All activities / Trekking / Hiking / Paro
Trekking / Hiking in Paro
A broad western valley of terraced rice fields and old farmhouses, home to Bhutan's only international airport, the fortress of Rinpung Dzong and the cliffside Taktsang monastery. Paro is the usual entry point to the kingdom and the base for its most famous walk and its spring tshechu.
Why here
The hike to Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest, is the walk that defines Bhutan. The monastery clings to a granite cliff about 900 metres above the Paro valley floor, at roughly 3,120 metres, on the spot where Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown in on a tigress and meditated in the eighth century. The trail climbs through blue-pine forest hung with prayer flags to a teahouse viewpoint, then drops and climbs a final stone staircase across a waterfall to the monastery gate. It is a half-day out and back, four to six hours, steep but non-technical, and the payoff is one of the most photographed sights in the Himalaya. Because everything in Bhutan is guided, you walk with a licensed guide who can read the murals and shrines inside once you reach the top.
Best months
The hike runs year round, but spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) give the clearest mountain air and the most stable weather. Summer brings monsoon cloud and slippery mud; winter mornings are cold and the upper steps can ice up. The round trip gains about 900 metres, so altitude and gradient matter more than distance. Ponies can carry riders as far as the teahouse, but not on the final descent and climb to the monastery.
Getting there & around
Paro has Bhutan's only international airport, so most trips start here. The trailhead is a short drive north of Paro town; the climb takes four to six hours return with a break at the teahouse cafe. Travel is guided only: you book through a licensed Bhutanese operator who arranges the guide, transport and permits, and you pay the Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per adult per night (the 2026 rate, in force to August 2027) on top of tour costs. Carry water, sun cover and layers, and start early to beat both the heat and the crowds.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate
Schools & guides (2)
Breathe Bhutan
OutfitterBreathe Bhutan is a bespoke operator founded in Thimphu in 2014 by Kinley Wangchuk, who earlier started Bhutan's first private FM station and its first live-music venue before moving into travel. Licensed by the Department of Tourism, the company designs private itineraries and guided day walks such as the Taktsang hike, and has hosted film and travel crews including The Bucket List Family and Kara and Nate.
Bridge to Bhutan
OutfitterBridge to Bhutan is a small family firm in Thimphu run by brothers Lotay and Fin Norbu, set up as a social enterprise after the two reunited while studying in the United States. Lotay has held a Bhutanese guide licence since 1999. The company runs private, bespoke cultural tours and day hikes, including the climb to Taktsang, and won a Tripadvisor GreenLeaders award in 2024 for its low-impact approach.