Haa Valley

Haa Valley Luxury Travel

Despite its day-trip proximity to Paro, the Haa Valley is one of Bhutan’s most isolated and scenic regions. Spanning a 650-square-mile alpine area bookended by Tibet and Bhutan’s Paro, Samste, and Chhuka districts, the valley’s geostrategic location in far-western Bhutan is one reason it was off-limits to tourists until 2002—making it the last district to open to tourism. A lesser-visited destination, you might encounter villagers who have never met a foreigner.  

Renowned for its beauty, Haa is characterized by its steep valley walls, highland lakes, clear-flowing rivers, towering peaks, and unspoiled wilderness. It is an outdoor paradise, and a genuine sense of serenity pervades the valley. 

Reach Chelela Pass to mark your arrival in the Haa Valley. Sitting at 13,120 feet altitude, it’s the perfect place for a scenic stop. Framed by wind-whipped prayer flags, admire panoramic valley views and glimpse snow-capped Mount Jomolhari. 

Haa Valley Travel Highlights

Hike the Panorama Hiking Trail
Soak in a hot stone bath in the woods
Walk with yak herders throughout the valley
Explore a rhododendron forest that is home to red pandas
Admire the sunset, framed by the Meri Puensum hills
Sample hoentey (a Haa speciality) in a family home
Go catch-and-release fishing for Golden Mahseer
Village visits for savory farm food tours
Enjoy a scenic bike ride with valley views
Glimpse snowcapped Mount Jomolhari from Chelela Pass

Related reading: The Best Things to Do in Bhutan

Things to do in the Haa Valley 

Renowned for its untouched beauty and pristine landscapes, Haa is a wonderland for outdoor recreationists. Many notable treks depart or pass through the valley:

A 25-day adventure, the Snow Man Trek is dubbed the world’s most challenging multi-night trek
Reopened in 2022, the Trans Bhutan Trail traverses 643 miles along an old footway used by pilgrims, messengers, traders, and armies.
Depart Haa, embarking on aa five-day trek to the Tibetan border following an old, illegal trade route. The journey ends at a scenic lake, which happens to be one of the best places to spot wild snow leopards.
While most travelers arrive in the Haa Valley by vehicle, you can also trek from Paro to Haa. Allocate at least six days when taking the easier, gentler route, or three days for more arduous trek that rewards with pretty glacial lakes along the way.

However, you don’t have to be an intrepid mountaineer to want to visit Haa. There are several worthwhile hikes, from shorter trails that descend to the valley floor to half-day efforts.

The new Panorama Hiking Trail weaves through pine forests and rewards with bird’s-eye views of Haa Valley. It can be done as a full-day hike.
Choose 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).
Hike a portion of the Trans-Bhutan Trail.
Follow a farmer’s trail to a side valley of Haa (~90 minutes).

Hiking aside, the area is a superb destination for mountain biking and cycling.

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. 

When basing yourself at Haa Sangwa Camp, you open up many options for day-long cultural-outdoor excursions. Pack your appetite for a village food tour, spend time hiking alongside yak herders, or cast a line to try and hook a Golden Mahseer—and more.

Where to Stay in the Haa Valley

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.

The Best Time to Visit the Haa Valley

The Haa Valley is accessible year-round, but spring and fall are peak seasons. October and November are known for spectacular, cloud-free mountain views, while the summer months see blooms of elusive blue poppy.  

Haa hosts a summer festival celebrating its national flower but note, they’re as difficult to spot as the snow leopard, so you’ll have to rely on your guide and good luck, i.e. karma, to see one. 

Keep reading: The Best Time to Visit Bhutan: A Month-By-Month Guide

Explore the Haa Valley on a Map