A Bhutanese dzong, or center of meditation
Photo © Mizue Nagai

Forget leaf-peeping some gentle New England lane; put some new golds and reds and yellows into your viewfinder by going 100-percent exotic this autumn. The hidden kingdom of Bhutan is adventure-travel's hottest new destination and will leave your relatives' photos of crimson maples faded in the dust.

This small kingdom of two million people is nestled like a pearl in the mountainous embrace of the soaring Himalayas. And travelers are slowly beginning to wake up to Bhutan's allure: monumental 20,000-foot peaks, pristine alpine conditions, monasteries where the rhythms and rituals of life have lain untouched for centuries, some of the most friendly and hospitable people you could hope to encounter...

Matt Holmes of Boundless Journeys (802-253-1840, www.boundlessjourneys.com), a Vermont-based adventure tour operator, remarks, "The kingdom of Bhutan is a hidden Himalayan gem that is often compared to Tibet before the Chinese invasion, and Nepal without the budget backpackers." Add to that Nepal's recent internal strife, and you'll see why trekkers and adventurers are looking east of Kathmandu. That's not to say you're going to feel like you're jammed in Asia's equivalent of Blue Ridge gridlock. Less than 10,000 tourists visit Bhutan each year, this compared to some half a million who used to visit Nepal.

Boundless Journeys' Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek will take place October 2-11, 2005, and includes a strenuous six-day trek that tops out at 14,500 feet. The $3,695 price tag includes all meals, accommodations, and transportation in Bhutan.

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