When you imagine exclusive destinations, what comes to mind?
Videos by TravelAwaits
Maybe you’re thinking of high-profile stays in Mykonos or sprawling villas in Como.
Maybe your mind drifts to the ultra-lux spas of Macao or Geneva.
Or maybe you’re imagining the best eateries in New York City or Paris.
But what if I told you that the world’s most exclusive tourist destination is actually a tiny Himalayan country by the name of Bhutan?
Bhutan is a small Buddhist country located high in the Himalayas. It’s sandwiched between China’s Tibet region and India’s northeastern arm. To the west is Nepal, to the east is Myanmar.
And for decades now, Bhutan has kept a tight cap on its tourism numbers.
In fact, that’s probably why you know about this country in the first place. The nation only opened its doors to visitors in 1974—and since then, it’s kept a tight hold on the number of visitors welcomed and what they do.
Officially, the policy targets ‘high value, low impact’ tourists. The subtext: you’re gonna need deep pockets to visit Bhutan and a serious sense of adventure. Welcome to the world’s most rugged yet financially exclusive destination in the world.
Inside Bhutan’s ‘High Value, Low Impact’ Approach
If you’ve read about overtourism, then you know that the Himalayas—and Mount Everest, especially—face heightened risks. That’s mostly due to the fragile nature of the Himalayan ecosystem.
Even back in the 1970s when the Kingdom of Bhutan was forming its tourism department and official stance on foreign visitors, sustainability was on the radar.
There was also an emphasis on preserving Bhutanese culture. It’s a deeply Buddhist nation that’s focused on self-determination and mindfulness in an increasingly globalized and rushing world. (Love it.)
To prevent overtourism, Bhutan’s tourism authority focuses on volume control and visa fees.
First, by limiting the number of tourists allowed to enter the country. Second, by requiring visitors to pay visa fees each day of their trip—which costs around $100 a day as of 2024.
One Way In, One Way Out
So, how can visitors land a visa to Bhutan? And what can they expect upon arrival?
As you might have sensed, Bhutan keeps a tight hold on its tourism industry.
In fact, there are only two airlines that service the country—and they fly in and out of its capital, Thimpu. Druk Air has been around since 1981 while Bhutan Airlines took to the air in 2011.
All visitors must apply for a visa, aside from Indians. (Indians are visa-exempt.) The process can be done entirely online.
Though most applications are eventually approved, you can expect to wait for a reply. Bhutan also caps the number of tourists entering from a single country, which means your visa could be denied based on how many other Americans are applying.
Uniquely, if you’re from Thailand, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, or Singapore, you can apply for a visa upon arrival.
Once landing a visa, visitors can organize their trip through one of the official tourist companies. As of 2018, there are over 75 licensed tour guides in the country, all of which are regulated by the Bhutan Tourism Corporation.
Despite the emphasis on homegrown and regulated tour guides, companies are allowed to design customized adventures. So, while tourism runs under a limited scope, visitors have the freedom to plan the trip of their dreams.
Why Bhutan?
So, who ends up in Bhutan, anyway?
Back in 2019, the country welcomed over 300,000 tourists—an all-time high for the country. Most tourists come from around Asia, including India, Bangladesh, China, South Korea, and Singapore.
They’re on the hunt for exotic landscapes and cultures. I’ve spent time in Sikkim, India—which is the tiny nub located between Nepal and Bhutan.
My time there could be categorized by the term ‘unspoiled’, both in terms of the stunning vistas of the Himalayan foothills and the Tibetan Buddhism still practiced.
Bhutan offers a similarly romantic and unspoiled look at life.
There’s also that exclusivity factor, which many tourists want. As the bounds of travel expand, there are fewer ‘frontiers’, so to speak. Adventure travelers prioritize this sense of boundary-pushing, making places like Bhutan a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
