Haa Valley Travel

Renowned for its untouched beauty and pristine landscapes, Haa is a wonderland for outdoor recreationists. Many notable treks depart or pass through the valley: the 25-day Snow Man Trek is dubbed the world’s most challenging multi-night trek, the Trans Bhutan Trail traverses 643 miles along an old footway used by pilgrims, messengers, traders, and armies, and a five-day trek to the Tibetan border following an old, illegal trade route lands in one of the best places to spot wild snow leopards. Or for those who prefer a shorter hike, try the Panorama Hiking Trail or a section of the Meri Puensum Nature Trail, a holy jaunt across three peaks believed to represent the Buddha in his three forms (past, present, and future).

During your visit to Haa, soak up local culture by learning how to make hoentey, (buckwheat dumplings) that are a local delicacy, usually eaten during Loemba, Haa’s new year. Or watch fresh cheese being made at Haa Valley Cooperative, a dairy processing group. Don’t miss visiting the White and Black Temples (Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo), which were among the 108 monasteries built in a single day by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century. 

Accommodations in Haa are limited—another reason it’s remained a rather unknown destination for travelers. There are no luxury hotels, but rather, a handful of boutique properties. For a remarkable experience, we recommend travelers overnight at Haa Sangwa Camp, an exclusive-use camp located in a secretive spot in the Himalayan wilderness. Using it as a basecamp, guests will enjoy plein-air breakfasts in Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve on low tables with pillow seating, excursions to ancient ruins, and daily activities such as yoga, cycling, archery, folk songs and dance, and a Bhutanese whiskey tasting in a yak herder’s hut.