Experience the best of Paro

The Paro valley opens along a river at about 2,200 metres, its terraced rice fields dotted with farmhouses whose windows are painted wood. Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest, clings to a sheer cliff some 900 metres above the valley floor, reached by a steep forest path. Rinpung Dzong, a whitewashed fortress-monastery, overlooks the town, and a covered wooden bridge crosses the river beneath it.

The National Museum of Bhutan occupies a round watchtower above the dzong, and Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the country's oldest temples, said to date from the seventh century. Further up the valley the ruined Drukgyel Dzong stands below Mount Jomolhari, which rises beyond 7,000 metres on the Tibetan border, and the road to Chele La climbs through forest to one of the highest road passes in Bhutan, strung with prayer flags.

Ema datshi, chillies stewed with local cheese, is the dish of Bhutan, eaten with red rice, a speciality of the Paro valley. Bhutanese kitchens also turn out buckwheat pancakes, momo dumplings and salted butter tea. Spring brings the Paro tshechu, a festival of masked dances in the dzong courtyard, and the clear days of spring and autumn show the high peaks best.