National park · Bhutan
Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary
Visit Bumdeling in November for the black-necked cranes, or in April–May for rhododendron blooms and clear mountain views. Entry is free for Bhutanese and Indian nationals; foreign visitors pay the standard Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of 100 USD per night, which covers all park entry. The best walk is the half-day hike to Singye Dzong, a sacred cliff-side monastery, starting from the village of Chorten Kora. A full-day trek to the alpine lakes of Bumdeling requires a guide and a permit from the park office in Trashiyangtse.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,550 km² (598 sq mi)598 sq mi (1,550 km²)
approximate
Established
1995
Best months
Apr–May, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 5
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Bhutan ↗Sustainable Development Fee: USD 100 per adult per night for international visitors until 31 Aug 2027 (children 6–11 half rate, under 6 free); Indian nationals pay in rupees at a lower rate. Confirm the current rate on the official tourism site before booking.
- Bhutan ↗Visa: apply through the official Bhutan tourism visa system, cleared before you board; plan the trip through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
- Bhutan ↗Paro is Bhutan's only international airport: approaches are visual, flights run in daylight only, and cloud or wind cancels them; keep a spare day at both ends.
At a glance
- Country
- Bhutan
- Area
- 1,550 km² (598 sq mi)598 sq mi (1,550 km²)
- check
- Established
- 1995
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Tashiyangtse
Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary covers 1,550 km² of eastern Himalayan terrain in Trashiyangtse district, from warm broadleaved forest at 1,500 m to alpine scree and glaciers above 6,400 m. It was established in 1995 to protect ecosystems that shelter snow leopards, red pandas, blue sheep, musk deer and Himalayan black bears. The sanctuary is best known as the winter home of the black-necked crane, which arrives in late October and stays until March. The half-day hike to Singye Dzong, a cliff-side monastery, is the most accessible walk; the multi-day alpine trek to glacial lakes requires a guide and a permit. Entry is covered by the Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee for foreign visitors and free for Indian and Bhutanese nationals.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1995.
Size and age
1,550 km² (598 sq mi)598 sq mi (1,550 km²) · national park since 1995
check
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Tashiyangtse.
Why go
- Winter home of the black-necked cranes, with a viewing platform near Bumdeling village.
- The Singye Dzong hike: a 4–5 hour walk through pine and rhododendron forest to a cliff monastery.
- Alpine trekking to glacial lakes and 6400 m peaks, with a guide and permit.
- Rare wildlife: snow leopard, red panda, blue sheep, musk deer and Himalayan black bear.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCold, clear; cranes present
- FebCold, clear; cranes present
- MarCranes depart; trails muddy
- AprRhododendrons bloom; warming weather
- MayClear skies, good trekking
- JunMonsoon starts; leeches on trails
- JulHeavy rain; landslides possible
- AugMonsoon peak; trails closed
- SepRain tapering; trails wet
- OctPost-monsoon; cranes return late Oct
- NovCranes present; crisp, clear days
- DecCold, clear; cranes present
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-necked cranes (winter)Nov–Feb · Arrive in late October, depart by March. View from the platform only. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Rhododendrons in bloomApr–May · Many species along the Singye Dzong trail. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Snow leopardsAll year · Extremely rare; camera traps only. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Red pandasApr–Oct · In the central forest zone; nocturnal. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Blue sheep and musk deerApr–Oct · In the alpine zone. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Leeches on lower trailsJun–Sep · Wear leech socks. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Trashiyangtse
Drive east on the main road to Chorten Kora (about 1 hour). The park office is in Trashiyangtse town.
1 h
Open the page →
From Trashigang
Drive north to Trashiyangtse (about 2 hours), then continue to Chorten Kora.
3 h
Open the page →
From Samdrup Jongkhar
Drive north via Trashigang (about 5–6 hours).
5–6 h
Open the page →
From Thimphu
Fly to Trashigang (Yonphula Airport) or drive 2–3 days via Bumthang. Then drive to Trashiyangtse.
