Discovering the superlative charms of Bhutan's countryside during the kingdom's lush, green season LEARN MORE SIGNATURE JOURNEY Bhutan Abundance Trip Photos Itinerary Accommodations Peace of Mind Practical Details Dates & Prices What's Included Trip Overview Ask A Question Or call 1-855-4-BHUTAN RESERVE TRIP The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. Accommodations The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. Expedition Staff Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. Accommodations The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. Expedition Staff Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. Accommodations The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. Expedition Staff Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. Accommodations The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. Expedition Staff Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. 1/9 Balcony - Zingkha This beautifully refurbished hed former governor's residence is our featured lodge in western Bhutan's Haa valley. Each morning lodge staff place a censor of fragrantly smoking mountain herbs on the balcony giving it the air of a devout Buddhist family home. 2/9 Entry Passage - Zingkha Traditional Bhutanese murals of a man and woman bowing in welcome decorate the lodge's earthy entry passage. 3/9 Artisan-painted interior Wall - Zingkha A famous piece of art known locally as "Mongolian leading Tiger" graces the lodge's interior walls. 4/9 Bedroom - Zingkha Maintained in the traditional style, with hangings of silk and brocade, and elaborately hand drawn stylistic clouds on the walls, the bedrooms of the Zingkha lodge evoke a bygone era of the comforts accorded to a local governor. 5/9 Exterior - Zingkha The heavy rammed earth walls and the cheerfully decorated windows, scalloped in the distinctly traditional Bhutanese style of past centuries, makes the lodge a true architectural gem in an era of rapidly modernizing buildings. 6/9 Welcome Foyer - Zingkha The impressive welcome foyer of the Zingkha lodge provides a gracious space where guests can rest and relax and enjoy a cup of espresso or a traditional Bhutanese teatime. 7/9 Zhingkham Resort - Punakha, western Bhutan Overlooking the monumental Punakha Dzong, and the fertile agricultural valley cut by the Pho and Mo rivers, this lodge some of the best views in the country from its wide windows and plush, modern rooms. 8/9 The Olathang Hotel - Paro, western Bhutan The grande dame of Bhutanese hotels and lodges, this sprawling property dotted with pine trees throughout its well-manicured grounds exudes an atmosphere that is at once comfortable and ceremonious. 9/9 City Hotel - Thimphu, capital of Bhutan This elegant and tasteful modern tower is located in the heart of the city and steps away from the bustling and colorful Centenary Farmer's Market. Discovering the superlative charms of Bhutan's countryside during the kingdom's lush, green season SHARE: Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link This journey covers the kingdom's scenic valleys of Paro, Haa, Gangtey-Phobjikha, and the twin capitals of Punakha and Thimphu. Arriving in the agricultural Paro valley during the wet, planting season, we trek over a high pass into the Haa valley, the old gateway to Bhutan before roads and modern transportation opened other points of access. We discover the bucolic village life and traditions in Haa's Haatoe village after attending a summer festival showcasing the region's nomadic culture. We take vigorous hikes, sample the hearty regional cuisine and volunteer at a beautiful nunnery that seems suspended in the lap of mist-wreathed mountains. As we succumb to the ample charms of the countryside and the Bhutanese people, we work our way through a Bhutan 'abundance' list that includes laughter, humility, respect, caring, mutuality and happiness. HEALTH & SAFETY HEALTH & SAFETY We are following strict national and international safety guidelines and protocols (Royal Government of Bhutan, WHO, and CDC (US) recommendations) to keep you, our staff, and the Bhutanese people safe. This includes new measures for maintaining personal health and hygiene, social distancing best practices, face covering requirements, cleaning, handwashing and more. UPDATED BOOKING & CANCELLATION POLICY UPDATED BOOKING & CANCELLATION POLICY With global travel resuming, we have changed our booking and cancellation policies back to normal. Normal cancellation policies are now in effect and final trip payment is due (4 months/120 days before trip start date, whichever is earlier). Trip cancellation policies are outlined in our trip confirmation emails and available by request. REQUEST ITINERARY ITINERARY This journey coinciding with the lush, onset-of-summer season in Bhutan is an immersive experience of Bhutanese culture, coupled with the intentions set out for this journey of discovery, understanding and service, and local Bhutanese people we meet along the way illuminate our understanding of a world-view that is important now more than ever. A most-culturally sensitive way to see the country that many associate with wellbeing, happiness and balance. VIEW DAY BY DAY