Inside The Happiness Farm: Paro’s First Farm-to-Table Eco Retreat
Discover The Happiness Farm in Paro, a serene hilltop eco-farm offering farm-to-table dining, tree ownership, wellness experiences, and meaningful stays rooted in sustainability and nature.
Perched on a scenic hilltop in Paro and spread across nearly four acres, The Happiness Farm is a peaceful rural retreat designed to immerse you fully in nature while celebrating sustainable living. With sweeping views over surrounding valleys, crisp mountain air, and a quiet sense of calm, it feels worlds away from everyday life yet remains easily accessible. The thoughtfully planned landscape blends orchards, vegetable gardens and flower beds, creating a space where productivity and beauty exist in perfect balance, and where farm-to-table living is not a concept but a daily rhythm.
A First-of-Its-Kind Concept
What truly sets The Happiness Farm apart is its pioneering vision. Lovingly developed and run by a couple, Dorji and wife, who turned their dream into reality, it is the first of its kind in the region. Every corner reflects care and intention, from the neatly tended fields to the welcoming spaces where visitors are encouraged to slow down, reconnect with the land, and experience the simple joy of rural mountain life.
Rooms and Experiences
The resort features 11 cosy rooms and an impressive range of hands-on experiences designed to deepen your connection with nature. These include a first-of-its-kind tree ownership programme, tree planting, yoga and Buddhist meditation classes, cooking sessions, egg collecting, honey harvesting, fruit picking, barbecues, conservation talks, mushroom hunting, nature walks, farm tours, and even occasional Himalayan bear sightings.
Farm-to-Table Living
At the heart of the farm lies its farm-to-table philosophy. Every meal is prepared using ingredients grown right on the land, with vegetables, herbs and fruits harvested fresh each day. Dining here is unhurried and deeply satisfying, whether it’s a simple breakfast of garden-fresh produce or a hearty meal crafted from ingredients picked just moments before. Each dish reflects the seasons, the soil and the care behind its cultivation, turning every meal into a reminder of the beauty of simplicity.
Where is the Happiness Farm
The Happiness Farm is located about six kilometers from Chunzom, along the narrow road toward Haa. As you turn onto the farm road on the right, the journey begins with a gentle climb that gradually lifts you above the surrounding valleys. With each bend, the scenery unfolds, lush green hills, scattered traditional farmhouses, and the distant shimmer of rivers carving through the landscape. By the time you reach the top of the mountain, the farm reveals itself on a breathtakingly scenic plot of land, rested like a jewel in the heart of the countryside.
Tree Membership Programme
One of the farm’s most meaningful initiatives is its fruit tree membership programme, offering individuals the rare opportunity to adopt and enjoy Japanese pear, apple or walnut trees for a fixed duration. Memberships are limited and offered on a first-come basis, with 26 members to date.
For international visitors, membership includes one fruit-bearing pear tree and one apple tree, unrestricted visits, access to common areas, and a 20 percent discount on rooms and meals for family members. Fees are USD 599 for five years, USD 999 for ten years, and USD 1,799 for twenty years, with additional perks including complimentary meals and two nights’ accommodation.
Membership for Bhutanese Residents
Bhutanese residents can enjoy an annual membership priced at Nu 50,000, which includes the adoption of an apple or pear tree, complimentary breakfasts, lunches and dinners, two room-nights per year, access to common areas, and a 20 percent discount on additional rooms and meals.
The membership began with Canadian couples and has since grown into a diverse international community, with members from the United States, Australia, Germany, Belgium and Mongolia, as well as individuals from educational, cultural, research and government institutions.
Harvest for a Cause
Tree owners may choose to donate their harvest to meaningful causes such as the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, the Bhutan Kidney Foundation, monasteries, nunneries, The Happiness Farm itself, or organisations of their choice. Alternatively, they may harvest and enjoy the fruits themselves.
Visitors can also pick fresh fruits during farm tours, with any harvested produce available for purchase. To support its farm-to-table dining year-round, The Happiness Farm also operates a second orchard in Punakha, cultivating more than 20 varieties of fruit specifically for its guests.
Vision and Philosophy
Looking ahead, The Happiness Farm envisions becoming a leading model of sustainable living and wellness, inspiring communities around the world to live in harmony with nature. Through authentic experiences, environmental stewardship and shared happiness, the farm aims to leave a lasting positive impact.
Why Visit The Happiness Farm
For Bhutanese visitors, the farm offers a meaningful way to reconnect with the land, adopt a tree that grows alongside your family, and support causes that touch lives across the country. For international travellers, it presents a rare opportunity to experience Bhutan’s values in action, sustainability, compassion and harmony with nature.
Whether you come to plant roots, share your harvest or simply breathe in the stillness, The Happiness Farm is a place where happiness is not just spoken about, but gently grown.
