Black Necked Crane Festival(11th Nov ’24)

If you are a first-time visitor to Bhutan then don’t forget to take the left seat on the plane. you can request the seat while getting the boarding tickets from the Counter. This is because the left seat of the plane while flying from Delhi or Kathmandu gives you the best and most mesmerizing view of the Great Himalayan mountain range including Mt. Everest, Mt, Makalu, and Mt. Annapurna. Your first day in Bhutan tour is already started once you board the flight. Upon arrival, our team will meet you and drive you to Thimphu. Thimphu is 1-hour smooth drive through the mountains.

30 minutes from the drive you reach Chudzom the place where two rivers of Paro an. Thimphu meet. A small checkpoint greets you but there is no checking done. If time permits you see three temples built-in 3 different styles. One in Tibetan style, Nepalese Style, and Bhutanese one. Nepal Tibet and Bhutan have historical connections in terms of religion, geographical landscape, and people’s interests. Further, drive about 18 Km you will be greeted by Thimphu welcome gate and enter the express highway of babesa. Check into the hotel. If time permits visit Takin preservation centre and do the short takin trail hike starting from centre to Motithang openair Gym. Visit Folk heritage museam and 13th arts and crfat School. Over night at Hotel

Today’s drive is about 2.5 hours from Thimphu to Punakha valley. After 45 minutes of drive from Thimphu city, you reach Dochula Pass, one of the amazing passes where you are greeted with 360 degree view of Himalayan Mountain ranges. The pass offers the refeshing view of the mountains that is dotted with 108 stupa built in memory of fallen army in 2003. Further drive to Punakha about 40Km you come across Lobesa village. You can still see the traditional building painted with the image of phalluses all over the wall. Local beleif is that it drives away the evil spirit if you have the phallus protecting your doors and roofs.

A quick visit to Chimi Lhakhang the temple of fertility. Locals visit this temple to have enough descendant and pary for kids who find difficulty in conceiving. Check into Hotel and relax.

The windows of the hotel greet you with a view of Punakha valley, fresh air with locals getting ready to work in the fields. Upon having breakfast drive to Phobjikha, 3 hours drive through beautiful recently completed road. Upon reaching the Gangtye valley check into the hotel and witness the Black-necked crane festival. the festival is introduced to create awareness to people around the village of the importance of preserving the Crane. The program includes local dance performed by villagers, Students, and staff of phobjikha valley. Enjoy the day and if time permits visit Gangtye Monastery followed by trail. Evening at Hotel.

Before we proceed to Paro let us take walk around the villages of Gangtey. The journey takes about 4.5 hours to reach Paro. we will have lunch at Thimphu. 1-hour drive from Thimphu and we are at Paro. Visit Paro airport viewpoint. During peak season you a see crowds of people watching plane land at small strip of airport. Visit drugyel Dzong followed by 6th century Kichu Lhakhang. Over night at Hotel.

Black necked crane festival tour ends here today. Our team from tour Bhutan will escost you to the airport and see you off. Its always better to reach airport 3 hours prior to departure. Airport is just 15 minutes drive from your hotel. Good bye and Trashi Delek.