DAY 1: BANGKOK/PARO Take the magnificent flight from Bangkok to Paro, past snow-capped Himalayan peaks whose summits pierce the clouds. Meet your Bhutan Himalaya trip staff and guides at the airport, before transferring to a series of peaceful wood and mud cottages overlooking the rice fields and Paro town. After orientation, we take a late afternoon hike to limber up after the flight and get the circulation going. This evening we have an informal discussion on Bhutanese Buddhism to provide a cultural context for the journey. Meals included: Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Olathang Hotel or comparable DAY 02: HIKE TO FAMED TIGER'S NEST MONASTERY We take the early hike to magnificent cliff-hanging Tiger’s Nest monastery with a return to the lodge in time for lunch. An early afternoon rest and relaxation in preparation for tomorrow's big trek along an ancestral farming route to Haa valley. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Hotel Olathang or comparable DAY 03: TREK/TRANSFER TO HAA VALLEY We have an optional full day trek today along the old ancestral trail from Paro to Haa, walked by generations of farmers traveling between the two valleys for seasonal rice-planting and harvest, the labor for which was traditionally shared by the two communities. For those looking for an easier option, a 2.5 hour van shuttle brings you into Haa with a stop at spectacular, prayer-flag strewn Chele La pass (13,000 feet). We check in this evening at the thoughtfully refurbished country manor of a former governor of the valley, complete with its own temple in the main building, an authentic taste of local life with modern amenities. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Zingkha Lodge DAY 04: HAA SUMMER FESTIVAL Today we attend the Haa summer festival, celebrating the nomadic culture of the regional yakherders as well as other mountain cultures from the region. This is a colorful opportunity to learn about the region's unique foods, culture and folkways. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Zingkha Lodge DAY 05: HIKING TOUR OF PRISTINE HAA VALLEY We have a hiking tour of the valley which begins from our lodge in the center of ancient Haatoe village, steeped in the timeless rhythms of agriculture and seasonal (yak) herding. A breathtaking, little-known cliffside temple off the beaten-path is our treat for the day! Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner Accommodations: The Zingkha Lodge DAY 06: CULTURE OF HAATOE/COOKING CLASS & DEMO After breakfast, we'll visit the ancient local temple in the village for a short blessing. Then it's on to a local family home to learn how to make the valley’s hearty buckwheat-and-turnip dumpling, hoentey. This evening try Bhutan‘s version of a Japanese Onsen bath beside a rushing mountain stream. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Zingkha Lodge DAY 07: DRIVE TO GANGTEY VALLEY Today we descend into the warm Punakha valley before climbing back up through the rugged Black Mountain Range to the high alpine Gangtey valley. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Dewachen Lodge, Gangtey Eco Lodge or comparable DAY 08: MORNING HIKE, VOLUNTEER WITH CENTRAL BHUTANESE NUNS After a morning hike along the nature trail today, we meet the nuns at a local nunnery to work alongside them at their monastery. We stay tonight in main part of the valley but spend some time getting to know these amazing nuns of central Bhutan. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Dewachen Lodge, Gangtey Eco Lodge or comparable DAY 9: SERVICE WORK/ VOLUNTEER DAY This morning after breakfast with the nuns, we spend the remainder of the day working alongside the nuns. In the late afternoon, we return to the lodge in time for a brief introduction to Vajrayana meditation, followed by a contemplative valley walk, aperitifs and, or, happy hour before dinner. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Dewachen Lodge, the Gangtey Eco Lodge or comparable DAY 10: DRIVE TO THIMPHU We drive to the nation's bustling capital Thimphu today, via Punakha, the old capital of the kingdom. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Thimphu City Hotel or comparable DAY 11: EXPLORE THIMPHU MUSEUMS & MONUMENTS We explore the capital today, stopping at the world-class textile museum, the giant brass Buddha on a hill overlooking the capital and a brisk hike through pine forests with bird's eye view of Bhutan's largest city. This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner prepared by a respected Bhutanese food personality. