BHUTAN

Bhutan, known as "the land of the Thunder Dragon" is a country proud of its cultural and religious history. The only country in South Asia never to be colonized and with a self-imposed isolation policy, it remains one of the worlds most mysterious lands. Slightly larger than Switzerland at 18,147 sq. miles, it is ruled by kingdom and the majority of its people follow the Drukpa philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism. This is all accentuated by some of the most breathtaking varieties of landscapes that the Himalayas have to offer.

As the world continues to grow smaller, countries like Bhutan become more important than ever before as an example of "another way of living". The worlds last ruling kingdom, the majority of the people of Bhutan own the majority of the land. A country where a meditative approach is taken towards life and the need to make things faster and easier is not a priority. These attributes make Bhutan a tailor-made adventure opportunity for the experienced traveler.

With only 10,000 Westerners being granted permission to visit per year, Bhutan truly remainsone of the last Shangri La's.