Travel to Gangtey

a refreshingly remote and authentic feel

Gangtey is located in central Bhutan, the second most easterly of the five main valleys that most commonly feature in trips.

Centred on a small rural settlement of the same name, the Gangtey area contains a network of several relatively high altitude valleys, up around 2900 metres (9500’).

The area is primarily comprised of small farms and scenic rural settlements, centred on an important wetland area and surrounded by pine forests.

Gangtey is also renowned for its important population of sacred black-necked cranes.

Being one of the more easterly and distant valleys, Gangtey has a refreshingly remote and authentic feel, which reaches even greater heights if you manage to get out on foot and hike around the various scenic backwaters.

All of the main locations in Bhutan are usually reached by means of a private guided overland safari.

The Gangtey area is usually reached by road from the main airport in Paro, a journey which can be done in one to two days, but which is usually broken down with a stay in the Punakha Valley.

It is also possible to travel to Gangtey by helicopter, but this is usually prohibitively expensive.

Seasonality

The best time of year to visit Gangtey is Sep-May, avoiding the warm and wet Jun-Aug monsoon season.

If you want to include a lot of outdoor activity such as high altitude treks and mountain biking, then it is best to head for the two shoulder seasons of Mar-May (Spring) and Sep-Nov (Autumn).

If you are looking for a trip with a more general focus, of scenery and culture, then you can also consider the Dec-Feb (winter) season, when the clear skies and very low rainfalls often deliver the best mountain views.

At 2900 metres (9500’), Gangtey is one of the higher valleys and experiences a much cooler climate, often with freezing temperatures at night throughout the Dec-Feb winter season.

For a more detailed overview of seasonality, please refer to the country page …

Where to stay

Accommodation in the Gangtey area falls into two distinct categories.

The first option is to stay at one of three upmarket properties, all of which are intimate and stylish, providing very high levels of conventional comforts.

The second option is to stay at one of the simpler and lower cost options, although there is a distinct shortage of characterful properties in the valley, most are rather large and functional.

some very pleasant accommodation options