Bhutan / Punakha & Phobjikha / Phobjikha (Gangtey)Phobjikha (Gangtey)
Glacial Valley of the Black-Necked Cranes
A wide, marshy glacial valley at 3,000 m on the far side of the Black Mountains, overlooked by Gangtey Goenpa monastery. From about late October to February rare black-necked cranes winter here; the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre has spotting scopes, and the Gangtey Nature Trail crosses the valley floor. Cold in winter and wet in the monsoon; one night is the usual stop between Punakha and Trongsa.
Highlights
- Black-necked cranes in winter
- Gangtey Goenpa above the valley
- Gangtey Nature Trail
- Black-Necked Crane Festival in November
- Farmhouse stays and hot-stone baths
- Potato fields and pine forest
Things to do
- Gangtey Nature Trail across the valleyMorning · 2h
- Crane watching from the information centreNov–FebAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Gangtey GoenpaMorning · 1h
- Farmhouse hot-stone bathEvening · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: October – March
Worth knowing
Monsoon: Landslides on the East-West Highway
June to August is Bhutan's monsoon. Landslides and roadworks close the Lateral Road for hours at a time, especially between Punakha and Trongsa and over Thrumshing La; a 7-hour drive can take a day. Keep a spare day before your flight home, start drives early, and expect clouds over the mountain views. Leeches on forest trails.
Heads up
Cold Nights, and the Cranes Are Here
Phobjikha is at 3,000 m: winter nights fall well below freezing and Lawala and Pele La can have snow. It is also crane season (late October to February), the reason to come; pick a hotel with heating or a bukhari stove.
- Black-Necked Crane Festival — Held in the courtyard of Gangtey Goenpa on 11 November each year to welcome the cranes back to Phobjikha: schoolchildren's crane dances, mask dances and folk songs. A small festival in a small valley; rooms are few.