Bhutan’s Beautiful Black Necked Cranes

10 days from £8,415 for 2023 per person

• Thimphu
• Gangtey
• Punakha
• Paro

This exciting journey takes you through some of the most beautiful valleys of Bhutan. Perfect for those wanting to explore Bhutan’s unique landscapes and see the variation between the different valleys, you will be able to explore this beautiful kingdom whilst staying in the lap of luxury along the way.

Start with the bustling capital city of Thimphu, and explore the local sights as you acclimatise to Bhutanese life. Continue into the rural heartlands of Gangtey and the Phobjikha Valley where you will visit the Valley of the Black-Necked Cranes, before visiting the awe-inspiring Punakha Dzong. End your holiday in the pristine Paro and Haa valleys, taking in the local culture and magnificent scenery.

To be able to spot the beautiful and incredibly rare Black-Necked Crane in the wild, the best time to visit the Phobjikha Valley is from November to mid-March during their migration from the Tibetan Plateau for the winter. Each November the arrival of these magnificent birds is celebrated in the courtyard of Gangtey Goenpa at the vibrant Black-Necked Crane festival. The annual festival is organised to build awareness and understanding on the importance of protecting the endangered species, and includes cultural programs such as folk songs and dances, mask dances and environmental conservation themed dramas. Phobjikha is a wide and gently sloping glacial valley, scooped out on the western slopes of the Black Mountains, and because of the large flock of Black-Necked Cranes that winters here, it is one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country. Wildlife lovers will also be able to spot barking deer, wild boar, Himalayan black bears and leopard in the surrounding hills.

This luxury holiday is a suggested itinerary; it can be booked as it is or used as a starting point for creating your ideal tour of Bhutan. If you would like to see similar trips, take a look at our collection of Active and Trekking holidays, as well as our Wildlife and Festival itineraries.

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson