The trip will include:

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE

• Bird Watching across the country
• A visit to Taktshang Monastery(Tiger’s nest)
• A possible visit to the Festival
• A visit to the weekend market in Thimphu (Fri-Sat-Sun)
• A “welcome” meal on the first day
• A “farewell” meal on the penultimate evening
• An optional evening visit to “down town Thimphu” to enjoy in the bars, discotheques and see the Bhutanese live performances
• A traditional Bhutanese meal in a restaurant
• A lunch meal and hot stone bath in a Bhutanese farmhouse
• A visit to the famous sites such as fortresses, monasteries and museums.
• Exploring much deeper into central Bhutan.

Itinerary:

Day 1 – 2 Paro to Thimphu:

Arrive in the Paro Airport: Altitude: 2280m/ 7524ft above sea level. Your representative from Raven Tours and Treks will greet you, brief you about the trip and will take you to the capital city Thimphu where you will be staying. Altitude: 2320m/ 7656ft above sea level. (1 hr 30 min drive). Visit weekend market, Mini Zoo and Tashichoo Dzong, hike to Cheri Monastery, visit hand made paper factory, 13 Arts and Crafts institute, museums, see people playing archery, stroll around the city and a night in down town Thimphu…

We will also go for birding and Birds available are: Rufous-bellied Woodpecker,Brown Dippers, Rufous-breasted Accentors near a foot bridge festooned with prayer flags, a sharp White-collared Blackbird, Buff-barred, Blyth’s Leaf and Golden-spectacled Warblers, redstarts (Hodgson’s, Blue-fronted, Plumbeous and the gorgeous White-capped), Black-browed Tit, Green-tailed Sunbirds and Grey-backed Shrike, also a common bird. A mammalian highlight would be goat-like Common Gorals on the rocky hillside above the trail.

Day 3 – 4 Thimphu to Punakha: Altitude:1350m/4455ft above sea level. Driving along the highway to Dochula Pass(3140m) early in the morning at around 5:00am, you will bird east side of pass by walking the highway. Your first close views of beautiful rhododendrons in flower will be seen.

Birds availbe are:Timaliids, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, White-browed Fulvetta (will become a regular hereafter), Rufous-vented and Stripe-throated Yuhinas, Fire-tailed Myzornis beside the road.

Later visit,Punakha Dzong (fortress), Hike to Chimi Lhakhang.

Later you will drive further northwards along the Mo Chhu Valley and into the eastern side of the same Jigme Dorji National Park. Overnight at tents beside the river (1550-1670m) to a rough campsite beside the river.

Early morning you will bird upriver from the campsite in the national park and later bird down river.

Birds available are:Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Fork-tailed Swifts, Crested Kingfisher, Great and Golden-throated Barbets, Lesser Yellownape, Crimson-breasted Bay Woodpeckers, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Brown Dippers, Chestnut-headed and Slaty-bellied Tesias, Verditer Flycatcher, White-bellied Heron.

Overnight in tents.

Day 5 – Punakha to Gangtey:Altitude: 2800m/ 9240ft above sea level.

Morning drive to Gangtey valley.

Birds available are: The sharp tricolor race of Long-tailled Shrike, Brown Parrotbill, Rufous-vented Tit and Russet Sparrow.

Day 6 – Gangtey to Trongsa:Altitude: 2200m (7260ft) above sea level. Morning visit the Gangtey Goemba, bird around the Gangtey and then drive to Trongsa(4 hours drive). Later visit Trongsa Dzong and the Museum.

Birds available are: Himalayan Monals, rhododendrons, Rosy Pipits, Dusky Thrushes, Alpine Accentor, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper,15 Eurasian Nutcrackers, White-browed and Dark-breasted Rosefinches, Red-headed Bullfinch White-winged Grosbeaks.

Day 7 – 8 – 9 – Trongsa to Zhemgang:Shuttle for Tingtibi campsite on the famous Zhemgang road

Birds available are: Booted Eagle, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Ashy Drongos, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, sparrowhawk, Rufous-necked Hornbills, Rufous Woodpecker, Hill Prinia, Blue-throated Flycatcher, White-throated and Himalayan Bulbuls, Crested Bunting, and Golden Langurs.

Later you will camp at around 800m around the farm houses.

Early morning you will drive above camp to about 1100 m, gradually birding back down to camp in the late afternoon.

Birds available are: Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike, Ashy Bulbuls, Grey-throated Babbler, Black-throated Sunbird and Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Wren-Babbler, Blue-naped Pitta, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Sultan Tits, Collared Owlet, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Black Giant Squirrels.

Today you will drive up road 1.5 hrs to good forest above Zhemgang at 1775m. Bird north along road through varying altitudes (as low as 1040m) to an improvised roadside campsite at around 1800m

Birds available are: Oriental and Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Striated Bulbul, Grey-sided Bush-Warbler, Rufous-bellied Niltalva, Little Pied Flycatcher, Black-throated Tit and Crimson Sunbird, Red-faced Liocichla.

Day 10 – Zhemgang to Trongsa.Early morning you will walk and drive across the road birding and back to Trongsa arriving there in the late afternoon.

Birds available are: Asian Emerald and Eurasian Cuckoos, Nepal Martins, Fork-tailed and House Swifts, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Dusky and Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Little Buntings and Grey Bushchats.

Day 11 – Trongsa to Thimphu Morning drive from Trongsa to Thimphu(6 hours drive)

Day 12 -13 – Thimphu to Paro. Morning drive from Paro valley(2 hours drive). Visit, Rimpung Dzong, Ta Dzong(Museum), Kichu Lhakhang, Hike to Tiger’s Nest and visit the Farm House.

Day 14 – Depart from Bhutan: Morning /Afternoon, transfer to airport for onward travel. Your representative from Raven Tours and Treks will help you out with exit formalities.

FACTS & FIGURES
Tour Cost	2 pax: USD220 per person per night/USD2880 per person 3 pax upto 10 pax: USD185 per person per night/USD2425 per person Above 10 pax: USD170 per person per night/USD2230 per person (Includes government taxes, accommodation in roughly 3 to 4 star category hotels, 3 meals a day, guide, transportation throughout the trip, visa processing fee and museum fees only) Excludes: (airfares, airport tax (in Bangkok), Tips to guides, restaurants, hotel lobby porters, trek staff, etc.., Bottled/alcoholic drinks, room service, al a cart meals, etc…,Photography charges (if and when applicable)
Flight Cost	Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines flies in and out of Bhutan to Kathmandu (US$442 per person), Delhi (US$705 per person), Calcutta (US$435 per person) and Bangkok (US$788 per person).
Number of Days	14 days / 13 nights
Road Surface	100% on paved surfaces
Group Size	Min: 2 pax and Max:16 pax
Vehicle Support	Luxurious SUVs/ Cars
Staff Support	One dedicated and professionalized English speaking guide, licensed by Tourism Council of Bhutan, Cooks if required for the trek and a driver through out the trip.

REQUEST FOR A DETAIL ITINERARY HERE