Birding in Northeast India and Bhutan

Birds of Bhutan & Northeast India

Tour - 25 days

About Assam and Bhutan

Assam is the only state in north-east India that is almost entirely low lying. It consists largely of the flood plains of the Brahmaputra, one of the largest untamed rivers in the world. The climate is fantastic for rice cultivation, all kinds of tropical crops, bamboo cultivation and fish farming.

Assam is relatively densely populated. The legal part of the population consists of at least 35 million people on an area of 78,000 square kilometers (similar to Czechia, a bit smaller than Austria).

Region

Assam (India) & Bhutan

Best Time

March/April &
Nov/Dec

No. Of Days

22 days

Trip Character

Jeep tour,
wildlife/ birding tour

Sleeping Altitude

100 - 2900 m

Price

INR XXX/ $ XXX

ABOUT THIS TOUR

On this tour, you’ll visit two very different but adjacent areas, the Northeast of India and Bhutan. Northeast India is one of the most biodiverse places on earth and particularly rich in birds. The kingdom of Bhutan is a birder’s paradise in its own right, due to its well conserved ecosystems and extensive range of altitudinal stages.

You’ll start at Guwahati, the capital of Assam (India), and then visit Nameri National park, where the rare wood-winged duck and the ibisbill can be spotted, and the even more bird-rich Eaglenest Sanctuary, where not so long ago a new bird species, the Bugun liocichla, was discovered.

After that, you’ll cross the border to Bhutan and travel up through forest-covered mountains to the isolated town of Trashigang. You’ll visit the nearby national park of Sakteng, home to some semi-high altitude species.

Then, traveling westwards you’ll cross three passes and three national parks as well. Some highlights of this trip will be Yonko La where an amazing array of birds lives in the forested mountains, and the Chele La, where there are good chances of seeing Himalayan monal, blood pheasant en collared grosbeaks.

You’ll also get the chance to see some of the cultural highlights of Bhutan, such a Trashigang Dzong, Punakha Dzong and the temples of Bumthang Valley.

YOUR custom-made TRIP

The tour described here, as well as the other ones on our website, are mainly meant as suggestions. We would be happy to offer you a travel proposal that fully meets your personal demands and expectations. That means that you choose where you want to go, what level of accommodation and type of transport you want and what activities you prefer.

Please let yourself be inspired by this and other trips on our website and then drop us a line (or call us) to explain your travel wishes. We will be happy to help you put together the perfect trip. You can reach us over e-mail, Messenger, Whatsapp or mobile phone.

EXTENSIONS & VARIATIONS

Apart from the tour as described here, you could consider the following add-ons and changes:

Spend two nights at Dirang, in order to see highland species, as well as visiting nearby Sangti Valley where black-necked cranes spend the winter.
Spend a few days more at Mancotta Tea estate in Dibrugarh, to fully unwind and relax before (almost return home).
Spend days at Kaziranga National Park, at the beginning of the tour. It is situated 5 h driving east of Guwahati. Apart from spectacular large wildlife such as elephants and tigers, Kaziranga boasts of 500 bird species. Kaziranga has 4 different ranges, parts of the park that each have their own character in terms of landscape and chances of seeing different species. You need at least 2 days to see them all.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Delhi / Kolkata ✈︎ Guwahati
On arrival in Guwahati the local guide and driver will receive you. In the afternoon we visit the famous and colorful Kamakhya Temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Shakti, as well as an island in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputra. Altitude 55m.
Day 2: Guwahati - Nameri National Park (5 h)
Today you will be transferred to Nameri N.P., in the foothills of the Himalayas. Overnight is in a comfortable tented accommodation, directly outside Nameri National Park. Evening walk on the banks of nearby Bhorelli river. Altitude 55 → 110m.
Day 3: At Nameri
Early morning we go inside the park to look for birds like merganser, Pallas’s fish eagle, lapwings, cormorants, ruddy shell duck, kingfishers and perhaps the elusive white-winged wood duck and the Great Indian Hornbill. After lunch we do a 2 hour (easy and safe) rafting trip on the Bhorelli looking for ibisbills, wild buffaloes and wild elephants. Altitude 110m.
Day 4: Nameri N.P. - Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary
Again we go inside the park to look for birds. After lunch we drive to Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. Altitude 100 → 2430m.
Day 5 - 8: In Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary.
Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary rises from 500 m to 3500 m altitude and hosts one of the finest birdlife assemblages in Asia. Ward’s trogon, wedge-billed and rufous-throated wren-babblers, rufous-necked, great and wreathed hornbills, black-necked crane, beautiful nuthatch, emerald cuckoo are some of the most sought after birds. It is especially known for the Bugun liochichla, a bird that was discovered only in 1995. Four days will be spent at different locations in this beautiful sanctuary doing short rides, walks, and birding trips. Altitude 1940 - 2800m.
Day 9: Eagle Nest - Orang National Park (5 h)
We drive down to the Assam plains, and continue on to Orang N.P. The park is sometimes referred to as mini-Kaziranga. In the afternoon we follow tracks inside the park looking for birds and large mammals. Altitude 2430 → 60m.
Day 10: Orang N.P. - Samdrup Jongkhar (Bhutan)
Today's drive leads through the Brahmaputra floodplains. The landscape is a mix of small hamlets, rice fields, ponds and rivulets, tea plantations and forest remnants. There should be time for some bird watching on the way. At the Indo-Bhutanese border, the Bhutanese driver and guide will receive you and take you to your hotel in Samdrup Jongkhar. Altitude 60 → 170m.
Day 11: Samdrup Jongkhar - Deothang (1 h)
After an early start we'll drive up to the sub-tropical forest above Samdrup Jongkhar looking for a spectacular range of exotic bird species that you will not find elsewhere. Overnight in camp. Altitude 170 → 870m.
Day 12: Deothang - Narphung (2.5 h)
After first birding around our lovely campsite, we continue our drive to Narphung. Most of the day will be spent birding in superb forests with amazing birding opportunities. Overnight in camp. Altitude 870 → 2000m.
Day 13: Narphung - Trashigang (2,5 h)
We will rise early to begin birding in cool broad-leaf forests of Narphung, before continuing on a scenic drive with spectacular mountain views and tiny hamlets to Trashigang. You will encounter many exotic bird species on this journey. Altitude 2000 → 1150m.
Day 14: Trashigang - Lingmethang (4 h)
You leave Trashigang early and drive to Chazam. After the little village of Yadi, you pass corn-fields and broad-leaf forests with birding opportunities before Kori La Pass (2,298m), the main birding ground. Crossing the pass, you descend through the fern-lined rhododendron forests, where you stop to bird again. After, you continue to Mongar and to the sub-tropical forests around Lingmithang. Overnight in camp. Altitude 1150 → 750m.
Day 15 & 16: Yongkola region
Today and tomorrow will be spent birding in the upper Yongkola region with its breathtaking, protected pristine forests that affords you the ultimate birding opportunities. In this birding hotspot, considered one of the great birding roads of the world, you can find some of Bhutan’s most prized bird species. After, you descend to Yongkola camp to explore the rich, subtropical, broad-leaved forests where you encounter an awesome range of bird species. Altitude 1800m.
Day 17: Yongkola - Sengor (1.5 h)
This morning, you will again bird in the upper Namling Road, looking for birds you may have missed. After lunch, you will drive towards Sengor, another stunning journey, and bird along the Namling Road, a prime birding location. Overnight in camp. Altitude 1800 → 3000m.
Day 18: Sengor - Bumthang (3 h)
Since dawn is the best time to spot the Satyr Tragopan, an early rise is in order. Hopefully, you can also spot the rare Bar-winged Wren Babbler before you drive up to the high pass at Thrumshing La (3,780m). As you descend through forests of towering hemlocks, spruce, silver fir, you will stop to bird here. Further as you descend to the Bumthang valley, through Ura village to Jakar, you will bird occasionally along the route. Altitude 3000 → 2580m.
Day 19: Bumthang - Trongsa (3 h)
You will leave early and reach Yotong La at 3,425m for optimum birding. As you drive through this area, you will see the Black-billed Magpie and the Red-billed Chough feeding in the fields of buckwheat. Reaching the pass we will begin birding till lunchtime. After, you will drive to Trongsa birding along the way. Altitude 2580 → 2150m.
Day 20: Trongsa - Punakha (5 - 6 h) (1 h)
Another early start as you drive to Bje Zam and bird along the Trongsa – Punakha road. After a hot picnic breakfast, you continue on to Punakha. When you reach Pele La at 3,390m with its spectacular views of the Jholmohari peak, you bird there before descending to the forested valley below to bird extensively. Altitude 2150 → 1300m.
Day 21: Punakha - Thimphu (2.5 h)
Today, you’ll reach Bhutan’s capital Thimphu. You will have half a day to explore this very relaxed and pleasant little city, and sample some of the many cultural sights here, if you like. Before departure we explore the terraced fields and sub-tropical forests around Punakha. On the way, we’ll stop at Lumetshawa where you can spot the target bird for the day: Ward’s Trogon. Altitude 1300 → 3100m → 2350m.
Day 22: Thimphu - Paro (1 h 20 min)
In the morning, you can explore Thimphu. Then we travel to paro, where we will do birding along the Paro Chhu (river). Altitude 2350 → 2250m.
Day 23: Paro - Chele La - Paro (4 h)
An early morning departure, up through ancient forests of pine, spruce and fir before you get to Chele La (3822m), the highest motorable pass in Bhutan. Here, you have the possibility of spotting the beautiful Himalayan Monal and other exotic species. After breakfast, you continue birding in this beautiful area. In the afternoon, you return to Paro where you stop by the Pa Chhu, where camouflaged amongst the glacial stones, Himalayan riverine species such as the Ibisbill can be seen as it dips in the snowmelt, searching for food. Altitude 2250 → 3900 → 3900m.
Day 24: in Paro, walk to Tigersnest
Today you do the well-known hike to legendary Taktsang Goemba, better known as Tiger’s Nest. It is 2.5 h walking up and 1.5 h down, but the magical little temple is worth it. In reality, we’ll spend the whole day as we’ll meet a lot of birds along the trail as well. Altitude 2250 → 3120 → 2250m.
Day 25: Paro ✈︎ Delhi / Kolkata (flight 2.5 h)
A morning flight takes you from Paro to Delhi (or Kolkata, Kathmandu, Bangkok), hopefully with wonderful views of the Himalayas. If you have asked us to arrange accommodation and transfers in Delhi you will be picked up from the airport by our driver.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

