This morning, you’ll board the Drukair/Bhutan Airlines flight to Paro, where you'll be treated to stunning views of the Himalayas, including some of the highest peaks in the world. After clearing customs and immigration, you’ll be welcomed by your team. Our first stop will be by the Pa Chhu river, where you can spot Himalayan riverine species, such as the Ibisbill, camouflaged among the glacial stones as it searches for food in the snowmelt. In this area, you may also encounter the fairly common Brown Dipper, along with rarer species like the Common Snipe, Citrine Wagtail, and Wallcreeper. Other species in the area include the Common Hoopoe, Himalayan Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Grey-backed Shrike, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Russet Sparrow, Rosy Pipit, Siberian Stonechat, and Rufous-breasted Accentor. With northward migration underway, many valleys throughout Bhutan serve as important migratory corridors, so it's possible you may observe species not yet recorded in Bhutan.

Overnight at Paro.

We begin with an early morning departure, journeying through ancient high boreal forests towards Chele La, the highest point we will reach on this tour at 3,780m. Along the way, keep an eye out for the Grey Nightjar, often seen along the roadside at dawn. Upon reaching the pass, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the towering Himalayan peaks, including Jhomolhari (7,219m) and Jichu Drake (6,989m), along with stunning vistas of the Paro and Ha valleys below. At this altitude, we’ll have our first of many opportunities to spot the vibrant Himalayan Monal and the striking Blood Pheasant. Other regular sightings include the rare Long-legged Buzzard, Himalayan Cuckoo, Rufous-fronted Tit, Greenish Warbler, Red-tailed Minla, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Black-throated and Dusky Thrushes, Blanford’s Rosefinch, Collared Grosbeak, White-throated Redstart, White-browed Bush Robin, Alpine Accentor, and flocks of Plain Mountain Finch. After breakfast, we’ll continue exploring the beautiful areas around Chele La before gradually making our way back to Paro for an overnight stay.

Overnight at Paro.

Bumthang, the religious heartland of Bhutan, is home to ancient sites dating back to the 7th century. While focusing on birding, we’ll also explore Jakar. In the valley, we’ll look for Red-billed Chough, Black-billed Magpie (endemic to Bumthang), Large-billed Crow, and Eurasian Tree Sparrow. We’ll then drive along Selthang La (3,600m), with clear weather offering stunning views of Mt. Gangkar Puensum (7,315m), the world’s highest unclimbed peak. The landscape is filled with prayer flags, villages, and temples. Bird species here include Spotted Laughingthrush, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Long-tailed Minivets, Chestnut-headed Tesia, and White-winged Grosbeak.

Overnight in Bumthang.

Leaving Bumthang, we ascend through forests of larch, silver fir, spruce, and hemlocks to Thrumshing La (3,780m). Here, we’ll search for prized Bhutanese birds, including the Satyr Tragopan (often providing close views), the Blood Pheasant (seen in flocks by the roadside), the rare Great Parrotbill, the sought-after Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, and the uncommon Speckled Wood Pigeon. From the pass, we’ll drive down to the nomadic village of Sengor and continue to Yongkola, stopping for birds such as Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Rufous-breasted Bush Robin (rare in this area), Rufous-vented Yuhina, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Bar-throated Siva, Rufous Sibia, Grey-chinned Minivet, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, and Hoary-throated Barwing (common in the Eastern Himalayas).

Overnight in Yongkola.

Yongkola, Namling, Tshamang, and Lingmethang are renowned as some of the finest birding spots in the world, so we’ll have three full days to explore the pristine forests of Thrumshing La National Park along a rarely used paved road. Here, we’ll search for Bhutan’s most sought-after species, including the globally vulnerable Chestnut-breasted Partridge, the magnificent Rufous-necked Hornbill, the endangered Steppe Eagle, Bay and Crimson-breasted Woodpeckers, Long-tailed Broadbill, Blue-naped Pitta, and the rare Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler. Other notable species include the Long-billed and Rufous-throated Wren Babblers, Himalayan Cutia, Spotted Elachura, Black-headed Shrike-babbler, Nepal House Martin, Black Bulbul, and Scaly and Bhutan Laughingthrushes.After exploring the upper regions of Yongkola, we’ll head to the warm, broadleaf forests of Lingmethang Road to find birds like the Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Red-faced Liocichla, Maroon Oriole, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, and Blue-capped Rock Thrush. On one evening, we’ll take a short night drive to search for the Bhutan Giant Flying Squirrel, as well as Hodgson’s Frogmouth, Brown Wood Owl, and Mountain Scops Owl.

Overnight in Yongkola.

This morning, we’ll bird the broadleaf forests of Namling, searching for Gould’s Shortwing, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, and Black-throated Parrotbill. After breakfast, we’ll continue birding Sengor Valley for Fire-tailed Myzornis, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Bar-winged Wren Babbler, and Tickell’s Thrush, with another chance to see the rare Satyr Tragopan. We’ll then drive to Thrumshing La, stopping to find Fulvous Parrotbill, Eurasian Woodcock, Black-throated Thrush, and Stripe-throated Yuhina. Descending, we’ll search for Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasants, Winter Wren, Gould’s Sunbird, and possibly Chestnut Thrush. We’ll end the day in Bumthang, passing through Ura village. At night, we’ll listen for the Himalayan Owl.

