A night in a Haa farmhouse
Haa farmhouses are big, three-storey buildings with stone or rammed-earth walls, carved wooden windows and an altar room on the top floor. Families farm barley, wheat, buckwheat and potatoes and keep cattle; some still send yaks to high pastures in summer.
A homestay night is the best way to see the valley. Help make buckwheat pancakes or hoentey, sit by the stove with a cup of suja, and walk in the fields in the evening. Ask for a hot stone bath if you are cold after Chele La. Your operator books a certified farmhouse with your permit.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Are farmhouse homestays in Haa comfortable?
They are clean and simple. Expect a room with thick quilts, shared or attached bathrooms and home-cooked meals. Heating is usually limited to the kitchen stove, so winter nights are cold. Bring warm layers, a torch and slippers. Hosts are welcoming and often speak some English or Hindi.
Can I book a Haa homestay directly?
Tourists must stay in certified accommodation, and bookings are usually made by the operator that arranges your permit and guide. Contact details for registered homestays are available through tour operators. Do not arrive without a booking. Check current status before you travel.
What food is served in Haa homestays?
Red rice or buckwheat, potato and cheese dishes, local greens, ema datshi and, if requested in advance, hoentey dumplings. Butter tea and ara, the home-distilled spirit, are offered. Tell your host if you are vegetarian or want less chilli. Meals are eaten with the family in the kitchen.
Also in Haa Valley
More hours to plan around
