Occupying a central position in western Bhutan, Paro encompasses a diverse array of physical landscapes. The district is characterized by the wide, fertile Paro Valley, shaped over millennia by the meandering Paro Chhu (river) which originates from the glaciers of Mount Jomolhari. The river flows southeast to eventually merge with the Wang Chhu.
The geography ranges from lush, flat valley floors to densely forested hillsides of blue pine, oak, and rhododendron, all the way up to alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks in the north. This gradient of altitudes creates distinct micro-ecosystems, supporting a wide range of Himalayan flora and fauna, including snow leopards and blue sheep in the highest, northernmost reaches of the district.