National Geographic Adventure has named Bhutan among the top 25 best new trips to undertake in 2010.
“More than ever, travelers want their dollars to do more—for others, for the planet, for themselves,” says National Geographic. “From wolf-tracking in Slovakia to rafting a forbidden river in Bhutan, here are 25 brand-new adventures, all of them just right for right now.”
The other destinations in the top 25 include Bolivia, Bostwana, Canada (British Columbia & Manitoba), Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, France, Iceland, Ireland, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Montserrat, Nepal, New Zealand, Peru, Phillipines, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Kenya and U.S.A (California, Colorado, Idaho & Montana).
National Geographic describes the Drangme Chhu river in eastern Bhutan as Bhutan’s “largest drainage, a spillway for Himalayan snow and ice that roils into turquoise Class IV and V rapids through sheer granite walls. And it has never been run”, it says.
National Geographic goes on to say that its initial survey of Bhutan’s whitewater found some of the most amazing rapids on the planet although they were all short, rocky runs. “In the Drangme Chhu – which has sections of continuous whitewater, golden langur monkeys as onlookers, and optional side trips to Bhutanese villages – they hit the jackpot.”
The Tourism Council of Bhutan received a certificate in 2009 from the Wanderlust Travel magazine awarding Bhutan the finalist “Top Country 2009” for the Wanderlust travel awards.
Bhutan was one among the top 10 finalists for the Wanderlust Travel Awards in 2005 and won the Silver award from the Wanderlust Travel Awards for the “Top Country”.
By Chencho Dema in THIMPHU
