9 Days Chele La Trek with West Bhutan Exploration

Highlight: Visit Paro landmarks including Ta Dzong Museum and Kyichu Lhakhang.

Upon your arrival in Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier, you will be picked up by your tour guide at the airport and then escorted to the hotel. After a short rest, you will go to tour the Paro city.

This first landmark in Paro you will visit is the Ta Dzong Museum, the national museum located on the hill behind the Paro Dzong. It houses many fine arts, religious relics, handicrafts, as well as textiles, jewelry etc., offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Then head to visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, which is one of 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Built in a manner similar to the Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet, the temple has the great golden image of Buddha Shakyamuni.

Stay overnight in Paro. 

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

(Trek distance: 6km; Time: 3-4 hours; Altitude: 2670m to 3150m; Ascent: 890m)

In the morning drive to Haa valley across Chele La pass at 3810m. We will meet trekking staff and trek through an unpaved motor road for less than an hour. The trail on the right side of the village will take us to a yak herder’s camp. Then from the end of this camp, we traverse through two different trails. We take the trail on our right and climb towards our camp below Saga La pass at 3150m.

Camping at Sagala.

Haa valley

(Trek distance: 12km; Time: 5 hours; Altitude: 3150m to 4191m; Ascent: 545m, descent: 244m)

Today, we will first climb up for 30 minutes to Sagala pass to have superb views of Mount Jumolhari (7,314m) and Jitchu Drake (6,989m), if weather permits. From the pass, walk on the right side of the trail. After making several ascents and descents, walking through the trails of rhododendrons and meadows, you will finally be on the top of the ridge at 4435m, which offers great views of Haa Valley below. Make occasional ascents and descents through forests of hemlock and juniper, until you reach your campsite at 4191m.

Camping at Nyingula.

Sagala pass

(Trek distance: 13km; Time: 6-7 hours; Altitude: 4191m to 2334m; Ascent: 267m, descent: 459m)

This is the last day of the short trek. First descend and follow the ridge through meadows and yak herder’s camp, and then climb uphill through the forest of tall rhododendrons toward Kung Karpo Sky Burial at 4458m. The view of Haa valley is spectacular as you climb up through these stone cairns to Kung Karpo.

From the sky burial, you will be walking up and down with panoramic view of Paro valley on left and Haa Valley on right. The view of Kila Goenpa Nunnery below is also spectacular. Walk further downhill until you reach Chelela pass (3990m), which is one of the highest motorable passes in Bhutan. Your vehicle will be waiting here to transfer you to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.  

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Chele La pass

Highlight: Explore Thimphu’s cultural wonders like National Memorial Chorten, National Textile Museum and Traditional Paper Making Factory etc.

Today, it will be a full-day sightseeing tour in Thimphu. You will first visit the National Memorial Chorten, constructed in memorial of the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in 1974. The King was generally regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and widely esteemed by the Bhutanese. Then head to National Textile Museum, which keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms. keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms.

After lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, to see the productive process of Bhutan’s traditional medicine, herbs mostly, and watch the medical practitioner training. Next, go to Traditional Paper Making Factory, which originated from the old tradition in the 8th century, Bhutan papermaking has been well preserved and listed as the valuable national heritage of Bhutanese culture.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Highlight: Cross Dochu La pass and visit Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang.

In the morning, we will drive to Punakha. On the way, you will stop for a rest at scenic Dochu La Pass (3,100m). The pass is a perfect vintage point where you can have an unobstructed vista of the mighty Himalayas. The bus will also make a temporary stop at the amazing 108 chortens built by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (The Queen mother of Bhutan) for the safety and wellbeing of His Majesty (The king of Bhutan).

After lunch at Wangduephodrang (1,350m), we will keep driving to Punakha. In Punakha, you will visit the celebrated Punakha Dzong, the second largest Dzong in Bhutan, built in 1657 at the onflunence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers. After that, you will go to visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Lhakhang. Located near Lobesa, it stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Punakha Dzong

Highlight: Visit Paro’s landmarks including Paro Rinpung Dzong and Drugyal Dzong.

After a tasty breakfast in the morning, we will drive back to Paro from Punakha. On the way, you will see the great view of the amazing Himalayan ranges. You can also stop at Dochula Pass to take impressive photos.

While in Paro, you will go to explore the famous Paro Rinpung Dzong. It is a large Dzong, Buddhist monastery and fortress built in 17th Century to protect Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.

Then driving to the north of Paro valley, it will bring you to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong. It was built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father, and unifier of medieval Bhutan. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by an accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories. Nowadays, Drukgyel Dzong becomes a popular attraction in Paro, Bhutan.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Bhutan Paro dzong

Highlight: Enjoy the wonderful trekking to Tiger’s Nest.

Today, we will leave for Paro to enjoy the exciting trek to the Taktshang Goemba, also known as Tiger's Nest. Standing incredibly on the side of a sheer cliff 900m above the Paro Valley, Taktshang Goemba (3210m) is the landmark of Bhutan and also the holiest temple of the country. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) had flied here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves on the cliffside for three months. The temple has therefore become the holy site worshipped by all Bhutanese devotees, and known as one of the world’s top ten temples. 

After the trek, we will head back to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery in Summer

Your tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination. Tour service end.