Chele La Pass

Chele La carries the road between the Paro and Haa valleys over a ridge at 3,988 metres, the highest pass in Bhutan reachable by car, and the top is a forest of prayer flags strung between poles, with mani stones and a small chorten. On a clear day the view north takes in Jomolhari at 7,326 metres and the border peaks; more often cloud closes in and the pass gives only fog and flags, which has its own atmosphere. The drive up climbs through blue pine and then rhododendron and dwarf juniper, spectacular in April and May when the rhododendrons flower. Short walks lead from the pass along the ridge, including one to Kila Goemba, a nunnery on the cliffs below. The air is thin and noticeably cold.

What you actually see

• Prayer flag fields - thousands of flags strung across the pass.
• The Jomolhari view - the sacred peak north on a clear day.
• Rhododendron forest - flowering slopes on the drive up in spring.
• Ridge walks - short routes along the crest from the road.

When to go

March to May and September to November. April and May for rhododendrons; October and November for the clearest mountain views. The pass can be closed by snow in winter and is often fogged in summer.

Honest expectations

Clear mountain views are the exception rather than the rule; many visitors see only cloud. At nearly four thousand metres it is cold and windy, and altitude is felt by anyone who has just arrived. There are no facilities beyond occasional stalls. The road is winding and takes over an hour each way.

Nearby

Kila Goemba lies below the pass; Haa valley is on the far side.