Overnight at Bumthang

We start early to visit Tharpaling Monastery, where we hope to witness monks feeding Himalayan Monals, a practice the birds have become accustomed to. Other species we may encounter include Snow Pigeon, Black-faced Laughingthrush, the rare White-bellied Redstart, Alpine Accentor, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, and, with luck, the vagrant Godlewski Bunting. After breakfast, we’ll descend to Gattsa Valley and continue to Yotong La (3,450m) in search of high-altitude birds like Red-throated Thrush, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Red-headed Bullfinch, Hume’s Bush Warbler, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, and small flocks of White-winged Grosbeak and Whiskered Yuhina. In Trongsa, you have the option to visit the historic Trongsa Dzong, built in 1637, and the Ta Dzong National Museum.

Overnight in Trongsa

Today, we drive along a peaceful forest road towards Tingtibi, where Blue Whistling Thrushes frequently take flight. We keep an eye out for Spotted Forktails near the mossy waterfalls. The journey offers stunning views, with mixed broad-leafed forests stretching from 2000m to 700m, home to rare birds and the Endangered Golden Langur, often spotted in small groups along the roadside. In the morning, we’ll look for species like Mountain Hawk Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Collared Owlet, Great Barbet, Woodpeckers, Speckled Piculet, Green-backed Tit, Eurasian Woodcock, White-throated Laughingthrush, and more, including the rare Spot-winged Starling and Tibetan Siskin. Arriving in Tingtibi’s warmer subtropical zone, we’ll search for Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Green-billed Malkoha, Himalayan Bulbul, and Emerald Dove, along with noisy flocks of White-crested Laughingthrush.

Overnight in Tingtibi.

We’ll start early today to visit the habitat of the Beautiful Nuthatch (globally vulnerable), dedicating plenty of time to spot this rare bird. Other species we hope to find include Crested Serpent Eagle, Common Green Magpie, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Shikra, Golden-throated Barbet, and Blue-winged Laughingthrush, among others like the Grey-hooded Warbler and Black-winged Cuckooshrike. After breakfast, we’ll continue birding along the Zhemgang road, stopping at key spots to enjoy the stunning scenery. Possible sightings include the Red-headed Trogon, Black Eagle, Indian Cuckoo, Black-throated Prinia, and the secretive White-tailed Robin. Near Trongsa, we’ll visit Bubja, looking for the near-threatened Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, which nests near Giant Rock Bees.

Overnight in Trongsa

We begin early today with a drive to Bje Zam for our first birding stop. Here, we hope to spot Bonelli’s Eagle, Black-tailed Crake, Greater Yellownape, Large Niltava, Verditer Flycatcher, and White-capped Water Redstart, among others like the Fire-breasted Flowerpecker and Striated Laughingthrush. After breakfast, we’ll pass through the village of Chendibji, where a beautiful Nepalese-style Chorten sits beside the river. Our main targets here include Crested Kingfisher and the rare Solitary Snipe. Then, we’ll continue on to Phobjikha, crossing Pele La, where Himalayan Vultures and Lammergeiers may be seen. Descending into Phobjikha, we’ll stop at Gangtey to visit Bhutan’s largest Nyingmapa monastery, perched above the valley. Phobjikha is known for its stunning landscapes and as the wintering home of the globally vulnerable Black-necked Crane. We’ll also look for specialties like the Oriental Skylark, Hen Harrier, and Upland Buzzard.

Overnight in Phobjikha.

Today, we take the winding mountain road through oak and rhododendron forests, climbing to Lawa La at 3,350m before descending into Nobding Valley for our first birding stop. In this diverse habitat, we’ll search for the sought-after Ward’s Trogon, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo, the elusive Long-billed Thrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Scarlet Minivets, Small Niltava, Pygmy Blue Flycatcher, Fire-capped Tit, and Crimson-browed Finch. After breakfast in Nobding, we continue to the warmer Punakha Valley, stopping along the Puna Tshang Chhu river for waterbirds. We hope to spot Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Osprey, Bar-headed Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, and the rare Indian Spot-billed Duck, as well as a variety of waders, Kingfishers, and other species like Richard’s Pipit and the localized Slender-billed Oriole.

Overnight in Punakha.

This morning we will take a cultural break to visit the majestic Punakha Dzong built in 1637, and situated on a promontory at the confluence of the Mo (mother) and Pho (father) Chhu (river), Punakha Dzong is known as the “Palace of Great Happiness” and considered to be one of the most beautiful Dzongs in Bhutan. Continuing our journey through the terraced fields at Lobesa we reach in the mixed broad-leafed forest of Menchuna where we will take a short off-road trial for birding, here we can look for species such as Kalij Pheasant, Besra, Northern Goshawk, Scaly (White’s) Thrush, Short-billed Minivet, Ashy Drongo, Eurasian Jay, Black-throated Tit, Pygmy Wren Babbler (Cupwing), Brown-throated Treecreeper, Slaty Blue Flycatcher, and the beautiful Golden Bush Robin. After picnic lunch at a beautiful setting, we will proceed to Lampelri Botanical Park for another short walk, searching for, Hill Partridge, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Ashy-throated Warbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Green Shrike Babbler, Brown Parrotbill, Alpine Thrush, a species that is recently split from Plain-backed Thrush, Grey-winged Blackbird, Blue-fronted Redstart, Yellow-browed Tit, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, White-browed Shortwing, Maroon-backed Accentor (another rare bird), Dark-breasted Rosefinch and perhaps the rare and shy Blue-fronted Robin. Our next stop is at Dochu La, an awe-inspiring sight, where colourful prayer flags and 108 glistening white chortens welcome us. Once again on clear days there are magnificent views across the high Himalayan Mountains. Eventually we reach Paro where we will stay for the next two nights.

Overnight in Paro.

After breakfast we will drive to Paro airport and fly back.