Download 2014 Brochure (.pdf) - Ornitholidays

B H U TA N
Bhutan
Birds & Buddhism
Saturday 01 March – Friday 14 March 2014
Leaders: Richard Coomber and local guides
2014 Cost £4,799 single room supplement £390
I
n 2014 we make our eleventh tour to Bhutan to visit the high altitude forests
of the Bhutanese Himalayas – a land of rhododendron forests, stunning
panoramas and friendly Buddhist culture. Bhutan is a small sparsely populated
Himalayan kingdom, situated in the north-east of the Indian subcontinent, bordered to the north
by the great Himalayan range and Tibet (Xizang). Most people of this country are dependent on subsistence agriculture; so this is a land little changed
by the ravages of time: if Shangri-la exists, it is surely here. The Buddhist culture of the country broadens the experience of Bhutanese travel
immensely; and although birding is naturally our main priority, we shall take time to appreciate this aspect. In particular we shall have several
opportunities to look at the Dzongs, which blend the role of both fortress and monastery, playing a central part in Bhutanese life. They powerfully
illustrate the overwhelming influence of Tibetan Buddhism in Bhutanese society. We shall see several of these enormous buildings, many of which are
astonishing feats of construction.
Thimpu
Paro
Punakha
Wangdue
BHUTAN
Trongsa
Birdwatching in Bhutan is a sublime experience. Towns are very small and frequently surrounded by untouched habitat. There is often little traffic and
the roads provide excellent opportunities to walk, without difficulty, through what are surely the best-preserved forests anywhere in the Himalayas. In
the valleys below, the wide rivers provide excellent wintering habitat for the Ibisbill - that strange and enigmatic wader from the Tibetan plateau. On
the upland mires, Black-necked Cranes (the world's least-known crane species) may still be encountered, prior to their northward departure to their
breeding grounds in Tibet. Other species we will seek include Wallcreeper, Crested Kingfisher, Great Barbet, and Yellow-billed Blue Magpie. We
should come across many colourful minivets, fulvettas, minlas, yuhinas and sunbirds; and three species of forktails are possible. At this time of year
the forests of Bhutan are world-renowned for the burst of colour created by flowering magnolia and numerous species of rhododendron. Naturally,
this phenomenon will command our photographic attention!
Bhutan has taken measures to preserve her forests and to try to develop a sustainable tourist industry. To this end it has restricted the number of
tourists allowed to enter the country each year and it charges a high price for the privilege of entering. This is one of the factors that makes tours to
Bhutan expensive, but it should ensure that future generations will be able to visit a country that has much to offer in the way of pristine landscapes,
as well as being uncluttered by large numbers of tourists. Our tour has been designed to see the best of the country, with a minimum of long-distance
travelling and removing the need to use tents. Bhutan hotel food is excellent and varied, catering for both western and Oriental palates. This proved
to be an especially popular feature on our previous tours. Travel with Richard on this tour, designed to see Bhutan in the best possible way.
ITINERARY
Days 1 & 2
We catch our scheduled flight from London, and
we arrive in Delhi next day, in the early hours.
After a restful morning, we will take an afternoon
outing for birding in Delhi.
Days 3 & 4
We fly from Delhi to Paro in Bhutan. The Druk Air
flight visits Kathmandu en route - if the weather is
clear, there are stunning views of Chumulhari,
Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other
Himalayan peaks. We land in the picturesque
Paro Valley at 2,150 metres. The valley, with its
scattering of interesting half-timbered
farmhouses and paddy fields, is dominated by
the snow-clad peak of Cholhari. We transfer to
Paro, where we stay for the next two nights. From
our hotel we can see Paro Dzong, which
dominates the view and is the centre of religious
activity. We will have our first introduction to the
Bhutanese birds, including the riverine
Himalayan species such as White-capped and
Plumbeous Redstarts, Brown Dipper and (we
hope) our first Ibisbills. These unique waders
migrate from their breeding grounds in the
mountains surrounding the nearby Tibetan
Plateau, to winter on the shingle banks of these
wide rivers at lower altitudes. We will drive along
the Paro Chu River towards Drukyel Dzong (now
in ruins). On the way we will see the Tiger's Nest
Monastery, perhaps the holiest monastery in
Bhutan, which has recently been rebuilt after a
fire. Birds to be seen in the valley include Blue
Whistling Thrush, Hodgson's and Blue-fronted
Redstart, Eurasian Hoopoe, Rufous Sibia, Whitecollared
Blackbird, Rufous-breasted Accentor,
Long-tailed and Grey-backed Shrikes, and
Yellow-billed Blue Magpie. During our time here
Paro Dzong
we plan to drive one of the highest mountain
passes in Bhutan, at 3800 metres, where
Himalayan Monals and Blood Pheasants can be
found, walking the undisturbed forest trails.
Day 5
After breakfast we drive to Thimpu, the capital of
Bhutan, for an overnight stay. En route there are
opportunities for photo stops to see different
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For a previous tour report or further information please call: 01794 519445