Bhutan is bordered by Tibet to the north and India to the south. Until 1974, the kingdom had been isolated from the world for centuries, its heritage and unique identity remaining hidden and mysterious.
Now, all visitors pay a mandatory sustainable development fee to the Bhutanese government (currently $100 U.S. per person per night) during the visa application process. Though the country’s doors are open, travellers are not given carte blanche: tourists must employ guides and drivers.
In 2023, the current King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck unveiled his vision for a new economic hub in Bhutan that will open the country up even further. Located in the town of Gelephu in southern Bhutan, the more than 1,000-square-kilometre master-planned Mindfulness City will sit on the Indo-Bhutan border, aiming to leverage its geographical connection to South Asia with a massive infrastructure development that will include a new international airport, hydroelectric dam, and extensive railway connections.
The Himalayan foothills.
Langur monkeys near Gangtey.
Paddy fields in the Punakha Valley, the rice bowl of Bhutan.
Young monks at Rinpung Dzong Buddhist monestary on their way to play football.
Rinpung Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fortress.
Women in traditional clothing at Gangtey Monastery.
Masked dancers celebrating the Thimpu Tsechu festival.
Read more from our Spring 2026 issue.
