Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, is built into a sheer granite cliff high above the Paro valley. Legend says Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a tigress and meditated in a cave on the site; the monastery around the cave was first built in the late seventeenth century.

The trail climbs through pine forest strung with prayer flags, with the monastery appearing and disappearing around each bend. A cafeteria at the halfway point has a superb view and is far enough for some. The final stretch drops into a gorge beside a waterfall before climbing to the gate, and inside you visit the temples and the sacred cave.

Start early, wear good walking shoes and carry water and a light jacket. We usually schedule the hike towards the end of your trip, once you have adjusted to the altitude. Cameras and bags are left at the entrance to the monastery.