Explore Dochula Pass

Dochula pass is located on the way to Punakha from Thimphu. This place offers a stunning 360 degree panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range with the majestic backdrop to the tranquility of the 108 Chortens.

Hiking and Exploration

• Thimphu valley offers a bounty of outdoor activities and cultural attractions just outside its city limits. A day hike across the valley’s green hills is one of the best ways to enjoy these sights. One full-day option will bring you from the Motithang Takin Reserve to Dungtsho Lake, trekking amongst beautiful rhododendron bushes and earning sublime mountain views. 
• Another popular spot for day hikes is Dodena, which is only half an hour’s drive from Thimphu. From here, you can walk to the hilltop Cheri Monastery by following a pleasant riverside trail. You can also take an alternate route to reach the adjacent Tango Monastery, which is home to a cave where a famous lama once meditated. Lonely Bhutan Tours and Treks can even introduce you to a few lesser-known paths that will bring you through some of the picturesque villages surrounding Thimphu.

• The hills around Thimphu are dotted with splendid monasteries and fascinating lhakhangs that many tourists don’t get the chance to visit. Lonely Bhutan Tours and Treks can arrange for a full-day tour of these sites, starting with a visit to the Memorial Chorten in town before hiking to Cheri Monastery and Tango Monastery. 
• For more adventurous hikers, the longer path leading to Phajoding Monastery is an especially rewarding way to spend the afternoon. You’ll enjoy exceptional views of the valley while trekking in the peaceful countryside, and you’ll have the opportunity to connect with Thimphu’s greatest treasure: its people.

Getting to Thimphu

While there’s no airport in Thimphu, the capital city is only about an hour’s drive from Paro and its international airport. Most tourists visit both cities, and Lonely Bhutan Tours and Treks can create an itinerary which combines the highlights of Paro and Thimphu according to your specific interests and needs.

Paro valley

Paro is home to Bhutan’s only international airport. After an awe-inspiring landing amongst the Himalayas, visitors to Paro are met with vivid first impressions of lush green hills, meticulously tended fields, and the meandering waterways of the Paro Chhu (river).

Bhutan’s most famous attraction, Paro Takstang, known popularly as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is located in upper Paro valley. No visit to Bhutan would be complete without making the short hike to this holy cliffside site.It is regarded as the most photographed place in the entire country.

But there’s much more to see and do in Paro. Partnering with Lonely Bhutan Tours and Treks, a company that values your unique travel preferences, will help you unlock the region’s hidden potential by going beyond the usual tourist route. We’ll work closely with you to plan an itinerary that not only visits the most important places of interest, but also coincides with some of the seasonal eventsthat make the Paro Valley truly special.

Elevation: 2,200 m

 Here are just a few of the attractions and activities you won’t want to miss when you visit Paro.

Attractions

Tiger’s Nest Monastery

The Paro Valley is perhaps best known as the home of Paro Takstang, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. This celebrated national icon is wedged into a steep cliff 900 meters above the valley floor. You can access the monastery by taking a day hike along an unpaved path winding through shaded pine forests. 

Although you won’t be able to take your camera inside the temple, you can capture incredible photographs from a viewpoint midway through the trail. Your visit to the monastery is also an excellent opportunity to delve into its intriguing history and mythology. According to legend, the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche manifested here in his wrathful Dorje Drolo form to subdue an evil spirit.

Kyichu Lhakhang

A majestic seventh-century temple revered as one of the most magnificent and oldest sites of worship in Bhutan. Elderly pilgrims constantly shuffle around the temple spinning its many prayer wheels, making this one of the most charming spots in the Paro valley.

Rinpung Dzong

The 17th-century edifice of Rinpung Dzong (Fortress) ranks among the city’s most prominent landmarks. Visible from all over the valley, the white-and-red walls of this former fortress now house the city’s monastic and administrative bodies.

You can take a tour of the dzong to enjoy its colourful murals, beautiful architecture, and scenic location at the confluence of the Paro Chhu and Wang Chhu rivers. Rinpung Dzong is exceptionally breathtaking after dark when the fortress walls are bathed in the ethereal glow of floodlights.

Ta Dzong, The National Museum of Bhutan

Majestically overlooking Rinpung Dzong is the ancient watchtower of Ta Dzong, a historical fortress that once guarded the country from potential threats from India and Tibet. Today, it’s transformed into the National Museum of Bhutan, a cultural gem.

The museum houses seven stories of valuable Bhutanese artifacts and antiques, including ancient thangkas, statues, and meticulously preserved specimens of the country’s flora and fauna. For those captivated by Bhutan’s history, the museum’s galleries of farming tools, traditional weapons, elaborate clothing, masks, and more offer a fascinating insight. 

Ta Dzong also offers breathtaking views of the Paro valley and the winding watercourse of the Paro Chhu, a natural beauty that will leave you spellbound.

