Aside from its expansive serenity and Gross Domestic Happiness agenda, what sets the Kingdom of Bhutan apart from the rest of the world is its $200 daily travel fee required of all visitors.

The fee is essentially a permit, and it is a flat fee charged to any visitor regardless of income level, length of stay, etc. There is, simply put, no way around it. And the Bhutanese government plans to raise the rate to $250 a day in 2011.

But what many outsiders do not know is that this fee covers all the in-country basics: food, lodging, permits, etc.

Bhutan’s economy, incidentally, is the second-fastest-growing in the world, due in large part to a big hydroelectricity project. Even still, as of March 2006, the country’s per capita income was $1,321, so your incoming travel dollars go far.

Embark will be announcing more trips to Bhutan soon, but for now, our existing trip provides a great outline for what you’ll get out of a trek through this magnificent, well-preserved, and tranquil landscape. The base cost covers the daily travel fee.