The Black-necked Crane Festival is an annual celebration in Bhutan that honors the arrival of the black-necked crane and promotes environmental awareness:
- When: Held on November 11th in the courtyard of the Gangteng monastery in the Phobjika Valley
- What: Features traditional masked dances, folk songs, and environmental programs
- Who: Organized by the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN) and the Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC)
- Why: Celebrates the arrival of the cranes, which are revered in Buddhist traditions and are believed to be the reincarnation of deities
- How: Local school children perform a crane dance, while monks and lay people perform masked dances
- Where: The Phobjika Valley is the largest winter habitat for black-necked cranes in Bhutan
- When to visit: Book your tour early, as there is limited accommodation in the valley
Black-necked cranes are legally protected in Bhutan and hunting them is prohibited. The festival is a time for local people to come together and celebrate with their friends and family.
Day 1: Arrival in Paro (2,250m); Transfer to Thimphu (2.350m)
When you arrive in Paro by Bhutan’s national carrier, Druk Air, your tour guide will pick you up at the airport. After clearing customs and visa formalities, your guide will transfer you to Paro town for lunch.
Then you will be transferred to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, following the Pachu River. The drive takes about 1.5 hours in total, during when you can stop on the way to see the Tamchhog Lhakhang, a hereditary place of worship for the Bhutan’s iron bridge builders.
As the capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu is devoid of stereotyped skyscrapers and huge traffic. Instead, surrounding by rolling mountains, Thimphu is known for its picturesque Bhutan dzong, fresh air and loveable local people. Upon your arrival, you will pay a visit to Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong), the most beautiful Bhutan dzong as well as the headquarters of Bhutan government. You will also explore the National Library and Folk Heritage Museum, a 300-year-old traditional house converted into a museum.
Stay overnight in Thimphu
Day 2: Thimphu Sightseeing
Today, you will enjoy a full-day sightseeing around the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu, to visit the following sites:
1) National Memorial Chorten:
The National Memorial Chortan was constructed in memorial of the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in 1974. The King was generally regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and widely esteemed by the Bhutanese. “Chorten” in Bhutan literally refers to the “seat of faith” and Buddhists often call such monuments the “Mind of Buddha”.
2) National Textile Museum:
It is an amazing museum that keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms. You can find how the exquisite exhibits are waved by locals giving a spot operation with intricate tools.
3) Traditional Arts and Crafts Painting School
Visiting the painting school where students receive a six-year course on the 13 different traditional arts and crafts.
4) National Institute of Traditional Medicine
See the productive process of Bhutan’s traditional medicine, herbs mostly, and watch the medical practitioner training.
5) Traditional Paper Making Factory
Originating from the old tradition in the 8th century, Bhutan papermaking has been well preserved and listed as the valuable national heritage of Bhutanese culture.
Stay overnight in Thimphu
Day 3: Thimphu to Punakha (1,250m)
The new day begins with tasty Bhutanese breakfast. After that, we will travel northeast to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. On the way, we will stop at scenic Dochu La Pass (3,100m), where there are about 108 sacred stupas or temples being build out there. The perfect vintage point brings you the unobstructed vista of Great Himalayas.
After lunch at Wangduephodrang (1,350m), we keep driving to Punakha, which used to the capital of Bhutan. You will explore the world-renowned Punakha Dzong, widely believed to be the most beautiful Bhutanese Dzong, built at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers. You will also visit Chimi Lhakhang, a popular Buddhist monastery built around 1499 by Ngawang Chogyal.
Stay overnight in Punakha.
Day 4: Punakha to Gangtey/ Phobjikha (2,900m)
In the morning, we will drive up a winding mountain road into the Phobjikha valley first, passing through oak and rhododendron forest. Phobjikha valley, also known as Gangtey Valley, is one of the most beautiful high-elevation valleys in Bhutan, and is the winter home of black-necked cranes, migrating from the Tibetan plateau.
You may take a stroll in enchanting Phobjikha Valley and visit Gangtey Monastery, the only and the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan.
Stay overnight in Gangtey.
Day 5: Gangtey – Attend Black-Necked Crane Festival
Today you will attend the Black-Necked Crane Festival. The Black-Necked Crane Festival is an annual event celebrated at the courtyard of Gangtey Goenpa in Phobjikha valley. It features many cultural programs such as folk songs and dances (some with black-necked crane themes) and mask dances performed by the local people, crane dances and environmental conservation-themed dramas and songs by school children.
