Chele La Pass
Rising to an altitude of 3,988 meters between the valleys of Paro and Haa, Chele La is the highest motorable road pass in Bhutan. The winding ascent climbs through dense forests of blue pine, giant hemlock, and vibrant rhododendrons before emerging above the treeline into windswept alpine meadows. On clear days, the pass delivers expansive vistas of Mount Jomolhari (7,326 m) and Jichu Drake to the north, alongside dramatic views looking down into both the Paro and Haa river basins.
The pass is festooned with thousands of white prayer flags (dhar shing) erected along the ridgeline in memory of departed souls. Travelers often use Chele La as the starting point for a scenic high-ridge day hike to Kila Nunnery or simply pause at the summit with a thermos of hot butter tea (suja) to absorb the mountain stillness before descending into Haa’s quiet farm valleys.
