Hiking Tiger’s Nest - Everything You Need To Know

Tiger’s Nest - Taktsang Monastery

When you do a quick search on Bhutan, the first and most iconic thing unique to the country is Tiger’s Nest. Hanging precariously on the edge of the cliff in Paro, Tiger’s Nest was constructed in 1962 and is one of Bhutan’s most sacred sites.

The hike takes about half the day to ascend & descend which makes it a perfect day trip for your Bhutan itinerary. No trip is complete without a visit to this famed Tiger’s Nest.

Hiking Up to Tiger’s Nest

Difficulty: 7/10

Certain parts are quite steep but mostly, it is just a uphill walk to the monastery. Most people would be able to hike up. Otherwise, you can also ride a horse to take you up to the middle point of the hike. However, that is not recommended as it could be dangerous due to the steep hills and slippery tracks. Also, it toes the line of animal cruelty to carry you up to a sacred site isn’t it? I will recommend taking your time to reach the base of Tiger’s Nest and you will feel the ultimate satisfaction of the hike.

As for what to wear, you should prepare a lightweight cardigan that you can remove and pack into your bag along the way. Good hiking shoes with grip is highly recommended as well as it is a slippery earthy trail. You can carry a small day pack with water, raincoat, snacks & some wipes to refresh yourself.

Horses at the base for those who need it

There are also little stalls on the base to sell trinkets, souvenirs and walking sticks. You can purchase them or bring your own to facilitate your hike. For me, I went without a hiking stick as I am small in size and the hike was quite easy for me to conquer.

Be rewarded with the stunning view of Bhutan’s forest as you hike up Tiger’s Nest

As you begin your hike, you will notice a slow steep inclination along the way. The starting point is pretty far away from Tiger’s Nest and if you are lucky to be hiking on a clear day, you may spot a tiny glimpse of the sacred temple perched on the cliff.

The pathway up is in a zig-zag formation which is something you will get used to if you conquered different hikes around Bhutan. It makes climbing up the elevation much easier but you cover more footsteps along the way. There are also man-made paths that cuts through them but of course, it is much more steeper and definitely more for fitness enthusiasts. We managed to do both the zig-zag paths and short cuts to avoid horses and masses of people.

Personally, I felt that my body was able to sprint up but I was panting so much due to the higher altitude compared to Singapore. You will definitely find yourself breathing heavily while you watch the locals ascend like it is nothing.

There are a few resting stops along the way and my kind guide, Sonam, packed my favourite snacks of butter biscuits, baked fried corn & hot (yes, piping hot!) tea to energise me. His dedication to his service was impeccable and I definitely did not expect him to remember my favourite food. The hot tea also helped to soothe my throat and body as the air was cold.

As you ascend, you will see beautiful prayer flags and prayer wheels adorning the route up. There was also a cafe in the mid point for people to rest their legs and refuel for the day. A fun fact, some of the cafe workers actually hike up and down daily for a living. Talk about the disparity of fitness. In Singapore, we barely have to walk much to get to where we want. It definitely leaves a little reminder for us to always be grateful and appreciate all the conveniences we have in life.

I had my eyes set on conquering Tiger’s Nest so we did not stop for a rest and proceeded with our hike. After a couple of hours, we reached the viewing point where you can snap a stunning photograph of Tiger’s Nest sitting right at the edge of the cliff. I was in awe for a good 10 minutes as not only was it breathtaking, the architecture itself was such a marvel! All I could ask was “How did they build this?” When this view is right in front of you, you will realise that whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve it. Anything is possible.

The final push to Tiger’s Nest is probably the hardest out of the entire hike as you have to descend down steep steps and cross a bridge over a river before climbing up the stairs again to the temple. Definitely a workout but you will be rewarded with lots of blessings when you enter Tiger’s Nest. Trust me, it is all worth it.

As Tiger’s Nest is a sacred cluster of temples, the usual protocols apply and we have to surrender our bags, phones & cameras to the security before we can tour the grounds. This is to ensure full respect to the divine and also to preserve the divinity in the area. It was definitely a memorable experience as you are put in a position to immerse yourself in the rich culture, history & beautiful art without the constant worry of getting the best shot. My memories of Tiger’s Nest was etched in my mind unlike a digital image that can be easily forgotten.

After the tour of the grounds of Tiger’s Nest, we hiked up even higher to the tip to have an unblocked view of Paro. I have never been at such heights before and looking down at all the little homes & establishments makes you feel so tiny in this great big world.

A common sight in Bhutan are stray dogs and we had the company of a handsome one munching on our tea snacks. We set up a little picnic to enjoy some hot tea, light bites and took the opportunity to snap some of Earth’s glorious creations.

Have you ever been so high up that you can watch rain pouring down? We were blessed with such a stunning visual as Mother Nature rained down on the opposite mountains. It was truly a sight to behold.

After enjoying the beautiful sights, we embarked on our descend down. Midway, we were actually caught in a huge storm and it made the journey down a little bit more difficult due to the slippery muddy tracks. Being a 10/10 guide as usual, Sonam even packed a raincoat for me to keep me protected from the heavy rain. It was a very fun descend as Sonam helped me down and made sure I did not slip and fall. We actually ended up running down the hill and dodging people as they are struggling not to slip down the slopes. We made it safely back to the car in record time and off we go back to the hotel to wash up and end the day.

The trek to Tiger’s Nest was extremely memorable and I hope you guys will enjoy your journey there as well. Thank you for reading and to more adventures ahead,

xx,

Winter