Bhutan

4 – 24 april 2024

Bhutan

4 – 24 april 2024

Price: 75.775 SEK /person (flight not included)
Single room supplement: 5.500 SEK / person

Himalayan Monal / Satyr Tragopan / Blood Pheasant / Beautiful Nuthatch / Wards Trogon / Rufous-necked Hornbill / White-bellied Heron / Colobinae / Macaques / Red panda

Bhutan – The crown jewel of the eastern Himalayas

Few countries are as mythical and still relatively unknown as Bhutan. Few countries are as unique in terms of both nature and culture, architecture and folklore. The birdlife is also exceptional. Bhutan is traditionally linked to Tibet, and here, Buddhism – like Tibetan Buddhism – is the fundamental philosophy that venerates all living beings and also influences the view of animals and nature. Few areas in Asia have as many untouched forest areas. Bhutan likely has the largest continuous subtropical forests in Asia, a result of a long-term conservation strategy where the king himself is visionary. There is also no commercial logging here. We are taking a tour where we will see a significant part of this exciting and beautiful country.

Have a look at one of our trip reports!

Species

Here are charismatic and colorful pheasants like the Himalayan Monal, Satyr Tragopan, and Blood Pheasant. Species with sparse and limited distribution, such as the Beautiful Nuthatch (Sitta formosa), Ward’s Trogon (Harpactes wardi), and Rufous-necked Hornbill (Aceros nipalensis), are some of the top species. One of the world’s rarest birds, the White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis), has its strongest presence here.

There is also a whole range of very attractive birds and bird genera not represented in Europe at all; Minivets, Forktails, Cochoas, Niltavas, Fulvettas, Treepies, Drongos, Leafbirds, and more. Among the bird genera we recognize, there are numerous lovely thrushes and chats, flycatchers, tits, babblers, warblers, shrikes, woodpeckers, and more. Naturally, raptors and owls are also present. Taxonomically, much has changed since we began traveling to Bhutan (2017), including the nutcracker, which is now considered its own species; Southern Nutcracker/Chinese Nutcracker (Nucifraga hemispila), and the magpies here actually belong to the species Black-rumped Magpie (Pica bottanensis). This is a very species-rich journey, and you’ll get to see a large portion of the bird species found in the country.

Other animals

Bhutan is home to several langurs, one of which is endemic – the Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei). There are also macaques. The yaks you see are domesticated, similar to Sweden’s reindeer. Bhutan hosts several exciting mammals such as tigers, leopards, the national animal Takin (a high-altitude species), and the red panda. However, these are extremely difficult to spot, not least because the country is very forested.

Season and time

We visit the country in March-April when the weather is mostly pleasant and spring is budding, with some trees blooming with purple or white flowers, coloring the landscape. That being said, one should be prepared for it to be cool or even chilly at higher altitudes, where it may even snow. All travelers receive a packing list with advice and tips on clothing and equipment for the trip. March to June is the dry season and the peak season for birdwatching in Bhutan. We take a round trip that takes us to most climate zones and natural landscapes in the country. Read more under Travel & Route.

For whom?

The Bhutan trip is an adventurous birdwatching journey, with excellent photo opportunities and significant cultural value. Bhutan’s cultural landmarks are so unique that on this trip, we also spend time visiting the famous temple – Taktshang, also known as Tiger’s Nest – at an altitude of 3,120 meters, as well as a Dzong, an ancient fortress, which today also serves as a religious and administrative center. A certain level of adventure is included as we camp for 4-5 nights. However, otherwise, the journey is comfortable with no long hikes, except for the one to Tiger’s Nest. See below.

Travel & Route

Like on the Costa Rica trip, we have the philosophy that we want to give our travelers a substantial portion of the country (once they have traveled so far). Therefore, we take a tour through large parts of Bhutan, from the southern lowlands near the Indian border up through the foothills and valleys to several passes at 3,500-4,000 meters altitude. However, we do not go higher than that because there are basically no roads or infrastructure higher up. After that, one essentially has to embark on an expedition to go higher. We travel together in a bus with around 20 seats; most window seats have opening windows. Birdwatching in Bhutan is comfortable; the hilly landscape and lack of infrastructure often mean that birdwatching is done along roads and rivers. There isn’t much traffic here, and the roads winding along the mountain slopes often offer excellent views, sometimes straight out at treetop height.

