Haa is the valley on the other side of Chele La, Bhutan's highest motor-road pass, about 61–67 km from Paro. It has the same white-walled farmhouses, temples and pine slopes as Paro, but only opened to tourists in 2002 and still has few hotels, so you stay in farmhouses instead. It costs the same Sustainable Development Fee as anywhere else in Bhutan: Nu 1,200 (₹1,200) a night for Indians, US$100 a night for everyone else. Paro airport is the gateway; give it two nights so the drive over the pass isn't the whole trip.
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When to go
April–May and October–November are the clear, comfortable months, with views of Jomolhari from Chele La. Winter nights drop to about −2°C, snow can close the pass for a day or two, and the monsoon (roughly June to August) brings cloud and landslide delays on the pass road.
Haa Valley right now and the next 7 days
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Haa Valley on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Haa Valley · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
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Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Haa Valley in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Chele La pass1 h · free · 3,988 m, prayer flags and, on a clear morning, Jomolhari. You cross it on the way in; stop and walk the ridge.
- 12:30Lunch break
- 13:30Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo2 h · price to check · The White and Black Temples, said to date from the 7th-century king Songtsen Gampo. Dress modestly; shoes off inside.
- 08:00Hike to Kila nunneryHalf day · free · A cliffside meditation site below Chele La, one of the oldest nunneries in the country.
- 12:30Lunch break
- 13:30Day trip: Chele La ridge walkHalf day · price to check · Taxi (about 25 km)
- 08:00Haa Summer Festival1 day · price to check · Nomad culture, food and sports. Dates vary by year; check with the Department of Tourism before planning around it.
- Lunch on the way
How to get to Haa Valley
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Taxi over Chele La
Check fareThe usual way. A full taxi from Paro has been reported at around Nu 1,900 for the car; confirm the fare first. The pass is 3,988 m, so dress warm even in summer.
Shared taxi
₹550Reported at Nu 500–600 a seat. Leaves when full, so it can wait.
Bus Cheapest
₹240One bus a day, reported leaving at 1 pm, Nu 240. Slow but cheapest.
Hired car with driver
Check fareSelf-drive hire isn't possible in Bhutan. International visitors travel with their licensed guide and driver anyway.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeHaa town, the Lhakhang Karpo and the farm villages are walkable along the valley floor.
Mountain bike
Check priceHaa is known for biking. Ask your homestay or guide about hire.
Taxi
Check priceFor Lhakhang Nagpo and the upper valley. Few taxis are based here; arrange through your stay.
Where to stay in Haa Valley
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Farmhouse homestay
₹1,500/nightListed from about ₹1,500 a night. Dinner with the family is the point; confirm meals when you book.
Heritage lodge
₹3,300/nightTraditional-house lodges around Nu 3,300 a night for a single plus taxes, reported.
Resort
₹0/nightA handful of small hotels; rates aren't published, ask for a quote.
Boutique heritage
₹7,190/nightCentury-old farmhouse lodges from about £66 a night.
What to eat, and what it costs
Ema datshi, rice and dal at a local eatery
₹250Chilli-and-cheese stew is the national dish. Ask for 'less chilli' if you mean it.
Mid-range dinner, per person
₹675About Nu 1,350 for two at a proper restaurant.
Farmhouse dinner: buckwheat pancakes, red rice, local cheese
IncludedHaa is buckwheat country. Usually included or agreed with the room.
Things to do in Haa Valley
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Chele La pass
Free3,988 m, prayer flags and, on a clear morning, Jomolhari. You cross it on the way in; stop and walk the ridge.
Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo
Check priceThe White and Black Temples, said to date from the 7th-century king Songtsen Gampo. Dress modestly; shoes off inside.
Hike to Kila nunnery
FreeA cliffside meditation site below Chele La, one of the oldest nunneries in the country.
Farmhouse homestay evening
Check priceHot-stone bath and dinner with a farming family. Ask your stay.
Haa Summer Festival
Check priceNomad culture, food and sports. Dates vary by year; check with the Department of Tourism before planning around it.
Day trips and next stops
Paro and Tiger's Nest
Check fareTaxi over Chele La
Thimphu
₹550Shared taxi or bus via Chuzom
Chele La ridge walk
Check fareTaxi
Dobji Dzong, above the Wang Chhu
Check fareTaxi on the Thimphu road
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Indians: your entry permit covers only Thimphu and Paro. Get the free route permit for Haa at the Immigration Office in Thimphu on a weekday before you go.
