The black-necked crane festival is held every year in Phobjikha on 11 November. The festival was initiated by the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) in 1998 as apart of community
based-sustainable tourism, where appreciation and corresponding payment by visitors and tourist is will serve as an incentive for strong Environmental and cultural heritage of the valley. The objectives of the festival are to:
Fosters awareness and understanding among the local communities and visitors on the importance of the endangered Black-necked cranes.
Institute economic incentives (Payment) for the festival to strengthen the linkage between conservation and economic welfare.
Provide avenue for the local community to renew their commitment to conservation of the cranes and to showcase their cultural heritage and skills.
We not only see the festival but we can also see the endangered Black-neck Cranes happily leaving in this valley.
Programmes:
Programmes for the 11 November includes Cultural Programs such as folk and mask dance performed by the local people, crane dance and environmental drama and songs by the students. If we have extra time, we can also visit the Black-necked crane information center, Gangtey trail hiking and etc.
Explore and discover the actual habitat of the different bird species in Bhutan.
Explore the endangered species of birds of the world in Bhutan
Enjoy with the different rare species of birds of Bhutan.
Be proud of yourself to be in the birding paradise of Asia – Bhutan.
Add some more bird species for your Bird Quest.
Enjoy and appreciate with the pristine environment of Bhutan.
Discover the flora and fauna of Bhutan.
Day 01. Nov 06. Arrive to Paro International Airport – Transfer to Hotel
Arrive at Paro and receive by the representative of Authentic Bhutan Tours at the Paro International airport, only airport in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. From here directly we will visit National museum of Bhutan, if it is not closed. Lunch in Paro. After lunch we will visit Paro dzong (fortress) and then stroll around Paro town. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel Paro.
Day 02. November 07. Paro – Thimphu
Very early in the morning we will drive to Chelela pass with your pack breakfast. The pass is the highest pass, where the car can go in Bhutan. On the way we may see the following birds:
Colourful Himalayan Monal
Flocks of Blood Pheasants
Kalij Pheasants
Grosbreaks
Bullfinches
Cutia
Besides see these birds we can also see the Mountain Jhomolhari & Jichu Drakye beautifully on clear days from the pass. There are lots of prayer flags here at the pass. We will have our breakfast here, near the pass. After enjoying the sight of birds, prayer flags and mountains on clear days, then we will drive back to Paro, to our hotel. We will take rest in the hotel for about 1hour and then we will hike to Taktshang, Tiger’s Nest till the viewpoint.
We will have lunch here at the viewpoint, Taktshang cafeteria. Walk back to the car point and then we will drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The drive will take about 1hour 30minutes from the road point. Evening stroll around the Thimphu town and explore handicraft shops for Authentic Bhutanese Souvenirs and gifts for your friends and loved ones. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel, Thimphu.
Day 03. November 08. Thimphu Halt.
We will hike to Cheri Monastery and during the hike we may spot the following birds:
Spotted Laughing Trush
Fire Capped Tit
Golden Breasted Fulvetta
Yellow Backed Flower Packer
Maroon Backed Accentor
Lunch will be served as pack lunch near the riverside. Drive back to Thimphu and doing some sightseeing in Thimphu, like visit to Memorial Chhorten, Buddha Poitn, Weaving center, Bhutanese paper factory and post office to buy the Famous Bhutanese Stamps. We have bird stamps also-which are very beautiful and can be good souvenirs for your bird lover friends and for your own collections too. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel, Thimphu.
Day 04: November 09. Thimphu – Punakha
Drive to Punakha over dochula pass (3150m). stop for a while at the pass for a breath taking of eastern Himalayan Mountain Ranges on a clear days and also to see the 108 small chhortens (stupas). The following birds species can be found on our way to Punakha.
Gold-naped Finch
Rufous-breasted Bush Robin
Satyr Tragopan
Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler
Tree Creepers
Lunch will be at Lobesa. Hike to Chhimi Lhakhang, which is located at a hilltop. This temple is also known as ‘the temple of fertility’. The hike will take about 25minutes from the road end through the farm fields. Then we will drive to Punakha and visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong. Dinner and overnight stay at Punakha, Hotel.
Day 5. November 10. (Punakha – Phobjikha)
After the breakfast, we will drive to Kabesa and hike to Khamsumyule Namgyel chhorten, then drive to Phobjikha. On reaching Wangdue we will visit Wangdue dzong. Lunch at Wangdue. After lunch continue our journey to Phobjikha.Evening stroll around the Phobjikha valley. Dinner and over night stay at Phobjikha.
Day 6. November 11. (Phobjikha Halt)
Witness and enjoy the Black-necked Crane festival whole day. Dinner and over night stay at Phobjikha.
