Unveil the Wonders of Bhutan

Owned and personally run by an ex- Mr. Bhutan bodybuilding champion, Bhutan Fitness Zone is a five-story structure that offers not only a dedicated gym space but also massage, sauna, TRX group class, and personal training by Mr. Bhutan himself.

The Bhutan International Marathon features some of the most spectacular scenery offered on the international circuit. Starting at an elevation of 2042 m (6700 ft) in sight of Himalayan peaks that never lose snow cover, the route follows the Mo Chhu river past the temples and villages and rice paddies of Punakha Valley before crossing a 100-meter-long suspension bridge to finish at Punakha Dzong fortress, ancient seat of government and winter home of the monastic body.

Bhutan is a birders' paradise. This country the size of Switzerland is home to about 680 species of avifauna in astonishing variety — gulls, terns, storks, falcons, woodpeckers, kingfishers, hornbills (including the spectacular rufous-necked hornbill), macaws, cuckoos, starlings, and on and on. Bhutan is such a biodiversity hotspot that ornithologists are sure more species await discovery within its borders.

Only known to science since 1876, the the IUCN Red List lists this shy species of crane as "vulnerable." A few hundred individuals fly to Bhutan's serene Phobjika Valley -- the country's largest wetland area -- to escape the Tibetan Plateau's frigid winters. The RSPN (Royal Society for Protection of Nature, which created the center) has monitored the cranes here since 1987, and bird arrivals have been steadily increasing in the three decades since.

Prior to hitting the trail, visitors (hikers and bikers) can take in the 51.5 meter tall, bronze and gilded in gold, Buddha Dordenma statue. Constructed in 2015 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the statue is one of the tallest in the world. Under the watchful eye of the statue, visitors can begin the ascent up through the Kuenselphodrang Nature Park. 493 acres of forested area, the park lends itself to recreational activities for travelers and city-goers alike; inaugurated as a park to cater to the “mental, spiritual and physical well being of visitors".

The hike from Paro up to the Chelala Pass, the highest road pass in Bhutan at 3988 meters, then down to Haa intermixes hikers between flat roads and steep inclines.

The invigorating short trek along the mountain ridge that separates Paro and Haa valleys makes for a great day hike. Start from Chele La Pass, at 3,988 meters (13,084 feet) the highest motorable pass in the country, where the air is thin and cool, a heady initiation into the Himalayan altitudes visible to the north on clear days.

Stretching down the middle of Norzin Lam from the National Textile Museum to the luxurious Taj Tashi Hotel, a line of simple bamboo huts house Thimphu's highest concentration of Bhutanese handicrafts and souvenirs. The craft bazaar is one of the capital's most interesting places to browse, with heaps of malas (prayer beads), glossy wooden bowls, brass Buddha statues, grimacing skull masks, sheaves of delicate handmade paper, jewel-toned scarves, and even mugs decorated with photographs of royalty.

Rafting the remote Dangme Chhu offers the intrepid adventurer an experience they will never forget. All rivers in Bhutan are wild: crystal clean from strict environmental policies that guard their sanctity, and sourced in glaciers beyond the reach of human touch. The Dangme, Bhutan's largest river, is especially wild. It begins in the Eastern Himalayan outlands of Arunachal Pradesh before cutting into Bhutan in the farthest east. For most of its length, virtually the only development it has seen was millennia ago when glaciers dug channels for its rapids.

The race slogan of Bhutan's DANTAK Open Mountain Bike Race is “Challenge Your Limits” and the 88 km course does indeed test competitors' grit: the average elevation is 2,230 m (7,321 ft) and tops out at 2,395 m (7,859 ft). The overall elevation gain is 3,774 m (12,382 ft) — at one point the uphill grade hits 29% — and the elevation loss is 3,745 m (12,287 ft). About a third of racers are not able to finish the race. It's all all-out sprint, and last year's winner crossed the finish line in just 2 hours and 38 minutes.

One of Bhutan's most accessible treks, the Druk Path links two of the country's top destinations, Thimphu and Paro. The moderate trail traces a 50km (30 mile) arc north between the two towns, skirting turquoise lakes and crossing wind-whipped passes en route. It requires five days to complete. Trekkers generally walk the Druk Path from Paro to Thimphu, with much of the trail above 3,500m (11,480ft) elevation. Altitude is the most challenging aspect of this trek, which is best tackled March to May and September to December.