10-Day Central Bhutan Tour: Punakha, Phobjikha and Bumthang
Beyond the western valleys to Phobjikha's glacial valley and the temples of Bumthang, Bhutan's spiritual heartland, with Tiger's Nest to finish.
USD 2,700
Phobjikha / Gangtey
A wide glacial valley known for Gangtey Monastery and the black-necked cranes that spend the winter here.
Overview
Phobjikha is a broad, open valley of farmland and marshes, surrounded by forested hills. It feels very different from the river valleys of the west: quiet, high and cool.
Each winter the valley becomes home to black-necked cranes, and the Gangtey Monastery on the ridge above looks over their roosting grounds. It is one of the best places in Bhutan for gentle walking.
Places to visit in Phobjikha / Gangtey
- Gangtey Monastery
- A monastery of the Nyingma school on a ridge above the valley, and the setting for the Black-Necked Crane Festival.
- Gangtey Nature Trail
- A gentle walk through pine forest and across the valley floor.
- Black-Necked Crane Information Centre
- Explains the cranes and the conservation work that protects their winter habitat.
Things to do in Phobjikha / Gangtey
- Walk the Gangtey Nature Trail across the valley
- Visit Gangtey Monastery
- Watch the black-necked cranes in winter, from a respectful distance
- Learn about the cranes at the information centre
- Stay in a farmhouse and try a hot stone bath
Journeys that visit Phobjikha / Gangtey
13-Day Bhutan West to East Tour: Paro to Samdrup Jongkhar
The whole country in one journey: from Paro and Tiger's Nest through Punakha, Phobjikha and Bumthang to the dzongs, temples and weaving villages of eastern Bhutan, leaving by road into India.
USD 3,600
Best time to visit
The black-necked cranes arrive in late autumn and stay through the winter. The Black-Necked Crane Festival is held at Gangtey Monastery in November. Spring and autumn are good for walking; winters are cold.
How to get there
Phobjikha is reached by road from Punakha and Wangdue, climbing into the Black Mountains. Most journeys stop here on the way between western and central Bhutan.
Travel tips
- Bring warm layers: the valley is higher and colder than Punakha, especially from October to March
- Keep your distance from the cranes and follow your guide's advice near roosting areas
Festivals in Phobjikha / Gangtey
- Gangtey Tshechu
- Black-Necked Crane Festival
Experiences
Hot Stone Bath
Bhutan's traditional farmhouse bath: river stones heated in a fire and lowered into a wooden tub of water and wild herbs.
Homestays
A night with a Bhutanese family in a village farmhouse, sharing their meals, their fire and their daily routine.
Wildlife
Takin, black-necked cranes, red pandas and more than 700 bird species, in a country where forests still cover most of the land.
More in Western Bhutan
Plan a journey that includes Phobjikha / Gangtey
Tell us your dates and interests. We will suggest a route and how many days to spend in each valley.