Date Cost Availability Deposit Single Supp	04 Apr - 22 Apr 2025 £8495.00 8 Spaces £1695.00 £500.00 Book Now

Leaders	Julian Sykes plus local guide
Flights	British Airways or Virgin, scheduled Outbound: Overnight, Heathrow-Delhi Inbound: Morning, Delhi-Heathrow Local airline, Delhi-Paro-Delhi

Days 1-2	Overnight flight Heathrow to Delhi - 1 night Lemon Tree Hotel Delhi Airport.
Day 3	Fly Delhi to Paro and drive to Thimphu - 1 night Hotel Park (2,300m).
Day 4	Dochu La and Lampelri Park, to Punakha - 1 night Spirit of Village Lodge (1,242m).
Day 5	Drive along Khelekha, Nobding and Lawa La pass (3,350m), to Phobjikha - 1 night Gakiling Guesthouse (3,000m).
Day 6	Visit Pele La pass (3350m), to Bumthang - 1 night Kailas Guesthouse (2,800m).
Days 7-9	Bumthang to Yongkola. Visit Thrumshing La Pass and Thrumshing La NP - 3 nights Trogon Villa (1,800m).
Day 10	Yongkola to Bumthang - 1 night Kailas Guesthouse (2,800m).
Day 11	Visit Tharpaling Monastery, to Trongsa - 1 night Tendrel Resort (2,170m).
Days 12-13	Trongsa to Tingtibi, visit Royal Manas NP - 2 nights Hotel Twang (600m).
Day 14	Tingtibi to Gelephu - 1 night Lhaazaay Suite (221m).
Day 15	Gelephu to Tsirang - 1 night Damphu Resort (1,437m).
Days 16-17	Damphu to Paro, full day hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery - 2 nights Hotel Olathang (2,200m).
Days 18-19	Fly Paro to Delhi, overnight in Delhi, then arrive in UK on Day 19 - 1 night Lemon Tree Hotel Delhi Airport.

Weather	Generally dry but be prepared for some rain. Can be warm during the day but cold initially in the mornings/evenings and at altitude (0-30°C).
Walking	Reasonable level of fitness is required. Most of the walks are comfortable and the majority of birding is done roadside. The walk to Tiger’s Nest Monastery is on an uneven forest trail with a big ascent. All walking is at a relaxed pace, as at altitude. Average altitude is 2,400m, some mountain passes at 4,000m.
Meals	All included from lunch on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 19. Most breakfasts and all lunches are hot picnic style, taken in the field.
Insects	May encounter mosquitoes, bring repellent.
Accom	Twin and single rooms. All hotels are clean and comfortable, although basic compared to UK standards. Most rooms are ensuite, some with private facilities.
Visa	E-visa required for India, additional £60. We shall arrange your Bhutan visa.
Group	11

Secluded Bhutan, high in the Eastern Himalayas is teeming with wildlife. This culturally rich and friendly country will astound us with its diversity of species.

	*   Spectacular Himalayan mountain scenery, pristine forests and wonderful hospitality
	*   Dzongs of praise including a visit to the spectacular Punakha Dzong
	*   Montane specialities - Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan and Himalayan Monal
	*   Chances of Golden Langur, Bhutan Giant Flying Squirrel and the Holy Grail – Red Panda
	*   Fabulous scenic walk to the world-famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery
	*   Retina-burning species - Beautiful Nuthatch, Fire-tailed Myzornis and sunbirds
	*   The best time for seeing the gorgeous Rhododendron bloom

