Paro Travel

No trip to Bhutan is complete without experiencing the iconic, cliff-hanging Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang). The spiritual crown jewel of the Kingdom is one of the most venerated Buddhist sites in the world. This seventeenth-century gold-roofed monastic complex was built on the site of a cave that Guru Rinpoche, an eighth-century master who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, reached on the back of a flying tiger. There, he meditated for exactly three years, three months, and three days to eradicate the area of demons. Thanks to the steep 2,950-foot ascent, you should save this challenging half-day hike for the end of your trip, once you’ve fully acclimatized. Enjoy a mountainside picnic en route—and schedule a traditional hot stone bath and herbal treatment for that evening. 

Famed for its floating goddess statue, Chumphu Nye is an equally significant Buddhist pilgrimage site near Paro, but lesser known. The easy two-and-a-half-hour hike follows a gentle river through an enchanting pine forest, bringing you across a wooden footbridge and past fluttering prayer flags and stupas to a grand temple atop a small (but steep) hill located at 10,000 feet altitude. Inside the white temple is a gold statue hovering above the altar.

Shrouded in legend and possibly Bhutan’s oldest temple, Kyichu Lhakhang is said to have been built overnight by a seventh-century Tibetan King on the foot of a giant ogress, paving the way for Buddhism to spread across the land. Visit with an expert guide who can interpret the temple’s detailed murals and symbols.