8.Phobjikha Valley

Also known as the Gangteng Valley, Phobjikha Valley is a huge U-shaped glacial valley in central Bhutan, which is the home of the famous Gangteng Monastery. The valley is famous for the rare black-necked cranes that visit the area for the winter from their summer home in Tibet. As the cranes arrive in the last week of October, they circle around the Gangteng Monastery roof three times before landing in the valley’s wetlands, and repeat this unique process as they leave for Tibet again in March. The reason the cranes do this is unknown, and Buddhists see it as an auspicious sign or good omen, and the whole area of the valley where the cranes roost for winter is protected. The best marshland in Bhutan, the valley is rich in diverse plant life, and is home to more than ten other protected species of birds and animals. The three day trek through the valley is popular, and hundreds of birdwatchers come to the area in October and March to witness the amazing spectacle of the cranes.