2–3 days drive; 1 day flight + drive
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Bumdeling valley | Crane viewing platform, rice fields, and the Bumdeling village. | Open; no guide required. |
| Singye Dzong trail | Forest trail from Chorten Kora to the cliff monastery. | Open; guide recommended. |
| Alpine zone (north) | Glacial lakes, snow peaks, and high-altitude pastures. | Guided only; permit required. |
| Kulong Chhu valley | Riverside forest and remote villages. | Open; guide recommended. |
Sketch map
- 1Trashiyangtse town · Town≈27.583, 91.500Park office and accommodation.Map ↗
- 2Chorten Kora · Gate≈27.600, 91.550Trailhead for Singye Dzong.Map ↗
- 3Singye Dzong monastery · Viewpoint≈27.650, 91.580Cliff-side monastery; 4–5 hour hike from Chorten Kora.Map ↗
- 4Bumdeling village · Village≈27.750, 91.450Crane viewing platform.Map ↗
- 5Bumdeling alpine lakes · Summit≈27.850, 91.400Glacial lakes at 4000–5000 m; guided treks only.Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation; trailheads and villages are small.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for foreign visitors | US$100 | night | Covers entry to all national parks and sanctuaries in Bhutan. Pay through your licensed tour operator. |
| Entry for Indian nationals | Free | person | Free entry to the sanctuary; SDF is 1200 BTN per night (check). |
| Entry for Bhutanese nationals | Free | person | Free. |
| Guide fee for Singye Dzong hike | BTN 1,500–2,500 | group | Check with the park office or your tour operator. |
| Guide and permit for alpine trek | BTN 3,000–5,000 | group per day | Required; arrange through the park office in Trashiyangtse. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Sanctuary entry permit or guide
Alpine trek permit permit or guide
Singye Dzong hike no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$100
- BTN 1,500–2,500
- BTN 3,000–5,000
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Check with the park or your operator before you go.
Park rules
- Drones
- Not allowed without a permit from the Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority (check).check
- Guides
- Required for the alpine zone; recommended for all other trails.
- Camping
- Only with a guide and a permit; no open fires.
- Cranes
- Do not approach or disturb the cranes; stay on the viewing platform.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish.
Where to stay
In the park
Bumdeling village homestays
Simple rooms with meals; book through your tour operator or the park office.
Near the park
Trashiyangtse town
Basic hotels and guesthouses, about 1 hour from the sanctuary.
In the park
Camping (alpine zone)
With a guide and permit only.
Safety
Altitude on alpine treks medium
Landslides on roads medium
Getting lost on trails medium
Leeches low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The crane viewing platform is reachable by car with a short walk.
- Singye Dzong and the alpine treks involve steep, uneven terrain; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails to avoid disturbing wildlife and fragile alpine vegetation.
- Support local communities by staying in village homestays and hiring local guides.
- Do not feed or approach the cranes or other wildlife.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary?
Entry is free for Bhutanese and Indian nationals. Foreign visitors pay the Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of 100 USD per night, which covers all park entry. There is no separate ticket.
What are the best hikes in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary?
The half-day hike to Singye Dzong is the most popular: 4–5 hours through forest to a cliff monastery. For experienced trekkers, the 2–3 day alpine trek to glacial lakes is the highlight, but requires a guide and a permit.
When is the best time to visit Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary?
November to February for the black-necked cranes. April and May for rhododendron blooms and clear trekking weather. Avoid June to September (monsoon).
Can I see snow leopards in Bumdeling?
Extremely rare. Camera traps have recorded them, but sightings by visitors are almost unheard of. Focus on the cranes, red pandas and blue sheep.
Do I need a guide to visit Bumdeling?
A guide is required for the alpine zone and recommended for the Singye Dzong hike. For the crane viewing platform and the Kulong Chhu valley walk, a guide is not mandatory but helpful for logistics.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary
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