Why do the black-necked cranes migrating to Phobjika Valley in winter fly around the monastery at the hilltop and behave the same way when they return to Tibet? This is a mystery that intrigues everyone, but for the Bhutanese, it has established a strong religious link between these rare creatures of nature and religion. As a result the black-necked cranes are respected as holy birds in Bhutan. The marshland in Phobjika valley also provides habitat to at least a dozen other endangered species of birds besides the black-necked crane, so the government has declared it a protected area.

Thus a Phobjika valley visit is an ideal tour for nature lovers and birdwatchers. But the place is also a renowned tour and trekking destination as well for all kinds of travelers. The sceneries from the monastery at the hilltop are simply superb. When you see the settlements of the valley and the people busy with their farm works (they mainly grow potatoes here), you imagine that their life passes in a pastoral paradise. You will also visit the villages of Gogona and Khotokha, walking through meadows and fields, then forests of juniper, magnolia and rhododendrons.