfast, then begin the return journey with birding stops where worthwhile, continuing towards Paro. Enjoy final Pa Chhu birding if time permits, closing with a farewell dinner.

14. Day 14

    Departure · Paro Airport

    An optional short morning of birding around Paro before breakfast and the transfer to Paro International Airport for departure from Bhutan.