Make sure to pack your walking boots for any visit to Gangtey: the whole region is criss-crossed with well-maintained hiking trails, varying in difficulty but all offering spectacular views as guaranteed. After travelling through the dense forests of the surrounding regions, you will reach the vast open space of the flat Gangtey Valley with the dramatic Black Mountains as a stunning backdrop. At 9,800ft above sea level, the surrounding Phobjikha Valley is also one of the country's few glacial regions. The valley is also home to the families of the 140 gomchens - Vajrayana Buddhist priests - who
maintain the impressive hilltop Gangtey Monastery, which is over 450 years old and a key base for the Nyingmapa School of Buddhism. From late October to mid-February the valley also hosts flocks of incredibly rare black-necked cranes, who come to escape the harsh winters of the Tibetan Plateau. Spotting these majestic cranes flying above you while hiking in the silent surrounds of the Himalayas is an incredibly magical experience that has to be experienced to be fully appreciated.
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Positioned close to the centre of the country, Gangtey is situated within the picturesque glacial valley of Phobjikha. An array of hiking trails snake their way across the hillsides, making Gangtey a prime destination for those who prefer to explore a new place on foot. Lace up your hiking boots and traverse the verdant valley in the direction of the Gangtey Gonpa Monastery, which was established in the 17th century and remains one of the most important monasteries of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. Here you’ll find breath-taking views across the entirety of the region’s unspoilt marshland and otherworldly landscape.
As the home of globally endangered black-necked cranes, one of the planet’s rarest migratory birds, Bhutan’s efforts to protect its glorious landscapes and environment are especially evident around Gangtey and the Phobjikha Valley. The birds’ migration to the region each October is thought to signal an abundant potato harvest and prosperity for the whole valley, celebrated by the Black Nest Festival at the beginning of November. Visit at this time of year for the chance to catch a glimpse of these revered creatures hovering overhead.