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Thimphu City Hotel or comparable DAY 12: BANGKOK, THAILAND I DEPARTURE We drive you back early this morning to Paro in time for your return flight home to Bangkok or other destinations. ACCOMMODATIONS PEACE OF MIND PRACTICAL DETAILS DATES & PRICES July 7 - 18, 2024 $6,840 Per Person (US$5,400 per person + US$1,240 Bhutanese government SDF fees, & US$200 monument and entry fees) $6,640 Per Person (US$5,200 per person + US$1,240 Bhutanese government SDF fees, & US$200 monument and entry fees) $6,440 Per Person (US$5,000 per person + US$1,240 Bhutanese government SDF fees, & US$200 monument and entry fees) DATE 2 PEOPLE* 4 PEOPLE* 6 PEOPLE* *When signing up together as part of the same group Prices are per person based on double occupancy and DO NOT include international airfare to/from your destination or regional flights to Bhutan from Gateway Cities such as Bangkok or Delhi, and internal flights in the country during the expedition. We will arrange such regional flights for our guests and fares will be quoted at airline cost as a courtesy to our guests with no extra booking or reservation fees. Regional flights from Bangkok start from $980 per person & from $175 per person for internal domestic flights where a short-duration flight is included on your itinerary. Surcharges may apply to certain travel dates based upon international or local holidays, as well as local events and festivals. Single Traveler supplements will be assessed in addition to our published trip price, and are available on request. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. If you'd like to travel with your own special group of friends or family on dates different from the ones shown above, this expedition can be arranged March through May & October through February. TRAVEL SEASONS REQUEST RESERVATION $6,840 Per Person (US$5,400 per person + US$1,240 Bhutanese government SDF fees, & US$200 monument and entry fees) $6,640 Per Person (US$5,200 per person + US$1,240 Bhutanese government SDF fees, & US$200 monument and entry fees) $6,440 Per Person (US$5,000 per person + US$1,240 Bhutanese government SDF fees, & US$200 monument and entry fees) not available not available not available TBD DATE 2 PEOPLE* 4 PEOPLE* 6 PEOPLE* *When signing up together as part of the same group Prices are per person based on double occupancy and DO NOT include international airfare to/from your destination or regional flights to Bhutan from Gateway Cities such as Bangkok or Delhi, and internal flights in the country during the expedition. We will arrange such regional flights for our guests and fares will be quoted at airline cost as a courtesy to our guests with no extra booking or reservation fees. Regional flights from Bangkok start from $980 per person & from $175 per person for internal domestic flights where a short-duration flight is included on your itinerary. Surcharges may apply to certain travel dates based upon international or local holidays, as well as local events and festivals. Single Traveler supplements will be assessed in addition to our published trip price, and are available on request. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. If you'd like to travel with your own special group of friends or family on dates different from the ones shown above, this expedition can be arranged March through May & October through February. TRAVEL SEASONS REQUEST RESERVATION 2024 Dates & Prices 2024 Dates & Prices 2025 Dates & Prices 2025 Dates & Prices WHAT'S INCLUDED Flight and airfare costs to and from Bhutan, such as your international flights to a regional Gateway City (e.g., Bangkok or Delhi); roundtrip flights to Bhutan from the regional gateway cities (which will be arranged by us at cost) and internal airfare where applicable for domestic flights in the country (which will also be arranged by us at cost) Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance Alcoholic beverages Gratuities All ground transportation, visas for Bhutan and airport transfers All Accommodations All meals, including excursions to try well-known local restaurants The expertise and services of your Bhutanese Trip Leaders, Guides & dedicated trip field staff Courtesy booking services & arrangements for round-trip regional flights from gateway cities (such as Bangkok) to Bhutan & any internal domestic flights (airfare is additional). Sightseeing, special events & receptions, visits, and entry fees All environmental national parks & conservation fees and permits All Trek Arrangements (if you signed up for a trek), including expedition-grade high altitude, sub-zero sleeping bags, community camping and commissary equipment (comfortable and roomy two-person tents, kitchen and dining tents, and other community equipment), camp, cook and support staff (we reccomend you bring your own fitted hiking poles and personal sleeping bag liners ) WHAT'S INCLUDED WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED TRIP PHOTOGALLERY | RECOMMENDED POSTS CUSTOM TRIPS If this trip or schedule doesn't meet your needs, we also arrange private journeys throughout the year with flexible dates. WHAT TO EXPECT The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. ACCOMMODATIONS The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. EXPEDITION STAFF Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. ABOUT CULTURAL EXPEDITIONS Our cultural expeditions are bespoke itineraries designed for active travelers that combine guided excursions, cultural insights, art and customs, with distinguished accommodations featuring a traditional ambience. Our journeys are small group adventures of usually 8 to 12 travelers, with a maximum of 16 guests per group. Unlike most tour providers who think nothing of a single guide leading an entire busload of travelers, we maintain