Guwahati

Guwahati, with almost 1 million inhabitants, is the capital of Assam and serves for many as the gateway to the Northeast States. It lies at the southern bank of the mighty Brahmaputra river and although modern buildings and heavy traffic dominate major parts of the city, there is still a wooded area near the river with traditional houses and colonial-era mansions. One can visit the Kalakshetra, a sprawling enclosure depicting cultures and traditions of Northeast India, the worthwhile Assam State Museum, and/or the famous and colourful Kamakhya Temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Shakti. Or one can take a short boat ride to Peacock Island. The island has a small Shiva temple and is home to a small population of the rare golden langur.

Nameri National park

Nameri is a beautiful national park located between the Jia Bhorelli river and the foothills of the eastern Himalayas. The vegetation consists of moist deciduous forests with epiphytes and lianas, sections of cane and bamboo, and some open grasslands along the rivers. The park is very popular with bird enthusiasts, but also non-birders will greatly enjoy its pleasant atmosphere. Birds to look for are merganser, Pallas’s fish eagle, lapwings, cormorants, ruddy shell duck, kingfishers and perhaps the elusive white-winged wood duck and the great Indian Hornbill. In 2000 part of the park was declared a tiger reserve. Accommodation is in Nameri Eco-Camp with comfortable tents under thatched roofs with attached bathrooms and in lush forest surroundings.

Eagle Nest wildlife Sanctuary

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary rises from 500 m to 3500 m altitude, thereby spanning a large number of habitats. Mammal species that live here are clouded leopard, marbled cat, Asian golden cat and leopard cat, capped langur, red panda, Asiatic black bear, Arunachal macaque and gaur. Most of these are generally difficult to spot, however. But Eaglenest also has one of the finest birdlife assemblages in Asia. Ward’s trogon, wedge-billed and rufous-throated wren-babblers, rufous-necked, great and wreathed hornbill, black-necked crane, beautiful nuthatch, emerald cuckoo are some of the most popilar with birders. It is especially known for the Bugun liocichla, a bird that was discovered only in 1995. The name of the sanctuary does not refer to eagles, but to the Red Eagle Division of the Indian army that was posted here in the 1950s.

