The open Phobjikha Valley with forested hills.
Phobjikha is a broad, open valley at about 3,000 m in Wangdue Phodrang district, east of Punakha. Endangered black necked cranes fly in from Tibet each winter, arriving from late October, and the valley's wetlands have been a Ramsar site since 2014. Gangtey Monastery, the seat of the Gangtey tulku, overlooks the valley from a ridge. A crane festival is held at Gangtey in November. Most visitors stay overnight in farmhouses or lodges and walk the short Gangtey nature trail.
- Address: Phobjikha, Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan
- Hours: Open valley. The cranes are usually present from late October to February.
- How to Reach: About 3 to 3.5 hours by road from Punakha, via Wangdue Phodrang. The Punakha route permit should include Wangdue Phodrang; check with your operator.
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