Places to see

Paro Valley itself is long and fertile, shaped by the Paro Chhu River and enclosed by forested hills that shelter some of Bhutan’s most significant religious sites. There are over 150 temples and monasteries in this fertile region alone.  Paro has played a central role in the country’s religious and political history, with monasteries, dzongs and temples seamlessly connected to everyday life in Bhutan. Traditional farmhouses also sit among fields of rice and barley, offering a landscape incomparable to other parts of Asia. 

Rising dramatically above the valley at its northern end is Paro Taktsang, better known as iconic Tiger’s Nest monastery, built into a sheer cliff face and closely associated with the arrival of Buddhism in Bhutan. Normally we don't recommend seeing or climbing Tiger's Nest at the start of a trip, as it's best to acclimatise and do this at the end. Here you'll also find the National Museum as well. 

Time in Paro is often spent on foot: walking between villages, visiting active monasteries and gaining a deeper sense of how spiritual practice and daily life remain closely intertwined in Bhutan. This connection is critical.   We almost always recommend a stop in Paro as part of a tailor-made journey to Bhutan.