sunrise in Paro, Bhutan

sunrise in Paro, Bhutan, photo by David Ourisman (c) 2014, all rights reserved

It's our last morning in Bhutan. Woke up early, looked out the window, and knew that I wanted to capture this scene for my memories. The sun, peaking over the tops of other mountains, caught the snowcapped peak of this mountain just right. Amankora Paro has a beautiful setting, and this is the view from the resort's main lounge.

Later today we fly back to Bangkok ... and tomorrow, we fly to Chiang Rai for a quick one-night site inspection of Four Seasons Tented Camp. Be watching this space, because obviously there's still more to come over the last days of our trip. (Not to mention one final night at the Peninsula Hong Kong - hopefully things will be peaceful during our stay).

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. As affiliates of Brownell Travel, we can provide our clients with Virtuoso amenities and amenities from other Brownell preferred hotel partners including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and more. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Tiger's Nest | to climb or not to climb?

Tiger's Nest, Paro, Bhutan — photo by David Ourisman (c) 2014, all rights reserved

The Tiger's Nest is to Bhutan as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, the number one attraction that comes to most people's minds when that destination is mentioned. And as you can tell from the caption on the picture above, I climbed it. This morning, in fact. Then this afternoon, I enjoyed one of the best (and most badly needed) massages ever — a 90 minute Bhutanese Holistic Massage at the hands of Wang in the spa at Amankora Paro. But I'm getting off the subject.

Should you make the climb to visit Tiger's Nest or not?

Why you may choose to. This is a site of deep religious significance in Bhutanese culture. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the eighth century monk who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan, meditated in a cave at this site for three years, three months, three weeks, three days, and three hours. A monastery — known as Paro Taktsang — was built over this cave in 1692. It is the cultural icon of Bhutan, and if you're the type of traveler who likes to check items off your bucket list, you'll definitely want to make the visit.

Why you may choose not to. Although we were told that it was a gradual climb to reach the cliffside monastery, don't believe it. It is a strenuous two hour hike, ascending 900 meters (nearly 3000 feet) from a starting elevation of 2500 meters (over 8000 feet) above sea level. Fortunately, we took the climb on the last full day of our stay in Bhutan, so we were fairly acclimated to the attitude. Add to this the fact that you're sharing the narrow and rocky path with quite a few tourists (and horses) going both up and downhill. You can hire a horse to make most of the climb for you, but the downside of horses on the path is that hikers must be vigilant in spotting horse manure. (And, actually, my heart went out to the horses who make the round trip three times a day).

My advice: know yourself! Are you in good enough shape to undertake this hike? Do you enjoy this kind of physical challenge? I met a fellow Amankora guest in the spa after the hike; he and his friend had made it to the top in just an hour, so there are definitely people for whom Tiger's Nest is a must do!

Iconic but not essential, if you're not sure you want to tackle Tiger's Nest, this will not detract from your visit to Bhutan. You'll enjoy hiking through the Kingdom's scenic mountain valleys, visiting its impressive dzongs and temples, experiencing its unique culture, and sampling its wonderful cuisine. Even if the climb is not your thing, Bhutan still has much to offer the active traveler.

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. As affiliates of Brownell Travel, we can provide our clients with Virtuoso amenities and amenities from other Brownell preferred hotel partners including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and more. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Amankora Gangtey | Bhutan

Breakfast at Gangtey, overlooking the valley, (c) David Ourisman 2014, all rights reserved

We've now stayed at four of the five Amankora resorts in the course of the Amankora Journey. We're checking out of Bumthang this morning and flying to Paro, a short 35 minute flight. But my mind keeps going back to our stay in Gangtey.

Gangtey is the most remote but also the most beautiful of any of the five valleys. The picture above captures something of the exceptional experience awaiting you there. Taken around 8:30 a.m., this couple is enjoying their breakfast al fresco, sitting outside looking south down the valley floor as their waiter takes their requests from the abundant choices on the breakfast menu.

Can you picture yourself sitting here? Contact me about planning your own Amankora Journey!

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. As affiliates of Brownell Travel, we can provide our clients with Virtuoso amenities and amenities from other Brownell preferred hotel partners including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and more. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.