Black-Necked Crane Tour

Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights

Price: USD 1540

Black-Necked Crane Tour gives great opportunity to explore up to the Phobjikka valley, where the endangered species of Black-Necked Crane migrate to in the winter months. These unique birds spend summer months in the high Tibetan plateaus and spend the cold winter months in the Phobjikha valley.

Day 1

1. Arrive in Paro. You will be received by our representatives at the airport.
2. Drive to Thimphu, the Capital city of Bhutan (about one hour drive from the airport).
3. Arrival at the hotel in Thimphu, relax with welcome tea followed by check-in at hotel.
4. Rest till lunch in hotel or a nearby restaurant.
5. After lunch, take a 10-min drive to Changangkha Temple. Inside the temple is “God of Compassion” made out of platinum.  You may witness blessing of a newborn baby in this temple.
6. Drive to Mini Zoo, Bhutan’s only zoo to see the national animal – takin.
7. Drive to Sangay Gang and get an excellent view of the Thimphu city.
8. Visit a nunnery founded by 16th Drubthob Tshangthong Gyalpo in 1976.  More than 40 nuns study Buddhism in this nunnery.
9. Visit Zorichusum Institute, which is popularly known as the painting school.  Students in this school learn traditional arts and crafts like painting, sculpture, wood carving, weaving and embroidery.
10. Visit the National Library which consists of 2 buildings.  On the ground floor of the old building is the largest book in the world and religious books on the upper floor.  English books are kept on the ground floor in the new building.
11. Drive to Tashicho Dzong, a fortress built in 1772 by the temporal ruler Zhidar and Younten Thaye the Chief Abbot.

Day 2

1. Eat breakfast at the hotel and drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan (about 3-hour drive from Thimphu).
2. Spend some time on the way at the enchanting Dochula pass (3,040m above the sea level). On a clear day one can see panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayas Mountains ranges.
3. Arrive at Punakha Valley (1,300m above the sea level
4. Visit Punakha Dzong, which played an important role in the olden days.  It was Bhutan’s second monastery school after the Cheri Monastery.  The first king was crowned inside this Dzong in 1907.  It serves as the winter residence of the Chief Abbot and the Central Monastic Body.
5. Hike to Chimi Lhakhang through a nice walk along the rice field and through farm houses.  The temple was built by Lama Nawang Chogyel in 1499 and is today a popular temple where barren women come to pray for a child.  The temple is popularly known as the Fertility Temple.

Day 3

1. Eat breakfast in hotel.
2. Drive to Phobjikha valley, enjoying scenes of different vegetation zones.  It is possible to spot Gray Langurs, Mucked Monkey and other animals along the way.
3. Visit Gangtay Gonpa, the only Ningma Monastery School in western Bhutan. The temple is 457 years old and was founded by first reincarnation of Terton Pemalingpa.  It was rebuilt by his successive reincarnation in 1613.
4. Visit the Cranes Information Center and enjoy a good view of the whole crane habitat.

Day 4

1. Eat breakfast at the hotel and spend some leisurely hours exploring areas around the crane’s habitat.
2. Drive back to Paro.

Day 5

1. Breakfast in the hotel.
2. Hike to the Tiger Nest Monastery, which is the holiest monastery in the Buddhist World.

Day 6

1. Eat breakfast in the hotel.
2. Drive to airport for departure.