Why a flying tigress? Well, because during the 7th century, Guru Rinpoche β Bhutanβs βPrecious Masterβ (the one who brought Buddhism into Bhutan) β flew to a cave here on the back of a flying tigress. That tigress was a transformation of his Tibetan concubine: Yeshe Tsogyal. Guru Rinpoche then meditated at a holy cave here for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 3 hours, to subdue the demons there.
At around 1692, Paro Taktsang / Taktsang Monastery / Taktsang Palphug Monastery (popularly known as βTigerβs Nest Monasteryβ) was built around the holy caves here. Unfortunately, a fire in 1998 completely burned the monastery down. In 2005, Bhutanβs Fourth King of Bhutan commissioned the rebuilt of this monastery & temple complex, at a cost of more than USD$2m.
What an amazing background story about Tigerβs Nest!
Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) is a sacred site, a heritage symbol. It would be odd to leave Bhutan without paying a visit to its most iconic landmark.
Perfectly planned to be the climax of our Bhutan trip,
On our 6th morning in Bhutan, finally it was time to hike to this legendary monastery β Paro Taktsang.
This post was originally written after my first time hiking Tigerβs Nest in Dec 2017, with my family. Most of the information here is related as per that experience. In Dec 2019, I hiked Tigerβs Nest again as part of a spiritual program called Neykor.
Table of Contents
- On our 6th morning in Bhutan, finally it was time to hike to this legendary monastery β Paro Taktsang.
- You have two options to do your Tiger Nest Trek
- Arriving at Tigerβs Nest Monastery
- What to know BEFORE you make your trek to Tigerβs Nest Monastery!
- What to wear for hiking to Tigerβs Nest
- More tips for your trek to Tigerβs Nest!
After breakfast at the hotel, reaching the valley base at about 9am, our guide, Namgay, fromΒ Druk Asia,Β insistedΒ on carrying my backpack (perks of my petite size I guess! =P) for me, then proceeded to stuff in 5 bottles of mineral water and adjusted the straps to fit his build. My Mum & I each acquired a walking stick from a stall. As for my brother, Iβm sure he trusts in his own balancing skills very well, and off we embarked on our hike.
You have two options to do your Tiger Nest Trek
(without the help of a tigress)
Option 1. Ride a horse to shorten the journey

For a small fee, you can ride a horse/donkey/pony/mule halfway up. The animal will take you from the valley base to somewhere below the cafeteria (sorry Iβm not too sure whereβs the exact drop-off point), then you continue hiking uphill. The animals are not allowed to carry people downhill though, so youβll need to walk down regardless.
| But, I suggest that you do NOT rent a horse. |
People will tell you itβs completely safe, but I was there and noted the animals had been trained to walk at the edge of the cliff. Human hikers get the priority on the safer side of the trek to Tigerβs Nest. If using a horse isnβt riskier, I donβt know what is.
Other than the danger, thereβs also a deeper, spiritual reason why the riding method is not a recommendation. If you ride an animal up to get to Paro Taktsang, you split the good merit accumulated from the journey β with the animal. In the higher spectrum of matters, itβs never good to make an animal suffer for your convenience.

To the locals, the hike to Tigerβs Nest is considered a pilgrimage, and youβll accumulate very good merit to hike on foot all the way to the monastery.
If youβre in good health generally and have good legs, I say skip the animals!
| Read my post detailing with photos why you shouldnβt use a horse! |
Option 2 (recommended): Hike to Tiger’s Nest on foot!

From the valley base, youβll gain 900m in altitude and finally reach Tigerβs Nest at a height of 3,120m. Isnβt that exciting to hear?!? Tigerβs Nest ranks top of the places to visit in Bhutan. Iβve been waiting for this hike!
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The terrain on Tigerβs Nest trail
The trail in dry weather isΒ dried soil, sand, rocks, and gravelΒ β dirt path. At times, the views get spectacular. It was super tempting to constantly stop and take photos (and actually to catch our breath 😂).

1.5 hours since starting off, we reached the cafeteria
.. where I had a big cup of coffee and much-welcomed sugar crackers!
Sitting outdoors, we admired Tiger’s Nest from here. Best cafe view ever, don’t you think? 😍

After recharging our energy, we continued on our way!
11.40am: Seeing Tigerβs Nest monastery nearer now
The Bhutanese relates the story of Paro Taktsang as factual, not as myth or legend. Regardless whether the modern-day you believe or not, when Tigerβs Nest appear before you after hours of hiking, you cannot help but be fascinated by everything about this monastery.
Finally, we reached this section with great views of Tigerβs Nest. Weβre so near now! Our guide sat nearby while we waited for our turns to snap photos at the ledge. Luckily, it wasnβt too filled with people this season (winter in December).
| Also read: How to stay healthy & strong on your winter trip, using TCM wellness methods! |