Biotopes

The small country of Bhutan (about the size of Switzerland) is very rugged and mostly covered by forests. A whopping 69% of the country is forested, with 12.7% classified as old-growth forest. There are warm, subtropical broad-leaved forests at altitudes of 1,000-2,000 meters, which are the country’s most species-rich environment. In these forests, rare species like the Beautiful Nuthatch and Rufous-necked Hornbill, which are globally threatened, are more common here than anywhere else in the world.

In the cooler zone with temperate deciduous forests growing up to 2,900 meters, you can find species like Ward’s Trogon.

At higher altitudes, coniferous forests don’t host as many species, but you can still find birds like the Buff-barred Warbler and tits like the Grey-crested Tit. Here, we encounter a couple of species unfamiliar to us, namely the Chinese Nutcracker and the (Himalayan) Crossbill.

At around 3,000 meters altitude, the forest is dominated by Abies fir (Abies spectabilis) and often has a rich undergrowth of rhododendron and bamboo. Here, you can find plenty of birds, including specialties like the Satyr Tragopan, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Rufous-breasted Bush Robin (a blue robin relative), and Hoary-throated Barwing.

The bamboo thickets constitute an important habitat for many birds, including species like Parrotbills (of four species), Greater and Lesser Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, and Fulvous Parrotbill. Here, you can also find the Broad-billed Warbler and Golden-breasted Fulvetta.

Between 3,700 and 4,200 meters altitude, open grasslands with juniper bushes and rhododendrons are a common habitat. Here, you can find species like the White-winged Grosbeak, Fire-tailed Sunbird, several species of Bush Robins, and Rosefinches.

Bhutan is a very rugged and mountainous country with a small lowland area. Therefore, there aren’t many wetlands except for those along the rivers, often bordered by stones and gravel. Environments for the unique, monotypic Ibisbill, White-bellied Heron, Crested Serpent Eagles, beautiful White-capped Water Redstart, Blue Whistling Thrush, several species of kingfishers, and graphic Forktails can be found here. We visit several of the country’s national parks and most famous natural and bird areas.

Food and accommodation

Most nights, we stay in hotels, but there are also a few nights in tents at designated sites for wilderness camping. The tents have beds, floors with carpets, and we are provided with sleeping bags and blankets, so the comfort level is quite good. During the trip, we are accompanied by a crew that provides us with lunch and sometimes breakfast in the field. They set up in the field on tables with tablecloths and chairs with cushions, often at a scenic spot where you can also see birds all around. It’s a very good setup that maximizes our time in the field. The hotels we use in Bhutan maintain consistently high standards, with some even being a bit luxurious. Dinner is usually served as a buffet with soup and several main courses. Vegetables and rice dominate the meals, with smaller amounts of chicken, meat, or fish to choose from. Even in the field, we get several dishes per meal, and breakfasts often include hot dishes like omelets, pancakes, fried rice, even porridge, of course, tea and coffee, fruits, toast, etc. Beer and wine are available at most hotels. However, the selection of wine is limited and includes a local, white, semi-sweet peach wine among others.

Local guides

We work with 2 local guides who lead us through the country for the entire trip. Bhutan is known for having very dedicated and skilled bird guides, and we dare say that we probably have two of the country’s best. Our head guide is the person who has uploaded the most recordings of bird calls in Bhutan to Xeno-canto.org. He is very skilled at identifying bird calls. We have used the same head guide on all our trips and have been more than satisfied, the same goes for the driver and the ”crew”. They are all very experienced.

Practical information

When: April 4th – April 24th, 2024

New, lower price!
Price: 75,775 SEK per person (excluding airfare)
Single room supplement: 5,500 SEK per person

NOTE! We reserve the right to increase the price if local costs or currency changes justify it. Minor adjustments to the start and end times of the trip may also need to be made.

We, of course, offer to book the flight ticket for you. It’s important to us that we all arrive on the same flight.

What’s included: Full board in double rooms at hotels, Swedish/English speaking tour leader, local guide throughout, all transportation, all entrance fees to nature reserves and parks.

Not included: Airfare, Transfer to the airport in Sweden, insurance (NOTE! The European Health Insurance Card is not valid here. Participants are required, as usual, to have travel insurance covering accidents and illnesses.), alcohol, souvenirs, and other personal expenses, gratuities for local guide/driver.

Number of participants: min 8, max 15 persons

Registration fee:
Once you have registered, we will send you an invoice for 5,000 SEK as a registration fee, guaranteeing you a spot on the trip.