Paro
Morning Walk Above the Clouds: Chele La to Kila Goemba
Time: 2 hours’ drive to Chele La pass
2-3 hours walk from Chele La to Kila Goemba
30-minute walk down from Kila Goemba to the main road
1-hour drive back to Paro town
Difficulty level: Moderate
Chele La is the highest mountain pass in Bhutan at 3988 meters. It is decorated with thousands of prayers flags and offers amazing views, especially in the months of April-May and October-December. You can start early, around 6-7 a.m., and bring a picnic breakfast. If you’re lucky, you’ll arrive at Chele La just as the fog clears. As you walk north, you will see Himalayan peaks like Jhomolhari 7314 meters, Jichu Drake 6794 meters, and Kangchenjunga 8586 meters, the world’s third-highest mountain in India. The area is also full of birds.
After 1.5 hours of climbing, you’ll reach a meditation hut with a 360° view. Enjoy your breakfast here before descending 45 minutes to Kila Goemba, a nunnery hanging on the mountainside. The nunnery is the oldest in Bhutan, though it was rebuilt after a fire. Around 40 nuns live here, and the temple features a statue of the God of Compassion, which is said to have appeared from the mountain.
Chele La to Kyichu Lhakhang
Time: 2 hours’ drive to Chele La
5-6 hours hike
Difficulty level: Moderate
This hike starts on open hilltops above 4000 meters, giving stunning views of the Himalayas. From Chele La, follow a mountain ridge with many prayer flags, passing a meditation hut where you can see the ridge stretching far ahead. As you continue down, watch for small stone monuments built by yak herders. Stick to the trail to avoid getting tangled in Rhododendron plants.
The trail leads you to Kyichu Lhakhang, a sacred temple where you can light butter lamps, which are offered to help people grow spiritually and reduce suffering.
Chumbu Monastery Hike
Time: 1-hour drive to the starting point
5-6 hours hike round trip
Difficulty level: Moderate
This hike takes you along a river through a beautiful forest. As you get closer to the temple, the last part of the trail is steep. You might spot birds like magpies, jungle fowl, and pheasants along the way. At the temple, you’ll see a statue of the floating Buddha, which is said to float in mid-air. If you slide a piece of paper under its feet, you’ll see it’s not touching the ground.
You can also enjoy a picnic lunch at the temple before walking to a small waterfall nearby. There’s an alternative route that goes past another waterfall and some caves, but it’s steeper and can be tricky.
Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest)
Time: 20-minute drive to the base from Paro
4-5 hour round trip walk
Difficulty level: Moderate
Tiger’s Nest (Taktshang Goempa) is one of Bhutan’s most famous sites. It’s built on a cliff 900 meters above the valley. The legend says Guru Rinpoche meditated in a cave here after flying in on a tiger. The hike takes 4-5 hours and offers great views of the monastery and the valley. You can also arrange for horses or mules to help make the journey easier.
Taktshang to Drukgyel Dzong Hike
Time: 2-3 hours from the Taktshang trailhead or 3-4 hours from Taktshang to Drukgyel Dzong.
Difficulty level: Moderate
If you still have energy after visiting Tiger’s Nest, you can continue on to Drukgyel Dzong. The trail takes you along a mountain ridge and down to Drukgyel Dzong with beautiful views of Paro Valley. Your car can pick you up below Drukgyel Dzong.
Bumdra Hike
Time: 6-7 hours hike.
Difficulty level: Strenuous
Bumdra is located at 3800 meters above Paro Valley. The hike starts at the Taktshang base and follows the same trail until you reach a turnoff. The trail gets steeper as you climb towards Bumdra Monastery, a peaceful place where you can rest and enjoy a picnic lunch. The views are incredible from the top, and you can explore the surrounding area before descending through the forest. The hike ends at Kuenga High School, where a car will take you back to the hotel.
Sagala Hike to Haa Valley
Time: 3-4 hours to climb Sagala pass
2-3 hours to descend to Haa
Total 6-7 hours hike
2-3 hours’ drive from Haa to Paro
Difficulty level: Moderate to Strenuous
The Sagala Hike offers a beautiful all-day walk through forests and across mountains. You’ll start at Balakha village and climb up through the forest before reaching Sagala pass, where you’ll get views of Drukgyel Dzong, Taktshang, and Jhomolhari. After crossing the pass, descend to Haa Valley, passing meadows where yaks and cows graze. At the end of the hike, you’ll be picked up for a short drive back to Paro.
Jele Dzong Hike
Time: 5 hours round trip
Difficulty level: Moderate
A visit to Jele Dzong is a nice way to spend the day after visiting the National Museum. The trail starts from a village above the museum and gradually ascends through the forest. When you reach the top, you’ll have beautiful views of Paro Valley. On the way down, you can choose an alternative path through the forest, following trails made by yaks and cattle.
Jele Dzong was built in the 15th century by Ngawang Chogyel, the great-grandfather of the Zhabdrung. The Zhabdrung is said to have been protected by the deity Mahakala on his journey to Thimphu, with the name “Jele” meaning separation, where they parted.