I purposely delayed the major event, the journey to the Tiger's Nest Monastery, till the very last day of my beautiful trip to Bhutan since doing so lowers the risk of getting altitude sickness. My inability to sleep the previous night was due to the fact that this had been on my bucket list for over ten years—possibly even at the top—and that it had finally come to pass.
At a height of 7000 feet, the walk starts at the base of the mountain. The Tiger's Nest is positioned on a cliff face at 10,000 feet, so getting there requires quite a bit of work. You want to get there in around 3 or 4 hours one way. At approximately ten in the morning, we left. However, you can hire a mule to carry you there if you're not up for the climb (not fair for the mule, though).
The trip up there on a mule takes around two hours one way (although they pause just before the summit). But you'll need to descend.
Although the path is fairly well marked, there is no denying that it is steep. Locals making their usual trip will be on the same path as you, and their warm grins will motivate you to continue. Naturally, your guide is with you at every turn as well. Although the average duration is close to three hours, there is an incentive to complete the task as fast as feasible. You'll have the space to yourself for a good 30 minutes if you can exert a little additional effort and aim to arrive in one to one and a half hours, though! I assure you that it is worth the extra labour and tears!
There are Tibetan Buddhist artefacts gracing every nook as you ascend the mountain face. Stupas, shrines, and flags of prayer. Frequently occurring is heavy mist as well. This makes the entire experience really mysterious. With Tibetan flags blowing in the wind, one climbs through woods. You finally get to see the Tiger's Nest after breaking through the fog. For another fifteen minutes or so, you lose sight of it before setting off once more.
A lovely tea shop is located halfway up the trail and is a fantastic location to rest, replenish, and stop for a moment to take it all in. You abruptly round a corner and are given a proper vista. The Himalayan terrain is dotted with grain fields, and beginning straight back at you is the most stunning structure I've ever seen. Incredible, but you're not quite there yet. All of a sudden, you're descending the mountain again, down a steep slope without railings.
The journey may be somewhat frightening, but you push through it because of the natives' hop, skip, and jump movements (often while carrying newborns on their backs). Naturally, given that you are in Bhutan and that this is the Tiger's Nest Monastery, you are met by a massive waterfall that is coursing over Tibetan prayer flags as you reach the top of the plunge into the canyon. This should give you the last bit of motivation you require to eventually ascend out of the gorge and make your way into the Monastery.
Remove your shoes and take it all in. Everywhere you turn, you may find monks meditating. There are no pictures allowed here, and that's just great. Instead, there are eye contact, sincere smiles, and a peak through each level to the most stunning vistas. Take it all in; you earned it.
At last, Tiger's Nest!
