Photography tour · 13 days, 12 nights

13 Day Bhutan Wildlife Photography Tour: Red Panda Country, Golden Langurs and Royal Manas

Thirteen days from the alpine passes to the subtropical south: pheasants at Chele La, red panda habitat near Thrumshing La, golden langurs around Tingtibi and the rivers of Royal Manas National Park.

70%+

Of Bhutan under forest

Royal Manas

Bhutan’s oldest national park

3,750 m

Thrumshing La, about

Private

Naturalist guide and car

Trip overview

Bhutan's wild side, top to bottom

Bhutan keeps more than 70 percent of its land under forest, and its constitution commits it to keep at least 60 percent forested for all time. That forest stretches from alpine meadows near Tibet to subtropical jungle on the Indian border, and it holds red pandas, golden langurs, takins, Himalayan black bears, hornbills and, in the south, elephants, gaur and tigers. For a wildlife photographer, the challenge is that these animals are shy and the forest is thick. Patience and a guide who knows where to look make all the difference.

This trip works through the altitude zones. We start at Chele La for pheasants and alpine views, fly to Bumthang, and spend two days in the cool forests around Ura and Thrumshing La, which are red panda habitat. Then we drop south through Trongsa to Tingtibi, where golden langurs live along the road, and on to Panbang on the edge of Royal Manas National Park. A day on the Manas river by raft or boat gives a different view of the park. We come back north through Trongsa and Phobjikha to Paro.

Wildlife sightings are never certain, and we don’t pretend otherwise. What we can promise is time in the right places, at the right hours, with a guide who knows the signs.

Highlights

What you may photograph

Red panda

Shy and hard to find, in fir and bamboo forest around Thrumshing La.

Golden langur

Found only in Bhutan and nearby Assam, often near Tingtibi.

Himalayan monal

Bhutan's most colourful pheasant, at Chele La.

Royal Manas

Subtropical forest and the wide Manas river.

Hornbills

Great and rufous-necked hornbills in the south.

Phobjikha

Cranes from late October to February.

Itinerary at a glance

Thirteen days, every habitat

Early starts every day. Your guide adapts sites to recent sightings.

Day 1: Arrive in Paro

Land in Paro, riverside walk.

Day 2: Chele La

Dawn at Chele La for pheasants, Haa valley views.

Day 3: Fly to Bumthang

Domestic flight, Bumthang valleys.

Day 4: To Ura

Ura village, forests towards Thrumshing La.

Day 5: Thrumshing La

Dawn and dusk searches for red panda.

Day 6: To Trongsa

Yotong La, Trongsa Dzong.

Day 7: To Tingtibi

South through Zhemgang, golden langurs.

Day 8: To Panbang

South to the edge of Royal Manas.

Day 9: Royal Manas

A day on the Manas river by raft or boat.

Day 10: To Trongsa

Back north through Zhemgang.

Day 11: To Phobjikha

Pele La, the Phobjikha valley.

Day 12: To Paro

Dawn cranes, Dochula, Paro.

Day 13: Depart

Transfer to Paro airport.

Day 1

Arrive in Paro

Your naturalist guide meets you at Paro airport. In the afternoon we walk along the Paro Chhu, where river birds such as the white-capped redstart and plumbeous water redstart are common. We talk through the plan, the animals we are looking for and the habits of each.

Day 2

Chele La at dawn

We leave before dawn for Chele La, at about 3,988 metres, the highest road pass in western Bhutan. Early in the morning, Himalayan monal and blood pheasant feed along the roadside in the fir and rhododendron forest. On a clear day the view reaches Jomolhari. We return to Paro in the afternoon.

Day 3

Fly to Bumthang

We fly from Paro to Bumthang, about 30 minutes over the mountains. In the afternoon we walk the Chamkhar valley and visit Jambay Lhakhang. Bumthang’s pine forests are good for nutcrackers and woodpeckers.

Day 4

Into red panda country

We drive east over Shertang La to Ura and on into the forests below Thrumshing La. Red pandas live in mixed forest of fir, oak and bamboo between about 2,500 and 3,800 metres. They spend much of the day high in trees, so your guide looks for droppings and fresh signs. We spend the afternoon on quiet forest roads and trails.