Btw, there are some 800 steps of a stone staircase before you’ll reach the monastery
At the very last part of the trail leading to the monastery, thereβs a series of some 800 stone steps you need to conquer. Youβll walk down the majority of the steps first, cross a small bridge past a 200-foot-tall waterfall which drops into a sacred pool, continue more steps upwards, and finally arrive at the entrance. For many people, these stone steps can be a struggle. But, itβs not a competition. You can and should take your time.
Arriving at Tigerβs Nest Monastery
At the entrance, Namgay gathered our cameras and handphones into my backpack, to be kept away together in a locker. After he cleared security with some documents, we entered. My Mum was demoralized to see further steps to climb. A stranger cheerfully said itβs just these steps here, thereβll be no more afterwards. He was lying, but it was a white lie 😉 Youβve already gotten this far!
Namgay then led us through the temples (think of themΒ as shrines β little individual religious rooms) at Tigerβs Nest. With no gadgets to distract, no access to social media, no way to post Instagram Stories, no photographs to shoot from cameras, we listened in full attention to his relating of stories of Guru Rinpoche and the monastery.
Some of the temples contain huge stupas and statues.
Itβs amazing to imagine how the people brought them to this monastery! Namgay depicted a story of one statue (I think it was Guru Rinpocheβs) which was initially at Punakha Dzong, bound for Tigerβs Nest. The devotees attempted to carry the statue upwards. The trail to Paro Taktsang was very challenging and a struggle for the humans.Β The statue actually told the people to leave it there. A speaking statue! So, the people left the statue there and continued to the monastery. By the time they reached Tigerβs Nest, that huge status was already there. Whoa.
I did do further reading afterward, but I guess some magic is best left untouched.
Trek Difficulty Level of Tigerβs Nest

Thereβs one part of the trail before the cafeteria, where you can take theΒ longer but less steepΒ route or, theΒ shorter but steeperΒ route. Don’t ask me how to identify where this part is, because I don’t know. But your Bhutanese guide might know exactly where.
I took the former in 2017 & the latter in 2019. For the steeper route, it can get quite tiring. For both hikes, I took frequent, short breaks.
If youβre in pretty okay or good shape, each direction should take you between 2 to 3.5 hours. How you get to Tigerβs Nest would be how you descend.
How far is the trail to Tiger’s Nest?
The total distance to get to Tiger’s Nest is about 9.5km (the shorter route), according to the tracker on Apple Watch for my 2019 hike.
Getting to Tigerβs Nest on Dec 2017:
β’ At 9am, we began the hike with my elderly mother.
β’ By 10.30am, we had reached the cafeteria.
β’ At 12.30pm, we entered the monastery.
Hiking to Tigerβs Nest on Dec 2019:
β’ We started at 8.30am.
β’ By 9.30am, we were having coffee & resting at the cafeteria, waiting for the rest to reach.
β’ At 11am, we reached the viewpoint with the metal railing and stopped quite long, doing media shoots etc.
β’ At 11.40am, we stepped into Tigerβs Nest.
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Tigerβs Nest trail terrain
These photos were taken in the first week of Dec β19!

In terms of the terrain, itβs much of a ‘walking upward hike‘ all the way β might get pretty steep sometimes but not crazy like how Mt Batur in Bali was to me. Neither do you have to get on hands or knees or hold onto trees for balance unlike hiking Preikestolen in Norway. Itβs important to wear shoes with sufficient friction, sole and ankle support (more about my shoes at Tips section below).
The biggest challenge for hiking Tigerβs Nest is probably the quick elevation, letting you gain 900m in height soon to reach the monastery at 3,120m. Take your time to get there and listen to your body, especially breathing ease/difficulty.
For the hike down, it can get a little slippery. Watch your steps. Weβre very grateful to our Druk Asia guide for always keeping a lookout for my Mum, and of course the winter weather for holding up!
| Check this post for an idea of how winter in Bhutan is like! |
Should you persevere to reach Tigerβs Nest?
During the days before in Bhutan, the small hikes were posing a challenge for my Dad (73 years old, not too fit) already, so he opted out of this hike to Tigerβs Nest totally, choosing to rest at the hotel (our guide arranged lunch for him with the hotel). The rest of us, including my elderly Mum (almost 70 years old), made it to the monastery with no hiccups.
Some hikers will choose to stop at the viewpoint with the row of prayer wheels, while others prefer to call it a day at the cafeteria and turn back. Whether you should hike all the way to Tigerβs Nest or not really depends on your fitness level, but Iβll say donβt push it if your health is not too good and especially if youβre an elderly person, or has known heart/lung medical conditions.
What to know BEFORE you make your trek to Tigerβs Nest Monastery!
- The weather and your luck willΒ determineΒ your hiking outcome. Sometimes, clouds will cover the monastery. At times, it rains and judging the steepness of the slopes, youβll do good toΒ wear hiking shoes with good friction. (Ps: it hardly ever rains in Dec in Bhutan, but if it does, it’s a sign of snow soon.)
- Cars can only stop at the carpark at the valley base. The only way up from the carpark is by foot or by a horse.
- Youβll need to remove shoes before entering the temples within the monastery. Having socks with you will be a good idea, because the flooring is cold and your feet will get dirty too.
- If youβre feeling too tired, you can rest at the cafeteria.Β From the cafeteria, itβs still a significant distance and quite a steep hike to Tigerβs Nest.
- The cafeteria also has lunch available (vegetarian food, not too tasty TBH, but imagine the staff having to hike up every day to cook and clean β gotta give them credits!).

