Festival
Gangtey Tshechu
The dances of Pema Lingpa, above the valley of the cranes
- 13–15 October 2027
- Gangtey Goenpa, Wangdue Phodrang
The festival
What happens
Gangtey Goenpa stands on a wooded rise at the head of the Phobjikha valley, a broad bowl of marsh and dwarf bamboo at 3,000 m. It was founded in 1613 by Gyalse Pema Thinley, a grandson of Pema Lingpa, the saint of Bumthang who is said to have foretold that a monastery would be built on this hill. It is the largest monastery in Bhutan of the Nyingma school and the main seat of Pema Lingpa’s tradition.
The tshechu is held in the monastery’s courtyard for three days in the eighth month of the Bhutanese calendar, in September or October.
What you see
The dances follow the tradition of Pema Lingpa, who is held to have seen many of them in visions and written them down in the 15th century. Among them are the dances of the ging, in which masked dancers with swords and drums drive out and subdue harmful spirits. They are performed by the monks of Gangtey, and villagers from the valley dance and sing between them.
On the last morning a thongdrel is unrolled before sunrise. The festival ends with a blessing given to everyone present, known as the Nguedup Langwa.
Before the cranes
The black-necked cranes that winter in Phobjikha arrive from Tibet from late October. The tshechu usually falls a little before them. Their own festival is held in the same courtyard on 11 November.
Practical notes
- Phobjikha lies at 3,000 m. Autumn days are bright and cool, and nights fall close to freezing.
- The thongdrel is shown before dawn, so expect a very early start on the last day.
- The valley has a small number of hotels and farmhouse stays, and they fill for both festivals.
- Keep to the paths in the valley. The marsh is protected.
See it for yourself
A trip planned around Gangtey Tshechu
A private trip, with your own guide and driver, timed so that you are there for the festival. Every day of it can be changed.
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Starts and ends in Paro
From US$2,195 per person Enquire about this trip
-
Day 1
Arrive in Paro and drive to Thimphu
Your guide meets you at the airport and we drive to Thimphu. In the afternoon we visit the National Memorial Chorten and the Buddha Dordenma.
- Travel
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Altitude
- Thimphu, 2,334 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Lunch, dinner
-
Day 2
Over Dochu La to Punakha
We cross Dochu La, where 108 chortens stand on the pass and the Himalaya shows on a clear morning, and come down to Punakha. In the afternoon we walk through the fields to Chimi Lhakhang and visit Punakha Dzong.
- Travel
- 76 km, 2 to 3 hours
- Altitude
- Punakha, 1,242 m
- Overnight
- Punakha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 3
Punakha to the Phobjikha valley
We drive up through Wangdue Phodrang to Phobjikha, arriving in time to walk the nature trail from the monastery down through the pines and along the edge of the marsh.
- Travel
- 75 km, 2 to 3 hours
- Altitude
- Phobjikha, 3,000 m
- Overnight
- Phobjikha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 4
Gangtey Tshechu
A day at the festival, five minutes from where you are staying. Your guide explains the dances as they come. In the afternoon, if you have seen enough, we visit a farmhouse in the valley for tea.
- Altitude
- Phobjikha, 3,000 m
- Overnight
- Phobjikha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 5
The thongdrel and the last day
We are at the monastery before dawn to see the thongdrel unrolled, and stay for the dances of the last day and the blessing that closes the festival.
- Altitude
- Phobjikha, 3,000 m
- Overnight
- Phobjikha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 6
Phobjikha to Thimphu
We drive back over Dochu La to Thimphu, with a stop for tea on the pass.
- Travel
- About 135 km, 4 to 5 hours
- Altitude
- Thimphu, 2,334 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 7
Thimphu, then Paro
We spend the morning in Thimphu and drive to Paro after lunch. The National Museum and Rinpung Dzong fill the afternoon.
- Travel
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Altitude
- Paro, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 8
Hike to Tiger's Nest
We walk up to Taktsang in the morning, with a rest at the teahouse on the way, and visit Kyichu Lhakhang in the afternoon.
- Travel
- About 7 km on foot, 4 to 5 hours
- Altitude
- Tiger's Nest, 3,120 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 9
Depart from Paro
Your guide and driver take you to the airport after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Prices
What the trip costs
| Group size | Price in US dollars |
|---|---|
| Solo traveller | US$2,805 |
| 2 travellers | US$2,275 per person |
| 3 or more travellers | US$2,195 per person |
Prices are per person in US dollars and include the Sustainable Development Fee and the visa fee.
This trip runs privately, on the dates of the festival. Festival dates are tentative until the year itself, so confirm them with us before you book flights.
Included
- Sustainable Development Fee (US$100 per person per night)
- Bhutan visa fee (US$40) and visa processing
- 3-star hotels, in a twin or double room
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Licensed English-speaking guide throughout
- Private vehicle and driver, including airport transfers
- Bottled water in the vehicle
Not included
- Entry fees for monuments and museums, about US$90 per person
- Flights to and from Paro
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Drinks, laundry and personal spending
- Single room supplement, US$35 per room per night
See it for yourself
Other trips that fit this festival
Any of these can be timed to the festival dates. Tell us which days you want to be there.
Festival tour
Black-Necked Crane Festival Tour
Phobjikha, Punakha, Thimphu and 1 more
Eight days with two nights in the Phobjikha valley, timed to the crane festival at Gangtey Goenpa on 11 November.
Cultural tour
Heart of the Himalayas
Punakha, Phobjikha, Trongsa and 1 more
Nine days from Paro to Bumthang by road, through Punakha, Phobjikha and Trongsa, with a short flight back.
Where
Gangtey Goenpa, Wangdue Phodrang
- Gangtey Goenpa, Phobjikha Festival ground
Phobjikha
The valley of the black-necked cranes
Wangdue Phodrang
A rebuilt dzong, Pele La and the way to Phobjikha
Punakha
The old capital, where two rivers meet
Questions
Asked about this festival
Are festival dates fixed?
Most are not. Bhutan’s festivals follow the lunar calendar, so they fall on different dates each year. The Department of Tourism and the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators publish a list for each year and label it tentative, because dates can still move.
Our festival calendar shows the official dates and the day we last checked them. Confirm with us before you book flights. The Black-Necked Crane Festival is the exception: it is held on 11 November every year. If you are deciding between festivals, read how to choose a Bhutan festival.
Can I take photographs at a festival?
Yes, in the courtyard or festival ground, from where you are sitting. Do not step into the dance area or block other people’s view, and ask before photographing anyone at close range. Photography is never allowed inside temples and shrines.
A few rituals may not be photographed at all, among them the midnight Tercham at Jambay Lhakhang. Your guide will tell you. Drones are not permitted.
What should I wear to a festival?
A festival is a religious occasion and Bhutanese come in their best clothes. Wear long sleeves and full-length trousers or a long skirt, and take off your hat inside a dzong. You will be sitting on stone for hours, often in strong sun, so bring a cushion, a sun hat for outside the dzong, water and a warm layer for the early morning.
Enquire
Plan a trip around Gangtey Tshechu
Hotels near festival grounds fill early. Tell us your dates and we will check what is still available.