a maximum of 4 guests per Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions guide, not counting support staff. This ensures that our journeys feel more like a shared adventure with local friends than a tourist's jaunt through the countryside. GETTING THERE Fly from your home city to Bangkok, Singapore, New Delhi Kolkata, or Kathmandu (Main Gateway Cities)* Overnight Fly from Gateway City to Paro, Bhutan. IMPORTANT: Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions makes round-trip flight arrangements from the Gateway City of your choice to Bhutan as a courtesy to our travelers. Airfare is not included in trip price. For further details please email us contact us using the Reserve Online button on this page. *Bangkok is the primary Gateway City and offers the most frequent and most reliable flights to Bhutan. OUR TRAVEL EXTENSIONS (with optional Bangkok Transit arrangements) If you're thinking of traveling to some of the other interesting destinations in the region before or after Bhutan you may like to consider our travel extensions. That way you can spend less time juggling and coordinating multiple bookings and more time experiencing the magnificent World Heritage site of Angkor Wat, a peaceful Laotian sojourn, discovering Vietnam or experiencing India. For further details, and to see past travel extensions, please visit our Regional Extensions page. WHAT TRAVELERS ARE SAYING “Through the eyes of a select few informed leaders, we saw the dilemmas of a culture: A hitherto sheltered nation discovering the arguments for and against remaining a cloistered society in this 21st Century. I loved the adventure, and I loved the discovery. Unlike anything else I have ever experienced!” ~ Lola W., California (U.S.) See all posts > ACCOMMODATIONS High-end traditional lodges GROUP SIZE 8-12; 16 people maximum DURATION 12 days ACTIVITY LEVEL Easy to Challenging RESERVE TRIP Or call 1-855-4-BHUTAN (248826) TRIP TYPE ACTIVE ● CULTURE ● VOLUNTEER ASK A QUESTION _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 EXPLORE OUR STUNNING LANDSCAPE WITH BHUTAN HIMALAYA EXPEDITIONS Sign up to receive travel updates and offers, tips & insights from Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions Thanks for subscribing! Yes I want to receive travel updates, announcements and offers from Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions. By signing up, I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Bhutan Himalaya Privacy Policy . Sign Up Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: A summer journey DEPARTURES Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan's Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha's Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What our travelers say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

A slideshow travelogue of our annual journey to see Bhutan's Black-necked Cranes | SLIDESHOW | BLACK-NECKED CRANES | Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. Swipe left on image for Next Slide; right for Previous Slide; scroll down for caption READ CAPTION 1. Window of Opportunity The Bhutanese countryside wakes slowly outside our scalloped windows in Paro valley where most of our journeys begin. Paro has the country's only international airport and is one of the Bhutan's three main "cities." But even here, the country's agrarian heart is clearly visible. This view of the fertile rice paddies of Paro coincides with the golden post-harvest season. Crisp clear mornings, dazzling days and the sparkling Bhutanese country side are the norm as we journey east toward the gateway valley of Phobjikha to catch the arrival of Bhutan's rare and endangered Black-necked Cranes. We have always managed to time this journey well (for upcomg trip dates & itinerary see Celebrating Bhutan's Black-necked Cranes) but fluctuations in annual migratory patterns due to weather, climate, human interference and a host of other reasons beyond our control mean there is always a possibility we may miss this window of opportunity. Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. READ CAPTION 2. Enter the Buddha On our way east to see the Black-necked Cranes, the museums, markets and cultural importance of Bhutan's capital, Thimphu, makes it an obligatory stop. Also obligatory is the trip up the mountain to see the burnished Buddha Dordenma statue, which rises above the capital like Christ the Redeemer above Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, a visible landmark from nearly every distance in the valley. Rio's landmark is 125-feet tall while Thimphu's Buddha is 169-feet. The giant Buddha includes a kora at its base, a ritual circular path around the image that Buddhist faithfuls walk as part of their devotions at various points in the day. Of particular note is the fact that visitors can enter the giant Buddha through its gilded doors near the base. Inside, it becomes a full-scale temple where one can meditate and make religious offerings. Sitting in front of the Dordenma (a name that means "Seated on the Diamond Throne") we offer prayers that we have timed our arrival in central Bhutan for a successful viewing of the cranes. Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. READ CAPTION 3. A Fortress of Faith One of our many stops in the capital is the beautiful 17th century building which houses the offices of His Majesty the King of Bhutan and other important branches of government as well as Buddhist shrines, temples, and a fully functioning national monastery which has been open for centuries. Bhutan's constitution states that government must be grounded in the happiness of its people. In Bhutan, both government and happiness are thought to be inseparable from the tenets of Himalayan Buddhism, which expresses harmony between the spiritual and the practical through art, architecture and good governance. Seen in this light the building that protects the spiritual needs of the people while housing national entities that pursue progressive policies for a secure future—such as the Commission for Gross National Happiness, charged with balancing modernity with life-satisfaction for Bhutanese citizens—seems richly deserving of the title Tashichhodzong which, translated, means Fortress of Faith . Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. READ CAPTION 4. A Double Rainbow The road to Phobjikha, sometimes called "Valley of the Cranes" because of its significance as one of the main wintering grounds for the Black-necked Cranes in Bhutan, passes through the lush Black Mountain Range. During our drive, a sudden unseasonal shower rinses the countryside and blesses us with a double-rainbow which we take to be a lucky sign! Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. READ CAPTION 5. Praying for Cranes While on the road, I have been calling our contacts at the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (which oversees Crane Conservation) as well as the on-site manager of the Crane Observatory in Phobjikha. The news is discouraging. There hasn't been a single crane sighting and no movement in the skies have been noted even though crane observers in the valley have been scanning the skies to distraction. So we get busy as soon as we arrive in the valley. While waiting for the cranes to arrive, we host an impromptu private Buddhist blessing for our guests, with special prayers thrown in for the cranes. Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. READ CAPTION 6. A Celestial Hike Day 3 in the valley and still no cranes. After a morning phone chat with my father who spent part of his youth here, I take his advice and launch a day hike to a hidden corner of Phobjikha where the views are spectacular. For some time in the late 1940s, my grandfather served as the Shaa Droom (more formally, Drungpa ), a title given to the regional governor appointed by the king to administer Phobjikha and its subsidiary valleys. According to family lore, my father was carried on horseback numerous times in and out of the valley as child and, later, as a youth, hiked its many high passes and ridges with my grandfather on official tours and seasonal migrations. Descending from the 12,139-foot pass between Phobjikha and Drang Haa valley to the east—along a trail that my grandfather walked many times back in the day when roads were non-existent in Bhutan—the skies open up to a heavenly light. The valley’s celebrated "Birds of Heaven" still have not arrived but I think this view is pretty celestial on its own! Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. READ CAPTION 7. A Second Rainbow The day ends with another spectacular rainbow which greets us on our return from the high pass between Phobjikha and Drang Haa valleys. The village of Kumbu where the house at the end of the rainbow is located, is a small and hidden community on the high slopes of the valley. The people here still practice an ancient religion that blends shamanistic Bon and the more mainstream Vajrayana Buddhism. A cousin who is from the area but currently in Australia reminds me on my social media feed that everyone here is either named Kumbu after the village, or Sigay, for Angay ("Grandmother") Sigay Gyem, an old Bon spirit who is the designated "protector" of the valley. Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. READ CAPTION 8. Hope Fades Day breaks over the sleepy valley outside my window without so much as a feather stirring the air below me. I know we have played our best hand by being here well into the first week of November—in previous years, early cranes arrived mid-October while the late arrivals came before the 1st of November—there is no sign of the much-anticipated Black-necked Cranes. I can't help feeling disappointed. Making a final call to the crane observatory, I'm told what I have already confirmed with my early morning scan of the skies. And yet I have a persistent, if rapidly fading, hope. So, after a quick discussion with the rest of my team we decide to delay our departure into the afternoon. A picnic lunch in the valley first, and we'll leave if the cranes haven't arrived. Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. READ CAPTION 9. Arrival! Sometime late morning, we are out for a final walk on the valley floor with the guests. Two things happen at once. I notice five or six tiny specks in the sky that make my heart leap. My phone begins to buzz without stopping. The cranes are here! Then the first familiar cries announcing their arrival as they glide past a stand of prayer flags in front of us, sweeping gracefully, wingspans wide. The guides are pointing at the sky, helping the delighted guests pinpoint the arriving cranes. Everyone is laughing giddily and taking pictures of incoming cranes. Then, with an audible whoosh of wings, they fly over us in what feels like a personalized blessing! I can only manage to get some blurry shots with my camera as they go by but I feel completely happy. By the end of lunchtime we count a total of 14 birds, adults and juveniles together, the first group of Black-necked Cranes to arrive in 2017, at the end of their epic annual migration over the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. Slideshow: Waiting for Black-necked Cranes Images from our recent journey to catch the annual arrival of Bhutan's elegant Black-necked Cranes. Scroll down to read caption details. For similar upcoming departures for 2018 & '19, please see On the Wings of a Prayer. READ CAPTION 10. A Kind of Benediction Later that evening I read my journal entry from the morning: Good morning from the Gangtey valley, where the annual return of the rare and endangered Black Necked Cranes is awaited with bated breath. Nearby, the 17th Century Gangtey Monastery provides a calm reminder that time is a relative notion. I dedicate the stillness of this morning to the sacred cranes who must make the arduous and heroic journey from the Tibetan Plateau and beyond, over the cold and jagged Himalayas, to grace the valley again with their familiar and reassuring presence through the harsh winter in this high region of the Bhutan Himalaya. Before going to bed that night, I add: And then, to our great good fortune, mere hours before we leave this blessed valley, after two auspicious rainbow sightings, Bhutan’s 'Birds Of Heaven' have arrived in the Gangtey-Phobjikha valley as they have for hundreds of years, bringing joy to locals and visitors alike. I feel the blessings of their presence in my heart as a kind of benediction!" *** Footnote: A total of 504 Black-necked cranes were recorded in Phobjikha valley by end 2017; According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the world-wide population of mature BNCs worldwide is estimated at 6,600-6,800 (updated 2017) with continuing decline in the overall global population. Bhutan Himalaya supports crane conservation in the valley through visitor's fees and other contributions. By Karma Dorji An account, in words and images, of a November 2017 journey to Bhutan's Phobjikha valley, where the rare and elegant Black-necked Cranes are the season's much anticipated guests. Inspired? See dates and prices for our upcoming Black-necked Cranes journey On the Wings of a Prayer ; for more on Black-necked Cranes in Bhutan read our feature article about the cranes. Like this? Get similar features & travel information delivered to your inbox with the Bhutan Himalaya Newsletter

Dispatches and feature articles highlighting special events and interesting aspects of traveling in Bhutan. THIS MONTH'S In Focus Our field dispatches about special events and highlights of travel in Bhutan LATEST POSTS The Magnificent Madness of Bhutan's Wild Rhododendron Blooms Read Article Waiting for the annual return of Bhutan's 'Birds of Heaven' Read Article The pomp and festivity of Bhutan's warriors pageant Read Article More Suggested Reading TRAVEL SNAPSHOTS GUEST VIGNETTES INSIGHTS LEARN MORE LONG READS GOING DEEPER TRIP ARCHIVES PAST JOURNEYS hike in the kingdom's legendary 'Valley of the Cranes' Tour and photograph the magnificently-restored Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum; 'Pilgrims walk,' visiting temples and monasteries from 7th to 17th centuries; Taste Red Panda Beer, local Swiss cheese, apple juice and fresh homemade stroopwafel for the young & young-at-heart 💛 hike in the kingdom's legendary 'Valley of the Cranes' Tour and photograph the magnificently-restored Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum; 'Pilgrims walk,' visiting temples and monasteries from 7th to 17th centuries; Taste Red Panda Beer, local Swiss cheese, apple juice and fresh homemade stroopwafel for the young & young-at-heart 💛 First stop: Paro, West Bhutan ...a place of serene rice fields and ancient temples Includes all guides and ground services, lodges, meals, visas, permits and all entrances, fees and attractions Fly from Bangkok to Paro, March 9, 2025 Return flight from Paro to Bangkok March 21, 2025 Drive 3 hours to Gangtey Valley and check in at the Gangtey Tented (safari style) Camp; visit the crane center and hike the nature trail. We may see some of the last remaining Black-necked cranes before they fly off to the Tibetan Plateau Buddhist mask dances are a window into Bhutanese spirituality Punakha, ancient Bhutanese capital Journey across Bhutan Drive from Paro to Punakha

