Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Destination: Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashigang, Mongar, Bumthang, Trongsa, Zhemgang, Gelephu
The Tingtibe Bird Festival Tour is rated one of the most spectacular and popular route taken. It takes you from Samdrup Jongkhar to Tingtibe under Zhemgang district traversing through several mountain passes, lush green valleys and rich Himalayan ecosystem – which is home to many endangered bird species. This birding journey truly offers unique opportunities for bird enthusiast to search and spot not only the common birds but also some of the globally threatened birds including the Imperial Heron, which is one of the fifth rarest birds in the world and other species including the beautiful Nuthatch, Black-necked Stork, Blackish-breasted Babbler, Blyth’s Kingfisher, Gray-crowned Prinia, Great Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Rufous-throated Wren-babbler, Satyr Tragopan, White-throated Bushchat and White-bellied Heron etc.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Guwahati – Samdrup Jongkhar (110km)
On arrival at Guwahati airport our representative from India will pick you up and transfer you to Samdrup Jongkhar – one of the land entry points to Bhutan. The major portion of the region falls within the sub-tropical belt and lies between an elevations of 200m – 4,200m above sea level. Overnight in Samdrup Jongkhar town.
At your early arrival you will be led for your introductory birding in Samdrup Jongkhar and nearby areas, The surrounding area will bringing you birds such as Lineated Barbet, Asian Fairy Bluebirds, Black-naped Monarchs, Rufescent Prinia, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Large wood-Shrike, Crimson Sunbird, Yellow-footed green Pigeon, Common Iora, Ashy woodSwallow, White-throated Bulbul, White-browed Scimitar Babler, Grey-throated Babbler, Striped-tit Babbler, Ashy Bulbul, Common Tailorbird, Black Redstart, White-rumped Sharma, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Blythe’s Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Slaty Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Asian Palm Swift, Pin-tailed green Pigeon, Grey-capped Woodpecker etc.
Day 02 – 03: Samdrup Jongkhar – Narphung (Camp)
After your leisurely breakfast in the hotel, check-out and drive to Narphung. It is only 41km drive and can be negotiable within 2 hour; however birding stops will entail extra time. Your two days birding in Narphung remain within the upper limits of warm broadleaf forests of teak, tall bamboos, sal and sisoo.
Birds you will spot en-route and within Narphung area are Little Bunting, Brownish-flanked bush Warbler, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Rufous-throated Partridge, Cutia, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Wreathed Hornbill, Common Myna, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, Asian Pied Starling, Jungle Myna, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Common Kingfisher, Crested Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper, Black-backe Forktail, White-throated Kingfisher, Hill Myna, and Hodgson’s Frogmouth etc.
Day 04: Narphung – Trashigang
We suggest you to make an early start since the drive from Narphung to Trashigang is quite a tiring one. Trashigang is one of the largest districts in Bhutan and spans the easternmost corner of the kingdom. The district was once the center of busy trade with Tibet and India. The district lies within an elevation of 600m – 4,500m and a temperate climate with an annual rainfall ranging from 1,000mm to 2,000mm.
Some of the birds species can be spotted along the motorable road are Red-rumped Swallow, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Little Bunting, Tibetan Siskin, White-browed Shrike Babbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Common Hoopoe, Common Kestrel, Asian black-Eagle, Darjeeling Woodpecker, White-throated Laughing Thrush, Streaked Laughing Thrush, and Grey-sided Laughing Thrush etc.
Day 05: Trashigang – Mongar (90km)
After your morning breakfast check-out hotel and drive to Mongar previously known as Zhongar and lies within an elevation of 400m – 4,000m. The drive from Trashigang to Mongar is about 90km and can be easily negotiable within 4 hours. One of the finest hotspot for bird en-route is the korila pass (7800ft/2378m) and the surrounding inhabited by cool-broadleaved forest. Some of the birds you can spot in the surrounding areas are Rufous-necked Hornbill, Crested Laughingthrush, Streaked Laughingthrush, Black-faced Laughing Thrush. White-throated Laughing Thrush, Pygmy Blue flycatcher, Blue-throated flycatcher, Blue-fronted Flycatcher, Green Magpie, Bonelli’s Eagle, Barn Swallow, Hill Prinia, Grey-winged Blackbird, Brown-throated Tree Creeper, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, Little Bunting, and Wall Creeper etc.