- Resources say the monastery closes from 1pm β 2pm for lunch, but when we were there, I checked with our guide and he was sure that it wonβt close. We were inside Tigerβs Nest Monastery from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
What to wear for hiking to Tigerβs Nest

When we got off the vehicle at the carpark, the 9am temperature in winter was definitely chilly enough to make me hop around from being cold. (Dec 2017) My guide and driver advised us to leave our very thick winter jackets in the car, because weβll get hot very fast while hiking. They were right.
Itβs very cold at the monastery.
Very glad I packed my down jacket in my backpack in Dec 2019, as it felt very cold at Tigerβs Nest itself!
After adjusting my health with TCM, I hiked Tigerβs Nest again in the first week of Dec 2019, and finally felt how cold it actually was at the top. This time, I had packed my down jacket and winter gloves in my backpack, and took them out to wear at the monastery, and could still feel cold. In Dec 2017, I probably had not been able to feel the actual coldness because my body wasnβt too sensitive to the surroundings.
You should be in respectable clothing.
Paro Taktsang is a monastery with temples within, plus many religious statues, and monks around.
Please donβt just wear shorts, T-shirts, sleeveless tops, sheer clothing, or merely sports bras revealing the mid-riff (#InstagramInfluenza). Your jacket should be zipped up, caps and sunglasses removed, before entering.
Iβll recommend layers that you can add/remove and still carry along without much burden. When youβre hiking, youβll get warm very fast. At the monastery itself, it gets cold, especially the floor.
Wear proper shoes, not slippers.
We hiked on a sunny day and the ground was dry. If itβs wet weather, the ground will turn muddy and slippery. Make sure your footwear is appropriate for the weather youβre going. Falling and twisting an ankle will be no fun for everyone.
I saw some elderly ladies wearing slippers, struggling along the stairs towards the monastery. In sunny weather, the ground is dry terrain though it can still get slippery cos of the sand. I wore Skechers trainers (light and very comfortable) in Dec 2017 and they were sufficient. In Dec 2019, I wore proper hiking shoes which provided me ease of mind with good friction.
When it rains, the ground turns into mud and you really donβt want to slip and fall. Btw, your shoes will be coated with dirt and dust after this hike.
Opt for thicker, darker socks.
Youβll have to remove shoes before entering the inner temples β which are about 6 or 8 of them. The floor is very cold, hence thicker socks will be good. Also, skip the white socks or youβll have to discard them later.
Top //
β’ Uniqlo Airism sports bra
β’ Uniqlo Extra Heat-Tech long-sleeved top
β’ Knitted sweater (viscose blend)
β’ + a Zara down jacket at the monastery
β’ leather gloves
β’ scarf
Bottom //
β’ Uniqlo Extra Heat-Tech pants
β’ Onzie yoga pants (exact same pair as the first trip)
β’ Uniqlo Heat-Tech socks
β’ Quechua hiking shoes (Forclaz 100 mid womenβs waterproof mountain hiking boots)
Top //
β’ Uniqlo Airism cotton tank top
β’ Soft knit sweater from H&M, not thick at all
β’ scarf
Bottom //
β’ Onzie yoga pants (Shop on Evolve & get 10% off with code YIELDKIT)
β’ Cotton thin socks
β’ Skechers trainers
More tips for your trek to Tigerβs Nest!
Donβt hike Tigerβs Nest on your first few days in Bhutan.
First, for altitude reasons. Secondly, if you hardly work out, your legs will ache not the next day, but the day after! I came across another tour companyβs itinerary with this as the second dayβs activity β zZzz.Β (I usedΒ Druk AsiaΒ and couldnβt be more satisfied with my choice!)
Sunscreen + sunglasses are a good idea.
The sun can get in your eyes. And also, the sandy ground can be very bright from reflecting the sunβs rays.
Bring a bottle of water with you to rehydrate.
Pack some snacks with you.
At the cafe, you can get tea/coffee and sugar crackers to replenish some energy before continuing to the monastery. At the monastery, I heard people saying theyβre really hungry, and still have a long way to hike down to the cafe. My Mum ate my emergency packet of biscuits to replenish her low energy at the monastery. By the time we reached the cafeteria for lunch, it was already almost 3pm.
Buy Rent a walking stick before you start.
For nu50 or USD$1 each, you can rent buy 1 or 2 sticks as you wish at the valley base, where all the horses and local stalls are at. Thereβll be no more stalls after this section. The walking sticks will give you much better balance, especially for the hike downwards. I chose one thin but sturdy one so itβll not be too heavy (and so I have the other free hand for using my camera). You donβt need to return the walking stick, but you canβt take that stick up the plane either, so please just return it instead of discarding at your hotel or airport. 🤓