Day 7. November 13. (Phobjikha – Paro)
Drive to Paro. The drive will take about 6 hours 30 minutes. Lunch at Dochula Cafteria. Continue the journey to Paro. On reaching Paro, stroll around the Paro twon and do the last shopping and then check in the hotel. Dinner and over night stay in Paro hotel.
Day 8. Paro – Paro International Airport.
Dive to Paro International Airport for departure. Your guide and drive will see off here at the Airport. We wish you a safe and comfortable journey back to your home. We hope to see you some day again in Bhutan.
This is a sample itinerary, intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule. Numerous factors such as weather, tour conditions, group options and the physical condition of participants, may dictate itinerary changes either before departure or while on tour. We reserve the right to change this schedule in the interest of our guests, safety, comfort and general well being.
Start planning your tailor-made Dream Holiday to Bhutan – The Land of happiness!
In order to experience the best and rewarding fulfillment clients must plan in advance the different logistics that you have in your minds before actually venturing into the world of trips. You might have wishes and hopes for which you need to plan.
The following information will help you to plan your dream trip to Bhutan.
1. When and how to visit Bhutan?
Choose your traveling date like Arrival/Departure date. You also need to choose entry/depart Bhutan via AIR or LAND.
By Air: Druk Air, the national carriers is the only service operator in the kingdom and operates several flights per week from Bangkok (Thailand), Delhi & Kolkata (India) and Kathmandu (Nepal) to Paro (Bhutan). The Paro International Airport is located about an hour and a half drive from Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.
Paro airport is daylight restricted, and the flights are totally dependent on the weather. As a result, sometimes flights are delayed. It is therefore a good idea to keep at least 24 hours of transit time for connecting flights out of Paro. You might also want to consider traveling on a non-restricted ticket so that if you miss a connecting flight, you can be rerouted or seated on the first available carrier.
Sometimes flights into Paro are disrupted because of unfavorable weather conditions. If this occurs, the flight will stop for the night at the transit airport. To be prepared, you may want to carry your essential personal items in your carry-on luggage.
By Land: Phuentsholing, a Bhutanese town in the southwest has road access to India. It is located about 170 km from the Indian domestic airport at Bagdogra, West Bengal. Phuentsholing is about 172 km from Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan and is about 6hours drive distance. And S/
2. What are your itineraries?
All the tours can be customized and extended as per our valued client’s requirements. There are sample itineraries for your kind reference and it will give you some general idea of the likely trip scheduled.
Complete the tour request form and submit it to us. Send us correct name list. We will send you the flight reservation status via email.
After confirming your reservation, we need the scanned copy of member’s passport.
Please remit us full payments and send us the copy of remittance paper via email. Visa will not be accepted without full payment.
We will send you the flight ticket copy and Visa Clearance Copy prior to your departure to Bhutan via email. You need to print out and carry along with you.
Start packing and looking forward to have a memorable trip in the LandThunder Dragon, DrukYul.
Hot stone bath (Dhotsho) is a traditional bath of Bhutan, where a tradition of heating up stones and then soaking in the water that is in turn heated by the stones. This is also a curative method and is used throughout the country We Bhutanese belief that this bath has so much of medicinal benefits. Some diseases are curable-like joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorder, arthritis and many other minor diseases. Especially for the old age, where we have lots of body pains, joints pains helps a lot by this Hot Stone Bath (Dhotsho).
I think, the minerals in the rocks have certain chemicals, which can cure certain disease of our body. Hot stone bath has no side effects. It is in its pure natural form. We can organize the hot stone bath during your stay in Bhutan.
The Bhutanese textiles are rich, vibrant, and colorful and are a complex art form as well as an integral part of the Bhutanese culture. This Bhutan weaving experiences will give you an insight about the rich textiles in Bhutan. You can sit one of the handlooms of Bhutan and weave your self practically. We promise that you will really enjoy this with great satisfaction in your life.
We will also see or learn the natural coloring and dyeing. You can bring your own materials like handkerchief to dye and color. So visit Bhutan and experience it practically by yourself.
Folk Performing Arts & Music in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
We have Cultural Program Performing groups, which they will perform like Traditional folk songs, dances and keeps original tunes and dances alive. Moreover, new choreography for some traditional and regional songs is sometimes developed.
The troupe also performs mask dances that have historical and spiritual significance.
Tiger’s Nest is most visited spot in Bhutan and it is much awaited by every tourist who visits Bhutan to climb to Tiger’s Nest.
It takes about 2 hrs 30mins up steep climb through the forest of pine, oak and Rhododendron. However you can ride the horse and climb till the Taktshang cafeteria.
The above activities can be incorporated easily into your travel itinerary. However some activities need to pay some additional fees. So let us know which activities you would like to experiences so that we will include in your invoice.
Speak to a specialist
Email: info@authenticbhutantours.com
Cell: 00975-17343434
Get inspired by the trip ideas on our website and in our brochures. Then speak to us for first-hand expert advice and if you’re ready, start planning your trip in detail.