Tiger's Nest - how arduous and long is the trek?

I would love to see tiger%26#39;s nest, it looks so mythical and magical. Anyone been actually in there can testify to this?

What i want to know is how arduous and long is the trek up there? I hate walking, or exercising, can i take a horse/mule/pony up there? Is it dangerous walking up there?

Please, can someone advise me? Thanks!

Tiger's Nest - how arduous and long is the trek?

It is a pity you hate walking, as Bhutan is a walkers paradise.

You can take a pony up till the cafeteria and see the Monastry from there, but you have to walk down. It is rather steep, sometimes can be slippery, with loose gravel, sand or mud. It is not dangerous, but you have to take care with your steps. I don%26#39;t advise you to further than the cafeteria, as it is only walking, steep up, and the last part is with lots of steps, first down and then up, narrow and with the deep ravine next to you without and holdings.Also in the Monastry a lot of steps.

It can take one and a half hour going up, down a bit shorter.

Tiger's Nest - how arduous and long is the trek?

I think our good friend Bhutan Traveller must be younger and in a bit better shape!! My wife and I are in our mid 60%26#39;s. It took us close to two hours to get to the top of the trail. After that there are about 150 steps down one side of a cliff and then another 150 steps up to the temple. The round trip took us about an hour. We were quite winded on the trip back up but made it ok. We stopped for lunch at the cafeteria on the way back down and got back to the car around 3 or so.

Given your comments, you probably just want to go as far as the cafeteria, which should take a little over an hour. Whether you use a pony or not would be your choice. You really should get at least to the cafeteria.

Thank you everyone!

I just wanted to know ---- the view of tiger%26#39;s Nest from the cafeteria, is it better than from the ground? OR by not much?

Those magnificent pics i see everywhere of tiger%26#39;s nest - where was the shot taken from? The cafeteria or from the ground? Eg, this shot - buddhanet.net/bhutan-gallery/鈥?520114.jpg

Can someone advise? Thanks!

All of our photos were taken from the cafeteria (arthritic knees prevented further ascension). The photos start about here:

鈥mugmug.com/gallery/鈥?75840153_zf5uA

Careful on those ponies - a bloke fell off and down a steep embankment, maybe 30-40 feet the day we were there. Pretty sure he had a broken arm, but he was soldiering on regardless.

You can hardly see the Monastry from down in the valley. The view from the cafeteria is very nice, but still far away. But this picture is from the start of the stairs downwards, towards the monastry, and then up again until the entrance. It shows the great view just opposite.

Thank you Bhutan Traveller!

I guess i could track to the top of the stairs - till there, it is safe, right?

To Ozcanuck, thanks for the info! And oh dear to that poor man who fell, goodness! I too heard the ponies are dangerous, i%26#39;ll just walk up myself.

I hope i don%26#39;t get any altitude disease though! How high is the top of the stairs from sealevel?

Well, Paro is 2200 m.heigh, and Taktsang another 900 m..So I guess the start of the stairs is about 3000m, as you first go down and then up again. Good for you that you consider walking up. Do it slowly, and preferrably at the end of your trip, when you%26#39;re used to the altitude.

Yes, i will do that, thanks!

And i%26#39;ve abandoned the idea of actually going down those steep steps and up again to the actual monastery, as many tour companies try and entice you to do - it%26#39;s just not worth my life, eh!

Hi Summerrose,

I guess as everybody told you already, it can get quite steep and seeing the drop next to you is certainly not for the fainthearted. But it will be woth the effort. There is a magic feeling up at the monastery and you can enter several rooms. there is actually a cave underneath the monastery and if you are really crazu , like our guide and one of my friends you can get into the cave, stand with your feet on a small ledge on one side of the cave, hold yourself up with your hands on the other side of the cave, ideally not look down the 10 meters underneath you and make your way past a huge bolder (more climbing technique required) to an opening in the cliff face. You are basically standing at the edge of a 900m drop straight down to the valley floor. Terrifing!!! I only made it as far as the rock!! Anyway on our way back we past a little shrine and the monk let us light some candles....beautiful. I%26#39;d say see how you feel when you are up near the steps and if it%26#39;s okay you should try to do it. (Mind you I am not sure about your age) My friend who climbed the cave was 54 but not terribly fit!! But whatever you do, you will enjoy Bhutan and it%26#39;s lovely people. Happy Travels

Hi Summerrose88, it will be a real pity if you don%26#39;t climb all the way to the Tiger%26#39;s Nest as the view is really magnificient and unforgettable.

Btw, in order to prevent altitude sickness, the Tiger%26#39;s Nest is usually arranged on the 2nd last day of your trip so that your body can adjust to the high altitude. I would also recommend for you to take the high altitude pills which can be bought from those chinese medical hall about 1 month before your trip.

Do note that in Bhutan, you would need to walk and walk and walk in order to appreciate all the beautiful scenary in Bhutan. Most of the remote monastries are up in the mountain and the only way up is to climb which can take about 3-4 hours (up) - depending on your stamina. Usually your guide will be with you and you can take your own time to walk. Else it would be a real waste.