Haa Valley and Sagala TrekBhutan in 11 nights

Eleven nights for active travellers: two nights in a heritage lodge in Haa, the old Planters' Trail over the Sagala Pass to a tented camp, a day hike to a yak herders' camp, then Thimphu, Punakha with Phobjikha, and Paro with both sightseeing and the Tiger's Nest. All meals and the SDF are included.

Day 1

Arrive in Paro, drive to the Haa valley

75 km · about 3 hours

After the permit formalities at Paro airport, our Bhutan representative meets you. If time allows, hike up to Dzongdrakha, a cliffside monastery blessed by Guru Rinpoche. Then cross Chele La (3,988 m) to the Haa valley and settle in at Lechuna Heritage Lodge, a traditional Bhutanese house.

Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Haa

Day 2

The Haa panorama walk

4 to 5 hours

A gently paced walk through the farms and villages of the Haa valley, suitable for most fitness levels, with time to see how families here live and farm. Back to the lodge for the night.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Haa

Day 3

Trek to Choeduephu over the Sagala Pass

About 6 hours

This is the old Planters' Trail, once walked by Haa farmers who worked the rice fields of Paro in return for rice. After an early breakfast, drive to Thaklung village and start walking through yak meadows and alpine forest to the Sagala Pass (3,720 m), with views of Jomolhari (7,315 m) and Jichu Drake (6,989 m) on a clear day. After lunch, descend for about 2 hours to the tented camp at Choeduephu (2,865 m). Deluxe tents with proper beds and attached toilets.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Choeduephu

Day 4

Day hike to a yak herders' camp

About 6 hours

Hike through spruce, fir, hemlock and rhododendron forest to a yak herders' camp at 3,560 m, with mountain views and a picnic lunch. Return by a different trail with glimpses of Tiger's Nest and the Paro valley, and end the day with a traditional hot stone bath before dinner. Night at the camp.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Choeduephu

Day 5

Choeduephu to Thimphu

1.5-hour walk, then about 1.5 hours by road

A gentle walk of about an hour and a half through pine forest to the road, where your car is waiting. Drive to Thimphu (2,320 m), stopping at Tamchog Lhakhang and its iron bridge and at Chuzom, where two rivers meet. Check in at your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Thimphu

Day 6

Thimphu sightseeing

A full day in the capital. Start at Sangaygang viewpoint (2,865 m) for the view over Thimphu, then the giant Buddha Dordenma at Kuensel Phodrang. Visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum, the school of Bhutan's thirteen traditional arts, the Textile Museum and the handicraft shops, Zangthopelri Lhakhang, Simply Bhutan, and the Motithang Takin Preserve to see Bhutan's national animal.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Thimphu

Day 7

Thimphu to Punakha over Dochula

70 km · 2.5 to 3 hours

Check out and drive over Dochula Pass (3,080 m), with its 108 chortens and, on a clear day, a view of the high Himalaya. Down in the warm Punakha valley (1,273 m), visit Punakha Dzong at the meeting of two rivers, the suspension bridge if time allows, and walk about 30 minutes each way to Chimi Lhakhang. Check in at your hotel in Punakha or Wangdue.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Punakha

Day 8

Day trip to Gangtey and the Phobjikha valley

85 km each way · 3 to 3.5 hours

An early start for Gangtey and the wide glacial valley of Phobjikha (3,000 m), one of the most beautiful places in Bhutan. Visit the Black-necked Crane Information Centre and Gangtey Goenpa, the monastery above the valley. Black-necked cranes winter here from about late October to February. Back to Punakha in the evening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Punakha

Day 9

Punakha to Paro via Lamperi

148 km · 4 to 5 hours

Check out and drive back over Dochula to Paro (2,200 m), stopping at Lamperi for the Royal Botanical Park. Check in at your hotel in Paro.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Paro

Day 10

Paro sightseeing

Visit Dungtse Lhakhang, the viewpoint over the Paro valley and its tiny airport (best between 10 and 11 am), Ta Dzong, the National Museum (closed on national holidays), Rinpung Dzong and Kichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest temples.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Paro

Day 11

The Tiger's Nest hike

Start early for the hike to Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest monastery, at 3,120 m: about 2.5 to 3 hours uphill each way through pine forest. If the full climb is too much, the cafeteria viewpoint is about 1 to 1.5 hours up and has a fine view of the monastery.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Overnight: Paro

Day 12

Leave from Paro

6 km · 20 to 30 minutes

Breakfast, check out and transfer to Paro airport for your flight home.

