Gangtey day hikes
Gangtey in the remote Phobjikha valley is an excellent place for day hikes.
For a full day hike around Phobjikha valley you can start your walk just below hotel Dewachen or drive for a few minutes to Khewang temple. If the caretaker is there you can visit the temple, otherwise continue walking along the farm road towards Gophu and Dogsena villages. Continue your walk up to the top of the village called Pangsa village where you turn left and cross the river, descending to Jangchub Gompa while keeping the river on your left side until you reach near the small stupa. From the stupa you will turn right and walk uphill towards Gangtey Gompa, through forests of blue pine trees covered with lichen (known as old man’s beard) via Semchubara village. Once near to Gangtey Gompa your car will collect you and take you to the hotel. Please note you can call your car at any time if you have had enough walking. Total distance 7 to 8 km (5 to 6 hours)
Or take a day walk in the valley known as the Shasila trail. The trail is used by the people of Sha Ngawang and Chitokha to migrate between their summer and winter home in Gangtey. It was also an important trail used by the Gangtey Truelku and his followers in the past while migrating between his winter residence in Sha Chitokha and Gangtey Gompa. It takes approximately 6 hours walk for casual trekkers to reach Kheylaykha from Phobjikha. This trail is especially recommended for bird lovers. Your driver will meet you at the road and take you to Wangdi for the night, originally considered Bhutan’s secondary capital and commanding an important central position.
For fit hikers who want a tougher challenge, take a day walk in the valley known as the Khotokha trail. It takes approximately 4 hours walk for casual trekkers to reach Khotokha from Phobjikha. You will be walking through forest and will get the chance to see some birds. In Khotokha you can visit the monastery, which has around 100 monks, and you are welcome to visit some farmhouses in the village. After a packed lunch you will return to Phobjikha for the night (about 7 to 8 hours in total for the round trip).
If you are coming from Trongsa it is possible to hike from Longtey Village down into Phobjikha. Drive until Longtey Village, which is just before the Pele La Pass, and start your hike from there, up and over Kayche La (3700m) to Gangtey. We climb up gradually through the thickets of dwarf bamboos, birch, rhododendron, hemlock and fir to Kayche La, marked with some prayer flags. The other side of the pass is mostly meadows, and from here it is all downhill through the long and beautiful stretch of meadows and farms. The walk takes around 4 hours in total.
