Bhutan

Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is a small Himalayan kingdom that still restricts travel within its boundaries to a limited number of tourists per year. All tourists traveling to Bhutan must do so through a travel agency. You won't find backpackers in this enigmatic country. Visitors have to pay a minimum of US$200 per day, making it one of the most expensive countries to visit, but this fee is all-inclusive. One can fly to Bhutan from Kathmandu by Drukair. Bhutan is a Buddhist country, hence there are plenty of monasteries to visit. All Bhutanese citizens have to wear the national dress and the selling and smoking of cigarettes has been banned.

One of the important sites to see is the Tiger's Nest, which in fact is a monastery built on solid rock. Archery festivals and masked dances are some of the interesting events to watch out for in the country. Bhutan is trying to find a balance between tradition and modernization, which explains the restrictions on the number of tourists that are allowed to visit. The country has adopted constitutional monarchy under a young king and maintains close ties with India.