Bhutan could be the last frontier of travel. Untouched and remote, it feels like what I’d imagine Southeast Asia must have been a hundred years ago. Its culture has been preserved on a level that I’ve not seen anywhere else in the world. All buildings must be built to traditional, spectacular standards. The people really do stroll around in their colorful robes. Local customs and dances, if you’re lucky enough to see them, are completely authentic. Nothing is for show here. There is nowhere else quite like it.

What was the highlight of your trip?

Seeing Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery) clinging to the side of a cliff, thousands of feet above the floor of the Paro Valley, is truly breathtaking. Inside, we were offered a traditional tea and guided through meditation with the high lama. Experiencing one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites in such a way—the way it has been used for centuries—was a beautiful, humbling moment.

Start planning your trip to Bhutan

If you’d like to know more about my trip to Bhutan, read my day-by-day itinerary for all the little details, destinations, and must-do activities to help plan your own adventure. Meditating in one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites, trying local cuisine in authentic eateries, hiking and biking between remote villages—whatever your idea of an adventure, my itinerary will help you discover this untouched destination the extraordinary way.

Image courtesy of Amankora Paro Lodge

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