Bhutan

There are fewer than 800,000 people in the entire kingdom of Bhutan, and until 1974, there were no tourists at all! This deliberate, unhurried relationship with the outside world is still felt everywhere you go. Nestled in the shadow of the Himalayas, it is not an easy country to get to, and most of its magical sites, like the Tiger’s Nest monastery, mountain treks, and mile-high stupas with prayer flags flapping in the wind, take some effort. As a country, Bhutan measures its success in Gross National Happiness, rather than GDP, and you feel that philosophy in every interaction.

Getting here requires intention. Bhutan controls tourism through a daily sustainable development fee, which means the trails aren’t crowded, the sites aren’t overrun, and the experience never feels manufactured. When researching travel to Bhutan, it can feel like a limitation, but once you arrive, you realize it’s the whole point. When you visit Bhutan, you’re not just buying a trip. You’re buying into a different way of thinking about what travel is for. And also, the chili cheese dish they serve at nearly every meal is worth every cent of the tourism fee.