Day 5

A full day around Thrumshing La

A full day in Thrumshing La National Park. We search at dawn and late afternoon, when red pandas are most active, and rest in the middle of the day. The forest also holds satyr tragopan, Himalayan black bear and many birds. Sightings of red panda are never guaranteed, but this is one of the best areas in Bhutan to try. We drive back to Bumthang in the evening.

Day 6

West to Trongsa

We drive over Yotong La to Trongsa, stopping for birds in the forest on the pass. In the afternoon we photograph Trongsa Dzong from the viewpoint across the gorge and visit the Tower of Trongsa museum.

Day 7

Down to golden langur country

The road south from Trongsa drops through warm broadleaf forest towards Zhemgang and Tingtibi. Golden langurs, a creamy-gold monkey found only in Bhutan and a small part of Assam, are often seen in the trees along this road, especially in the morning and late afternoon. The forest is also good for hornbills.

Day 8

On to Panbang

We continue south to Panbang, a small town near the Manas river on the edge of Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan’s oldest protected area. The park joins India’s Manas National Park across the border, and together they make a large protected landscape. We stay in a community eco-camp or lodge.

Day 9

A day on the Manas river

We spend the day on the Manas river, by raft or local boat depending on water levels, with guides from the Panbang community. The river gives open views of forested banks where hornbills, kingfishers and river birds are common, and larger animals such as gaur and elephants are sometimes seen. Tigers live in the park but are very rarely seen.

Day 10

North to Trongsa

A long drive north through Tingtibi and Zhemgang to Trongsa, about eight hours with stops. Morning stops in the langur forest give a second chance for pictures.

Day 11

Over Pele La to Phobjikha

We cross Pele La, where yaks graze near the pass, and drop into the Phobjikha valley. From late October to February black-necked cranes winter here, and we spend the late afternoon at the edge of the valley with long lenses. The Black-necked Crane Information Centre has a viewing area.

Day 12

Back to Paro

One more dawn session with the cranes if they are in the valley, then we drive back west over Dochula to Paro, about six hours with stops.

Day 13

Fly home

After breakfast your guide drives you to Paro airport for your flight.

Where you stay

Comfortable hotels in towns, simple lodges near the wildlife.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1 and 2	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	Base for Chele La
3	Bumthang	3-star or 4-star hotel	Chamkhar valley
4	Ura or Sengor	Simple lodge or homestay	Close to the forest
5	Bumthang	3-star or 4-star hotel	After Thrumshing La
6 and 10	Trongsa	3-star hotel	Central Bhutan
7	Tingtibi	Simple lodge	Langur country
8 and 9	Panbang	Eco-camp or lodge	Edge of Royal Manas
11	Phobjikha	Lodge	Crane valley
12	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	Last night

Lodges in the south are basic. The wildlife makes up for it.

What the price covers

Included and not included

Included

Bhutan visa (USD 40) and the Sustainable Development Fee for every night
Hotels as listed, 3-star as standard, with 4-star and luxury upgrades on request
All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
A licensed English-speaking guide for the whole trip
A naturalist guide who knows animal signs and habits
Domestic flight from Paro to Bumthang
Park permits and the river trip at Panbang
Private car or SUV with a Bhutanese driver, and all transfers
Entry fees to dzongs, temples and museums
Bottled water in the car

Not included

International flights into and out of Paro (we can book them for you)
Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend
Drinks, laundry and other personal costs
Tips for your guide and driver
Anything not listed under included

Price on request

Tell us your budget and we will send our best price

We don’t publish one fixed price, because hotels, season and group size change the total a lot. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the budget you have in mind. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this wildlife photography tour.

How we price

What decides the cost of this trip

Government fees

The SDF is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, plus a USD 40 visa. These are fixed by the Government of Bhutan and paid through us.

Hotels you choose

The domestic flight and the river trip are the main extras. Group size changes the total a lot.