Orang National park

Orang National Park is located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River, 50km west of Tezpur. It consists of 79 km2 of deciduous forests, alluvial grasslands, swamp forest and open water. It was established as a sanctuary in 1985 and declared a national park in 1999. Orang is sometimes referred to as mini-Kaziranga. It is right on the banks of the Brahmaputra and is home to rhinos, wild elephants, tigers, wild buffaloes, pymy hog and at least 222 bird species, many of them migratory birds. Some of the key species found here are Bengal florican, spot-billed duck, black-necked stork, greater adjutant stork, lesser adjutant stork, woolly-necked stork, rudy shelduck, gadwall, mallard, pintail, pallas’ fishing eagle and a number of others include forest and grassland birds.

Samdrup JoNGKHAR

P.M.

BIRDING S. JONKHAR - DEOTHANG

Going up from the plains you’ll pass the zones of tropical evergreen forests to subtropical semi-deciduous forest. An enormous array of bird species calls these forests, grasslands and fields here home. Just to name a fraction: hooded pitta, long-tailed sibia, red-faced liocichla, rufous-necked hornbill (rare outside Bhutan), greater flameback, crimson sunbird, silver-eared mesia, long-tailed and silver-breasted broadbills, white-throated needletail, grey nightjar, brown shrike, slender-billed oriole, white-throated fantail, bar-winged flycatcher-shrike, hair-crested drongo, ferruginous, blue-throated and grey-headed canary flycatchers, and small niltava, More rare and elusive are: chestnut-breasted partridge, silver-breasted broadbill, beautiful nuthatch, hooded pitta, green cochoa and silver-breasted broadbill.

BIRDING DEOTHANG - NARPHUNG

Traveling up between (roughly) 1000 and 2000m you can see a marked change in the vegetation. Subtropical forests give way to temperate, deciduous and mixed-coniferous forests. Apart from resident birds, many altitudinal migrants can be found. Again just a sample: white-browed shrike babbler, cutia, rusty-fronted barwing, red-tailed and blue-winged minlas, hill partridge, bay and crimson-breasted woodpeckers, greater and lesser yellownapes, golden-throated and great barbets, plaintive, lesser and asian emerald cuckoos, collared and asian barred owlets, spot-bellied eagle owl (rare), wedge-tailed green pigeon, Eurasian sparrowhawk, besra, northern goshawk, steppe and bonelli’s eagles and orange-bellied leafbird.

BIRDING NARPHUNG - TRASHIGANG

Today you’ll go up and down through the same altitudinal belt as yesterday. You may see yellow-billed blue magpie, grey treepie, eurasian jay, large-billed crow, maroon oriole, long-tailed minivet, yellow-bellied and white-throated fantails, ashy and black drongos, blue whistling thrush, long-billed thrush (rare), ultramarine, slaty-blue, little pied and white-gorgeted flycatchers (the later is rare), large and rufous-bellied niltavas, spotted forktail, common stonechat, white-tailed nuthatch, fire-capped, green-backed, black-throated and rufous-fronted tits, striated, mountain, black and red-vented bulbuls, aberrant bush warbler, rufous-throated and spotted wren babblers, red-billed leiothrix, green-tailed and Mrs Gould’s sunbirds, russet tree sparrow,olive-backed pipit, maroon accentor (rare) and Tibetan siskin.

Trashigang

Trashigang’s main claim to fame is its beautiful dzong. After it suffered considerable damage due to an earthquake 6 years ago, it has been fully restored now. It used to control the east-west and south-north traffic that used to pass through at the valley junction just below the dzong. In the past, this was a major trade route between Bhutan, India and Tibet. Also worth a visit is the small center of Trashigang, which consists of an almost circular house front, built around a small square with a large prayer wheel. Although Trashigang is Bhutan’s easternmost sizable town, there is a lot more to explore further to the east (and north). Such as the beautiful Merak-Sakten National park, the ancient temple of Gomkora and the even more isolated town of Trashiyangtse to the north.