There will also be enough time for you to view the Black Necked Cranes, visit the Information Centre and enjoy some of the many nature trails throughout the valley.
Stay overnight in Gangtey.
Day 6: Gangtey to Bumthang (2,745m)
After breakfast, we will drive from Gangtey to Bumthang valley. It will take about 5 hours. We will pass through cultivated fields, forests, and a high mountain pass called Yotong La (3,400m), before reaching the Chumey valley, the first of the four valleys in Bumthang. The Bumthang valley is wide broad and presents a totally different scenery one can enjoy.
Stay overnight in Bumthang.
Day 7: Bumthang Sightseeing
Today you will enjoy a sightseeing tour in Bumthang, by visiting the following sites: Tamshing Lhakhang, also known as the temple of Good message, is famous for its collections of printings which exemplify the region’s style. It is also well known for being one of the few institutions continuing the teachings of Pema Lingpa.
Then after the suspension bridge, you meet the “Body Imprint Temple” Kurjey Lhakhang. Not far from Kurjey Lhakhang sits the Jambay Lhakhang, a temple built by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet in the 7th century. With his effort in the propagation of Buddhism, the Tibet king had an ambitious plan to build a total of 108 temples in Tibet and Bhutan.
Continue your Bumthang tour and arrive at Jakar Dzong after about 10 minutes’ drive. With a circumference of more than 1,500 meters, the majestic Jakar Dzong is definitely a wonderful piece of architectural art in Bhutan. The name Jakar is derived from the word “Bjakhab”, meaning “The white bird”.
According to Jakar’s foundation myth, a bird signals the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery. Now, the fortress is served as an administrative center of the valley as well as the summer residence of Trongsa monks.
After lunch, visit the Dorjibi Waving Center which is located half an hour’s drive from Bumthang town. In Dorjibi, you may have an intensive feeling of Bhutan’s environmental awareness by witnessing the utmost use of available raw materials rather the natural resources.
Experience the primitive life of Bhutan locals and enjoy the traditional dinner at one of their houses in Bumthang valley. Feel free to mingle with them.
Day 8: Bumthang to Punakha
After breakfast, we will drive to Punakha from Bumthang, passing across the Kiki La Pass & Yo-Tong La Pass. We will have a short break in Trongsa before continuing the drive to Punakha.
Stay overnight in Punakha.
Day 9: Punakha – Thimphu – Paro
After breakfast, we will drive to Yabesa village first and Visit the beautiful Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Lhakhang (Temple) after hiking to the upper Punakha valley and crossing the hanging bridge through large tracts of paddy fields. It takes you about 1 hour to reach the temple and the view sighted from the temple is also stunning.
After lunch you will explore the Wangduephodrang Dzong, which is built in 1639 the strategically located Dzong and is perched on a spur at the confluence of two rivers.
Afterwards, we will head for Paro and check in the hotel. After refreshment, visit the Paro Town and also the handicraft stores.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Day 10: Trek to Taksang Lhakhang (Tiger’s Nest)
Getting up in the fresh morning, we’ll start today’s trek to Taktshang Goemba (also known as Tiger’s Nest). Standing on the cliff of Paro Valley, Taktshang Goemba (3120 meters) is the landmark of Paro as well as the holiest temple in Bhutan. It’s said that Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) had flied here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves on the cliffside for three months. From here, you can catch a panoramic view of Paro Valley.
After lunch, you may opt for a stone bath or enjoy free exploration nearby.
Day 11: Departure from Paro
Today, our tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination. Tour service end.
- Package is inclusive of following:
- Airport Transfers
- Stay in hotels as indicated in the itinerary
- All three meals, tea and coffee
- Dedicated SUV vehicle with a driver
- English Speaking Guide throughout the Trip
- Short hikes, Packed lunches and snacks wherever required
- Monumental Fees
- Bhutan Tourism Development Fee
- VISA processing Fee
- Package is exclusive of following:
- International Air fare
- Alcohol
- Tips/gratuities
- Cost arising out of Flight Cancellation/road blockades/ landslides and events beyond our control
- Expenses of personal nature and any other expenses not mentioned in the above cost