9 Day Black-Necked Crane | Festival Travel Plan | Druk Asia

9 Day Black-Necked Crane Festival

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Dochula Pass

Dochula Pass
This beautiful pass with its 108 Bhutanese stupas was built by Her Majesty The Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck.

Phobjikha Valley

Phobjikha Valley
Well known as the winter home of the Black necked crane (Grus Nigricollis).

Phobjikha Valley

Phobjikha Valley
A Shangri-La within a Shangri-La and the winter home of the Black Neck Cranes

Phobjikha Valley

Phobjikha Valley
This is an old monastery that dates back to 17th century.

Crane Festival, Gangtey Goemba

Crane Festival, Gangtey Goemba
Black-Necked Crane Festival is held to spread awareness on the cranes and the traditions.

Crane Festival, Gangtey Goemba

Crane Festival, Gangtey Goemba
Dancer in traditional costume


Bhutan Trip Itinerary

To the villagers, the annual arrival of black-neck cranes is an event that holds great significance. As well as heralding the beginning of winter, some believe these endangered birds to be the reincarnation of two deities who are said to be protectors of this beautiful valley.

When both arriving and leaving, these graceful birds will circle the Gangtey Goempa three times. To the locals, this represents the honoring of the three sacred jewels of Buddhism and the request and gratitude for their protection and care during their stay. 

The Black-necked Crane Festival is held every year in Phobjikha on November 11th, coinciding with the birth anniversary celebrations of His Majesty the King. Organized by Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) and the Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC), the festival started in 1998 and aims at spreading awareness on the cranes and the traditions as well as cultura of local people. 

In November 2010, Druk Asia assisted Julia Horton, a journalist on her coverage of Black-Necked Crane Festival. Her articles can be found on the following publications:

Tashi delek, March 2011

CNNGO, March 2011

Asian Geographic, April 2011 Edition

Geographical UK, September 2011 

Day 1

Arrival in Paro, Bhutan.

Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon.Touching down at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide upon exiting the arrival hall. Today, we will take it easy to acclimatise to the altitude. Drive to Thimphu, check in to the hotel and lets have your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine.

Buddha Point at Kuensel Phodrang will also be open to tourists once it is completed. The 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma , Vajra Throne Buddha symbolising indestructibility will be completed soon. The Buddha statue itself is competed awaiting paintings, but visitors can drive up to the Buddha point and view the tallest statue of Lord Buddha. The view of Thimphu valley from the Buddha point is spectacular and beautiful, especially at night.

Heritage Museum - Dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past though exhibition of artefacts used in rural households.
National Memorial Chorten which was built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.

Centenary Farmers’ Market - Every Saturday and Sunday most of the Thimphu population congregate on the banks of the river where the weekend market is held. Here villagers from the valley and other nearby places come to sell their agriculture products.
 

Day 2

Thimphu (Phajoding Trek)

The trek to Phajoding Monastery is around 3 hours trek up and around 2 hours trek down. But if there is more time then you can trek all the way up to Thuje Dra till you can see the skull mountain. The view from Phajoding Monastery and Thuje Dra of Thimphu is simply breath taking. From the top of Thuje Dra, you can see the Rhododendron bushes stretching all the way. This trek is part of the Druk Path Trek. In late noon we head back to Thimphu.

The World Monument Fund (WMF) has listed Phajoding monastery as one of the 5 endangered cultural monuments that need most help in the world. Phajoding monastery was founded in 1224 by Phajo Drugom Zhipo (Buddhist saint) who spread the Drukpa Kagyupa sect of Buddhism in Bhutan.

Changangkha Monastery - Built in 12th century, Changangkha Lhakhang is oldest temple in Thimphu. It is hovering over a ridge above Thimphu, near Motithang. Lama Phajo Drukgom Zhigpo who came to Bhutan from Ralung in Tibet chose this site to build this lhakhang. The Lhakhang houses Chenrizig: an 11-headed, thousand-armed manifestation of Avolokitesawara as the central statue.

Textile Museum - witnesses the art of traditional weaving.
Paper making factory - witnesses the art of paper making.
 

Day 3

Thimphu to Punakha

Dochula Pass - the 108 chortens was built by the present Queen Mother of Bhutan Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over indian militants and to liberate the souls of the lives lost.

