Top 6 Short Hikes in Paro: Enjoy Wonderful Paro Hiking and Camping Experiences

Bhutan is one of the top destinations in the world for mountain hiking, and the area around Paro has a number of short treks that can offer you beautiful scenery and exciting cultural experiences. With plenty of treks to offer, from one to two days, Paro is the ideal place to explore the shorter and more exciting cultural treks to some of the most amazing locations in Bhutan.

1. Paro Taktsang Hike

5 to 6 Hours’ Paro Taktsang Hike

The 5-6 hour hike up to the famous Taktshang Monastery, known as the Tiger’s Nest, is the best of all the short treks in Paro, and the most popular. The trek starts and ends at the parking lot for the monastery, around 13km to the north of the town, and covers a distance of only around three kilometers each way. It is the steep climb that makes this a long hike for such a short distance. While not too hard, and open to all comers, the trek can be tough for those with lower levels of fitness.

Stunning Valley Scenery along the trail to Tiger’s Nest Monastery

The scenery of the surrounding Paro Valley as you make your way up the trail to the monastery is one of the most amazing sights in Bhutan. As you climb higher along the trail, the view constantly changes, giving you a different view of the valley below and the city of Paro from every viewpoint.

Relaxing Cafe Time during the Paro Taktsang Hike

The café at the halfway point of the trek up to the monastery is a great place to relax for a while with a cup of delicious sweet tea and a snack, and is a typical stopping point for most tourists heading up to the Tiger’s Nest.

Exploration of the Wonderful Tiger’s Nest Monastery

The monastery itself is a unique and stunning temple, built into the cliff face, and perched precariously on the ledge where it is said Padmasambhava landed when arriving in Bhutan from Tibet. It is believed that your Bhutan tour is incomplete if you miss out on the Tiger's Nest Monastery.

2. Chele La to Kila Gompa Hike

Magnificent View of the Mount Jomolhari at Chele La

A unique day hike from the pass at Chele La to the famous Kila Goemba, this is one of the best spots for getting an amazing view of the stunning peak of Mount Jomolhari, the most sacred mountain in Bhutan. The view of the mountain from the pass is unbeatable on a clear day, and you get to see the sacred mountain set on the backdrop of the mighty Himalayas behind.

1 Hour’s Downhill Hike to Kila Gompa from Chele

The hike down to the Kila Goemba takes around an hour from the top of the pass, and covers a distance of around five kilometers if done correctly. The trek takes you from the heights of the pass, at 3,988 meters, down to the Kila Goemba, at around 3,500 meters, which is not that much of a descent. The trek is not hard, and can be done by anyone with any level of fitness, since it is mostly downhill.

Exploration of the Beautiful Kila Nunnery

Also known as the Chele la nunnery, this is one of the few nunneries in Bhutan, and is said to be the oldest. Lying on the cliffs overlooking the Haa Valley, the nunnery is made up of seven small temples and meditation huts built into the rock of the cliff. Around 30-40 nuns are usually in residence at any time, and they live in a self-imposed isolation to allow better meditation and prayer.

3. Chele La to Kyichu Lhakhang Hike

Exploration of Chele La, the Highest Motorable Point of Bhutan

The pass at Chele La is the highest motorable pass in Bhutan, at an altitude of 3,988 meters. It is not the highest pass in the country, but it is the highest that you can safely drive to, which makes it very popular with tourists. The pass is a popular visitor spot in Bhutan, where you can get the best view of Bhutan’s most holy peak, Mount Jomolhari.

2-Hour Downhill Hike to Kyichu Lhakhang from Chele La

Starting at the crest of the famous Chele La Pass, the hike ends at the Kyichu Lhakhang, it is around 40 kilometers by road, but only around 10 kilometers in a straight line, which the trek takes. The downhill hike takes around 2 hours, dropping from almost 4,000 meters at the pass to just 2,300 meters at the temple. The hike is considered easy, as there are only downhill stretches, with no hard climbs.

Visit of Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s Oldest and most Beautiful Temples

Considered to be one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, the Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the 108 temples built by Songtsen Gampo, the Tibetan king. A stunning example of ancient Tibetan Buddhist architecture of the period, the temple has several stupas around the outside, which are said to hold relics from previous Buddhas and notable saints. The main relic of the temple is the statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the future Buddha.

4. Chumphu Nye Hike

7 to 8 Hours’ Chumphu Nye Hike

The sacred Chumphu Nye, lies in the northeast of Paro Valley, on the frontiers with the massive Himalayas. Set on a hilltop, the temple is isolated from the town and is reached by a trek of around 7-8 hours. You start at the end of the road from Paro, and end at the same place for the drive back to the city. The trek covers a distance of around 14 kilometers, and is a tough hike, which is not for the faint of heart. The ascent is not too high, though, reaching only to 2,250 meters, but the trail is rough and rocky.

