Black-necked Crane Festival
11 November each year
The festival is held on 11 November, which is also the birth anniversary of the fourth king. It was started to raise awareness of crane conservation and to tie the local community's pride to the birds' protection. Local schoolchildren in crane costumes perform dances imitating the birds, and villagers perform folk songs and dances.
It is small and informal compared with the Tshechus. Visitors sit with villagers around the courtyard, and the setting, with the valley and the cranes below, is the real draw. Combine it with crane watching at dawn and dusk and a walk on the Gangtey nature trail.
How to do it well
- Book Phobjikha rooms two to three months ahead for 11 November.
- Dress warmly; mornings in the monastery courtyard are below freezing.
- Stay at least two nights so you can watch the cranes before and after.
- Keep well back from the cranes in the valley and follow your guide's directions.
- Check current status before you travel; festival arrangements can change.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
When is the Black-necked Crane Festival in Bhutan?
It is held on 11 November each year at Gangtey Goenpa in the Phobjikha valley, coinciding with the birth anniversary of the fourth king. It lasts one day. Check current status before you travel, as arrangements can change and the date may be adjusted in some years.
What happens at the Black-necked Crane Festival?
Local schoolchildren perform crane dances in costume, villagers perform folk songs and masked dances, and there are short talks and displays on crane conservation. It is a community event focused on the birds and the valley rather than a large religious Tshechu.
Will I see cranes during the festival?
Very likely. By 11 November most of the cranes have usually arrived in Phobjikha. Watch them at dawn and dusk from the valley roads and the crane information centre. Numbers vary from year to year with the weather and conditions on their summer grounds.
How do I get to the Crane Festival?
Travel to Phobjikha with your licensed guide and a route permit for Wangdue Phodrang district, usually from Punakha, about 3 hours away. Stay in the valley the night before, as the festival starts in the morning. Book accommodation well ahead, as rooms are limited.