The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalaya Mountains and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by China. Bhutan was separated from the nearby state of Nepal to the west by the Indian state of Sikkim, and from Bangladesh to the south by West Bengal. The Bhutanese called their country Druk Yul which means "Land of the Thunder Dragon".
Bhutan used to be one of the most isolated countries in the world. Developments including direct international flights, the Internet, mobile phone networks, and cable television have increasingly modernized the urban areas of the country. Bhutan balanced modernization with its ancient culture and traditions under the guiding philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Rampant destruction of the environment has been avoided. The government takes great measures to preserve the nation's traditional culture, identity and the environment. In 2006, Business Week magazine rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world, citing a global survey conducted by the University of Leicester in 2006 called the "World Map of Happiness".
Bhutan's landscape ranges from subtropical plains in the south to the Himalayan heights in the north, with some peaks exceeding 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). The state religion is Vajrayana Buddhism, and the population of 691,141 is predominantly Buddhist, with Hinduism being the second-largest religion. The capital and largest city is Thimphu. After centuries of direct monarchic rule, Bhutan held its first democratic elections in March 2008. Among other international associations, Bhutan is a member of the United Nations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The total area of the country is currently 38,394 square kilometres (14,824 sq mi).
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Climbing Adventure travelers looking to reach new heights can opt for mountain climbing trips around the globe. From Italy's Dolomites to Mt. Khuiten in Mongolia, our tours do not only include the world's most famous peaks, but also those rare ones that world-famous climbers have recently added to their repertoire.
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Hiking / Trekking Hiking is an adventure where the journey is more important than the destination. Trace the unparalleled natural beauty of the world one hiking trip at a time. Ranging from coastal trails to mountain vistas, become a part of nature while exploring dynamic landscapes on foot.
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Safari A safari, perfect for wildlife watching, can mean different things to different people. It can be trekking through the bush in the heart of Cambodia while watching birds or riding through the reserves on a horse in South Africa. But on AvidTrips, you will find safaris that will allow you to do more than just watching animals through binoculars. Here you have a myriad of choices when it comes to adventures you can plan.
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World Culture Today's adventure traveler celebrates history, traditions and people. Culture buffs who are curious about ancient architecture, colorful ceremonies, and the daily lives of locals can travel to anywhere in the world, and bring back home the priceless knowledge of world culture. While some of our world culture tours are great add-ons to your adventure tours, some are part of intense adventure trips.