Mysterious Bhutan may be small, but the attractions it offers are big. The country, which consistently ranks as the happiest in the world, offers attractions like the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, which sits 3,000 meters up in the mountains. Views are plentiful here, from Himalayan vistas to glimpses of Gangkhar Puensum, the world’s highest unclimbed mountain. Tourism has traditionally been limited, as most visitors must get a visa, book trips through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator, and pay a minimum daily package ($200 to $290 a day, depending on the month) in advance. But actually exploring the country is set to get easier in March, with the opening of the Trans Bhutan Trail for the first time in 60 years. The 250-mile route connects 400 cultural sites and includes 18 bridges and 10,000 stairs, and will be open for walking and mountain biking. The former Buddhist pilgrimage route fell into neglect once Bhutan opened its first roads in the 1960s.
Related: 31 Spectacular Photos of Hard-to-Reach Places