Saving the best for last, the hike to Paro Takstang or Tiger's Nest as it is more widely known was done on our second last day of the trip. When you think of Bhutan, you probably conjure up an image of it and no surprise it was the only place in Bhutan that we encountered the most tourists in our entire trip.
We started the day bright and early and had a full breakfast to prepare ourselves for the hike. At the carpark there were stalls selling various knickknacks and souvenirs, you can also hire a horses and mules to bring you up the path, though they only bring you to the halfway mark as the rest of the trail is too steep for them. It is also probably unwise to be perched on an animal if it is that steep. We chose to hike up the entire way ourselves and off we went.
Since it was the tail end of winter while we were in Bhutan, it was still relatively cold weather for us. The trail wasn't particularly hard however since we had to share it with the horses/ mules and other tourists, it could get crowded and took a bit of maneuvering at times to avoid colliding with others. The altitude also made it tougher for us since we were not used to it, having lived in Singapore our entire lives. Luckily it didn't take too long for us to reach the halfway mark where we could catch our breath and gulp some tea to warm ourselves up. We spent some time there admiring the view before we set off again as we needed to ensure we had enough time to make it to Tiger's Nest and back down again.
The second half of the trail felt steeper but as a lot of tourists give up at the halfway mark it was a lot more pleasant as there were less people on the trail making it more enjoyable. Considering that we didn't train for this and were not physically active people, I would say most people should be able to hike up to the top, though of course the length of time will vary depending on your fitness level.
After what felt like forever, we finally made it to Paro Takstang. As it is still a place of worship, it is important to remain respectful and be mindful when taking photographs. The monastery itself is made up of different buildings and you can take your time to explore them one by one. We certainly spent quite a bit of time wandering around and enjoying the view. After that, it was time to make our way down for a well deserved dinner after the arduous hike up.
On our last day, it was a rush to wake up, say our goodbyes to our guide and driver as well as the lovely staff at the hotel. It was then off to the airport for a flight back home. Bhutan has been an experience that would probably be unmatched anywhere else. Though we could only travel with our guide and follow the same itinerary as everyone else, it was still a once in a lifetime experience that I would highly recommend. As the first day and last day are usually taken up by flights, do ensure that you choose an itinerary that allows you sufficient time to explore the places you want to.
Edit : This is posted in 2023 thought the trip was in 2018, a lot of memories have faded, posting this so as to remember the trip.