Drakarpo Monastery

Hiking to Drakarpo Monastery is more than just exploring physical landscapes. It’s a journey into the spiritual heart of Bhutan. The monastery sits atop a high cliff, offering breathtaking scenery of the surrounding valleys and mountains. As you approach, you’ll pass through a narrow hole between rocks, a unique feature known as the ‘Gate of Reflection’. This gate invites introspection about one’s actions—pious or sinful, as it symbolizes the transition from the mundane world to the spiritual realm.

The monastery itself holds a special place in Bhutanese folklore. As you explore its hallowed halls, you’ll discover stories of Guru Rinpoche, a revered figure in Bhutanese Buddhism, breaking a rock and banishing an evil spirit from these grounds. This act is believed to have purified the area, making it a sacred site. More than just a hiking destination, Drakarpo Monastery is a testament to the enduring spirit of Bhutan’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

As you complete the circumambulation of the sacred rocky hill, pause to immerse yourself in the profound peace and tranquillity that saturates this place.

Jumolhari Mountain Festival

The Jumolhari Mountain Festival, held annually at the base of the majestic Jumolhari mountain in Bhutan, is a vibrant celebration of the country’s nomadic lifestyle and how it coexists perfectly with its unique mountain ecosystem. The festival typically takes place in October, offering a unique cultural and natural experience for all attendees.

To embark on this extraordinary journey, one must undertake an overnight trek for five days, immersing oneself in the lap of nature and experiencing traditional Bhutanese nomadic music, dance, games and cuisine. The event also features local handicrafts and artwork, providing a glimpse into Bhutan’s vibrant arts scene.

One of the festival’s highlights is the performance of snow leopard-themed folk songs and dances by local residents, Jigme Dorji National Park staff, and school children. Additionally, visitors can participate in traditional sports such as Khuru(darts), shot put, horse and yak riding. The festival also offers opportunities to deeply immerse in the local culture, sample local delicacies and purchase boutique handicrafts.

Paro Spring Festival

This festival, renowned as the most spectacular and famous in Bhutan, draws visitors from around the globe. In the month of March/April, Paro’s Rinpung Dzong hosts the annual 5-day Paro Tsechu. Like most festivals of its kind in Bhutan, the Paro Tsechu is a celebration of Guru Rinpoche, the eighth-century Buddhist master who is credited with introducing this religion to the country.

On the last day of the festival, an enormous silk thangka is unfurled. Called a thongdrel, this sacred painted scroll covers an entire wall and is believed to help individuals attain enlightenment merely by laying eyes upon it.

Hiking and Exploration

Embark on a journey of discovery as you explore the best day hike in Paro, leading you to the awe-inspiring Tiger’s Nest Monastery. But that’s not all. There are a handful of other lesser-known paths that connect the various monasteries scattered throughout the valley, each offering a unique experience.

The trip to the temple called Chumphu Ney, for instance, is a serene and peaceful walk alongside a stream and through quiet forests, culminating in the sight of a statue of the deity Dorji Phagmo, seemingly floating above the ground. Another popular route will take you to DrakeyPhangtsho, an overnight camping trip. Another delightful camping in Paro is Bumdra, an overnight camping trip.

Accommodation

As one of Bhutan’s tourist hotspots, Paro has cultivated a growing range of top-notch hotels. There’s everything from simple homestay accommodations to top-of-the-line boutique and luxury hotels. You’ll find options with ultramodern amenities and others emphasizing traditional Bhutanese character. You’ll have access to resorts in the city within easy reach of Paro’s best restaurants, as well as hotels situated in secluded valleys with quietude and charm of their own. 

We at Lonely Bhutan Tours and Trek can help you to navigate this dizzying array of options by discussing your travel plans and interests and finding the best match for you.

Getting to Paro

as the country’s main tourist hub, Paro is home to Bhutan’s only international airport, offering you a gateway to your adventure. Most international travelers connect from India, Nepal, Thailand, or Singapore. But the journey doesn’t end there. You can also fly to various domestic destinations from Paro, including Bumthang, Gelephu, and Trashigang.

Fascinating Remote Haa valley

Haa is the smallest of Bhutan’s dzongkhags, or districts. It’s also one of the least populated; in fact, the region has earned a reputation among travelers as the “Hidden Valley” of Bhutan. Most tourists catch a quick glimpse of Haa’s sprawling green fields from the top of Chele La before turning back to Paro, but this enchanting paradise truly rewards visitors who take the time to understand its enduring rhythms.

As the seasons come and go, the Haa Valley is flushed with green growth in both its cultivated fields and forested hillsides. An exploration of this verdant landscape is especially rewarding for nature lovers, trekkers, and cyclists—but there are also a number of cultural highlights you won’t want to miss.