Chele La Singletrack
High-altitude singletrack from Bhutan's highest motorable pass.
Start at 3,780 m on Chele La and descend through rhododendron forest back into the Paro valley, riding two different routes down over five days with a rest day worked in for altitude. Built for confident mountain bikers, not a first-timer's tour.
- Chele La pass start
- Rhododendron forest trails
- Paro valley descent
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Duration
- 5 days
- Max altitude
- 3,780 m (Chele La)
Why this trip works
- Best Attractions
Where this trip takes you
- 01Chele La prayer-flag pass
Bhutan's highest motorable pass, and the ride's start line.
- 02Rhododendron forest descent
Technical singletrack through blooming forest in spring.
- 03Paro valley floor finish
Two different descent routes finish in the valley over the five days.
- 01Chele La prayer-flag pass
- See the gallery
- Things To Do
- Start at 3,780 m on Chele La, Bhutan's highest motorable pass
- Ride two distinct technical descents through rhododendron forest
- Take a built-in rest day to adjust to the altitude
- Photograph the pass's prayer flags at sunrise before riding out
- Hotels
- BoutiqueBoutique Lodge, Paro
- Best Season
- Spring · Mar - May
- Autumn · Sep - Nov
Rhododendrons bloom in spring; autumn brings the clearest descents.
The route
Hover or tap a dzongkhag for what this trip does there - shown in visiting order, west to east.
See the ground before you book
Footage shot on the same trails, passes, and valleys Chele La Singletrack travels through - filmed by us, not stock.
Taking a Group Over Chele La
Guiding travellers up to Bhutan's highest motorable pass, through cold rain and fog.
The Ride to Chele La
The long climb out of the Paro valley to the pass and its prayer-flag ridge.
Riding with the Paro Dragon Riders
Two days of enduro: the Divine Madman trail first, then singletrack around Punakha.
A closer look
Other journeys
A few more starting points - every trip is customizable around your dates and pace.
5 daysModerateMountain BikingPhobjikha Valley Ride
Singletrack and farm roads through Bhutan's glacial crane valley.
3,360 m (Lawala Pass)Lawala Pass descentPhobjikha glacial valleyGangtey MonasteryView trip
7 daysEasyCultural ToursCultural Bhutan
The classic west-to-central loop through dzongs and valleys.
3,140 m (Taktsang viewpoint)Paro & ThimphuPunakha DzongTiger's Nest hikeView trip
10 daysChallengingTrekkingDruk Path Trek
A high-altitude trek between Paro and Thimphu, lake to lake.
4,210 m (Phume La)Alpine lakes4,200m passesCamp under the starsView trip
This is just the starting point
Every trip here is a template, not a fixed package - tell us your dates, pace, and interests and we'll customize Chele La Singletrack (or build something new) around exactly what you want.