What are the most spectacular roads in Bhutan?
Get ready to face a drive in the Himalayas while travelling to Bhutan, a country located at the crossroads of East Asia and South Asia. Surrounded by the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of India, this landlocked country comprises mountains, forests, alpine meadows, and glacial lakes, while providing great options for a mountain drive. The country experiences a range of climates, from subtropical in the south to alpine in the north, so it’s better to check the road conditions as they can change without notice.
Being part of the Himalayas mountain range, driving in the country offers hundreds of challenging mountain roads such as the one to Thrumshing La, climbing up to 3,752m (12,309ft) above sea level, in the Lhuntse District, the narrow road to Chele La, a mountain pass at 3,796m (12,454ft) above sea level located in the Paro District, or the road to Yotong La, a mountain pass at an elevation of 3,436m (11,272ft) asl, in the Bumthang District. And if you want to learn more about driving in the country, don't forget to check out our content about the highest roads in Bhutan, where altitude and adventure will offer you a breathtaking challenge.
What are the highest roads in Bhutan?
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a very mountainous country located in south-central Asia, on the eastern ridges of the Himalayas. It is about 47,000 kilometres - roughly the size of Switzerland. The country is a rugged land of steep mountains and deep valleys. It’s bounded by India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Tibetan autonomous region of China. Many mountain peaks in northern Bhutan reach heights of over 7.000 meters.
A sensational narrow road to the summit of Chele La
Chele La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,796m (12,454ft) above sea level, located in the western part of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.
A road with countless curves to the summit of Pele La
Pele La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,423m (11,230ft) above sea level, located in the Wangdue Phodrang District of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.
The breathtaking road to Yotong La
Yotong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,436m (11,272ft) above sea level, located in Bhutan. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.
The curvy road to Thrumshing La isn't an easy one
Thrumshing La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,752m (12,309ft) above sea level, located in Bhutan. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.
Dochu La
Dochu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.126m (10,255ft) above the sea level, located in the Thimphu District of Bhutan.
Kori La: Driving the treacherous Bumthang-Ura Highway in Bhutan
Kori La is a high-mountain pass that serves as a critical yet exhausting link in eastern Bhutan. Reaching an elevation of 2,406m (7,893ft) above sea level in the Mongar District, the road through the pass—part of the Bumthang-Ura Highway (PNH1)—is a test of endurance. While officially paved, the reality of the surface is a mix of broken asphalt and gravel sections that have deteriorated significantly since its construction in the 1990s.
Shertang La
Shertang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.573m (11,722ft) above the sea level, located in the Bumthang District of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.
How to drive the curvy paved road to Thrimshing La?
Thrimshing La (also known as Trumshing La) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,682m (12,080ft) above sea level, located in the Bumthang District of Bhutan. It's one of the highest roads in the country, carved into the rugged Black Mountains that divide central and eastern Bhutan.
Driving the road to Ohmba: Bhutan’s narrow cliffside ascent
Located in the Trashiyangtse District of eastern Bhutan, the road to the mountain town of Ohmba is a nerve-shredding test of precision. While the surface is technically asphalted, don't let that fool you; this is a single-lane mountain track carved into the side of a near-vertical cliff. Reaching an elevation of 2,052m (6,732ft) above sea level, it is a route where the margin for error is non-existent and the drops are measured in hundreds of meters.
Yongphu La: Driving the steep mountain pass of eastern Bhutan
Located in the heart of the Trashigang District in eastern Bhutan, Yongphu La is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 2,610m (8,562ft) above sea level. This pass is a critical point on the journey through the rugged eastern Himalayas, offering drivers some of the most dramatic views and technical challenges in the Kingdom.
Best Way to travel to Bhutan
We often come to a point in our lives where novelty becomes more than just a luxury; it becomes a necessity. At times like these, as you will find, most local activities will seem very insufficient and far from fulfilling. It is for that precise reason you will want to depart into the unknown, and discover what may lie abroad, beyond the confinements of home that is.
The road to Xia Quepu Lake is not for the faint of heart
Xia Quepu is a glacial lake at an elevation of 4.918m (16,135ft) above the sea level, located in Kangmar County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Tremo La: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Tremo La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.705m (15,436ft) above sea level, located on the Tibet/Bhutan border. The area was closed to residents and foreigners in 1962.
More than 100 hairpin turns to Sangbu La
Sangbu La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.287m (17,345ft) above sea level, located on the border of China and Bhutan.
How to drive the wild paved road to Yongko La?
Yongko La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.760m (5,774ft) above sea level, located in the Mongar District of Bhutan.
How to get by car to Latong La?
Latong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.750m (9,022ft) above sea level, located in the Mongar District of Bhutan.
How to drive the narrow-paved road to Lawa La?
Lawa La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,349m (10,987ft) above sea level, located in the Wangdue Phodrang District of central Bhutan.
How to drive the military track to Namgung La
Namgung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,830m (15,846ft) above sea level, located in the Lhuntse District of Bhutan. It is one of the highest roads of Bhutan.