Bhutan Nestling in the Himalayas, the kingdom of Bhutan is bordered by Tibet in the north and India in the south. It is roughly the size of Switzerland. With its closely guarded culture and traditions, and well-conserved pristine natural environment, Bhutan is unique and fascinating in many ways. Bhutan is the last surviving Mahayana Buddhist state which has shaped the nation's history, and it still plays a vital role in the everyday life. Bhutan has a wide range of climates, from the hot and humid jungles of the southern foothills to frigid snowcapped peaks in the north which rise to 7,700 metres. This has made it possible for a lot of unique and rare plants and animals to thrive. Realizing that uncontrolled tourism can have devastating and irreversible effect on the local environment, culture and the identity of the people, the Bhutanese government has introduced fixed 'daily tourist tariff' to limit the number of tourists visting Bhutan per year. The tourists are charged a fixed rate per night halt during their tour in Bhutan. This rate includes meals, accomodations, transport, services of guides and porters, supply of pack and riding ponies and cultural programs when and where available. Please see 'Getting There' section for details. There are two ports of entry into Bhutan: by Druk Air via Paro Airport or by road from India via the southern gateway city of Phuntsholing. Either way, a trip to Bhutan must be planned in advance because tourist visas can only be processed through a registered tour operator in Bhutan. Although it is more expensive than visting another South East Asian country, you will find Bhutan very different from any other country you have visited. You will find a country where all people in villages as well as in cities still wear their traditional dress. A country whose past is still the present, a country where TV and the Internet have not changed the people's age-old traditions, a country which is rightly called by some as "The Last Shangrila". Please also have a look at our guide to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.
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