Black-necked crane festival in Bhutan (11th November 2024)

Meet and greet at the Paro International airport and drive to Thimphu. On the way, a short stop to view Tamchog lhakhang built in the 15^th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo.

In the afternoon, visit national memorial chorten, craft bazaar and Tashichho dzong, the royal secretariat.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, visit to:

• Tallest statue of sitting Buddha (51.5 meters)
• Changangkha lhakhang.
• Takin preserve center.
• Sangaygang view point.
• Dupthop lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.

Lunch at Simply Bhutan museum restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit national postal museum and the school of 13 arts and crafts (Painting school).

In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Punakha valley. On the way, visit to:

• Dochu La pass with its 108 stupas and view the beautiful Himalayan ranges in the north.
• Chimi lhakhang built by lama Drukpa Kuenley in the year 1499. The temple is also called “the temple of fertility”.

In the afternoon, visit Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is also the venue for the famous Punakha festival which is held in the spring.

In the evening, hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choling monastery.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, walk across the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan built across Pho chu river (160 m).

Then drive to Gangtey. On the way, visit Wangdue Phodrang dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Note: Upper part of the valley is called Gangtey and lower part is called Phobjikha.

While in Gangtey, visit Gangtey Gompa monastery founded in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley. Then visit the crane information center and explore the Phobjikha valley.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After early breakfast, drive to witness the black necked crane festival in Bhutan 2024.

In the evening, explore the beautiful Phobjikha valley, the roosting ground of the rare black-necked cranes in winter.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Paro valley. We occasionally stop on the way to take pictures.

In the afternoon, visit Ta dzong built in 1649 which houses the national museum of Bhutan.

Then visit the Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The grand annual Paro tshechu festival is held here in the spring.

In the evening, visit to a typical Bhutanese farm house.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, drive to Satsam chorten and 2 hour hike to the Tiger’s nest monastery (Paro Taktsang).

In the afternoon, visit Drugyel dzong built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Then visit Kyichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongtsen Gampo. He built 108 temples across the Himalayan region in one day and Kyichu is one of them. The other prominent one is Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang. The other two temples are in Haa valley where the annual Haa summer festival is held.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the Paro airport and farewell (End of black necked crane festival in Bhutan tour).