Trek To The Tigers Nest Temple

The adventure

Legend says Guru Rinpoche flew here on the back of a tigress in the eighth century and meditated in a cave in the rock face. The monastery built around that cave in 1692 seems to grow straight out of the cliff, its golden roofs and white walls stacked on ledges that look impossible to reach.

The trail climbs steadily through blue pine and rhododendron, hung with strings of prayer flags snapping in the wind. Then, at the viewpoint, the whole monastery appears across the gorge, close enough to hear the bells. The last stretch drops down hundreds of stone steps to a waterfall and back up the other side to the gate. Inside, butter lamps flicker in dark shrine rooms, monks chant and the air smells of incense, a long way from the car park below.

Why it’s epic

The monastery was founded in 1692 around a cave where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated.
It sits at roughly 3,100 metres, about 900 metres above the floor of the Paro valley.
A fire badly damaged it in 1998, and it was painstakingly restored in the following years.
The approach to Paro airport, threading between Himalayan ridges, is an adventure in itself.

What it is

Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest, is a monastery perched on a cliff 900 metres above the Paro valley.

How to do it

Travel to Bhutan requires a visa and a daily Sustainable Development Fee. The hike from the car park takes about two to three hours up.

Top tip

Start early to avoid the heat and crowds.

Need to know

All visitors pay Bhutan's daily Sustainable Development Fee and need a visa arranged before travel; most book through a licensed tour operator.
The hike is about two to three hours up with around 500 metres of ascent, at altitude, so take it slowly.
Photography is not allowed inside the temples, and bags and phones are left at the entrance.
Spring and autumn give the clearest skies; summer is monsoon season.

Plan this trip

Rough cost: £2,000 to £5,000 per person, including flights from the UK
Time needed: 5 hours
Best time to go: March to May, September to November
Fly into: PBH airport

The daily Sustainable Development Fee and the cost of guided travel make Bhutan pricier than its neighbours.

Make it happen

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Why it’s on my list

Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.