Hiking to TIGER'S NEST Monastery + Spicy BHUTANESE FOOD | Paro, Bhutan

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After spending a day exploring the beautiful Haa Valley in Bhutan, I began my eighth and final day in Bhutan with a trip to Tiger’s Nest Monastery! Come along with me as I hike to Tiger’s Nest and enjoy some hot and spicy Bhutanese food in Paro, Bhutan!

Tiger’s Nest is a Buddhist Monastery that clings to the side of a cliff near Paro. It’s the number one tourist attraction in the country and is the main thing I wanted to see on my trip. But first, I had to have some breakfast with my friend and guide Tsheten from MyBhutan!

My traditional breakfast consisted of a large, dense wheat ball, super spicy ezay, and chicken curry with chilies. It was a dense and hearty meal perfect for the weather, but it wasn’t my favorite breakfast overall.

Next, we had a two-hour drive ahead of us to Paro. We took the same road we came in on because the only other road in and out of Haa was under construction. Along the way, I saw the second-tallest mountain in Bhutan, Jomolhari. After an hour and 45 minutes, we entered Paro Valley and eventually the city itself.

In town, we stopped at the same shop I stopped at on my first day in Bhutan to buy a mask. I bought a beautiful blue one with skulls around its crown for 8,500 Nu/$112.57 USD. It was so worth the price! Then, we drove 20 minutes to the trail to Tiger’s Nest.

You have to hike the path through a forest to get there. It was brutal and the sun was scorching. I made it to the halfway point 50 minutes in and stopped at Taktsang Cafeteria to have a quick lunch of red rice, scrambled eggs, chili, potato, radish, and dal.

The potatoes were good and hot, while the radish was nice and creamy. I added some of the gravy from the radishes to the rice. I decided to leave the chilies alone and give myself a break from the heat. The scrambled eggs were nice and oily.

It was a lot steeper going forward. I could see Tiger’s Nest and a couple of other monasteries. I got a closer view of three or four of the monasteries I saw earlier. At the viewpoint, I got a gorgeous view of Tiger’s Nest. I wouldn’t be able to film or take photos inside, but this was the experience of a lifetime.

Finally, we made it to the security check, where I had to pack up all of my stuff and put it in a locker.

My experience at Tiger’s Nest Monastery was one for the ages! It’s a beautiful, 17th-century monastery and is a must-visit when you come to Bhutan. I suggest starting at 8 in the morning. It’s made up of shrines dedicated to the second Buddha and is incredible. I lit a butter lamp to pray for my friends and family and everyone affected by COVID-19 while I was there.

Then, we had to climb back down to the car. The hike down was more difficult than I anticipated. You have to go super slow because it’s easy to slip. In all, the trip took 4 hours!

From there, we headed to the Rinpung Dzong, which is the fortress of Paro. It was built before Tiger’s Nest in the 17th century. The fortress was gorgeous and reminded me of Punakha Dzong Fortress. Inside are colorful paintings of gods on the walls, courtyards, administrative buildings, and the central tower.

About 160 monks live in the fortress. There was a lower level, where there’s a balcony where you can see a palace in the distance that offers the best view of Paro. You can see the main town, the rice fields, and the river.

There were also roosters roaming the fortress because in the olden days, there were no alarm clocks, so the roosters wake them up in the morning!

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About Me:

My name is David Hoffmann. For the last 12 years, I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food, and history! Since starting David’s Been Here in 2008, I have traveled to over 1,100 destinations in 77 countries, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube channel, travel blog, and social media sites.

I focus a great deal on food and historical sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, from casual street food to gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning about the local history and culture.

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