The "Kingdom of the Thunder Lizard" is known to avid trekkers around the world as one of the last great frontiers for hiking and exploration. Nestled in the Himalayas south of Tibet and north of India, this is a predominantly Buddhist nation with deeply held customs and beliefs. With a population of just under 750,000, Bhutan prides itself on having limited outside influences in favor of protecting the unique culture that it's known and cherished for centuries. This tight regulation on outside influence has made it one of the  world's most secluded societies; for example, the television wasn't introduced here until 1999 and the cellphone didn't arrive until 2008. Both of these technologies, as well as dozens of others, are still very uncommon even today - which makes traveling in Bhutan almost like taking a step back in time.

Read more about this fascinating country in Tripatini member Truly Bhutan's post An Overview of the Mystical Kingdom of Bhutan.