Bhutan

Bhutan, Bhutan

Long isolated from the outside world, Bhutan is a relic of a more traditional Asia, preserved in time and with little in the way of tourist infrastructure. In an increasingly connected world, this small, beautiful, and utterly charming Himalayan country is one of the last truly off-the-beaten-path destinations on the planet. It is a challenging country to visit, but to those who choose to venture there, it soon reveals itself to be an especially rewarding one, as well.

Population:

763,092 (2019)

Currency:

Bhutanese Ngultrum

Emergency Numbers:

Fire: 110
Thimphu Traffic: 111
Ambulance: 112
Police: 113

Opening Hours:

Opening hours for shops and businesses in Bhutan are generally 9am–5pm. Restaurants usually stay open until about 10pm.

Newspapers:

Kuensel
The Bhutanese
Bhutan Observer

The Country

The striking and harsh Himalayan landscape is home to some of the warmest people on Earth, whose Buddhist traditions remain very much central to daily life. As the world's last remaining Buddhist Kingdom, officials are cautious to limit tourism and its influence on the Bhutanese way of life in order to preserve the uniqueness of their cultural and natural heritage.

Isolated from the world until as recently as 1974, it is a place unlike any other. Television was first introduced to Bhutan in 1999, and there is still not a single traffic light to be found in the entire country. The Bhutanese are also intensely environmentally aware, and it is decreed by law that no less than 65% of the country's land surface must be covered by protected forest areas (unsurprisingly, it is the only country on earth that is a 'carbon sink', meaning that it absorbs more greenhouse gases than it emits).

But perhaps the clearest indication of Bhutan's singularity is the fact that instead of measuring the progress of the country in terms of Gross Domestic Product, the Bhutanese use Gross National Happiness, which takes into account more than mere economic factors to measure the success of the nation and the well-being of its people.

Do & See

Bhutan's cultural and natural uniqueness is on full display in every corner of the country. Find picturesque mountainsides dotted with tiny shrines and temples, or marvel at the world below you from the top of unfathomably tall Himalayan peaks. Adventure-seekers will have no shortage of activities, including some of the planet's most challenging hikes and most rewarding views.

Dining

Bhutanese cuisine tends to be quite spicy and almost always includes rice in one form or another. Ema Datshi, the national dish, is a mix of spicy chillies accompanied by a local cheese (Datshi), and therefore should not be missed. Momos, or Tibetan-style dumplings, as also highly recommended.

Cafes

For the best coffee in Bhutan, visitors will want to check out the burgeoning cafe scene in central Thimphu. Young entrepreneurs are establishing stylish and modern new businesses, introducing western-style cafe concepts and high-quality coffee to the city.

Below are some of our top cafes recommendations in Bhutan: