Each winter, the glacial Phobjikha valley receives a rare and revered guest: the black-necked crane, arriving from the Tibetan plateau to roost.
The valley
Phobjikha (also known as Gangtey) is a wide, marshy bowl beneath the Gangtey monastery — a protected wetland kept deliberately free of overhead cables to keep the cranes safe.
When to see them
The cranes are usually present from late autumn through winter. Their arrival is celebrated with a crane festival at the monastery, and dawn and dusk are the best times to watch them.
How to experience it well
We pair crane-watching with gentle valley walks, a visit to the monastery and the conservation centre, and nights in warm lodges close by — a quiet, soulful chapter of a longer journey.
A winter journey through the central valleys is one of Bhutan's best-kept secrets. We'll place you in the valley at exactly the right moment.