Subscribe to our periodic newsletters with interesting features, articles, and travel information about Bhutan. Filled with unique handwritten articles offering insights and cultural information you won't find elsewhere, our newsletters bring delightful aspects of the kingdom to your inbox. Learn about Bhutan before you travel, stay connected after your trip Subscribe to our periodic newsletters with interesting features, articles, and travel information about Bhutan. Filled with unique handwritten articles offering insights and cultural information you won't find elsewhere, our newsletters bring delightful aspects of the kingdom to your inbox. Thank you for subscribing! We look forwarding to sharing Bhutan with you! Subscribe to Bhutan Himalaya travel features and trip announcements. Read our Privacy Policy . Subscribe Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: a summer journey JOURNEYS Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan’s Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha’s Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What Our Travelers Say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

IN FOCUS Bhutan's Procession of Warriors Festival Karma Dorji Bhutan Himalaya Travel Programs Coordinator SHARE This is the Lead Paragraph This is caption 1 This is the first normal para Fierce protectors of an ancient martial tradition, the Pazaaps of Punakha appear in public in full ceremonial regalia once a year at the end of a great spring festival to commemorate their proud military past and their role safe-guarding the holiest relics in the land. © Karma Dorji/Bhutan Himalaya After leaving me with detailed instructions on where I can find them in their villages (so I can deliver their pictures when they are printed) they rush off, disappearing quickly into the long shadowy passages on either side of the massive stone fortress they have known all their lives. They are in a hurry because the Pazaaps are the main attraction today at the annual "Procession of Warriors", a grand annual festival in this part of the country we have invited some of our guests to attend. Fierce protectors of an ancient martial tradition, the Pazaaps of Punakha appear in public in full ceremonial regalia once a year at the end of a great spring festival to commemorate their proud military past and their role safe-guarding the holiest relics in the land. © Karma Dorji/Bhutan Himalaya This section is connected to article body 3 Connected to caption 5 Article body 5 Connected to caption 4 Article Body 4 Connected to caption 5 Articlebody6 Connected to caption 5 Article Body 7 Connected to caption 8 Article Body 8 Connected to caption 9 Article Body 9 Connected to caption 10 Article Body 10 Like this? Get similar features & travel information sent straight to your inbox with the Bhutan Himalaya Newsletter Footnotes

IN FOCUS Bhutan's Procession of Warriors Festival Karma Dorji Bhutan Himalaya Travel Programs Coordinator SHARE This is the Lead Paragraph This is caption 1 This is the first normal para Fierce protectors of an ancient martial tradition, the Pazaaps of Punakha appear in public in full ceremonial regalia once a year at the end of a great spring festival to commemorate their proud military past and their role safe-guarding the holiest relics in the land. © Karma Dorji/Bhutan Himalaya After leaving me with detailed instructions on where I can find them in their villages (so I can deliver their pictures when they are printed) they rush off, disappearing quickly into the long shadowy passages on either side of the massive stone fortress they have known all their lives. They are in a hurry because the Pazaaps are the main attraction today at the annual "Procession of Warriors", a grand annual festival in this part of the country we have invited some of our guests to attend. Fierce protectors of an ancient martial tradition, the Pazaaps of Punakha appear in public in full ceremonial regalia once a year at the end of a great spring festival to commemorate their proud military past and their role safe-guarding the holiest relics in the land. © Karma Dorji/Bhutan Himalaya This section is connected to article body 3 Connected to caption 5 Article body 5 Connected to caption 4 Article Body 4 Connected to caption 5 Articlebody6 Connected to caption 5 Article Body 7 Connected to caption 8 Article Body 8 Connected to caption 9 Article Body 9 Connected to caption 10 Article Body 10 Like this? Get similar features & travel information sent straight to your inbox with the Bhutan Himalaya Newsletter Footnotes

​This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. I am a title 04 This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Previous Item Next Item This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click the Data icon on the add panel to your left. In the Content Manager, you can update your items, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up with fields and content. Add your own by editing each field, or import CSV files to your content manager. You can create fields for rich text, images, videos and more. Remember to click Sync, so visitors can see your collections on your live site. You can add as many collections as you need. Use input elements like custom forms and fields to collect info from your site visitors and store it in your content manager Collections. Make sure all your elements Connect to Data, and Preview your Live Site to check that everything is correctly binded.

