Gangtey Gompa Trek – 7 Days

Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is no ordinary place. This is a country where buying cigarettes is illegal, where the rice is red, and where chilies aren’t just a seasoning but the entire dish. It’s also a deeply Buddhist land, where men wear a tunic to work, where giant protective penises are painted on the walls of most houses, and where Gross National Happiness is deemed more important than Gross National Product. Tourism in Bhutan is also unique. Bhutan offers many opportunities for trekking with its splendid scenic beauty, lofty mountains, and deep valleys untouched by modernization.

Trekking in this Himalayan kingdom is a wonderful experience for anyone who enjoys hiking and camping in rich natural habitats, and meeting indigenous people and their cultures. It is quite different from trekking in Nepal where we may meet other trekkers at every bend. Among various trekking in Bhutan, the trek to Gangtey Gompa is one of the most popular treks. This is a good trek for average hikers. It is one of the finest low-level treks in Bhutan.

Gangtey Gompa trek is to the beautiful Phobjikha valley (3,000m), one of the few glacial valleys in Bhutan, which lies in the mountains east of Wangduephodrang. The Phobjika Valley is also well known as one of the last wintering grounds of the endangered and graceful black-necked cranes that fly in from northern China, Mongolia, and Siberia. This trek is for average walkers and gives us an opportunity to visit the isolated valleys of Gangtey Gompa/Phobjikha, Gogona, and Kothoka. The valley of Gangtey is awesome with the houses of the century Gangtey monastery being considered the only Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan. The trek visits the village of Gogona and Khotokha passing through the meadows, fields, juniper forest, magnolia, and Ethometo.