Day 06, 07, 08: Mongar – Yongkola or Norbugang (Camp)
Birding area include
- Lingmethang Surrounding (Jaineyla or Broksar) (Camp Yongkola)
- Birding around Yongkola and Lingmethang. You can spot birds like Great Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Sultan Tit, Lesser Yellownap, Slaty-backed Forktail, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Ashy Bulbul, Nepal Fulvetta, Golden-tree Babbler, Little Pied Flycatcher, White-rumped Munia, Pale-blue Flycatcher, Rufous-necke Laughingthrush, Mountain Bulbul, Striated Laughingthrush, Streaked Laughingthrush, Red-faced Liochichla, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Sapphire, Flycatcher, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Grey-cheeked Warbler and Black-faced Warbler etc.
- Birding around Namling and surrounding area (Camp Yongkola)
- In this area you will see birds such as Mountain Scope Owl, Hill Partridge, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Ward’s Trogon, Collared Owlet, Asian-barred Owlet, White-throated Laughingthrush, Straited Laughingthrush, Golden Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Black-faced Warbler, Yellow-rumped Honey guide, Yellow-vented Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Common Tailorbird, Grey Bushchat, House Sparrow, Black Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Himalayan Bulbul, Red-flanked Bluetail, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Little Forktail, White-capped Water Redstart, Green-tailed Sunbird, Stripe-throated Yuhina, White-napped Yuhina, White-tailed Nuthatch, Plain-blacked Thrush, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Large-billed Crow, Rufous-throated Wren Babbler, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Black-faced Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, White-spectacled Warbler, Yellow-vented Warbler, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Grey Treepie, and Olive-backed Pipit.
Day 09: Yongkola / Norbugang – Bumthang (130km)
Your destination Bumthang lies between 1,800m – 5,400m and the fascinating valley is the spiritual heartland of Bhutan and home to some of the oldest temple and monasteries in Bhutan. Your drive from Yongkola to Bumthang takes your through Thrumshingla Nation Park. In the morning you will pass through entering forested stretch and gradually emerge on to plateau at Sengore (9700ft/2957m) and then after 20km you will finally get to the top of Thrunshingla Pass at (12,000ft/3659m). En-route you will come across several lovely waterfalls and large track of old growth Fir forest. The forest type in theis region are warm and cool broadleaved forest, Hemlock, Fir, Rhododendron and mixed conifer and blue pine forest.
From Sengore through Thrumshingla area you will encounter with several high altitude bird species including Snow Piegion, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, Whiskered Yuhina, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Rufous-vented Yuhina, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Broad-billed Warbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Green Shrike Babbler, Rusty-flanked Tree-Creeper, Streaked Laughingthrush, Spotted Forktail, Spotted Laughingthrush, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Great Barbet and many other species.
Day 10: Bumthang – Trongsa (69km)
Today in the morning hour you will be led for a short cultural sightseeing in Bumthang. Visit the prominent Jambay Lhakhang built in sixth century and Kurjey Lhakhang dedicated to saint Guru Padmasambhava who was suppose to have meditated here in the 8th century are some of the permanent attractions to thousand of devotees from Bhutan and overseas. Visit other cultural sites including Jakar Dzong, Tamshing Lhakhang and Wangduecholing Palace. After lunch drive to Trongsa which is only 68km and takes around two and half hour. Your drive takes you through various ecotypes; Blue pine forest, mixed conifer forest and fir forest and then enter the broadleaved forest after crossing Yotongla Pass (11,000ft/3354m).
