The Tiger's Nest (Paro Taktsang)

Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest, is the most iconic and sacred sight in Bhutan and one of the most breathtaking monasteries on earth, a cluster of gold-roofed white temples clinging impossibly to a sheer granite cliff face some 900 metres above the floor of the Paro valley. Legend holds that the great Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a tigress to meditate, and the monastery, reached only by a steep and beautiful pilgrim hike through pine forest and prayer flags, is the spiritual heart of the kingdom.

What you actually see

• The clifftop monastery - the temples clinging to the sheer cliff face.
• The pilgrim hike - the steep, beautiful climb through pine and prayer flags.
• The viewpoints - the classic vistas of the monastery across the gorge.
• The temples and shrines - the sacred interiors of the monastery.

When to go

March to May and September to November, the spring and autumn, for the clearest weather and mildest hiking conditions; spring brings rhododendron blooms and autumn crisp clarity. The hike takes several hours up and back, so start in the cool morning.

Honest expectations

Reaching it requires a steep, strenuous hike of two to three hours each way, climbing to over 3,000 metres, so it needs reasonable fitness and some acclimatisation, though horses can carry you partway up. As a deeply sacred site, modest dress is required and photography is not allowed inside the temples. Visiting Bhutan requires a guided tour and a daily fee. The monastery and the hike, though, are unforgettable.

Nearby

The Paro valley, the town of Paro and its dzong are within reach.