Haa Sangwa Camp

Haa Sangwa Camp

Despite its relative proximity to Paro and the international airport, fewer than two per cent of all Bhutan travelers will visit the pristine Haa Valley—which we think is a missed opportunity. Wild, scenic, and remote, this nascent destination was the last region to open to tourism, and it lacks the five-star accommodation that can be found in Bhutan’s most-visited valleys. However, a new exclusive-use lodging option called Haa Sangwa Camp caters to outdoorsy, intrepid travelers, inviting them into the beauty of the Bhutanese wilderness. A low-impact, eco-camp snug in a secretive forested location, you’ll be well cared for by attentive hosts for the duration of your stay. Here, luxury isn’t in the finishings or amenities so much as the opportunity to overnight in a serene Himalayan setting well off the beaten path.

Depending on the size of your party, the camp configuration might include a large Dome Room, double tents, and/or single tents. Tents range from 96 to 167 square feet and the interiors feature Bhutanese adornments, plush linens, and lounge areas. The Dome Room boasts a dedicated dining area and private hot stone bath. Expect bucket showers. (Or better yet, take a traditional hot stone bath—one of the best things to do in Bhutan.)  

A Yak Herder Hut serves as a dining space, affording expansive views of the valley below. Otherwise, many meals served at Haa Sangwa Camp are a moveable, al fresco feast. Take breakfast at a low table while seated on cushions in the gentle morning light that bathes a meadow. At the riverside, graze a lunch spread that sits atop a woven Bhutanese tablecloth. For an especially memorable meal, walk 30 minutes through a forest to reach a picnic lunch amid crumbling ruins. You may also break bread with a local family at their farmhouse, chatting with the home chef about how they prepared their Hoentay dumplings.  

Haa Sangwa Camp is not merely a tented camp; it also serves as a launch pad for exploration and cultural encounters. In the morning, you might enjoy guided yoga or forest bathing, then watch as artisans craft textiles on a loom, using yarn dyed with forest-foraged ingredients. Mid-morning, you might pedal along a pastoral road for some invigorating cycling. After lunch, go for a hike with a forest ranger to identify unique flora, and then try your hand at Bhutanese archery and darts. Close out the evening at a bonfire while admiring folk songs and a Chendu Dance performance, which depicts a Bonism deity and is only performed by a few remaining elders.

Additional activities can be made upon request/reservation:

Relax in a river bath
Cast a fly for some catch-and-release fishing
Enjoy a forested hot stone bath or massage
Receive a personalized astrology reading from a Tsip (a trained monk)
Go for a joy ride in an antique royal bodyguard jeep
Don night vision goggles for some after-dark guided wildlife tracking in hopes of spotting boar, fox, leopard, and other elusive nocturnal creatures

Haa Sangwa has a sister site in Gasa: Gasa Sangwa Camp.

Bhutan Travel Itineraries Featuring Haa Sangwa Camp