Gangteng Monastery
A large Buddhist monastery on a ridge above the broad Phobjikha valley, with a big courtyard and active monastic community. The valley below is winter home to black-necked cranes.
Phobjikha Valley
Rare black-necked cranes winter in this wide glacial valley, which surrounds Gangtey Monastery.
Attractive locations
Chendebji Chorten
A whitewashed stupa in Nepali style beside a river on the road through central Bhutan. Prayer wheels line the walls, and it makes a traditional stop for travellers.
Khotokha Valley
A quiet high valley of farms and forests near Wangdue Phodrang on the way to Phobjikha, known for its calm and mountain air. Walks here pass through traditional villages.
Phobjikha Valley
A broad glacial valley in the Black Mountains with meadows and farms, where black-necked cranes spend the winter. Gentle nature trails run through the valley near Gangteng Monastery.
Airports
Paro International Airport PBH
It is about 74 km in a straight line from Phobjikha Valley.
Bathpalathang Airport BUT
It is about 58 km in a straight line from Phobjikha Valley.
Yongphulla Airport YON
It is about 136 km in a straight line from Phobjikha Valley.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan0.9 °C4 mm
- Feb2.2 °C12 mm
- Mar4.5 °C32 mm
- Apr7.9 °C74 mm
- May11.2 °C119 mm
- Jun14.1 °C164 mm
- Jul14.6 °C254 mm
- Aug14.4 °C202 mm
- Sep12.9 °C130 mm
- Oct9.3 °C55 mm
- Nov5.4 °C4 mm
- Dec2.5 °C2 mm
Driest months: Jan, Nov, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 23% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Your tour operator and guide are your first contact. Reported numbers: police 113, ambulance 112, fire 110 - confirm on arrival.
local government
Royal Bhutan Police emergency hotline 113
Helps with: Bhutan's police emergency hotline, for crimes such as theft or assault. The police site also lists 110 for fire, 111 for traffic and 112 for an ambulance. No tourist police unit is shown.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Bhutan who needs the police urgently, including visitors.
Phone: 113
local government
Department of Tourism, Bhutan
Helps with: Bhutan's tourism department. Its visitor FAQ tells travellers to phone it about tourism enquiries or problems with their tourism experience. The FAQ gives 2300 for calls made within Bhutan.
Who qualifies: Visitors to Bhutan with a tourism enquiry or a problem with their trip.
Phone: +975 17661974
ngo
Bhutan Red Cross Society
Helps with: Bhutan's national Red Cross society. It describes services in social work, health and disaster risk management, delivered through a volunteer network across the country.
Who qualifies: People in Bhutan who need its social, health or disaster response services.
Phone: +975-2-339999
Email: info@brcs.bt
Address: Kuenzangkhar Zur Lam 5 S W, Lower Motithang, Thimphu (PO Box 1976)
local government
Disaster Communication Helpline (999)
Helps with: The Royal Bhutan Police emergency page lists 999 as the Disaster Communication Helpline Unit, alongside 113 for police, 110 for fire and 112 for an ambulance.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Bhutan affected by a disaster or reporting one.
Phone: 999