Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Bhutan / Phobjikha Valley / Gangtey Lodge
Gangtey Lodge
Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan · Independent · Core Luxury
Khin Omar Win and Brett Melzer, who ran Balloons over Bagan, opened Gangtey Lodge in November 2013 above the glacial Phobjikha Valley, in Gyalwathang, and gave its twelve farmhouse suites bukhari stoves and English roll-top baths set in the windows, in interiors by Mary Lou Thomson. Below the 17th-century Gangtey Goenpa monastery, black-necked cranes roost in the valley each winter. The lodge is about six hours by road from Paro.
- 12 rooms
- Opened 2013
- Neighborhood: Gyalwathang
- Architect: Mary Lou Thomson
About Gangtey Lodge
- Gangtey Lodge opened in November 2013 with 12 farmhouse suites in Gyalwathang, Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan.
- Owners Khin Omar Win and Brett Melzer also run Balloons over Bagan and Malikha Lodge, and Mary Lou Thomson was the architect.
- Every suite has a bukhari stove and a roll-top bath.
- The lodge sits below the 17th-century Gangtey Goenpa, and black-necked cranes roost in the valley in winter.
History
Gangtey Lodge: 12-suite farmhouse lodge in Phobjikha, opened 2013 by Melzer and Win, Thomson interiors, crane valley below Gangtey Goenpa.
The setting
Phobjikha Valley, central Bhutan, below Gangtey Monastery, about six hours from Paro, in the winter roost of the black-necked cranes.
Restaurants and bars
- Private dining woodshed — Restaurant
Experiences
- Dotsho hot stone bath — Traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath in a pinewood tub in a separate bathhouse, with river rocks heated over a fire and forest herbs.
- Trekking through blue-pine forests and the Black Mountains — Guided hiking and historic trails through forests, past crane nesting sites and open meadows.
- Monastic meditation — Joining local monks for guided meditation at the 17th-century Gangtey Goenpa, a teaching monastery or shedra.
- Black-necked crane watching — In winter, black-necked cranes migrating from Tibet can be seen at the Crane Information Centre at the forest's edge.
- Mountain biking to outlying villages — Cycling on the lodge's mountain bikes to outlying villages.
- Local community culture — Exploring the rich culture of the local community, which has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
Amenities
- Fireplaces/wood-burning stoves
- Free reliable WiFi (per Cool Hunting excerpt)
- Mountain bikes
- Wrap-around patio/terrace
- Hot water bottles, blankets and neck warmers on terrace (per blog excerpt)
- Archery arrangements
- Guided trekking
- Guided meditation with monks at Gangtey Goenpa
- Wellbeing Retreat
- Hot stone bath
- Fireplaces in rooms
- Bathtubs with valley views
- Massages
- Archery arranged for groups
- Guided hikes on trails through the valley
- Experiences with Gangtey Monastery
Awards
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
Open Gangtey Lodge in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More hotels in Phobjikha Valley
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