Haa Valley

Haa is a remote valley in southwestern Bhutan, bordering Tibet, that opened to foreign tourists only in 2002. The valley retains a traditional character with scattered farmhouses, conifer forests, and yak pastures at high elevation. The Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple), said to have been built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century, stand on the valley floor. The summer Haa Festival provides a rare opportunity to witness traditional Bhutanese sports, food, and dress in a setting largely untouched by mass tourism.