Days 1-2	Overnight flight from Heathrow to Delhi, with a full day to recover.
Days 3-5	Early flight to Paro, marvelling at the Himalayan mountains enroute. We look for Ibisbill along the Pa Chhu River and possibly Wallcreeper, Black-tailed Crake, Ruddy Shelduck and Plumbeous and Hodgson’s Redstarts. After lunch, drive to Kuensel Phodrang NP to see the huge Buddha Dordenma statue, which is surrounded by forests and offers a stunning view of the Thimphu Valley. We start early to see dawn breaking over the Dochu La Pass, which is adorned with prayer flags and offers panoramic views of the Bhutanese Himalayas. This is our best opportunity to find the rare and elusive Red Panda, amidst the mixed evergreen and broad-leaved forest. We shall encounter a diverse range of birds such as Hill Partridge, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Pygmy Cupwing and Rufous-bellied Niltava. We continue on to Punakha, visiting the town’s majestic Dzong, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Bhutan. The next day we start with a scenic journey through beautiful Rhododendron forests towards Lawa La pass, where we hope to find Ward’s Trogon, Himalayan Cutia and Spotted Elachura. We continue to the picturesque Phobjikha Valley, renowned for its Black-necked Cranes.
Days 6-7	The next two days are spent heading east towards Yongkola, first making our way back over the Lawa La to another breathtaking pass - Pele La. This is where we hope to find targets such as Satyr Tragopan and Fire-tailed Myzornis. The journey continues through more breathtaking landscapes, ascending to the Yotong Pass as we end our day in Bumthang. Another travelling day with stunning scenery takes us to the Selthang Pass. Weather permitting, this can afford views of the highest unclimbed mountain in the world – Gangkhar Puensum at 7,315m! We continue to Ura where Himalayan Monal are possible, before ascending to Thrumshing La (3,780m) for Blood Pheasant. At the Sengor Valley we look for White-browed Shortwing, before we make our way to Yongkola, with one last target stop for Gould’s Shortwing.
Days 8-9	We have two full days to explore Thrumshing La NP. The warm broad-leaved forests are home to some of Bhutan’s most sought after birds such as Beautiful Nuthatch, Ward’s Trogon, Blue-naped Pitta and Rufous-necked Hornbill. Ancient trees are festooned with orchids, adding a riot of colour and the list of birds here is fabulous with many beautiful woodpeckers, grosbeaks, redstarts fantails, minivets, barbets, babblers, flycatchers, yuhinas and warblers too numerous to list!
Days 10-11	We start around Yongkola and after breakfast, we head towards Bumthang, making several stops enroute looking for Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler, Great Parrotbill and Golden-breasted Fulvetta, before reaching our accommodation in Bumthang. An early start takes us to Tharpaling Monastery for mind-blowing views of Himalayan Monal, along with Snow Pigeon and Large-eared Pika. Following a delightful picnic breakfast by the monastery, we shall continue our journey to Trongsa, making additional stops to maximise our birding opportunities.
Days 12-14	Starting from 2,170m we descend to 600m at Tingtibi, with magnificent views of the Himalayan landscape. Whenever time permits we have stops enroute for Spotted Forktail, Asian Barred Owlet, Scaly-breasted Cupwing and Bay Woodpecker. The next day we explore the Royal Manas NP, where our target is the incredibly rare White-bellied Heron. Other specialities here are Tawny Fish Owl, White-hooded Babbler, Pale-billed Parrotbill, Pale-headed Woodpecker and the fabulous Golden Langur, one of Bhutan’s rarest primates. The next day we leave Tingtibi heading towards Tama, stopping at a sheer cliff face for the rare Yellow-rumped Honeyguide. We stop in the Surey Valley for Rufous-bellied Eagle, Maroon Oriole, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler and Greater Yellownape, before our arrival in Gelephu.
Days 15-16	We start along the Sarpang road where we should find Nepal Fulvetta, White-crested Laughingthrush, Whiskered Yuhina, Long-tailed Broadbill, Red-headed Trogon, Red-billed Leiothrix and possibly another rare species - Collared Treepie. The next morning we go to the Sunkosh Valley for another try for White-bellied Heron, along with Rufous Woodpecker, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Slaty-backed Forktail and Great Barbet, before continuing our journey to Paro.
Days 17-19	On our final full day in Bhutan, we walk to one of the most spectacular monasteries in the world - Tiger’s Nest. Words cannot express how incredible this place is! The next morning we say farewell to Bhutan, returning to Delhi for a night and then our flight back to London.

Just some of what we hope to see..

White-bellied Heron	Ward’s Trogon	Yellow-throated Fulvetta
Pallas’s Fish Eagle	Rufous-necked Hornbill	Himalayan Cutia
Black-tailed Crake	White-browed Piculet	Blue-winged Laughingthrush
Blood Pheasant	Greater Yellownape	Red-faced Liocichla
Himalayan Monal	Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler	Fire-tailed Sunbird
Satyr Tragopan	Long-billed Wren-babbler	Mrs Gould’s Sunbird
Ibisbill	Beautiful Nuthatch	Crimson Sunbird
Snow Pigeon	Great Parrotbill	Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch
Tawny Fish Owl	White-breasted Parrotbill	Himalayan Yellow-throated Marten
Hodgson’s Frogmouth	Golden-breasted Fulvetta	Golden Langur