ABOUT BHUTAN
Biodiversity Hotspot
Bhutan is a place like no other in the world. One reason for this is the kingdom's pristine nature and globally unique biodiversity, well protected by a network of national parks that stretches over half of the country's area. From the warm lowlands with herds of elephants, colourful birds and subtropical jungle, to the middle altitudes with rushing rivers and jungles that are home to around 200 species of mammals, from the small red panda to the Bengal tiger, to the mountain landscapes with the highest unclimbed mountains in the world, snow leopards and a rich flora of unique medicinal plants - Bhutan's nature is breathtaking.
The Last Buddhist Kingdom
Bhutan is also the last Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas. The Bhutanese see their country as a living embodiment of the teachings of Buddha. Buddhist philosophy and practice are omnipresent in architecture, politics, colorful festivals and people's everyday lives. Buddhism plays a major role in people's lives not only in traditional society, but also in the younger generation. Artists, musicians, filmmakers, start-up entrepreneurs - many of them draw inspiration from dealing with the big questions of life and death that Buddhism raises and find modern expressions of this ancient philosophy.
A Country in Transition
But the country is also facing huge challenges. Bhutan's young generation is growing up with social media, with Hollywood and Bollywood, and well-educated young people in particular are leaving the country in droves due to a lack of opportunities for advancement in order to find prosperity elsewhere. In contrast, the king and government are implementing visionary future projects that are intended to catapult the country into the 21st century and also prosper economically without losing its roots. Bhutan has one foot in the Middle Ages and the other on the threshold of a networked and digitalized future.
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We have been able to accompany this process on various levels over the last 12 years and also help shape it in our personal and professional environments. For us, this tension between ancient culture and modernity is part of what makes Bhutan unique. With Bhutan Essence trips, we not only want to show the originality and folklore, but also provide deep insights behind the picturesque scenes.
