Are you planning to visit Bhutan in November? Do not miss attending the Black-Necked Crane festival that is celebrated in Phobjikha Valley in Bhutan. Phobjikha is the winter home of black-necked cranes which migrate from the arid plains of Tibet in the north to pass the winter months in a milder climate.
Fly to Paro international airport, complete immigration and customs formalities, meet our guide at the arrival gate and transfer to your designated hotel in Thimphu. A one-hour drive from Paro to Thimphu.
Note: You will be required to bring the e-visa clearance copy sent by the tour company before arrival. The original visa would be stamped upon arrival at the Paro airport. No photograph is required anymore. For early arrivals, we try to cover the sights which cannot be added later.
In the morning, we will visit the Memorial Chorten (Built in the memory of the third King who reigned from 1952-972), the nunnery temple, and the mini Zoo to see Takin, the national animal of Bhutan.
After lunch, you will visit other landmarks of Thimphu including the Bhutanese traditional painting school, National Institute of traditional medicine, Heritage museum, the Taschichho Dzong, and the traditional paper factory. If you are traveling during the weekend, you will also visit the Thimphu Weekend Market if time permits.
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu
After a good breakfast, we start a scenic drive to Punakha with a stop for tea at Dochula Pass (3100m), where on a clear day; you will see breathtaking views of the Himalayas. We again drive downhill through rhododendron and hemlock forests. Then we pass through rice fields along river backs and reach Punakha. Before reaching Punakha, we stop by Chimi (Chime) Lhakhang Monastery also known as the temple of fertility.
Then we drive to Punakha Dzong, built between 1637-1638, which is the second oldest and second-largest Dzong in Bhutan, located between Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers.
Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.
After breakfast, we visit Wangdipodrang and its nearby village including Mushroom town. We then drive through dense Oak and Rhododendron forest to Gangtey, also known as Phobjikha, a beautiful village surrounded by amazing snow-capped mountains. For Gangtey, we enjoy views of the Black mountain ranges as well as the beautiful Phobjikha valley, the winter habitat of the black-necked cranes. During November, we see Black-Necked Cranes migrating from Tibetan plateaus to escape arid winter conditions. We explore Phobjikha village before the sun is down.
Overnight at the hotel in Phobjikha/Gangtey.
Today on 11 November 2021 is the importation day of this trip as we get to enjoy the most popular Black-Necked Crane Festival which is celebrated on the premises of Gangtey Monastery, beautifully perched atop a small hill. Locals gather at the monastery and enjoy the arrival of endangered black-necked cranes. It is an entertaining festival with folk songs and mask dance. In the afternoon, we hike the beautiful Gangtey nature trail for a little over an hour and reach Khewa Lhakhang Temple. On the way, we pass Semchubara Village and descend to the Chorten before reaching Khewa Lhakhang. After exploring a beautiful temple, we drive back to our hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Gangtey.
After a good breakfast in the morning, we drive back to Paro. The total distance is about 170 Kilometer and takes about four to five hours with some stops on the way. Get fresh and take your leisure time in the evening.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro
After breakfast, take an excursion to Tiger’s Nest, also known as Taktsang Monastery, the most sacred Bhutanese monastery perched on the cliff over Paro Valley. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery hence it is called “Tiger’s Nest”. The hike up to the monastery takes about five hours for a round trip.
In the late afternoon, visit Ta Dzong and the National Museum of the Kingdom.
In the evening, we take you to the farmhouse to enjoy the cultural dinner where you can also try for a hot stone bath (Stone bath costs around 25 USD). We then drive back to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Paro
Depending on your flight time, our guide will come to your hotel to transfer you to the airport. You shall be ready at the hotel two hours before the flight time. We wish you a safe flight and look forward to welcoming you into Bhutan soon in the future.