Some hikes end with a summit – this one ends at a moastery built into a cliff
Tiger’s Nest is the grand finale of our new Bhutan hiking tour, but there’s plenty to look forward to before we reach that famous trail. Forest paths lead to quiet temples. Lunch is served at a traditional farmhouse. Mountain passes open up to Himalayan views, and each evening ends at a welcoming four- or five-star hotel. A good day’s hike, a good meal, and a comfortable bed. We’re pretty happy with that combination.
Our new 10-day Bhutan: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha & Tiger’s Nest trek brings together the things we love most about traveling on foot: time outside, places we might otherwise pass right by, and the chance to get to know a country beyond its best-known sights.
Built by friends who know Bhutan best
Bhutan isn’t a place you figure out from a guidebook, so we started with the people who know it by heart.
This itinerary was put together by our Bhutanese partner guides, friends we’ve worked with for many years. They know which trails are quiet in the early morning, which farmhouse serves the best lunch, and which bend in the path gives you your first glimpse of Tiger’s Nest. When they tell us a day is worth it, we listen.
We went walking first
Before putting this trip on the calendar, we sent Karen Walker and Julie Hodson to walk the route and help shape the journey. We wanted their honest take on the hiking, the hotels, and how the days fit together. And, of course, we wanted to know what they couldn’t stop talking about when they got home. Julie’s first comment was, “I’d heard so much about Tiger’s Nest and expected it to be beautiful, but nothing prepared me for that first glimpse. It wasn’t just the setting that took my breath away. It was the sense that this place touched something deeper and connected me to something greater than myself. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.” Julie will be leading the fall departure alongside our Bhutanese guides. Between Julie and our partners on the ground, you’ll be walking with people who love sharing this country as much as we do.
A different view around every bend
Our journey begins in Paro, where we explore temples and dzongs, Bhutan’s grand fortress-monasteries, before heading onto the trails above the valley.
At Chele La Pass, we start high, at about 13,000 feet. On a clear day, Himalayan peaks rise on the horizon as we make our way toward Kila Goempa, a Buddhist nunnery tucked against the cliffs. Another day takes us through a blue pine forest to a mountain fortress and across open ridges on a historic route toward Thimphu, Bhutan’s lively capital.
Then the scenery changes. In the warmer Punakha Valley, we walk past terraced rice fields, cross a swaying suspension bridge, and visit Punakha Dzong, where two rivers meet. It’s widely considered the most beautiful dzong in the country, and we think you’ll agree.
Lunch comes with a little friendly competition
One of our early days starts at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples. From there, we wander above the rice fields of the Paro Valley to a traditional farmhouse in the village of Dopshari. Lunch is a spread of local specialties, followed by an introduction to Bhutanese archery and darts. If you’d like to unwind afterward, there’s even the option of a traditional hot stone bath.
“Ending the day at the farmhouse was a super treat, especially climbing into a wooden tub heated by hot stones sizzling and scented by healing herbs.” –Karen Walker
Food is a big part of getting to know Bhutan, too. Meals offer a mix of local and international dishes, with plenty of chances to try Bhutanese favorites. If you’re curious about ema datshi, the country’s beloved chili-and-cheese dish, the name gives you a fair idea of what’s coming. The chilies are the stars of the show.
Hiking boots by day, a comfortable bed by night
This is a moderately challenging hiking trip, with some longer days, sustained climbs, and time at elevation. You’ll want to arrive fit and ready to hike.
At the end of each day, though, the comfort is all there. You’ll have your luggage every night and stay in four- and five-star hotels throughout. There’s time to settle in after the trail, enjoy a good dinner, and rest up for the next day’s adventure.
Saving Tiger’s Nest for last
By our final hiking day, we’ll have explored three valleys and spent plenty of time on Bhutan’s mountain trails. Then we join the pilgrim route to Taktsang Monastery, better known as Tiger’s Nest, walking alongside Bhutanese pilgrims making the same climb.
Seeing it across the valley is one thing. Walking up to it is another. The trail gives us time to take in its extraordinary setting before we climb the final steps and enter the monastery itself. Afterward, we’ll settle in for lunch with a view of the cliffs and a little time to reflect on the journey.
We couldn’t think of a better way to finish.
If Bhutan has been on your list, join us on our new Bhutan: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Tiger’s Nest, October 19-28, 2027.
Not quite ready to head home?
Private guided groups can add six more days with our Jomolhari extension, heading farther into the Himalayas for more challenging, high-altitude trekking and nights camping beneath the peaks. Contact our office for more information and help deciding whether the extension is right for your group.
For more details, email us at adventure@ryderwalker.com or call us at 888.586.8365 or 970-728-6481
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