- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Hiking tour · 5 days, 4 nights
5 Day Bhutan Tour with Chele La Day Hike: Ridge Walk, Kila Nunnery and the Tiger's Nest
A short hiking trip from Paro: walk the prayer-flag ridge above Chele La, at about 3,988 metres, visit the cliffside Kila nunnery, hike to the Tiger’s Nest and see Thimphu.
- 5 days, 4 nights
- Two big day hikes
- No camping
3,988 m
Chele La pass, about
4,200 m
Ridge viewpoint, about
7,326 m
Mount Jomolhari, in view
Easy to moderate
Grade
Trip overview
The best day hike in western Bhutan
Chele La is the road pass between the Paro and Haa valleys, at about 3,988 metres, and one of the highest roads in Bhutan. The pass itself is covered in thousands of prayer flags, and from it a ridge climbs north through rhododendron and juniper to open viewpoints at around 4,200 metres. On a clear morning you look straight across to Jomolhari, at about 7,326 metres, and Jichu Drake, at about 6,714 metres, with the Paro and Haa valleys on either side.
The Chele La ridge walk is one of the best day hikes in western Bhutan because the car does most of the climbing for you. In two to three hours you can be well above 4,000 metres, among alpine flowers in summer and with yaks often grazing on the slopes. Below the pass, a separate path leads down the cliffs to Kila Goemba, one of the oldest nunneries in Bhutan, where nuns live in small houses built against the rock.
This five day trip is built around two great hikes: the Chele La ridge and Kila Goemba on one day, and the Tiger’s Nest on another. You also spend a day in Thimphu and have time in Paro. It suits people with only a few days who want to walk rather than just drive, and it works as a first taste of hiking before a longer trek.
- The Chele La ridge walk, up to about 4,200 metres
- Kila Goemba nunnery on the cliffs below the pass
- The Tiger's Nest and a day in Thimphu
Highlights
Highlights of the trip
Chele La ridge
Prayer flags and views of Jomolhari and Jichu Drake.
Kila Goemba
A nunnery built into the cliffs below the pass.
Alpine flowers
Rhododendrons in spring, primulas and poppies in summer.
Tiger's Nest
The cliff monastery above Paro.
Rinpung Dzong
Paro's great fortress.
Thimphu
The capital's chortens, dzong and markets.
Itinerary at a glance
Five days at a glance
We can swap the order of the hikes to match the weather.
Day 1: Arrive in Paro
Land in Paro, Rinpung Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang.
Day 2: Chele La and Kila Goemba
The ridge walk and the cliff nunnery.
Day 3: Tiger's Nest
Hike to Paro Taktsang.
Day 4: Thimphu
A day trip to the capital.
Day 5: Depart
Transfer to Paro airport.
Day 1
Arrive in Paro
Your guide meets you at Paro airport. After lunch you visit Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum, and Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. Keep the first day easy so your body adjusts to the altitude.
- Overnight: Paro
- Altitude: about 2,200 metres
- Meals: lunch and dinner
Day 2
The Chele La day hike
You leave early and drive about an hour and a half up to Chele La. From the pass you walk north along the ridge through rhododendron and juniper, climbing gently to viewpoints at about 4,200 metres, with Jomolhari and Jichu Drake ahead if the sky is clear. After a packed lunch you walk back to the pass. Then the car takes you a short way down to the start of the path to Kila Goemba, and you walk down for about an hour to the nunnery on the cliffs, at about 3,500 metres, before the car collects you below.
- Overnight: Paro
- Walk: about 4 to 5 hours in total
- Highest point: about 4,200 metres
Day 3
Hike to the Tiger's Nest
The hike to the Tiger’s Nest takes five to six hours return. The path climbs through blue pine forest to a viewpoint opposite the monastery, then on to the cliff itself at about 3,120 metres. Yesterday’s walk at altitude makes today feel easier. In the evening you can book a hot stone bath.
- Overnight: Paro
- Hike: 5 to 6 hours return
- Altitude: about 3,120 metres
Day 4
A day in Thimphu
You drive to Thimphu and visit the Memorial Chorten, the Buddha Dordenma, the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, the craft bazaar and Tashichho Dzong. You return to Paro in the evening.
- Overnight: Paro
- Drive: about 1.5 hours each way
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5
Fly home
After breakfast your guide drives you to Paro airport for your flight home.
- Transfer: about 15 minutes
- Meals: breakfast
Where you stay
Where you stay
Four nights in one Paro hotel, so you only unpack once.
| Nights | Place | Where you stay | Why we chose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Paro | 3-star or 4-star hotel | Luxury upgrades available |
Staying in Paro keeps the drives short and lets you rest well between hikes.
What the price covers
Included and not included
Included
- Bhutan visa (USD 40) and the Sustainable Development Fee for every night
- Hotels as listed, 3-star as standard, with 4-star and luxury upgrades on request
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- A licensed English-speaking guide for the whole trip
- Private car or SUV with a Bhutanese driver, and all transfers
- Entry fees to dzongs, temples and museums
- Bottled water in the car
Not included
- International flights into and out of Paro (we can book them for you)
- Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend
- Drinks, laundry and other personal costs
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Anything not listed under included
Price on request
Tell us your budget and we will send our best price
We don’t publish one fixed price, because hotels, season and group size change the total a lot. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the budget you have in mind. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this Chele La hiking tour.
