Laya Gewog lies on the northern part of the Dzongkhag bordering with China. The Gewog has unique culture and tradition. The Layaps call their home BAYU, the hidden land, with good reason. The cluster village is completely hidden by ridges and there are 146 households residing in the gewog.

The Gewog has a cold climate, heavy snowfall during winter with altitudes ranging from 7000 to over 8000 feet above sea level.

The soil types found in the Gewog are sandy clay, clay, loam, sandy loam and clay loam. Generally, soil fertility and moisture conditions are good for cropping.

Spreading upwards from 12,000 feet above sea level, Laya sits on the lap of the 7,165 meter Masagang, one of the Bhutan's 20 virgin peaks with height of over 7000 meters. So the entire is mountain in terrain and its slopes are richly coloured by wild flowers.

The Gewog has the second highest registered land of 17107.12 acres out of which 16,980.96 acres as chamdo thus leaving 126.16 acres for agriculture cultivation.

Due to harsh climatic condition, agriculture programmes are limited only to dry cropping, whereas livestock rearing is the main occupation of the Gewog. They usually migrate towards Wangdue and Punakha Dzongkhag in winter for bartering their livestock (yak) products with rice and other necessary items. The Gewog is connected only by mule track from Goenkhatoe, Lunana and Lhingtshi. The existing infrastructures include one Community School, BHU, Forest Guard Post, RNR centre, two Wireless stations and Transit camp of RBA.

Harsh climatic condition and heavy snowfall during winter and scanty rainfall during summer has disadvantage for carrying out agriculture and socio-economic development in the Gewog. Depredation on domestic animals is another challenge for bringing out livestock development. Low population, absence of motorable road, limited land holding are the challenges to be faced by the community all the year round. The only mode of earning livelihood at present is livestock rearing, portage for the developmental activities and tourist during the season.

Absence of hydroelectricity is yet another constraint faced by the people. Inaccessibility to market for any local products is a barrier against the surplus production. The Layaps expects the major development on Agriculture, Livestock, infrastructure on Education, Roads, Health, Telecommunication, Hydropower, Mule tracks and bridges and Tshachu ( Hot springs).