IN FOCUS Bhutan's Procession of Warriors Festival Karma Dorji Bhutan Himalaya Travel Programs Coordinator SHARE This is the Lead Paragraph This is caption 1 This is the first normal para Fierce protectors of an ancient martial tradition, the Pazaaps of Punakha appear in public in full ceremonial regalia once a year at the end of a great spring festival to commemorate their proud military past and their role safe-guarding the holiest relics in the land. © Karma Dorji/Bhutan Himalaya After leaving me with detailed instructions on where I can find them in their villages (so I can deliver their pictures when they are printed) they rush off, disappearing quickly into the long shadowy passages on either side of the massive stone fortress they have known all their lives. They are in a hurry because the Pazaaps are the main attraction today at the annual "Procession of Warriors", a grand annual festival in this part of the country we have invited some of our guests to attend. Fierce protectors of an ancient martial tradition, the Pazaaps of Punakha appear in public in full ceremonial regalia once a year at the end of a great spring festival to commemorate their proud military past and their role safe-guarding the holiest relics in the land. © Karma Dorji/Bhutan Himalaya This section is connected to article body 3 Connected to caption 5 Article body 5 Connected to caption 4 Article Body 4 Connected to caption 5 Articlebody6 Connected to caption 5 Article Body 7 Connected to caption 8 Article Body 8 Connected to caption 9 Article Body 9 Connected to caption 10 Article Body 10 Like this? Get similar features & travel information sent straight to your inbox with the Bhutan Himalaya Newsletter Footnotes

Insights about Bhutanese culture, history, spirituality, and the Bhutanese perspective ... THIS MONTH'S Insights Dig deeper, get cultural. Whether you're looking to join one of our upcoming trips, planning future travel to Bhutan, or simply curious about this unconventional slice of happiness we call the "Land of the Peaceful Dragon" we hope you find something here to whet your travel appetite! READ OUR ARTICLES More Suggested Reading TRAVEL SNAPSHOTS GUEST VIGNETTES FEATURE ARTICLES FOR YOUR INFORMATION LONG READS GOING DEEPER TRIP ARCHIVES PAST JOURNEYS

​This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. I am a title 01 This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Previous Item Next Item This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click the Data icon on the add panel to your left. In the Content Manager, you can update your items, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up with fields and content. Add your own by editing each field, or import CSV files to your content manager. You can create fields for rich text, images, videos and more. Remember to click Sync, so visitors can see your collections on your live site. You can add as many collections as you need. Use input elements like custom forms and fields to collect info from your site visitors and store it in your content manager Collections. Make sure all your elements Connect to Data, and Preview your Live Site to check that everything is correctly binded.

Stories and features about all things Bhutanese to pique your interest ... THIS MONTH'S Featured Articles Our in-house stories & features on all things Bhutanese. We want to further your understanding & appreciation for our beautiful corner of the Himalayas! While we're mostly busy in the field leading trips, we will be posting when we can, so please keep checking back more... LEARN MORE More Suggested Reading TRAVEL SNAPSHOTS GUEST VIGNETTES INSIGHTS LEARN MORE LONG READS GOING DEEPER TRIP ARCHIVES PAST JOURNEYS

​This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. I am a title 03 This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Previous Item Next Item This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click the Data icon on the add panel to your left. In the Content Manager, you can update your items, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up with fields and content. Add your own by editing each field, or import CSV files to your content manager. You can create fields for rich text, images, videos and more. Remember to click Sync, so visitors can see your collections on your live site. You can add as many collections as you need. Use input elements like custom forms and fields to collect info from your site visitors and store it in your content manager Collections. Make sure all your elements Connect to Data, and Preview your Live Site to check that everything is correctly binded.