- Everyone else: a licensed guide is mandatory at all times and is booked with your visa (US$40 one-off fee) and the US$100-a-night SDF, which is discounted only until 31 August 2027.
- Chele La is nearly 4,000 m. Snow, fog or landslides can close it; leave slack in your plans, especially in winter and the monsoon.
Ways to spend less
- Indians pay Nu 1,200 a night SDF instead of US$100, so Haa is one of the cheapest high-Himalaya trips you can take from home.
- Cross Chele La early in the morning. The cloud usually rolls in by midday.
- Stay in a farmhouse, not a hotel. It is cheaper, and it is the reason Haa feels different from Paro.
Before-you-go checklist
Haa Valley in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Haa Valley?
Apr–May, Oct–Nov is the best time. April–May and October–November are the clear, comfortable months, with views of Jomolhari from Chele La. Winter nights drop to about −2°C, snow can close the pass for a day or two, and the monsoon (roughly June to August) brings cloud and landslide delays on the pass road.
How do I reach Haa Valley?
Shared taxi: Thimphu → Haa via Chuzom, 3 h 30 m, about ₹550 one way. Bus: Thimphu bus station → Haa, about 4 h, about ₹240 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Haa Valley cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹5,700 on a shoestring, ₹16,200 mid-range or ₹21,300 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus (Thimphu bus station → Haa) at about ₹240 each way.
How many days do you need in Haa Valley?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Chele La pass, Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo, Hike to Kila nunnery, Haa Summer Festival without rushing.
Is Haa Valley good for families or solo travellers?
Haa Valley works best for couples, groups, families.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Haa Valley?
Easy. Bhutanese staples like ema datshi, kewa datshi (potato and cheese) and red rice are vegetarian, and Haa farm kitchens cook mostly vegetables. Vegan is hard because cheese goes into almost everything.
Will my phone and cards work in Haa Valley?
Buy a B-Mobile or TashiCell SIM in Paro or Thimphu. Coverage in the valley is fine, patchy on the pass. Cards work at Paro and Thimphu hotels; in Haa expect cash. The ngultrum is pegged to the rupee and Indian notes are widely accepted; Indians may carry ₹500 notes, with anything over ₹25,000 in ₹100 or smaller.
Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- bhutan.travel OfficialSDF US$100 per adult per night for all countries except India; Indians Nu 1,200 (children 6–11 Nu 600); guide mandatory at all times; no route permit needed when accompanied by a guide; visa fee US$40; no self-drive hire; Indian passport or voter ID; border-town SDF waiver from 2 June 2026
- bhutan.travel OfficialUSD 100 SDF incentive
- visit.doi.gov.bt Official50% SDF discount to USD 100 from 1 Sept 2023, valid until 31 August 2027 (from search extract; page returned an error on direct fetch)
- indembthimphu.gov.in OfficialIndian entry permit at Paro airport or land-border offices; passport (6 months) or voter ID; SDF INR 1,200 per day; currency rules (updated 12 Oct 2026)
- indembthimphu.gov.in OfficialEntry permit valid for Thimphu and Paro only; route permit from Immigration Office Thimphu, Monday–Friday
- gov.uk OfficialNo FCDO advice against travel to any part of Bhutan (updated 10 Dec 2025, current 16 Oct 2026)
- discoverwithdheeraj.comRoute permit free, from Thimphu Immigration Office, required for Ha Valley (updated Aug 2026)
- bookmytour.btHaa 61 km from Paro airport, about 2.5 h over Chele La; Thimphu about 3.5 h via Chuzom; Lhakhang Karpo and Nagpo; Kila nunnery; homestays; altitude; summer ~22°C, winter ~−2°C with snow
- darjeeling-tourism.comTaxi Paro–Haa around Nu 1,938 (also Nu 1,060 quoted); shared taxi Thimphu Nu 500–600 a seat; bus Thimphu Nu 240 at 1 pm; Haa open since 2002 (undated)
- darjeeling-tourism.comHeritage lodge in Hatey around Nu 3,300 single plus taxes (undated)
- bamboo-travel.co.ukHeritage lodge in Haa from £66 a night
- traveltriangle.comChele La 3,988 m, views of Jomolhari
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Greenmnm69 assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 2.5 · source · Photo: Christopher J. Fynn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Christopher J. Fynn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Christopher J. Fynn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Vinayaraj · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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