Western Bhutan · Paro
Where most journeys to Bhutan begin
About Paro
For most travellers, Paro is the first glimpse of Bhutan: a wide, green valley of rice fields and painted farmhouses, reached on one of the most dramatic flight approaches in the world.
The valley is full of history. Rinpung Dzong guards the town, Kyichu Lhakhang is among the oldest temples in the country, and on a cliff high above the valley sits Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan’s most famous sight.
Paro is easy to love and easy to explore. Many of our guests like to end their trip here, with the Tiger’s Nest hike and a slow last evening in the valley before flying home.
Featured highlights
A hike to remember
Clinging to a sheer cliff far above the valley, Taktsang is built around the cave where Guru Rinpoche is said to have arrived on the back of a tigress. The hike up through pine forest and prayer flags takes most of a morning, with a café halfway for tea and a rest. It is steep in places, so we plan it for the end of your trip, once you are used to the altitude.
Fortress on a heap of jewels
Rinpung Dzong rises above the river at the edge of town and is reached by a traditional covered wooden bridge. Each spring it hosts the Paro Tshechu, one of Bhutan’s biggest festivals, which ends at dawn with the unveiling of a giant painted thangka, blessing everyone who sees it.
Paro valley
Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, said to have been built in the 7th century at the same time as Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang. Its orange trees, prayer wheels and quiet courtyard make it a peaceful place to visit, often with older villagers making their daily rounds.
Village life
Paro’s farmhouses, with their painted windows and carved wooden frames, are some of the most beautiful in Bhutan. Spend an afternoon in one to share butter tea and homemade snacks, try on a gho or kira, and end the day with a traditional hot stone bath.
Tell us what you’d love to see, and we’ll shape the journey around you.
Travel with purpose
Your visit supports the farmers, craftspeople and temples of the Paro valley.
Included in every price, it helps pay for Bhutan’s free healthcare and education, and for protecting its forests.
We stay in family homestays and farmhouses, and buy from the weavers and farmers you meet along the way.
Every trip is planned by our family in Thimphu, so what you spend stays in Bhutan and with the people you meet.
Trips that visit Paro
Book a trip as it is, or use it as a starting point and change the days, places and hotels to suit you.
Autumn · Thimphu · Punakha · Gangtey · Bumthang
Price on request
Festivals
Dates follow the lunar calendar and are tentative until officially confirmed. See all festivals
