5 reasons Bhutan is worth the US$250 daily fee

by Lester V. Ledesma

Bhutan's strategy of “low volume, high quality” tourism has made it a highly regarded destination among discerning travelers.

It costs an official US$250 per day per person to sample the charms of this isolated Himalayan kingdom, an amount that includes land transport, accommodations, food and guide service.

While it's not quite an arm and a leg, the cost does seem restrictive for some. It's the government's way of keeping the country from being overrun by mass tourism, while at the same time ensuring its preferred visitors get the most value out of their trips.

So is it really worth the money? These five experiences have convinced us it is.

The word "authentic" is more overused than the word "sorry" in tourism, but Bhutan is a place that can remind us of the true meaning of cultural authenticity.