Gangtey Trek

This is 3-day trek , reaching an altitude of 11,277ft/3438m, could be combined with an extra days stay at the start in the Phobjikha valley. It is an all-season trek, with temperatures sometimes reaching freezing point in winter, and summers being hot and monsoonal.

The start of the trek is one day by vehicle from Paro or Thimphu via Wangdi. The Phobjikha valley is entered via Lawala pass(10,791ft/3290m), indicated by a chorten, after which the beautiful valey opens up. It has many large houses, empty in winter when their inhabitants move to warmer places around Wangdi. It is a typical u-shaped valley, with marches and the Nake chhu running through it. Blacked-necked cranes congregate here when they migrate fromTibet in mid-November, and there is an annual festival in honour of the cranes. The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) is very active in protecting the habitat, and has well-equipped black-necked crane information  centre(with telescopes) and guesthouse for birdwatchers, which include many school groups. In the valley there are also barking deer, Himalayan black bear, leopoard, wild boar and red fox.

The spectacular monastery and a small village near Gangtey Gompa are worth a visit. The valley has BHU, two schools, RSPN centre and four possible guesthouses/hotels. There is a limited- service satellite telephone connection in the valley. Telephone and electricity wires are banned because they would cause problems for the blacked-necked cranes.

There are several good day hikes, including the Gangte Gompa and village; climbing the hill to Gangte Gompa;visiting the village Kumbu in the valley east of Gangte Gompa; walking south to the villages Gedachen and Khetbaythang ; and the Kilkhorthang trail to Kungathang lhakhang.