Dochu La Nature Hike - Hike through the deep forest of Rhododendrons, Magnolia and Juniper for more than 2 hours to the Botanical Garden at the bottom. Beautiful hike to see the flora that Dochu la has to offer.

Punakha Dzong - Built in 1637, the dzong continues to be the winter home for the clergy, headed by the Chief Abbott, the Je Khenpo. It is a stunning example of Bhutanese architecture, sitting at the fork of two rivers, portraying the image of a medieval city from a distance. The dzong was destroyed by fire and glacial floods over the years but has been carefully restored and is, today, a fine example of Bhutanese craftsmanship.

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten - Built by the third Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck this Chorten is a splendid example of Bhutanese architecture and art and is the only one of its kind in the world. It has been built over eight and a half years in its details have been drawn from religious scriptures.
 

Day 4

Punakha to Gangtey, Crane Festival

The Valley of Phobjikha is well known as the winter home of the Black necked crane (Grus Nigricollis). Bhutan is home to around six hundred black necked cranes with Phobjikha being one of the popular places that the birds migrate to in the winter months from the Tibetan plateau. The elegant and shy birds can be observed from early November to end of March. Overlooking the Phobjikha valley is the Gangtey Goempa. This is an old monastery that dates back to 17th century.

In the morning, we join the local in their Crane Festival. The valley of Phobjikha is well known as the winter home of the Black necked crane (Grus Nigricollis). Bhutan is home to around six hundred black necked cranes with Phobjikha being one of the popular places that the birds migrate to in the winter months from the Tibetan plateau. The elegant and shy birds can be observed from early November to end of March. Overlooking the Phobjikha valley is the Gangtey Goempa. This is an old monastery that dates back to 17th century.

Nature Hike along the valley of Phobjikha Nature Hike along the valley of Phobjikha

Black-Necked Crane Information Centre, which has informative displays about the cranes and the valley environment. You can use the centre’s powerful spotting scopes and check what you see against its pamphlet ’Field Guide to Crane Behaviour’. If the weather’s iffy you can browse the library and handicraft shop, and watch videos at 10am and 3pm (Nu 200). This is also the centre of the valley’s fledgling ecotourism initiative and they can arrange mountain-bike hire (Nu 700 per day), a local guide (Nu 300), an overnight stay in a local farmhouse (Nu 500) or lectures on the local ecosystem.
 

Day 5

Punakha to Paro

Talo Village - The village of Talo, high on hills above Punakha is located at an altitude 2800m. The village is scattered along the hill slopes. Talo Sangnacholing is built on a plateau with a majestic view of surrounding villages.

Chhimi Lhakhang - A 20 minutes walk across terraced fields through the village of Sopsokha from the roadside to the small temple located on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina. Ngawang Chogyel built the temple in 15th century after the ’divine Madman’ Drukpa Kuenlay built a small chorten there. It is a pilgrim site for barren women.

Paro Dzong - also known as Rinpung Dzong, this 15th century massive fortress/monastery,is also the administrative center of the dzonkhag.

Ta Dzong - Built as a watch tower the Ta Dzong, it was converted into the National Museum in 1968. The museum boasts antique Thangka, textiles, weapons and armour, household objects and rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.
 

Day 6

Paro to Haa via Chele La

Drive to Haa through Chele La (3,988m). From the pass you can see Paro valley on one side and then Haa valley on the other. You can also have a picnic at Chele La if you like to. In Haa, some sightseeing and then going to katsho village and visiting the Katso Lhakhang.

The valley of Haa was only opened to Tourist in 2002 and Haa is the least visited valley in Bhutan due to the lack of Tourist infrastructure. This has helped in keeping Haa the way it has always been, with Bhutanese families living their traditional and simple life. There are no tourist standard hotels in Haa valley so we return back to Paro for the night.
 

Day 7

Bumdra Trek Day 1

Hike from Sang Choekor Buddhist College (2,800m) to Yak Pasture below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m). The adventure begins with an early morning drive up to the Sang Choekor to meet our ponies and while they are being loaded we may pay our respects at the College. The initial 1–2 hour ascent of a ridge, which is steep at times though also in cool shade, brings us to a clearing with prayer flags and view down into both the Paro and Do Chhu valleys.

Above and ahead the Chhoe Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (temple) nestles in the mountainside 1-2 hours walk away. The trail undulates for a while before the last steep pull up to the pretty temple which boasts commanding views south over Paro airport and from its own hot stone bath northwards to the snow capped Himalaya. After a final 20 minutes climb through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, with a last glance southwards we plunge back into ancient forest traversing for about 40 minutes then come out onto a high wide meadow dotted with sacred chortens and prayer flags.

Our home for the night is tucked in under Bumdra Monastery (cave of a thousand prayers) making the most of the awesome views of the Himalayan range. After lunch we can visit the monastery (if it is occupied) and also climb the peak to the north (about 4000m) for even better views, returning in time for a slap up dinner.

Duration: 3 - 4 hours to camp 2-3 hours optional return trek to peak
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard - Guided with mineral water
 

Day 8

Bumdra Trek Day 2

After a hearty breakfast in the jaw dropping landscape, it is time to either head straight back into the valley or linger awhile soaking up the view and perhaps hang some prayer flags of our own. Eventually we have to drop back into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest on the monks’ zig zag trail. After 1-2 hours of descent we catch glimpses of the golden roofs of temples below and soon come upon the first of many on our way back from the wilds. The path snakes across the mountainside between the monasteries and temples before reaching the gardens of Sangtopelri (Heaven on Earth) from which you can bravely peer over edge and straight down onto the ornate roofs Taktsang in the cliff far below. An hour later and we are at the gates of Taktsang looking across the gorge a steep descent to a waterfall then ascent on steps and you are passing into the Tiger’s Nest itself.

Retracing our steps we begin the final descent of about 45 minutes to reach our vehicle and drive back to Uma Paro … not forgetting to stop on the other side of the valley and look back at what you have achieved. Taktsang Monastery – is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex located on the cliff side of Paro Valley. According to legends, it is believed that Guru Rinpoche flew to this location from Tibet on the back of a Tigress (his consort Yeshey Tshogyal) and meditated in one of the caves. Guru Rinpoche performed meditation and emerged in eight manifestations and the place became holy. Thus gaining the name tigers nest.

Taktsang Monastery is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex located on the cliff side of Paro Valley. According to legends, it is believed that Guru Rinpoche flew to this location from Tibet on the back of a Tigress (his consort Yeshey Tshogyal) and meditated in one of the caves. Guru Rinpoche performed meditation and emerged in eight manifestations and the place became holy. Thus gaining the name tigers nest.

Duration: 5 - 7 hours depending on time taken in monasteries
Difficulty: Moderate - Guided with mineral water
 

Day 9

Depart Paro

Today we will bid fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take an early flight back to Singapore. We hope by now you would have made some friends and also kept many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look forward to seeing you again in this beautiful land of endless Enchantments! Thank you for choosing our Bhutan Festival Tours! Tashi Delek!


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  • Festival Date: 11th November 2024
  • For Travel during Black-Necked Crane Festival
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Recent Customer Reviews

Star 4-5 4.8 / 5.0 ( Read Reviews )


 
CT
Canny Tan
Malaysia, Feb 2016
Star 5

Hi Sonam

Had a wonderful trip in Bhutan with great extraordinary experience.

Kinley and Pema, both the guide and driver were very accommodating and helpful throughout my trip.

Last but not least, you had done a great job too in making all the prompt and organized arrangements on my behalf for that wonderful trip.

Would definitely recommend your personalized and Druk Asia service to any of friends or relatives who are keen on visiting Bhutan.

Once again, a great thank you.

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CK
Cheng Ching Khee
Singapore, Dec 2015
Star 5

Hi Sonam

Thanks for arranging my trip. I had a wonderful trip in Bhutan.

I would like to highlight to you that my driver (uncle rock) and my guide from 3rd day onwards (Chokey Wangchuk) are great!

They are very helpful and kind throughout the trip. We have also met other guide along the trip - Tshering Dendup, who is also very cheerful and fun.

I didn't realize that I can fly to Bangkok and spend a few more days there like what other tourists have done. With this, the trip would be even more fruitful.

Generally, the food and accommodation in Bhutan are alright. But there are just a few places where the weather is just too cold for me.

Hence, I would recommend your company to consider the accommodation with good heater facilities.

On top of that, I also hope that your company will

+Read Full Review


KM
Katelyn McNey
United States, Dec 2015
Star 5

Hi Sonam,

I had a great time. Everyone was very accommodating and friendly! My guide Pema was excellent and went out of his way to make my journey pleasant.

Here are some photos :)

Katelyn McNey

+Read Full Review


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