Most Bhutan tours cover three valleys: Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha. This tour covers five. The Complete Western Bhutan Tour adds Phobjikha Valley and Haa Valley to the standard circuit, crosses Bhutan's highest motorable pass (Chelela, 3,988m), and gives you the time to explore each destination without rushing between them.
Haa Valley is the least-visited valley in western Bhutan. It was closed to foreign visitors until 2002 and remains largely untouched by tourism. The valley is narrow, forested, and quiet. Traditional farmhouses line the valley floor. There are no crowds, no tour buses, and no souvenir shops. It is Bhutan the way Paro and Thimphu were twenty years ago.
Chelela Pass (3,988m) connects Paro to Haa. On a clear day, the pass offers views of Mount Jumolhari (7,326m), the sacred peak on the Bhutan-Tibet border. In spring, the road is lined with rhododendron forests in full bloom. Near the summit, a short hike leads to Kila Nunnery, the oldest nunnery in Bhutan, built into a cliff face at 3,900m.
Phobjikha is the glacial valley where endangered black-necked cranes winter from late October through mid-February. Punakha, the former capital, sits at a low 1,200m in a warm subtropical valley. The tour ends with the Tiger's Nest hike.
Mountain Hawk Trek arranges the full package from Kathmandu: Bhutan visa, Paro flights, accommodation, meals, transport, guide, and all entry fees. This is a private tour. Dates are flexible.
Short on time? Our 7-Day Bhutan Highlights Tour covers the four essential valleys without Haa and Chelela. For a quick introduction, the 4-Day Short Bhutan Tour covers Paro and Thimphu with Tiger's Nest.
