Bhutan

Explore the natural and cultural wonders of Bhutan

Nov 4-22

Bhutan is a country and culture that embodies living in the moment. As this nation is experiencing rapid growth and a newly emerging tourist industry, the itinerary must be flexible to take advantage of the best Bhutan has to offer. Your trip will start and end in Paro. You will drive through many districts (or dzongkhag) to visit the best regions for bird watching, acrobatic langurs, beautiful mountain scenery, and unique cultural experiences. You will hike to Bhutan’s famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery and see many other unforgettable sites. Read on for highlights of each district you may visit.

Paro ~ Chele La Pass, Paro Valley, Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Scenic Chele La Pass is the highest road in Bhutan (close to 13,000ft) with excellent views when the skies are clear. A pre-dawn departure could uncover nocturnal species such as gray nightjars or leopard cats. Explore different habitats as you climb to the mountain pass and search for three different pheasant species. Explore the beautiful Paro Valley and the ruins of the Drukgyel Dzong. The valley’s blue pine forest is home to laughingthrushes (black-faced and chestnut-crowned) and chestnut-tailed minla, and you may find ibisbill patrolling the Paro River.

Bhutan’s most famous site is the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, impressively built on the side of a cliff just west of Paro. Halfway up you may relax at a cafe and enjoy the view of the monastery across a gorge. If you continue, you will discover increasingly dramatic views leading to a picturesque waterfall and bridge just below the monastery. You may tour the inside to see the rocks protruding from within; however, photography is not permitted inside. Keep an eye out for monkeys playing in the trees near the trail.

Thimphu ~ Capital city of Thimphu
In Bhutan’s capital city, Thimphu, you will explore more natural and cultural attractions. Visit a weaving shop and traditional papermaking workshop to watch students learn these respected crafts. See the national mammal, the takin, protected in an extensive nature reserve on the edge of town, or take an optional hike up to the Cheri Monastery.

Jigme Dorji National Park
Explore Jigme Dorji National Park, the second largest national park in Bhutan, covering parts of five districts (Gasa, Thimphu, Punakha, Paro, and Wangdue Phodrang). You may encounter Assam macaques, common grey langurs, and goral (a native goat), plus many birds, such as the crested kingfisher, rufous-bellied woodpecker, oriental cuckoo, and large hawk-cuckoo. With luck, you’ll see the rarely-seen yellow-rumped honeyguide feeding on the honeycomb of rock-bee hives.

Punakha ~ Dochu La Pass, Punakha Dzong, search for White-bellied Heron
Drive from Thimpu through Dochu La Pass and enjoy one of the most scenic passes in Bhutan, at 10,000ft. On a clear day, Dochu La affords superb views of the Himalayan range to the north. In addition to the natural scenery, visitors to the Dochu La are drawn to the 108 Buddhist stupas built on a hill decorated with colorful prayer flags.

Travel alongside the mighty Puna Tsang Chu River to the town of Punakha, home to the majestic Punakha Dzong, the winter residence of the central monastic body. Search the river for Pallas’s fish-eagles and the white-bellied herons, the most critically endangered heron species in the world. In the semi-tropical zone of this district, look for mountain hawk-eagles, great barbets, and Ward’s trogons.

Wangdue Phodrang ~ Pele La Pass, Phobjikha Valley
Take in spectacular views over Pele La Pass between the districts of Trongsa and Wangdue Phodrang. Monals, a type of pheasant, and great parrotbills are possible sightings here. You may also encounter mammals, like goral and serow, wild herbivores that do well in these habitats around Pela La. Descend into the glacial valley of Phobjikha, known as the “Valley of the Cranes.” This valley has the largest wetland in Bhutan and is one of the winter homes of about 350 black-necked cranes. These cranes typically start to arrive at the end of October and migrate back to Tibet in early March. The annual presence of the cranes has made Phobjikha one of the most important wildlife preserves in the kingdom. Listen to the cranes calling in the pine forest while flying overhead.

Trongsa ~ Trongsa Dzong, Golden Langurs
Trongsa is best known for the Trongsa Dzong, the largest dzong in Bhutan. Take in the beautiful surroundings and impressive architecture of the traditional fortress, learn about its historical importance, and perhaps see Assam macaques climbing the walls. If open, you’ll also visit the Tower of Trongsa Museum. The watchtower, up on the hill, has great views and interesting cultural and historical artifacts. The district is also an ideal place to find golden langurs, an increasingly endangered primate found only in Bhutan and parts of India.