BIRDING at LINGMITHANG

Lingmithang is reached after Mongar (coming from the east). It is considered one of Asia’s best birding areas. Lingmithang is reached after Mongar (coming from the east). It is considered one of Asia’s best birding areas. Birds that can be seen here are, among others, bullfinch, scarlet finch, grey-winged blackbird, brown-throated treecreeper, and grey-sided laughingthrush. maroon oriole, common rosefinch, hill prinia, fire-capped tit, Bhutan laughingthrush, rufous-bellied woodpecker, asian barred owlet, ward’s trogon (rare), gold-naped finch, Kalij pheasant and barn swallow.

Road Mongar - Bumthang

The route from Mongar to Bumthang is one of the most beautiful road stretches in Bhutan. If not before, you will definitely appreciate the endless forests that cover the mountain slopes, speckled with tiny hamlets of farmers homes in forest clearings. On the way, you cross the 3780m high Thrumshing La, pass, where you are in the middle of a national park where tigers live. Some of these tigers have even been seen on the pass! Before you reach Jakar in Bumthang, you can visit the beautiful village of Ura with a striking temple. It lies at an altitude of over 3110 m and is therefore one of the highest villages in Bhutan where permanent agriculture is practiced.

BIRDING at YONGKOLA

The area near the Yongkola pass is one of very best birding areas in Bhutan and asia. The warm broadleaf forests here harbour ancient trees festooned with orchids. They are home to many of Bhutan’s sought-after birds, such as the rare spot-bellied eagle owl and the tawny fish owl, Ward’s trogon, slender-billed scimitar-babbler and rare and endangered species such as the rufous-throated wren babbler, the cobalt blue-fronted robin and wedge-billed wren babbler. The list of bird species that can be encountered here is pages-long. Just to name a few: hill, rufous-throated and chestnut-breasted partridges, rufous-bellied and crested serpent eagles, the rare rufous-necked hornbill, speckled wood-pigeon (another rare bird), blue-bearded bee-eater and cobalt blue-fronted robin.

Bumthang

Bumthang is perhaps Bhutan’s culturally most important area. The many temples here are connected with the early history of Buddhism in Bhutan. It was here that Padmasambhava (also called Guru Rinpoche) started his missionary work in Bhutan in the eighth century. This man is considered to be the most important promoter of Buddhism in Bhutan (but also in Tibet, Ladakh and Sikkim). He fought a fierce battle against the spirits and demons of the Bön religion, which dominated the Tibetan cultural sphere at that time. You enter this area through Chumi Valley. This elongated valley has dozens of small villages, most of them with very beautiful and traditionally built houses and small temples and monasteries. Bhutan is also a great place for long walks, or even a two-day trek.

Trongsa Dzong

Trongsa is a small trading town with a very strategical location, halfway between East and West Bhutan. In the past, it was very important, which large and very elongated dzong. This castle monastery lies high above the valley and was in the past very important for the penlops (district heads) who controlled trade and other traffic between East and West Bhutan. The road ran straight through the dzong so that it was easy to levy taxes on merchandise or to arrest undesirable elements. The current royal dynasty of Bhutan comes from this region and it is still customary for a heir to the throne to work here as a penlop before taking up the highest office.

Punakha Dzong

The main attraction in Punakha is the dzong. Until 1955 this was the seat of the king and parliament and it is still an important place. The majority of the monks of Thimphu move to Punakha every autumn to spend the much more pleasant winter here. The enormous castle-monastery is wedged between two rivers, the Po and the Mo Chu (Father and Mother River). According to many, this is the most beautiful, and certainly the largest, old dzong of the country. It has three courtyards and a number of beautifully decorated temples, including the Hundred Pillar Temple, which could be described as the ‘Knights Hall’ of Bhutan. Important ceremonies take place here, such as the coronation of a king or the installation of a new government.

