Tucked in the Himalayas between India and China is the last great Himalayan kingdom. Bhutan is a rare nation, where Gross National Happiness is a serious indicator of the nation’s welfare and which embraces a law that at least 60 percent of the country must remain forested for all future generations.
By Bhutanese law, even tourism must be sustainable. This results in a $200 per day charge for traveling in the country ($250 per day during the peak travel season of March to May and September through November). The good news about this charge is that it includes accommodation, food, transport, and an official guide.
Bhutan is difficult to get to—there are only a dozen pilots in the world who are licensed to fly the approach to the nation’s single airport—but the rewards make the somewhat scary journey to get there well worth the cost.
A great time to visit Bhutan is during a festival. Buddhist festivals happen throughout the year. The Paro Tshechu and Thimphu Tshechu are the most popular festivals, and they happen during peak tourist seasons. But there are lots of other festivals including the Black Necked Crane Festival, Haa Summer Festival, and the Rhododendron festival. Festivals often include amazing dances in colorful and elaborate costumes, and are well worth the effort to attend. Here’s a list of all the festivals occurring in 2017 and the dates of those festivals.
You need a visa to get into Bhutan (a $40 fee on top of the cost of the tour), but your tour company will arrange that for you. In fact, visas can only be arranged by tour group operators. All you have to do is send the tour operator a copy of the photo page of your passport, and they’ll take care of the rest. They are issued on arrival only to people on a prepaid all-inclusive tour.
If you do go to Bhutan, make sure you pack warm clothes, especially if you’re traveling in the winter. But any time of year, temperatures can vary drastically depending on elevation, so you might as well bring a jacket no matter what time of year you’re visiting.
Now, on to the subject of vices. Bhutan is the only country in the world that has banned the consumption and sale of tobacco products. You can smoke if you want, but not in public places, so if you must smoke, ask your tour guide where you can do so legally. The sale of alcohol is banned on Tuesdays.
Bhutan is a lovely country filled with traditional Buddhist religion and history, but working its way into the modern world with wi-fi in hotels and monks on smart phones. It’s a great place to visit, and it definitely deserves a place on your bucket list.