06 Nov 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £5,588
Escorted tour
Bhutan’s Black-Necked Crane Festival & the Tiger’s Nest – 11 Days
The Black-Necked Crane Festival in the Phobjikha Valley, Punakha and the Tiger's Nest, in a group of 4 to 16.
11 days
From £4,992
Tour overview
This 11-day small-group tour is timed for the Black-Necked Crane Festival, a joyful celebration in Bhutan's glacial Phobjikha Valley held each November to welcome the endangered cranes that winter there. Groups have between 4 and 16 travellers aged 16 and over, with a leader throughout and a local Bhutanese guide. You stay ten nights in locally owned hotels and lodges, all with bathrooms and heaters, chosen for comfort and location. Most meals are included in Bhutan, with breakfast, lunch and dinner on every day in the kingdom, usually served at your hotel or local restaurants, and a full-day festival experience.
The trip starts in Kathmandu, a brief stop on the way to Bhutan, before a spectacular flight over the eastern Himalaya to Paro, with views of Everest and Kanchenjunga on a clear day. An hour's drive brings you to Thimphu, the capital, where traditional architecture, markets and temples sit alongside a small modern city.
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Crossing the Dochu La pass, you visit Wangdue Phodrang Dzong on the way to the Gangtey Valley, a wide, marshy glacial valley surrounded by forested hills. A morning hike of about 5km through the valley leads up to Gangtey monastery, and in the afternoon you visit the Khewang Lhakhang temple. The next day is spent at the festival, held in the courtyard of Gangtey Goenpa, with masked dances, folk songs and performances by local schoolchildren in celebration of the cranes.
Driving west to subtropical Punakha, you visit Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of the Divine Madman, and the magnificent Punakha Dzong at the meeting of two rivers. In Paro you cross the iron chain bridge at Tachogang Lhakhang and visit Dzongdrakha Goemba and Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest temples. A full-day hike of about 11km takes you up to Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest Monastery, clinging to a cliff above the valley, before you fly back to Kathmandu.
The physical rating is medium, with hikes at altitude, including a steep climb to the Tiger's Nest. This trip suits culturally curious travellers who want to experience a Bhutanese festival as well as the kingdom's great sights. There is just one departure each year.
Trip highlights
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A mountain flight to Paro (Day 2)
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Thimphu, Bhutan's capital (Day 3)
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A hike in the Gangtey Valley (Day 5)
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The Black-Necked Crane Festival (Day 6)
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Punakha Dzong (Day 7)
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The Tiger's Nest Monastery (Day 9)
Your route
11 stops from Kathmandu to Kathmandu
- Kathmandu Day 1
- Paro Day 2
- Thimphu Day 3
- Dochula Pass Day 4
- Wangdue Phodrang Day 4
- Gangtey Days 4–6
- Chimi Lhakhang Day 7
- Punakha Day 7
- Paro Days 8–9
- Tiger’s Nest Monastery Day 9
- Kathmandu Days 10–11
Why choose this tour
A rare chance to join a Bhutanese festival with local people. Bhutan's great sights, with most meals included.
Best suited to
- Culturally curious travellers
- Wildlife and birdwatching lovers
- Active travellers who enjoy hiking
- Solo travellers looking for a group
Day-by-day itinerary
11 days from Kathmandu, Nepal to Kathmandu, Nepal
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Day 1 · Kathmandu Arrive in Kathmandu
A brief stop on the way to Bhutan.
- Hotel
- Royal Singi Hotel or similar
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Day 2 · Paro Fly to Paro
A flight over the eastern Himalaya.
- Hotel
- Rema Resorts or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 · Thimphu Thimphu
Drive to the capital.
- Hotel
- Gakyil Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 · Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Gangtey Gangtey
Over the pass to the Phobjikha Valley.
- Hotel
- Phuntsho Yangkhil Lodge or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 · Gangtey Goenpa, Khewang Lhakhang Gangtey Valley
A valley hike and a temple visit.
- Hotel
- Phuntsho Yangkhil Lodge or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 · Gangtey Goenpa Crane Festival
Masked dances and folk songs.
- Hotel
- Phuntsho Yangkhil Lodge or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Chimi Lhakhang, Punakha Dzong Punakha
Temples and the great dzong.
- Hotel
- Sonamgang Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 8 · Tachogang Lhakhang, Kyichu Lhakhang Paro
A chain bridge and ancient temples.
- Hotel
- Rema Resorts or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Taktsang Monastery Tiger's Nest
Hike to the cliffside monastery.
- Hotel
- Rema Resorts or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 10 · Kathmandu Kathmandu
Fly back to Nepal.
- Hotel
- Royal Singi Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 11 · Kathmandu Trip ends
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Kathmandu (1 night) Royal Singi Hotel or similar
- Paro (1 night) Rema Resorts or similar
- Thimphu (1 night) Gakyil Hotel or similar
- Gangtey (3 nights) Phuntsho Yangkhil Lodge or similar
- Punakha (1 night) Sonamgang Hotel or similar
- Paro (2 nights) Rema Resorts or similar
- Kathmandu (1 night) Royal Singi Hotel or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 10 nights in locally owned hotels and lodges
- Meals 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 8 dinners
- Return flights between Kathmandu and Paro
- Bhutan visa and Sustainable Development Fee
- Full-day Black-Necked Crane Festival experience
- Gangtey Valley hike, Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang
- Tiger's Nest day hike
- Leader and local Bhutanese guide
Not included
- Meals not included 1 lunch and 2 dinners
- International flights
- Nepal visa
- Drinks
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You dislike early starts and hikes at altitude
- You want luxury hotels
- You want flexible dates — the trip follows the festival
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–11 · Lunch: Days 2–9 · Dinner: Days 2–9
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £4,992 per person, twin share, tour only. 1 upcoming departure. Single travellers from £5,587 (single supplement from £596).
Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
When is the festival?
The Black-Necked Crane Festival is held on 11 November each year, and this departure is timed to join it.
How hard is the Tiger's Nest hike?
About 11km round trip with around 915m of ascent, taking most of the day.
Are flights to Bhutan included?
Yes, return flights between Kathmandu and Paro are included.
Is the Bhutan visa included?
Yes, the visa and the Sustainable Development Fee are arranged for you.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 16.
How many people travel together?
Between 4 and 16 travellers, with a leader and a local guide.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary