Black Necked Crane Festival

Celebrated annually in the idyllic Phobjikha valley at the onset of winter season, Black-Necked Crane Festival is one of the appealing events for tourists in the country. Every winter these endangered cranes migrate south to the valley from Tibet and fly back in early spring. In pursuit of Bhutan’s commitment to conserve and strengthen the ecological system, the winter habitat for these endangered birds has been identified and protected. The festival is an occasion for the locals to celebrate the arrival of the majestic birds to their valley. The festival aims to raise awareness and encourage locals to conserve the environment for these endangered species and also offer economic incentives for the locals. The festival generally includes cultural program such as folk songs, masked dance performed by locals, students and monks in the community.