Breakfast

Tour details

Accommodation

Choose the hotel category. The same route and sightseeing in every category.

Hotels are as listed or similar, subject to availability. All meals are included.

Package cost

Price per adult on twin sharing, by the number of adults travelling together. Land only.

Private vehicle with driver: a car for 2, a Hiace van for 4 or 6, and a coaster bus for 8 (non-AC). Point to point as per the itinerary, not at disposal.

Rates in INR per person on twin sharing. GST 5% and TCS extra as per Government of India rules. The single room supplement is added to the 2-adult price for a guest in a room alone.

Tour information

Read this to prepare for your holiday.

Good to know

• Prices are for Indian passport holders, per person on twin sharing, valid for travel up to 28 Feb 2027. They do not apply from 23 Dec 2026 to 2 Jan 2027 (Christmas and New Year); ask us for those dates.
• Travel from 1 September to 30 November 2026 carries a surcharge per person, shown separately in the price tables. From 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027 there is no surcharge.
• Indian passport holders need a passport or voter ID card for the entry permit; an Aadhaar card alone is not accepted. Children can use a birth certificate.
• In Thimphu, the Institute for Zorig Chusum and the handicraft shops close on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays, and the Takin Preserve closes on Mondays. Dzongs and temples ask for long sleeves and full-length trousers or skirts.
• White-water rafting on the rivers at Punakha can be added and paid locally. Carry a change of clothes.
• Bhutan's hotels are simpler than those in bigger destinations, and the best in remote places such as Haa and Choeduephu may be 1- to 3-star. The hotel levels give you a similar standard at every stop.
• Haa (about 2,700 m) and Choeduephu (2,865 m) are high. You need to be fit and able to cope with altitude; this trip is not suitable for people with heart or blood-pressure problems, for seniors or for young children.
• There is no mobile network on the trek. Lechuna Heritage Lodge is a traditional house with shared toilets and hot showers on each floor; the Choeduephu camp has tents with beds and attached toilets, and shared showers.
• The best trekking seasons are mid-September to mid-December and mid-March to mid-June. Bring warm layers, a rain jacket, good walking shoes, a torch, sunglasses and sunscreen.

When to go

March to May, and September to November. Clear mountain views and pleasant days; spring brings rhododendrons, autumn brings festivals. Winter is cold but clear, and black-necked cranes winter at Gangtey from about November to February.

Our favourite months

Cancellation policy & payment terms

• Flights, trains and houseboats are paid in full at the time of ticketing or confirmation.
• Payments by bank transfer (NEFT / RTGS / IMPS), UPI or cheque in favour of TripRoutes. Card payments may carry a convenience fee.
• GST 5% is charged on the package cost as per government rules. On international holidays, TCS also applies as per government rules.
• Cancellation charges are per person, counted from the date of departure.
• Cancellations must be sent in writing by email or WhatsApp; the date we receive it is the cancellation date.
• Air and train tickets are refunded as per the airline / railway rules, plus our service charge.
• Visa fees, insurance premiums and non-refundable hotel or houseboat bookings (peak dates, special events) are not refundable.
• Refunds are processed within 15 working days of receiving supplier refunds.
• There is no refund for services not used during the holiday.
• Hotels may ask for a refundable security deposit at check-in, paid directly to the hotel.
• Prices are subject to availability at the time of booking.
• TripRoutes is not liable for changes caused by weather, strikes, roadblocks, flight delays or government orders; extra costs arising are payable by the guest.

Questions about this holiday