Bhutan

Bhutan rests high in the Himalayas, between Tibet and India. Long secluded from the modern world, its isolation preserved an ancient rhythm of life until the 1970s, when the monarchy opened its doors to a quiet stream of travelers. Over two-thirds of the country is forested—an emerald canopy that makes Bhutan the world’s only carbon-negative nation. Guided by Gross National Happiness, it measures prosperity not in currency but in well-being, ensuring free health care and education. Rooted in more than twelve centuries of Buddhist tradition, compassion and non-violence remain at the heart of Bhutanese life. In October, I traveled through Bhutan with Tibetan Buddhist practitioners of Chö—a meditative ritual of chanting and drumming. Our path led us through luminous forests to remote 17th-century temples, alive with color, intricate woodwork and the low, resonant chant of monks.