Birding at Punakha

The Mo Chhu valley has some bird-rich and beautiful forests. Apart from the birds as such, the forest are a delight to walk through, especially in spring time. Common species here are: blackchinned yuhina, spotted dove, blackchinned babbler, blackbreasted sunbird, redbreasted rosefinch, fulvousbreasted pied woodpecker, large grey babbler, Himalaya tree pie, little bunting, slatybacked forktail, whitebreasted kingfisher, yellowbilled blue magpie, grey heron, steppe eagle Aquila, small niltava, Himalayan griffon, speckled wood pigeon, grey tit and redcrowned jay. At the river near the dzong the spectacular crested kingfisher can be seen.

Sights of Thimphu

The Memorial Chörten, built in memory of Bhutan’s third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, attracts devoted Bhutanese from all ranks of the population. At Buddha Point you can view a huge brand-new open-air Buddha statue. A visit to the Changangha Lhakhang, the oldest temple of Thimphu, brings you back in the Middle Ages. Several other ‘sights’ are very worthwhile. A ‘must’ is the Institute for Zorig Chusum, where young people are taught in the thirteen traditional Buddhist arts (painting, carving, sculpting and ten other traditional arts). Thanks to this institute people in Bhutan can still build traditional temples, dzongs and monasteries. Also interesting are the Institute of Traditional Medicine, the Folk Heritage Museum and the Textile Museum.

BIRDING near the PARO RIVER

The Paro Chu is a medium-sized, largely unaltered mountain stream that flows through the fertile valley of Paro (Chu=river in Dzongkha, the language of Bhutan). Camouflaged amongst the glacial stones, Himalayan riverine species such as the elegant Ibisbill can be seen as it dips in the snowmelt, searching for food amongst the stones and boulders. Walking along the river, we should also encounter: pied wagtail, white-capped and plumbeous water redstarts, common hoopoe, crested goshawk, eurasian kestrel, kalij pheasant, brown dipper, white-collared blackbird, long-tailed and gray-backed shrikes, black-faced and chestnut-crowned laughingthrushes, brown parrotbill, chestnut-tailed minla and common kestrel. Not all of these are 100% guaranteed, but then we may stumble upon many other species as well.

BIRDS and VIEWS AT the Chele La

Bhutan’s highest motarable pass, the Chele La (3990m), is easily accessible from Paro The narrow road creeps up through magnificent forests of enormous cedars, spruces and larches, as well as tree-high rhododendrons (blooming in April-May). Once up, weather permitting, you will be treated to beautiful views of the Himalayas, especially Mt. Jhomolhari (7329 m) right on the Tibetan border. Chele La gives us also easy access to alpine meadows and dwarf rhododendron scrub above the tree line. Here, we may encounter the beautiful Himalayan monal, blood pheasant, Himalayan griffon, kalij pheasant, spotted, black-faced and chestnut-crowned laughing thrushes, white-collared blackbird, grey-backed shrike, blue-fronted redstart, snow pigeon, spotted nutcracker, orange-flanked bush robin, alpine accentors and the beautifully coloured white-browed rosefinch.

TakTsang Goemba (Tigersnest)

Near Paro starts the 2 – 2.5 h climb to the world famous Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang Gompa). This beautiful monastery sits like a dovecote against the rocks, pasted 900 m above the valley. Here Padmasambhava would have landed on the back of a tiger after a flight from Bumthang to attack a local evil demon. To this end he meditated here in a cave and in 1692 a temple was built around it. In 1998 a fire devastated a large part of the buildings, but seven years later they were already beautifully restored. Inside, it is a maze of smaller temples and niches partly built on top of each other, which contributes to the mysterious and fairytale atmosphere.

BIRDING near TAKTSANG GOEMBA

Along the hike to Taktsang Goemba (Tigersnest) we may see bird species such as green-backed, coal and grey-crested tits, white-tailed nuthatch, yellow-billed blue magpie, spotted nutcracker, black-faced, chestnut-crowned, white-throated and spotted laughing thrushes. Up at the monastery by the rocky ledges we will scan for flocks of snow pigeon and alpine accentor while the waterfall next to the monastery often gives us the opportunity to see little forktail and white-capped and plumbeous water redstarts. From here and if time permits, we will bird along the Pa Chhu (a small river). Some of the species we regularly see here include, rosy pipit, common snipe, black-tailed crake, common and green sandpipers, common kestrels, white-collared blackbird and grey-backed shrike.