The Last Shangri-La
Have you ever dreamed of going to Shangri-La? Or even wondered if there really was such a place? I have stayed at the wonderfully luxurious Shangri-La Hotels in Vancouver, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, but what about the real thing? Well, there is no real thing exactly – it’s a mythical place that was first described in James Hilton’s 1933 novel Lost Horizon. He describes “Shangri-La” as a mystical, harmonious valley and now it’s become synonymous with sort of a Himalayan utopia. Many say that Bhutan is the last Shangri-La.
This “Land of the Thunder Dragon” is the world’s youngest democracy. And their guiding philosophy?
Gross National Happiness
Sounds good to me.
If you are following my LLworldtour Facebook Page, you already know that next week, I am going to Bhutan. If you are not, you probably should go ‘like’ it to see my daily updates and photos. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
Okay…
Where is Bhutan, you ask? Well it’s right here (find that tiny red spot):
Tradition, culture and environment are fiercely protected here making tourism a bit difficult. Bhutan ranks among the world’s top travel destinations, but very few make it here because of their “high value, low impact” tourism policy. Plus, get this: tourism only started here in 1974. It’s about as old as me.
Exodus Travels
I will be a guest of the long-standing adventure travel company: Exodus Travels as an initiative with Navigate Media Group, a blogger collective that I am a part of that creates comprehensive digital marketing strategies for brands and destinations. Three others in my group are also exploring far corners of the earth with Exodus all this month:
Be sure to follow along on their trips which are happening all throughout April:
- GoSeeWrite is in Costa Rica
- Ottsworld is trekking through exotic Oman
- Bacon is Magic will be cruising through the Galapagos
(You can see each of their itineraries by clicking on the links above)
It will be a fun month of wildlife, cycling, trekking, and discovering with Exodus in four very different and unique ways.
What’s in it for YOU?
1) Exodus has given me a 10% discount code for just my readers. Just quote “BLOG” when you book a trip with Exodus and you’ll save several hundred bucks off most of their trips! You should check out some of their tours, they are pretty impressive.
2) And all year they are also offering a way to win a trip for free with their Feel More Alive contest. Moments from travel are often some of the most exciting in our lives and Exodus is assembling a huge collection of these moments by asking people to submit videos and photos of a moment that made them “feel more alive.” It is a monthly contest, which means you have multiple chances to win. Just upload a photo or video to the site and every month Exodus chooses one winner that inspires them, celebrates adventure, and represents the value of “feeling more alive through travel.”
Check out some of these trips! January’s winner is going to Machu Picchu. February’s winner is going to Rwanda. Some of the next month’s prizes include trips to Sri Lanka, Antarctica, and Botswana!
Feel More Alive is a monthly contest, which means you have multiple chances to win. Which trip excites you? Check out all their tours here. And tell me below in the comments where you want to go?
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Terms and conditions of the Discount
1. Each blog reader who books any Exodus trip between 1 March – 31 May 2013 will receive a 10% discount.
2. The offer is open to first time travelers only.
3. Only one discount per booking.
4. This offer is only valid for people booking directly with Exodus
5. There is no cash alternative and no correspondence will be entered into.
6. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other Exodus offers or loyalty discounts.
7. Exodus has the right to withdraw or change this introductory offer at anytime The discount will be applied to the final balance, not the deposit payment.
Disclosure: I will be a guest of Exodus as a part of a Navigate Media Group project. As always, all views here are my own.
Katrina
Looking forward to hearing all about your trip. I am really hoping to hop over to Bhutan from India when I take my trip later this year. Enjoy!
Lisa
Thanks Katrina! Do you know if you’re going yet? Can’t just ‘hop over’ though as you need a visa in advance and a tour, etc. They have a fixed tourism model there. It was pretty interesting.
Daniel McBane
I’ve actually been to Shangri-la–well, I’ve been to the Chinese town formerly known as Zhongdian and renamed Shangri-la by the government in an attempt to attract more tourists, but I’m going to count it. It was a beautiful place, too, but I would have much preferred to visit Bhutan. I’m a little jealous and can’t wait to read about your trip.
Lisa
Hey Daniel! THx for dropping by! How’s Berlin!? Hopefully that cold and snow crap is over! Bhutan is pretty special. Stay tuned for some posts and photo essays!
emma@gottakeepmovin
This is awesome, I’m so jealous! Bhutan is way up there on my list of destinations to visit. Can’t wait to hear some stories!
Lisa
Thanks so much Emma! Posts to come soon!
Steph
Bhutan looks amazing- like this secret magical place high up in the mountains. I can’t WAIT to see what you discover.
Lisa
Thanks Steph! It was pretty magical. And so nice that marketing and consumerism isn’t really there yet!
A Cook Not Mad (Nat & Tim)
I can’t wait to read about your trip. Would love to go to Bhutan some day!
Lisa
Thanks Nat and Tim! Posts to come in just a couple weeks!
Tash
JEALOUS!!! Very high on my travel lust list too!
Looking forward to hearing about it, and always looking for a tour recommendation.
Lisa
Thanks Tash! You should definitely make a plan to go! They’re holding on to something special there. I used Exodus Tours and was really pleased!
Ayngelina
As excited as I am to go to the Galapagos I must say Bhutan is definitely on my wish trip, it will be an amazing time.
Lisa
Thanks Ayngelina! Funny thing is the Galapagos is still one of my favorite ‘natural’ places. Both are somewhat untouched – one at sea, the other in the mountains. But both places rank high on motion sickness! (at least the GI are at sea level though!)
Agness
Never been there, but it’s so close to China and looks so beautiful that I might go there soon. It’s been on my must see list for a long time!
Lisa
You should definitely go Agness! It’s quite unique!
Loz in Transit
Great initiative by Exodus. What a privilege, great bloggers and interesting locations. If it wasn’t for #GoSeeWrite it would have been quite sistahood of intrepid blogger travelers 😉
Sounds fun.
Lisa
Ha ha! Sistahood! Very cute way to look at it. 🙂 Thanks for reading along.
Excursionista
I am jealous! Bhutan is on my bucket list…well I think it’s on everybody’s bucket list. 😉
Will wait for your stories!
Adam
Wow…so jealous…would love to see Bhutan too =) maybe if I win a lottery, hehe
enjoy the trip and make a lot of photos =)
Lance
Wow! I’m so jealous. Can’t wait to read about your trip.
Nitin
Here’s a short film that takes you through the magical kingdom of Bhutan and explores 10 paths of Happiness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIYE2EK_JX4
Lisa
Nitin- That is a beautifully shot and edited video. Did you produce it? I’ve uploaded my video on a later post. You can find it in the Bhutan posts. Hope you like it!
T.W. Anderson @ Marginal Boundaries
Rock on, I can’t wait to read more about your trip and see the shots/video put together!
Lisa
Thanks TW! Take a look at all the other Bhutan posts…they are all up now. 🙂
Gypsy Traveller
So envious! I don’t want to be indiscreet, But exodus sponsored completely your trip? Because it’s quite expensive to get there!
Lisa
Hi David-
Yes, I was hosted by Exodus as part of a Navigate Media marketing initiative. But I was not paid to blog or say certain things on my blog. 🙂
Hotelove
Real life Shangri-La. Bhutan seems soo cool, and it’s pretty high on my to-do list… Jealous!
Lisa
Thanks Hotelove! You should definitely get there.
Odovolenke
So far away and so beatuiful. My dream destination is Thailand and on my way there I would like to stop in Bhutan. It seems like really beautiful country.