Hike smart and regulate your speed.
Donβt be silly and try to cover a lot of ground quickly while walking, then stopping to pant. Hiking to Tigerβs Nest is not a competition. Instead, go at a regular hiking speed but still take frequent, short pauses in order to not overwork your heart. Youβll gain elevation very fast, which means youβll feel short of breath very quickly.
When hiking up, keep to your right, if you see or hear horses coming from the front or back.
For safety reasons, we always stopped to let them pass (and they kick up a lot of dust). Theyβre trained to keep close to the edge of the cliff. We saw a donkey kick a man because he was blocking their path, no kidding! Your guide should always be with you and take care of you.
Donβt ride the horses when itβs wet weather.
Actually, donβt ride the horses.
Watch out for horse poop on the ground.
Drape a scarf to cover your nose.
Youβll probably only read this on my travel blog. The horses and other hikers will kick up dust from the ground when theyβre ahead of you, regardless uphill or downhill. I found my scarf extremely useful as a filter!
Use the washrooms at the cafeteria before continuing your way.
The toilets at the cafeteria are clean and have taps. (I didnβt visit the monastery’s toilets but I did read that they’re in quite appalling conditions..)
Before entering the monastery, youβll need to have your bags, cameras, mobile phones, stored in lockers.
Theyβre very strict about not allowing handphones and cameras into the monastery. Respect this rule and pass your bag to your guide to store in the lockers outside the monastery. But before keeping everything away..
Keep some small notes with you if youβll like to make offerings inside the monastery.
At Tigerβs Nest monastery, thereβre about 5-8 temples from what I remember.
Disconnect from the outside world so you can hike mindfully.
Thereβs very limited data connectivity throughout the trail, which is great because it makes you stay in the present moment!
If you have a tour guide, heβll lead you all the way to the monastery, then explain the stories of the temples.
For othersβ consideration, if you really need to listen to your pop music, use earphones, not blare the music. Other people are meditatively doing this hike and would appreciate a quieter time =)
Have you hiked to Tiger Nestβs before? Or thought of going?
Hereβs a digitally-manipulated photo I created shared on my Instagram!
Hiked: December 2017, December 2019
With special thanks to Druk Asia. Full credits are at the end of my first Bhutan post.
Information resources: Paro Taktsang | Bhutan Tourism Board
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10 comments
Wow!! Amazing article!! Gd tips as a trip too!
I’d love to do this hike someday! It looks so amazing. I think I could handle it but I’m sure those elevation changes are challenging!
I’ve not hiked to Tiger Nest though visited π Truly loved to see to see this monastery from the valley floor. Great to read all tips, will definitely go for it next.
I love this! Tiger’s Nest (and Bhutan in general) has been on my bucketlist for a while π Thanks for all the helpful info about the hike, I found it very interesting.
Thanks a lot for this very informative article. Specially the hike to Tiger Nest. I m planning of going in December this year and as your trip was also during this time, it just very useful for me.
Great to hear, Theresa! All the best for your trip to Bhutan!
Amazing details on your adventure & experience hiking to Tigerβs Nest. I will be in Bhutan in April for 13 days & plan on doing this hike. Did you purchase the tour upon arrival in Bhutan??? And what other places would you recommend are a must see??? Thanks again for sharing, I loved this read!!
I went with Druk Asia (highly recommended) and everything including the itinerary was pre-arranged before we set off for the trip! The travel agency will plan the recommended places into your trip. Hope this helps!
Thanks for this very detailed and informative article. I visited in 2007 and barely made it past the parking lot. The uneven rocks in the beginning were rather daunting and the weather wasn’t great. A walking stick would have helped immensely. Taking a group back in 2021, I’ll try harder because I now know what lies ahead.
Great article. Planning to visit Bhutan in this December. Little skeptical about going for Tiger’s nest now as we are travelling with Kids. Lets see. My kids though have been to Vaishno Devi, India (14Kms hike).
Thanks your articles/blogs on Bhutan are really helping in planning the trip π
Great going!!