Donna Salerno Travel

Photos courtesy of Butterfield & Robinson

Happiness Reigns

Gross National Happiness is an official development goal in Bhutan. We haven’t seen the numbers, but we’re pretty confident they’ve hit their annual targets. Set against the backdrop of sacred mountains, this isolated kingdom offers an entirely unique travel experience.

Granted permission to be among the mere 14,000 visitors permitted each year, we make the most of it. Life-altering moment #523: en route to Punakha, we can stop in at the remote Tashigang monastery overlooking the Thimphu Valley, where the lamas and monks greet us, sip tea with us, and then bless our journey in an elaborate (not to mention highly musical) prayer ceremony. There’s more where that came from, but sadly, we’ve hit our space limit. Fortunately, Bhutan’s wonders know none.

Day 1 Walk to the Dzongdrakha, a village of eight farmhouses and four temples, and a meditation place of Guru Rimpoche

Day 2 Hike to the Tashigang monastery, a working 17th Century temple complex, to meet the lamas and their students

Day 3 Hike the Punakha Valley to the Punakha dzong

Day 4 Experience a fertility blessing from a red-robed lama in the Phobjika Valley

Day 5 Take in an informal archery contest—the national sport of Bhutan—with the locals

Day 6 Take a breathtaking hike through the Sha Valley, visiting small villages rarely seen by outsiders

Day 7 Sip tea in the clouds atop the Dochu La Pass (bring a sweater)

Day 8 Climb up to the Taktshang monastery (the “Tiger’s Nest”), set into a cliff face 800 m (2,624 ft.) above the Paro Valley floor

Day 9 Take a stroll up to the 4,000 m (13,100 ft.) viewing platform of the majestic Cheli La Pass for a stunning glimpse of Bhutan’s snow-capped holy mountain, Chomolhari

Day 10 Breakfast in Paro, then laso lok le ge ("good-bye in Bhutan) in Bangkok

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