Bhutan

Bhutan’s not like other places you visit in the world, and believe me, you’ll see why the minute you arrive. You can’t just show up here and wander on your own. (Unless you’re an Indian national, some complicated history we’ll explain later.) Until relatively recently, it has basically hidden from the modern world, secluded in its remote valleys beneath the high Himalayas. This is a vision of East Asia, shielded from the turbulent events of the 19th and 20th centuries, coming to terms with the modern world that now surrounds it.

Travel in Bhutan basically requires a custom package tour, complete with your own private guide, driver, hotel accommodations, and transportation provided by said driver. All for a pretty reasonable, set rate, once you factor everything that goes into it.

This is a monarchy, not unlike Thailand today or the rest of Asia before the turn of the 20th century, where the king is still very much revered. The people still wear traditional dress, whether by choice or regulation, while this is becoming less of the case with the younger generation. The architecture, even the new stuff, still very much reflects its history.

Like I said, this place is different, the closest you’ll get to a living time capsule of Asia before the 20th century blew in like a hurricane.

Getting There:

There’s no getting around this one, only Druk an Bhutan Air fly into the country. But you can still get close using award miles, with Kathmandu or Bangkok being the closest options, minimizing the amount you need to complete the last hop into Bhutan.

United MileagePlus: [via Bangkok] Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines

American AAdvantage: [via Kathmandu] Qatar Airways via Doha. This is my preferred route for two reasons. 1. You get to stop in Nepal, for a quick compare/contrast to your next stop, in a country that’s very cheap with plentiful options for tourists. 2. It’s the cheapest option from there to Bhutan, flying by the highest peaks of the Himalayas on a short, 1 hour flight.

The Good: 

• A glimpse back in time into a hidden kingdom high in the Himalayas, with your own personal guide and driver to help connect with locals, deal with logistics, and all the while providing context.

• History is alive here, not just in the buildings and traditions, but in the very dress, customs, food and even modern architecture that surround you.

• The closest you’ll ever get traveling away in both space and time.

The Bad:

• Obviously private guides and drivers with rates set by the government isn’t going to be cheap, especially compared to other destinations in this part of the world, such as Nepal, India, or Thailand. But for you used to US/Europe prices, it’s actually very reasonable.

• If you’re going back in time, nightlife and gourmet dining options are going to be lacking. That being said, your guide will provide options for how the locals celebrate a night out, and won’t fail to plan in stops at tasty restaurants with more of a homemade touch.