This mystical conglomeration of white-washed temples and earthy woodwork homes on the edge of the Black Mountains of central Bhutan has long been a place shrouded in legend, known for its deep religiosity and authentic breed of Vajrayana Buddhism. It’s also the gateway to a beautiful corner of the Himalaya, awash with verdant valleys and sweeping, forest-clad hills.

Most Wangdue tour guides will point first time visitors here straight to the Wangdue Dzong, sitting high on its perch in the Bhutanese mountains, laden with historic relics of the old Buddhist order. The road there will take travellers through some breath-taking scenery, encompassing sections of the rugged Phobjikha Valley, and offering up access to the exquisite Gangtey Monastery.

The town of Wangdue itself is a charming affair of makeshift mountain homes that comes alive each year with the Black-neck Crane Festival, when locals celebrate the return of these elegant and endangered birds to their section of wild, Western Bhutan.