Bhutan

Bhutan is the small Himalayan kingdom that measures its success in Gross National Happiness. Forests still cover most of the country, prayer flags flutter over every pass and the great white dzongs, part fortress and part monastery, remain the centres of local life. For Indian travellers it is unusually easy to visit: no visa is needed, the ngultrum is pegged to the rupee and the cultural ties run deep.

Our six-night package covers the western heartland. In Paro you hike to Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest monastery that clings to a cliff 900 metres above the valley, and drive up to Chele La, one of the highest motorable passes in the country. In Thimphu, the only capital in the world without traffic lights, you visit the giant Buddha Dordenma statue, the Memorial Chorten and the Tashichho Dzong. Crossing Dochula Pass with its 108 chortens and, on clear days, a sweep of Himalayan peaks, you descend to the warm valley of Punakha to see the Punakha Dzong at the meeting of two rivers.

Bhutan is calm, clean and relaxed, and it suits families, couples and anyone looking for a gentle Himalayan trip with meaning. Indian visitors need an entry permit, issued against a passport or voter ID, and pay a per-night Sustainable Development Fee. Travel within the country is with a licensed guide and vehicle, which our package includes. Expect slow mountain roads, quiet evenings, fresh air and a pace of life that makes it easy to switch off. Many travellers say the Tiger's Nest climb is the single most memorable morning of any trip they have taken.