Overview
This is a short and easy trek. On this very short trek, you can also experience luxury trek camping on high altitude upon completing this magical trek by camping and sleeping in a gorgeous and sacred campsite high above Tiger’s Nest with stunning views of the Himalayas and deep valleys.
This hike is available from March to May and September to November
| Max Elevation | 3,800 |
| Min Elevation | 2,400 m |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | March, April, May, September, October, November |
| No. of Days | 2 Days |
Day 1: Sang Choekor Monastery – Bumdra Monastery
Hike from Sang Choekor Buddhist College (2,800m) to Yak Pasture below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m). The adventure begins with an early morning drive up to the Sang Choekor to meet our ponies and while they are being loaded we may pay our respects at the College. The initial 1–2 hour ascent of a ridge can be steep at times but in cool shade. We will reach a clearing with prayer flags and enjoy a spectacular view of both Paro and Do Chhu valleys.
About 1-2 hours walk away is the Chhoe Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (temple); which nestles at the side of the mountain. The trail continues and when we reach the last steep elevation we will see a temple overlooking the views of Paro airport and the snow-capped Himalaya. After another 20 minutes of climbing through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, we hike into the ancient forest for about 40 minutes before we reach a wide meadow with sacred chortens and prayer flags. We will spend a night at Bumdra Monastery (the cave of a thousand prayers).
After lunch we can visit the monastery and climb towards the north of the peak (about 4000m) for a better view of the Himalayan before returning for dinner.
Day 2: Bumdra Monastery – Tiger’s Nest
After a hearty breakfast in the jaw dropping landscape, it is time to either head straight back into the valley or linger awhile soaking up the view and perhaps hang some prayer flags of our own. Eventually we have to drop back into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest on the monks’ zig zagging trail. After 1-2 hours of descent we catch glimpses of the golden roofs of temples below and soon come upon the first of many on our way back from the wilds.
The path snakes across the mountainside between the monasteries and temples before reaching the gardens of Sangtopelri (Heaven on Earth) from which you can bravely peer over edge and straight down onto the ornate roofs Taktsang in the cliff far below. An hour later and we are at the gates of Taktsang looking across the gorge a steep descent to a waterfall then ascent on steps and you are passing into the Tiger’s Nest itself.