Season and dates

Spring and autumn are peak season. Winter and summer dates are often easier to price well.

Group size

Guide and car costs are shared, so the price per person drops for two, three or four travellers.

We send a written, itemised quote before you pay anything. No booking fees.

Good to know

Planning notes for wildlife photographers

Honest odds

We want you to know what to expect. Golden langurs are seen on most trips around Tingtibi. Pheasants at Chele La are likely on a clear morning in spring. Red pandas are hard: some groups see one, many don’t. Tigers in Royal Manas are almost never seen. We plan for the best chance and keep the trip rewarding even when the rarest animals stay hidden.

Best seasons

November to April is the best time. Cold months push animals lower and leaves thin out, making them easier to see. Cranes are in Phobjikha from late October to February. The monsoon, from June to September, brings leeches, landslides and high rivers in the south, so we don’t run this trip then.

Bhutan's protected areas

More than half of Bhutan is inside national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and the corridors that link them. Royal Manas, Thrumshing La and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Parks all lie on this route. Park rules ask you to stay on roads and trails, keep noise down and never feed animals.

Lenses for wildlife

A 100 to 400 mm or 150 to 600 mm zoom is the main lens. A teleconverter helps with birds. Forest light is low, so bring a camera that handles high ISO. A beanbag for car windows is more useful than a tripod on most days.

Photography rules in Bhutan

You can photograph the outside of dzongs, temples and courtyards freely, and festival dances in courtyards are open to cameras. Inside shrine rooms, photography is not allowed anywhere in the country, and your guide will tell you where each building’s line is. Ask before taking close portraits of monks, nuns and villagers; most people say yes, and a smile and a look at the back of the camera go a long way. Read our Bhutan travel rules guide before you fly.

Drones

Flying a drone in Bhutan needs prior approval from the Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority, and some sites, including dzongs, the airport area and royal buildings, are off limits. Send us the drone model and your plan at least a month before you travel and we will apply for you. Approval is not guaranteed, so please don’t plan a whole shoot around aerial shots. Never carry a drone in without approval; customs can hold it until you leave.

Health in the south

The southern lowlands are warm and humid. Bring insect repellent, long sleeves for evenings and any medicines your doctor recommends for the area. Drink only bottled or boiled water, which we provide in the car.

Visa, SDF and guide rules

Every visitor except Indian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40 and is issued online before you fly. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, with half rates for children aged 6 to 11. A Department of Tourism notice from April 2026 confirms that visitors travel with a licensed guide. We file the visa and pay the SDF for you. Read more in our Bhutan visa guide and SDF guide.

Flying into Paro

Only Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly into Paro, mainly from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata and Singapore. Pilots land by sight between the ridges, so morning flights are the most reliable. We suggest a night in your hub city on the way in. Our flights to Bhutan page lists every route.

Wildlife photography tour: questions

How much does the wildlife photography tour cost?

It depends on your hotels, group size and dates. Tell us your budget and we will reply within 24 hours with our best price, including the SDF, visa, hotels, meals, guide and car.

Will we see a red panda?

Maybe. This is one of the best areas in Bhutan to look, but sightings are never guaranteed.

Where do golden langurs live?

Only in Bhutan and a small area of Assam. In Bhutan they are often seen near Tingtibi and Zhemgang.

What is Royal Manas?

Bhutan’s oldest national park, in the subtropical south, linked to India’s Manas National Park.

Is the river trip safe?

Yes. It runs with local guides and only when water levels are suitable.

Are the lodges comfortable?

Town hotels are comfortable. Lodges at Tingtibi and Panbang are simple.

What lens should I bring?

A long zoom reaching 400 to 600 mm, plus a wide lens for landscapes.

When should we book?

Four to six months ahead.

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Price on request

Ask for your best price

Tell us your dates, the animals you hope to see and your budget. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this wildlife photography tour.

Free trip planning enquiry

Let's plan your Bhutan journey

Tell us a little about your trip. Our team in Thimphu will reply with ideas, a day-by-day plan and a full price.

We’ll reply within 24 hours. No booking fees, and no obligation to book.