7 days/ 6 nights · Private tour
Tour highlights
About this tour
Every autumn, rare black-necked cranes fly over the Himalaya from Tibet to spend the winter in the Phobjikha valley. The Black-necked crane festival welcomes them back on 11 November 2027, in the courtyard of Gangtey Monastery. Schoolchildren dance in crane costumes, villagers sing folk songs, and everyone celebrates the birds they protect.
This seven-day tour gives you two nights in Phobjikha, so you can enjoy the festival and watch the cranes feeding in the marshes. You also see Thimphu, Punakha Dzong and Tiger’s Nest.
Local people see the cranes as sacred. Legend says they circle Gangtey Monastery three times when they arrive and again when they leave. The festival began to raise awareness about protecting the birds and their wetland home.
Today, children perform the crane dance, and there are songs, masked dances and local food stalls. Meanwhile, the nearby crane centre has telescopes for a close look at the birds.
Bring warm clothes, because Phobjikha sits at 3,000 metres and November mornings are frosty. Keep your distance from the cranes and speak quietly near the marsh. In addition, a pair of binoculars makes a big difference.
Love birds? Our Birding Bhutan tour spends more time in Phobjikha and the forests of central Bhutan. Or see every Bhutan festival tour for 2027.
Your Black-necked crane festival tour starts from US$2,100 per person, and group discounts are available. The price covers the Sustainable Development Fee, hotels and all meals. It also includes a private vehicle and driver, a licensed guide, taxes and entry fees. Flights, insurance and drinks are extra.
The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per night right now. That is half the standard rate set by Bhutan’s official tourism site. However, this lower rate is confirmed only until 31 August 2027. We have been licensed since 2012 and have welcomed more than 2,000 travellers.
It is held every year on 11 November, the birthday of the Fourth King. The 2027 festival falls on a Thursday, and in 2028 it falls on Saturday 11 November.
From late October to mid-February. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to watch them.
Yes. Children love the crane dances, and the valley walks are short and easy.
Day by day
This itinerary shows one way to enjoy this trip. We can change any day, add or remove places, change the pace or the hotels, and add a festival. Every journey we run is curated around you.
Paro to Thimphu · 55 km · about 1.5 hours · 2,300 m Your flight drops into the Paro Valley, and your guide greets you with a white scarf. You follow the river to Thimphu, stopping at Chuzom, where three small stupas mark the meeting of two rivers. In the afternoon, you visit the Memorial Chorten, where elders turn prayer wheels. In the evening, you walk the main street of the capital. Overnight: Thimphu
Thimphu to Phobjikha · about 135 km · 5 to 6 hours · Dochula 3,100 m You climb to Dochula Pass, where 108 chortens stand against the Himalaya, then drop toward Wangdue before climbing again through oak and rhododendron forest. In the afternoon, you reach the wide Phobjikha valley. At sunset, you may hear the first cranes calling from the marsh. Overnight: Phobjikha
Gangtey Monastery · festival day · 3,000 m You walk up to the monastery courtyard as villagers arrive in their best clothes. Children in crane costumes dance with slow, graceful steps, followed by folk songs and masked dances. At midday, you try local food from the stalls. In the afternoon, you visit the crane centre and watch the birds through telescopes. Overnight: Phobjikha
Phobjikha to Punakha · about 78 km · 3 hours At dawn, you walk the gentle nature trail to see the cranes feeding in the frosty marsh. After breakfast, you drive down to the warm Punakha Valley. In the late afternoon, you walk through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang. Overnight: Punakha
Punakha to Paro · 125 km · about 4.5 hours In the morning, you cross a wooden bridge into Punakha Dzong, set where two rivers meet. After lunch, you cross Dochula once more and follow the river roads to Paro. Overnight: Paro
Tiger's Nest hike · about 500 m climb · 4 to 6 hours return · 3,100 m You set off early through pine forest hung with prayer flags, climbing about 500 metres to the viewpoint opposite the monastery. From there, steps lead past a waterfall to Taktsang itself, clinging to the cliff above the valley. Your guide tells the story of Guru Rinpoche, who is said to have flown here on a tigress. In the afternoon, your legs can rest with an optional hot stone bath in a farmhouse. Overnight: Paro
Paro airport · short transfer After breakfast, your guide and driver take you to Paro airport and see you off with a farewell scarf. We hope to welcome you back soon, perhaps for a festival in another season.
Package does not include insurance of any kinds, and that you are required to obtain separate coverage from your home country or any insurance company of your choice.
Tell us your dates, and we will shape this trip around you.
