It's time to start planning new travel adventures for 2020. Maybe you should start with Bhutan.
Bhutan is named the best country to visit in 2020 in Lonely Planet's travel guide book, "Best in Travel 2020". Best in Travel is the travel guide website Lonely Planet's annual publication.
It is the most on-trend travel destination for 2020. When it comes to sustainability, it is the the first carbon-negative country in the world. It is the world's first 100 percent organic nation, with chemical fertilizers and pesticides banned in all the farms across the country. It is set to become the world's first organic nation by 2020.
According to Tom Hall, vice-president of experience at Lonely Planet, "Bhutan really taps into one of the themes of this year's Best in Travel, which is the growing awareness in sustainability and in looking after the things that make our world so beautiful."
Often described as the world's last Shangri-La, the Kingdom of Bhutan is the only country in the world that measures success by gross national happiness and not by economic growth. It topped 9 other countries for its "topicality, unique experiences and wow factor", according to the site.
This tiny country in the Himalayas operates a 'high-value, low-impact' tourism policy, meaning visitors can be issued 7 or 14 day entry permits (Minimum Daily Package) which are only valid for Thimphu, the capital, and the town of Paro, and it rewards visitors who are able to "walk along mountain trails unsullied by litter. The Minimum Daily Package covers a 3 star accommodation (4 and 5 star accommodations require an additional fee), all meals, a licensed Bhutanese tour guide, all internal transportation, and camping equipment if you are going trekking.
It is a blending of the old and new. "Here, you will find a fascinating blend of the old and the new among kind-hearted people whose time-honoured beliefs, keep them uniquely in tune with their environment," the entry states.
The Land of the Thunder Dragon or the "holy grail" of travel destinations, Bhutan can touch your soul, balm it with peace, and even mend the broken heart. Expect incredible monasteries, fantastic festivals and classic Himalayan trekking. Other than that, you can explore the dzongs, marvel at the Himalayas, eat chilies and cheese and learn about Buddhism.
An average hotel during the peak season can cost up INR 2500 and 1300 -1500 during off season. Go for a hotel that ranges between INR 1000-1500 if you love your sleep.
September through November are the best months to visit Bhutan.
Visit the most visited sight in Bhutan: Tiger's Nest (Taktshang Goemba), a Buddhist monastery precariously perched on the side of a mountain. It is said to be to be the spot where Guru Padmasambhava landed - when he flew from Tibet on the back of his Tigress, hence the name. You will learn that the Tiger Nest Monastery has a few temples within the Monastery with 9 sacred caves. The most sacred cave "Pel Phug Cave" is where Guru Rinpoche meditated for more than three months.
Bhutan may be an expensive destination, but all of it is worth it.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
