Bhutan - Highlights 2024 - 09 Jan 2024 - 22 Jan 2024 (14 days)
USD6,200
Spaces Available
Tour price (Per person): USD6,200 * GBP5,022 * EUR5,705 * AUD9,270
Overview
Tour Facts Top Birds
Our Highlights of Bhutan birding tour takes us to one of the least spoilt Himalayan countries in search of some very special and beautiful birds!
On a typical day in this mountain wonderland, you will find yourself in breathtaking surroundings looking for legendary species in pristine and seemingly endless forests, with mighty Himalayan peaks towering in the distance – all in all, Bhutan is a destination like no other! Traversing dramatic mountain passes adorned with brightly coloured prayer flags and chortens (temples), some of the birds we will specifically target include the resplendent Himalayan Monal, Satyr Tragopan, Blood Pheasant, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Beautiful Nuthatch, Himalayan Cutia – and a whole host of other spectacular species beside! In addition, we’ll be among the very first foreign birders to explore the relatively new Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, refuge for about 150 overwintering Black-necked Cranes and scores of other great Himalayan species, making this a true venture of discovery!
This slightly shorter option to our standard Bhutan birding tours is aimed at the more budget conscious birder with less time to spare in the field, but nevertheless still wishing for a fantastic overview of the region's special birds.
On the 17th of June 2022, the Bhutanese government increased the Sustainable Development Fee (Government Tourist Royalty) significantly from US$65 to US$200 per person per day with immediate effect.
*2024 Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Black-necked Crane; Himalayan Monal; Satyr Tragopan; Blood Pheasant; Ibisbill; Wallcreeper; Ward’s Trogon; Long-billed Plover; Rufous-necked Hornbill; Beautiful Nuthatch; Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler; Golden-naped Finch; Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler; Golden-breasted Fulvetta; Ultramarine Flycatcher; Black-headed Shrike-Babbler; Fire-tailed Myzornis; Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird; Himalayan Cutia; Spotted Laughingthrush; Darjeeling Woodpecker; Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch and a number of Parrotbills
Top Mammals Yellow-throated Marten; Black Giant Squirrel; Large-eared Pika; chance for Himalayan Black Bear & Musk Deer.
Habitats Covered low to high elevation forests (including bamboo, coniferous & mixed broad-leafed), pastures, wetlands, rocky slopes, rivers
Expected Climate warm to temperate and cold, some rain possible
Max Group Size 8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
Tour Pace & Walking moderate pace, undemanding walks, some long drives
Accommodation simple to comfortable lodges and comfortable camping
Ease of Birding moderate with some difficult species
Number of Species Expected 280-300
Other Attractions Buddhist culture, incredible mountain scenery and magnificent forests, a land little touched by time, possible visits to dzongs (temple-fortresses)
Photographic Opportunities average to good
Tour Route Map 
Client Testimonials
Client Testimonials Dates, Leaders and Pricing
2024 DEPARTURES
Trip Reports
Tour Enquiry
Glen & Rainer worked well together. Both were most attentive to client needs, no matter how trivial. Their sense of humour was keen and attention to birding very much appreciated. This was probably one of THE BEST tours I have been on. Wonderful combination of scenery, cultures and over-the-top birds.
Another great trip!!! Many thanks to all at Rockjumper. The tour was excellent, both David Erterius and Greg de Klerk did a great job as leaders, both in finding birds, making sure we all saw them and just being fun to be with. We would love to travel with either of them again - they were what we have come to expect from Rockjumper! The field agents were also brilliant and could not have done more for us... All-in-all, a great trip - I will recommend Bhutan to anyone (and, of course, Rockjumper). Already looking forward to our next adventure with you.
"Thank you, Rockjumper, for the great birding adventure in Bhutan. And, thank you for providing such an extremely competent guide in Daniel. He was amazing! It was rather incredible, his knowledge of the birds, hearing, seeing and identifying them with lightning speed. We felt lucky to have him as our leader. And, add to that his really delightful and positive spirit over all 14 days. He was awesome! The ""on-the-ground"" Bhutanese guides were fantastic as well. They were so helpful, and joyful to spend our days with. While we waited for birds, they enlightened us culturally, every day. We left Bhutan knowing so much more about where we had visited. Wonderful. We will remember them with much fondness. The driver was also terrific; some of the roads were rather frightening, and he was cautious and skilled and did an excellent job for all of us. A really fabulous adventure for us! Please give our best to Daniel; we hope to travel with him again one of these days."
It was an excellent tour, both in Assam and Bhutan. David Erterius and Greg de Klerk worked well together, and the local support was very satisfactory. It met all my expectations.
Having David Erterius as principal leader and Greg de Klerk as assistant proved useful on the occasions when Greg acted as scout to locate birds from a different viewpoint. David's knowledge and birding skills were excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. It excelled my expectations as to the number of new birds I would see.