Peaceful Surroundings along the Chumphu Nye Hike Trail

The trek along the trail to Chumphu Nye is one of the most peaceful in Bhutan, passing through forests of pine and oak, and rhododendrons that are blooming in the spring. The trail takes you past several sacred sites along the way, including one sacred waterfall that spouts out over the cliff beside the trail, said to be the bathing site of Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century.

Exploration of Chumphu Nye - Floating Statue of Dorji Phagmo

The temple is renowned for its unique floating statue of Dorji Phagmo, a levitating statue that is said to not touch the floor. The statue is also acclaimed in Paro for its wish-granting properties, as it is said it fulfils the blessings of those who make wishes directly to the state after the hike to the temple.

5. Jili Dzong Hike

4 to 5 Hours’ Jili Dzong Hike

Starting and finishing at Dop-Shari Village, around 10 minutes from Paro, the hike to Jili Dzong is around 2-3 hours each way, along rough dirt trails through stunning woodlands. The hike is not for beginners, as the ascent is relatively steep, but most people should be able to manage it with rests and a stick.

Fabulous Natural Scenery during the Jili Dzong Hike

The trail to the Dzong passes through stunning woodlands of pine and oak, and past meadows filled with grazing yaks to get to the fortress. As you emerge from the trees, you get the best view of Jomolhari from this part of Paro.

Exploration of Jili Dzong

The Dzong is located on a ridge and is a small fortress built to cater to travelers between Paro and Thimphu several hundred years ago. A small fortress, the building is uninhabited, and you can freely hang your prayer flags before heading back down.

6. Bumdrak Trek

Challenging 2 Days’ Bumdrak Trek

A challenging trek that runs for two days through the Paro Valley, this is one of the most popular short treks in Bhutan that takes more than one day to complete. The trek starts at Sangchen Choekor Shedra, and ends at Ramthangkha, on the steep trail down to the Tiger’s Nest. Reaching a highest point of around 3,900 meters, the trek ends at the Tiger’s Nest, above the Paro Valley. The route to the Taktshang takes you past the Bumdrak Monastery.

Great Views of Paro Valley during the Bumdrak Trek

The trek takes you through forests of pine and rhododendron and across sunny meadows of yaks and herders huts. The pinnacle of the trek is the view from atop the mountain, with the Taktshang Monastery sitting on its precarious ledge below you.

Exploration of Bumdrak Monastery

The monastery at Bumdrak is a cliff-hugging hermitage that has Dorji Phagmo as its main deity. Said to have been built on a site frequented by 100,000 dakinis, the hillside behind has a cave that was used by Guru Rinpoche and his consort, Yeshe Tsogyel.

Interesting Camping Experience during the Bumdrak Trek

The campsite below the monastery is rated as the most luxurious in Bhutan, and has its own sun loungers, gas heaters, and wooden beds.

When Is the Best Time for Hikes in Paro?

For anyone planning a trip to do some trekking in Paro, the best times are from March to May and October to November when the spring and autumn weather bring dry and sunny days with warmer temperatures, coinciding with the Bhutan trekking season.

What to Pack for the Hikes in Paro

Clothes to Wear

While you will be trekking on one of these short hikes, there is little need for lots of professional trekking gear, as the most you will be doing is a few hours hiking per day. You will need a good backpack if you are taking on the Bumdrak trek, but for the rest, a simple day pack will do.

Bring clothes suitable for the weather at the time of year you are visiting, with warmer clothes for colder climates, including some sweaters for the warmer days when it gets cold in the evenings. Good hiking boots are a must, even with short treks. And bring along good woolen socks to keep your feet warm. Hat, gloves, sun block, moisturizers, and walking stick are all useful here, and you may want to bring some sunglasses for the bright sunlight.

Required Permits

As well as your Bhutan Visa, which you will need to have to enter Bhutan, and which is organized by us once you book your tour, you will also need your travel permit for traveling in the area of Paro and Thimphu, and a permit to trek in Bhutan. All of the permits you need are obtained and applied for by us once you book your tour, and will be issued when you arrive at the airport.

Conclusion

There are some of the most stunning short day hikes in Paro. Whereas you can find long treks through stunning locations in much of the country, here in Paro, you can find the best of the day trips and short cultural and historic treks. So if you want to spend some time taking a Paro tour, and are looking for something short and easy treks, there is nowhere better for a little cultural education and natural experiences of the beauty of the Paro Valley.