Along the road you will find different bird species including Grey-hooded Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Ashy throated Warbler, Yellow-browed Tit, Green-backed Tit, Green Shrike Babbler, White-browed Fulvetta, Plain-backed Thrush, Plain Mountain Finch, Spotted Nutcracker, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Rufous-vented Tit, Coal Tit Rufous-fronted Tit, Gold Crest, Red Crossbill, White-winged Grosbeak, Alpine Accentor, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Blue-fronted Redstart, Hodgson’s Redstart, Red-billed Chough, Rosy Pipit, Black-necked Crane (Gyesa), Ibisbill, Solitary Snipe, Wood Snipe, Buff-bellied Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, Himalayan Swift, House Swift, Asian House Martin and Red-rumped Swallow.
Day 11: Trongsa – Tingtibe (155km) (Camp/Hotel)
Today at your early morning breakfast in the hotel drive to Tingtibe, under Zhemgang district. The region is blessed with incredibly rich biodiversity and the lush forest of the region is also home to 22 endangered animal species including the Golden Langur. Zhemgang lies between an elevations of 100m – 4,520m. Your drive takes you through warm-broadleaved and chir pine vegetation zones.
Birding along the road, you will come across different species like Yellow-browed Tit, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Striated Prinia, Striated Laughingthrush, White-throated Laughingthrush, White-crested Laughingthrush, Beautiful Nuthatch, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Verditer Flycatcher, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Hume’s Warbler, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Crested Bunting, House Swift, Common Kestrel, Chestnut-bellied Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Ashy Bulbul, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, Pacific Swift, Greater Spotted Eagle, Black Drongo, Mountain Bulbul, Straited Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Straited Yuhina, Black-chinned Yuhina, Whiskered Yuhina, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Asian Barred Owlet, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Speckled Wood Pigeon and Spotted Dove etc.
Day 12: Participate in Bird Festival
Today you will participate in the theme base bird festival, celebrating the country’s richest birdlife.
Day 13: Tingtibi – Gelephu (98km)
Today your drive tkes you from Chir pine forest to the sub-tropical broadleaved forest. Gelephu lies in the south-central flanks of Bhutan, on the edge of Indian Assam state. The terrain ranges from 200m to 3,600m above the sea level.
Birding along the road, you will encounter with several bird species like Hill Partridge, Red Jungle Fowl, Kalij Pheasant, White-browed Piculet, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Honey Guide, Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Great Barbet, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Common Hoopoe, Ward’s Trogon, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Crested Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Oriential Cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, House Swift, Himalayan Swiftlet, Mountain Scope Owl, Collared Owlet, Speckled-wood Pigeon, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Black-tailed Crake, Palla’s Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Eurasian Sparrow Hawk, Common Buzzard, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Common Kestrel, Great Cormorant, White-bellied Heron, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Eurasian Jay, Common Green Magpie, Grey-backed Shrike, Grey Treepie, Large-billed Crow, Maroon Oriole, Scarlet Minivet, Spangled Drongo, Black Drongo, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Long-tailed Thrush, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Blue Whistling Thrush, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Verditer Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Morential Magpie Robin, White-capped Water Redstart, Plumbeous water Retstart, Hodgson’s Redstart, Spotted Forktail, Grey Bushchat, Chest-nut tailed Starling, Wall Creeper, Beautiful Nuthatch, Sultan Tit, Nepal House Martin, Black Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Striated Bulbul, Oriental White-eye, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Buff-barred Warbler, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Mountain Tailrobird, Black-faced Warbler, White-crested Laughingthrush, White-throated Laughingthrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Cutia, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Chestnut-tailed Minla, White-napped Yuhina, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Golden Babbler, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Russet Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, White-rumped Munia, and Red-headed Bulfinch etc.
Day 14: Gelephu – Guwahati (India) Depart
Early morning checkout hotel, after completing your exit formalities depart to Guwahati (India). It is about 235km and can be negotiable within 3-4 hours. You can also choose to fly off from Paro by taking the domestic flight from Gelephu to Paro and depart to your onward destination from Paro International Airport in the western Bhutan.