Bhutan
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small, landlocked nation nestled in the southern slopes of the Eastern Himalaya. To its north lies the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and to the west, south and east lies the Indian states of Sikkim, Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The terrain is some of the most rugged in the world, characterized by huge variations in altitude. Within the 150 miles between the southern and northern borders, Bhutan's elevation rises from 150 to more than 7,500 meters. This great geographical diversity combined with equally diverse climate conditions contributes to Bhutan's outstanding range of biodiversity and ecosystems.
The tiger, one-horned rhino, golden langur, clouded leopard, hispid hare and the sloth bear live in the lush tropical lowland and hardwood forests in the south. In the temperate zone, grey langur, tiger, common leopard, goral and serow are found in mixed conifer, broadleaf and pine forests. Fruit bearing trees and bamboo provide habitat for the Himalayan black bear, red panda, squirrel, sambar, wild pig and barking deer. The alpine habitats of the great Himalayan range in the north are home to the snow leopard, blue sheep, marmot, Tibetan wolf, antelope and Himalayan musk deer.
Birds abound with more than 770 species of bird - Himalayan Monal, Satyr Tragopan, Blood Pheasant, White-bellied Heron, Ibisbill, Ward’s Trogon, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Beautiful Nuthatch, Sikkim Wedge-billed and Long-billed Wren-Babbler, Slender-billed and Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Black-headed Shrike-Babbler, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Himalayan Cutia, Spotted Laughingthrush and a host of Parrotbills
More than 400 species of butterflies can be found in Bhutan. Some of the most interesting are Bhutan Glory; Yellow Gorgon; Pale Clouded Yellow; Dark Clouded Yellow; Common Copper; Narrow-banded Satyr and Gem Silverspot, Blue Pansy, Tailed Labyrinth, Common Rose, Paris Peacock, Yellow Helen, Golden Birdwing, Long-banded Silverline, Tropical Fritillary, White-bar Bushbrown, Tailed Labyrinth, Himalayan Five-ring, Orange-tailed Awl and many others.
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Bhutan - birds, butterflies and culture
Monday 18th September - Sunday 1st October 2023
COST: 6 100 EUR
Group size: 6 - 12 + leader