Bird-Photo-Tours Asia' Bhutan expedition offers some of the finest bird photography opportunities in the entire Himalayas with spectacular scenery alongside the sheer pleasure of traveling through Bhutan, one of the friendliest and least disturbed countries in the world. Our Bhutan Bird-Photo-Tour is a highly enjoyable adventure that produces an extraordinary number of Himalayan specialities with key photographic targets including the Satyr Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Ibisbill, Ward’s Trogon, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Long-billed, Rufous-throated, Bar-winged Wren Babblers, the near-endemic Bhutan Laughingthrush, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, White-naped Yuhina, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Great Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill plus the chance to photograph the fabulous Beautiful Nuthatch. The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is a land of superlatives, the last surviving example of a Tibetan Buddhist Kingdom that proudly guards its natural heritage. Blessed with a tiny population and steep inaccessible valleys, Bhutan holds fabulous forests that are still largely untouched and full of birds. By far the greatest diversity of Himalayan bird species can be found in the Eastern Himalayas and this fantastic Bird-Photo-Tour journeying through The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, where over 600 bird species have been recorded, provides an outstanding opportunity to photograph some fabulous birds.
Pheasants: Satyr Tragopan / Himalayan Monal / Blood Pheasant / Kalij Pheasant
Babblers: Long-billed Wren-Babbler / Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler / Scaly-breasted Cupwing / Spotted Elachura
Others: Black-headed Shrike-Babbler / Himalayan Cutia / Ward’s Trogon / Fire-tailed Myzornis / Beautiful Nuthatch / Fire-tailed Sunbird / Yellow-rumped Honeyguide / Golden-naped Finch
Bhutan charges a Tourism Tax called a "Sustainable Development Tax" of US$100 per night which is uses as part of its policy to protect the environment and to attract "high-value, low impact tourism". This Bhutan Bird-Photo-Tour is US$8,100 net of taxes and US$10,100 gross of taxes.
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 1-3 Paro District (2N, 1D, 3S). Arrive in Bhutan and transfer to hotel. Target: Ibisbill.
Days 3-7 Wangdue Phodrang District Camping (4N, 3D, 6S). Drive 3-hours 150-km to Wangdue Phodrang District. Photographic Targets: (i) Satyr Tragopan (ii) Others: Himalayan Monal / Blood Pheasant / Darjeeling Woodpecker / Rufous-bellied Woodpecker / Grey-sided Bush Warbler / Scaly-breasted Cupwing / Hoary-throated Barwing / Brown Parrotbill / Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush / Black-faced Laughingthrush / Spotted Laughingthrush / White-winged Grosbeak / Collared Grosbeak.
Days 7-9 Bumthang District (2N, 1D, 2S). Drive 3-hours 160-km to Bumthang District. Photographic Targets: (i) Himalayan Monal (ii) Others: Grey-sided Bush Warbler / Snow Pigeon / White-browed Rosefinch.
Days 9-13 Mongar District Camping (4N, 3D, 7S). Drive 1.5-hours 80-km to Mongar District. Photographic Targets: (i) Satyr Tragopan (ii) Others: Blood Pheasant / Fire-tailed Myzornis / Great Parrotbill / Brown Parrotbill / Bar-winged Wren-Babbler Scaly-breasted Cupwing / Fire-tailed Sunbird / Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler / Golden-naped Finch / Golden Bush Robin / White-browed Bush Robin.
Days 13-18 Mongar District (5N, 4D, 8S). Drive 2-hours 150-km. Photographic Targets: (i) Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler / Long-billed Wren-Babbler / Scaly-breasted Cupwing / Spotted Elachura / Ward’s Trogon / Beautiful Nuthatch (ii) Others: Himalayan Cutia / Black-headed Shrike Babbler / Blyth’s Shrike Babbler / Rufous-necked Hornbill / Golden-naped Finch / Yellow-rumped Honeyguide / Yellow-throated Fulvetta / Golden-breasted Fulvetta / White-breasted Parrotbill / Black-throated Parrotbill.
Days 18-19 Bumthang District (1N, 0D, 2S). Drive 5-hours 290-km to Bumthang District. Photographic Targets: (i) Himalayan Monal (ii) Others: Grey-sided Bush Warbler / Snow Pigeon / White-browed Rosefinch.
Days 19-20 Paro District (1N, 0D, 1S). Drive 4-hours 160-km to Paro District.
[Key: N: Night, D: Full Day, S: Session / Half-Day]
Nick Ludovic Green has spent much of his life travelling and photographing birds across Asia and Oceania, developing a depth of field experience that few bird photographers achieve. Over more than 15 years in the region, Nick has led 150+ bird photography tours in 35 countries, carefully designing each itinerary to give photographers the best possible access to light, behaviour and habitat.
Through extensive long-term travel, Nick has photographed 2,500 bird species across Asia and Oceania, many at portrait-quality standard. In China alone he has documented over 1,200 species, working in every province and returning repeatedly to key locations to refine photographic opportunities, an experience that directly benefits photographers travelling with him.
His longer bird photography expeditions include a four-month journey across Melanesia, a three-month traverse of Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China's western frontier, and a four-month Himalayan journey from Kashmir, Ladakh and Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. These extended field projects have helped build deep regional knowledge and trusted local relationships.
Nick’s images have been published internationally, and his methods reflects a long-term commitment to careful, respectful bird photography. On tour, he is known for his organized, supportive approach and practical in-field guidance, helping bird photographers of all levels improve their work whilst enjoying unhurried time amongst the region’s most sought-after species.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is some requirement to hike (iv) Some of the locations are at altitude at 3000-4000m (v) Two of the locations requires camping. Summary: as some of the locations are at altitude and as two of the locations requires camping, it is for these reasons that this trip has been graded as 'Medium'.
