A short walk over the ridge that separates Haa from Paro, through forest and yak pasture, inside a nine-day trip.
The Sagala is the trek to do if you have nine days rather than a fortnight. It crosses the ridge between the Haa valley and Paro: three days of walking through blue pine and rhododendron forest, past yak herders' camps, with the Himalayan peaks visible from the tops on a clear day.
Haa itself is worth the drive over Chele La, at 3,988 m the highest motorable pass in Bhutan. The valley only opened to visitors in 2002 and is still far quieter than the valleys to the east.
Six cultural days in Thimphu and Paro sit around the walking, including Taktsang.
What stands out
- The drive over Chele La, the highest road pass in Bhutan
- Haa valley, which only opened to visitors in 2002
- Yak herders' camps on the ridge, and the peaks from the tops
- Taktsang on the cultural days beforehand
The itinerary
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Day 1 7,610 ft
Arrive Paro, drive to Thimphu
Met at the airport and driven to the capital.
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Day 2 7,610 ft
Thimphu
Sightseeing around the capital.
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Day 3 7,480 ft
Thimphu to Paro
Back down to Paro, with a kit check in the afternoon.
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Day 4 10,150 ft
Paro: the walk up to Taktsang
The Tiger's Nest, and good acclimatisation.
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Day 5 13,090 ft
Paro to Haa over Chele La
Over the highest motorable pass in the country at 3,988 m, with prayer flags along the ridge, then down into the Haa valley. Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo in the afternoon.
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Day 6 11,500 ft
Haa to Sagala: the trek begins
Up out of the valley through blue pine and rhododendron to the first camp. Around five hours.
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Day 7 13,700 ft
Sagala to Ningula
The high day, over the Sagala pass with the peaks out to the north on a clear morning, then along the ridge past yak pastures. Six hours.
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Day 8 7,480 ft
Ningula to Paro: the trek ends
A long descent through forest to meet the vehicle, then into Paro. Five hours.
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Day 9 7,480 ft
Departure
Morning transfer to the airport.
What is covered
- All internal transport with a private vehicle and driver
- A licensed English-speaking Bhutanese guide throughout
- Accommodation in government-approved three-star hotels, or better on request
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All entry fees to monuments, dzongs and museums
- Bhutan visa processing and the visa fee
- The Sustainable Development Fee
- All internal taxes and the government royalty
- Full camping equipment: tents, mattresses, dining and toilet tents
- A trekking cook and camp crew
- Pack horses or yaks for all group equipment and your main bag
- International flights to and from Bhutan
- Travel insurance, which we ask every guest to arrange
- Drinks, laundry, telephone and other personal expenses
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Anything not listed as included
A good first trek. Camps are high and cold at night, but the days are short enough that you arrive with plenty of afternoon left.
The route can be walked in either direction. We normally start in Haa so that the long climbing day comes first.
On this trip
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