Bumthang ~ Chumey Valley
In addition to its spectacular landscapes, search for new birds in the blue pine forests of Chumey Valley including the stunning, iridescent Himalayan monal, a pheasant that frequents the Tharpaling Monastery. In the open fields, you may see beautiful rosefinches and rufous-breasted accentor with Himalayan griffons soaring above.

Mongar ~ Bird diversity in lowland forests, Thrumsingla National Park
Mongar is the easternmost and lowest elevation of the districts and is one of the best birding places in Asia with its rich, subtropical, broadleaf forests. Look for blood pheasants and flocks of snow pigeons flying across the valley or foraging in the farmlands. Travel through Thrumsingla National Park and a variety of ecological zones between Bumthang and Mongar, stopping for a hike through rhododendron forest at Thrumsingla Pass. Search for satyr tragopans, rufous-necked hornbills, and other birds that flourish in Bhutan’s lowlands. Hishey loves birding in this area so much he built Trogon Villa, so his tour groups would have a comfortable base to explore this wildlife-rich region of Bhutan. In addition to abundant bird life, search for capped langurs swinging playfully in the trees. A night drive offers you the opportunity to see nocturnal species.

Zhemgang District
During your time in the Zhemgang District, along the Zhemgang-Tingtibi Road, you may find many special species, like fire-tailed myzornis, cutia, sultan tit, yellow-cheeked tit, several species of fulvettas and laughingthrushes, golden babbler, rust-fronted barwing, red-headed trogon, beautiful nuthatch, blue-bearded bee-eater, pin-tailed pigeon, white-browed and speckled piculet, and more. Watch the endemic golden langur, common in this region, and encounter the black giant squirrel and yellow-throated marten while exploring the mixed broadleaved evergreen forests at elevations from 2,000 to 8,000ft.

Gelephu Region
The majestic Indian peafowl is common around the Gelephu region, which borders the Indian State of Assam. You may encounter all four species of hornbills found in Bhutan - the rufous-necked hornbill, great hornbill, wreathed hornbill, and oriental pied-hornbill. Other large colorful birds you may find here are the Indian roller, dollar bird, red-naped ibis, parakeets, and several waterbirds.

Panbang and Nganglam
This region has recently become accessible to tourists now that new roads connect it to the rest of Bhutan. The Royal Manas National Park, the oldest park in Bhutan, lies in this region and is situated along the magnificent emerald Manas River. This park is known for its remarkable, diverse flora and fauna where more than 70% of Bhutan’s bird species are found, three of which are critically endangered: white-bellied heron, white-rumped vulture, and red-headed vulture. The number of species within the park includes 558 plant species, 65 mammal species, 60 fish species, and 180 butterfly species. You’ll experience the dense towering mountains punctuated with rivers and small streams in extensive tropical monsoon forests, patches of natural grasslands, moist tropical forest, and dense oak forest.

Bhutan’s festivals and Buddhist culture
Bhutan is a country of festivals. The most important are the religious dance festivals, known as Tshechus, which are held in different districts throughout the year. In a swirl of color and noise, the gods and demons of Buddhist mythology come to life. Masked and sword dances and other rituals are performed by monks and villagers. The performances have deep religious significance but are not somber affairs. The Atsaras (traditional clowns of the Tshechu) add color and merriment to the festival with their bawdy antics.

The Buddhist culture of Bhutan is visible throughout the country with prayer flags and stupas adorning the hillsides and mountain passes. Hishey will enlighten you with stories of his country’s history, including the arrival of Buddhism and Bhutan’s peaceful transition from monarchy to democracy. He’ll interpret tales depicted in the brightly painted murals covering walls in monasteries and dzongs. Because of the strong connection to nature, the country’s cultural history is strongly tied to its natural history.

Fly from Paro to Bangkok

Nov 23

Hishey will transfer you to the airport for your group flight from Paro back to Bangkok. Overnight in Bangkok or connect with a late-night flight homeward.

Arrive home

Nov 24