Gangtey Nature Trail

The Gangtey Nature Trail is a gentle two-hour trek that lets you soak up the remarkable Phobjikha Valley.

Starting at the 17th century Gangtey Monastery, you’ll amble down a fairly flat terrain that ends at the bottom of the valley. En route, you’ll pass grass planes, farmhouses and dense pine forests before reaching a vast open space of the wide valley.

The endangered black-necked cranes make Phobjikha valley their breeding ground in winter and can be seen feeding on the valley marshlands from late October to mid-February.

Your driver will meet you and your guide at the end of the trail, and on the way back to your hotel, you can call into the Crane Information Centre to learn more about these fascinating birds and their place in Bhutan’s culture and beliefs. The centre is a fairly basic affair but has several sets of decent binoculars set up on tripods with which you can get a close look at the birds.

What you’ll do

Take a gentle two-hour walk through Bhutan’s beautiful Phobjikha Valley, starting at the 17th-century Gangtey Monastery.
Follow a mostly flat trail past pine forests, traditional farmhouses and wide-open grasslands.
In winter (late October to mid-February), keep your eyes peeled for the rare black-necked cranes feeding in the marshy fields.
En route back to your hotel, you can visit the small but informative Crane Centre to get a closer look through high-powered binoculars and learn why these birds are so treasured in Bhutanese culture.