Paro–Haa · Bhutan
Chele La
SNH6Paro to Haa
At 3,988 m, the Chele La is the highest motorable pass in Bhutan, carrying the road over the ridge between the Paro valley and the remote Haa valley, with views of Jomolhari on clear days.
The route leaves Paro via Bondey and climbs on narrow, steep asphalt with continuous hairpins, dense pine, oak and rhododendron forest lining both sides. Prayer flags and a stone shelter mark the 3,988 m summit ridge; the descent into Haa is equally steep into a quiet, undeveloped valley that stayed closed to tourists until 2002.
Chele La on the map42.3 mi · point to point
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Character
More hairpins than 9 in 10 roads · higher than 9 in 10 roads in the catalogue.
Corners
busiest around mile 11Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%2,244 – 3,805.8 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Chele-laViewpoint24 mi in
- Yak MonumentLandmark41 mi in
- Haa Wangchuk LoDzongLandmark39 mi in
Hazards
- Road may close in winter due to heavy snowfall and ice
- Avalanche risk on exposed sections near the summit
- Narrow carriageway with sharp turns and sheer unguarded drops
- Acute altitude effects possible at the 3,988 m summit
See the typical season and live conditions for the high passes ›
Sources
“Built in the 1990s, the asphalt road is narrow and steep, with sharp turns and sheer drops.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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Nearby roads
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