How we price
What decides the cost of this trip
Government fees
The SDF is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, plus a USD 40 visa. These are fixed by the Government of Bhutan and paid through us.
Hotels you choose
Hotel style and group size change the total most.
Season and dates
Spring and autumn are peak season. Winter and summer dates are often easier to price well.
Group size
Guide and car costs are shared, so the price per person drops for two, three or four travellers.
We send a written, itemised quote before you pay anything. No booking fees.
Good to know
Planning your Chele La hike
How hard is the Chele La hike?
The ridge walk is easy to moderate. You start high, at about 3,988 metres, and climb gently for a few hundred metres to the viewpoints. The thin air is the main challenge, so walk slowly and drink water. The path down to Kila Goemba is steep in places and can be slippery after rain; trekking poles help. Anyone who can walk for four to five hours with breaks can do it.
Best time for the views
October to December has the clearest skies and the best chance of seeing Jomolhari. Spring, from March to May, brings rhododendrons on the ridge but more haze. In summer, June to August, the ridge is green and full of flowers, but cloud often hides the mountains. Start early in any season: mornings are usually clearer than afternoons. In winter the road can be icy or closed by snow for a day or two.
About Kila Goemba
Kila Goemba is one of the oldest nunneries in Bhutan, with roots as a meditation site going back many centuries. Its temples and the nuns’ small houses cling to the cliff below Chele La, at about 3,500 metres. The nuns live a life of study and meditation. Visitors are welcome to see the temples, but please keep your voice low, dress modestly and ask before taking photos.
Adding Haa or a longer trek
From Chele La the road continues down into the Haa valley, and we can add one or two nights there with farmhouse stays. If the hike gives you a taste for more, try our Druk Path trek or the Nub Tshona Patta trek from Haa.
What you see from the ridge
To the north, Jomolhari is the big white peak on the Tibetan border, with the sharp summit of Jichu Drake to its right. Below you on one side is the Paro valley, with the airport runway like a thin grey line, and on the other side the Haa valley, greener and emptier. The ridge itself is covered in dwarf rhododendron and juniper, and in summer you find primulas, edelweiss and, if you are lucky, the blue poppy. Yaks graze up here from late spring to autumn, and you may see Himalayan monals, the colourful pheasants of the high forest.
What to bring on the hike
Bring a warm layer and a windproof jacket even on sunny days, because the wind on the ridge is cold. Sunglasses and sunscreen matter at this altitude, and a hat and gloves are useful from October to April. Carry at least a litre of water, a few snacks and a small backpack. We provide the packed lunch.
Altitude
Paro sits at about 2,200 metres and Thimphu at about 2,300. Most people feel fine after a slow first day. Drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol at first, and tell your guide about headaches or poor sleep. The Tiger’s Nest, at about 3,120 metres, comes later in the trip for this reason.
What to pack
Layers, a warm jacket for mornings and evenings, good walking shoes, sunscreen and clothing that covers shoulders and knees for dzongs and temples. See our Bhutan packing list.
Temple etiquette
Cover shoulders and knees in dzongs and temples, take off hats, and walk clockwise around chortens and prayer wheels. Photography is not allowed inside shrine rooms. Your guide explains each place before you go in. Read more in our Bhutan travel rules guide.
Visa, SDF and guide rules
Every visitor except Indian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40 and is issued online before you fly. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, with half rates for children aged 6 to 11. A Department of Tourism notice from April 2026 confirms that visitors travel with a licensed guide. We file the visa and pay the SDF for you. Read more in our Bhutan visa guide and SDF guide.
Flying into Paro
Only Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly into Paro, mainly from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata and Singapore. Pilots land by sight between the ridges, so morning flights are the most reliable. We suggest a night in your hub city on the way in. Our flights to Bhutan page lists every route.
Chele La day hike: questions
It depends on your hotels, group size and dates. Tell us your budget and we will reply within 24 hours with our best price, including the SDF, visa, hotels, meals, guide and car.
The pass is at about 3,988 metres, and the ridge viewpoints reach about 4,200 metres.
The ridge walk takes two to three hours return, and the walk down to Kila Goemba about one hour.
On a clear day, yes, along with Jichu Drake. Mornings from October to December are best.
Yes, if you take it slowly. The altitude is the main challenge.
Good walking shoes with grip are enough; boots help on the steep path to Kila.
Yes. We can add a night or two in the Haa valley.
Two to three months ahead.
Price on request
Ask for your best price
Tell us your dates, who is hiking and your budget. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this Chele La hiking tour.
- Share your budget, we shape the trip around it
- No booking fees, ever
- A reply within 24 hours
- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- +975 17533776
- +975 77495028
- info@deyabhutantours.com
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Let's plan your Bhutan journey
Tell us a little about your trip. Our team in Thimphu will reply with ideas, a day-by-day plan and a full price.
We’ll reply within 24 hours. No booking fees, and no obligation to book.