Bhutan has long been known as a tiny Eastern country that puts gross national happiness ahead of gross domestic product, but yesterday’s issue of the New York Times touted it as much more, highlighting it as destination #5 out of 46 “must-go-to” destinations for 2013.

The annual travel resource – which lists tourism destinations from all over the world, selecting them based on the best, most intriguing, and sometimes most untapped areas – featured Bhutan previously in 2009, but cited Bhutan’s new daily flights and luxury resorts opening up throughout the country as reason to launch it back into the Top Five for 2013. Eco-chic accommodations, spicy local cuisine, rejuvenating spas, and centuries-old monasteries and temples make Bhutan a should-see; the pristine natural landscapes and the warm, welcoming people make it a can’t-miss. With additional flights making travel to this exotic destination easier and intimate yet well-appointed hotels awaiting visitors, Bhutan is certainly a “Place to Go” in 2013.

The New York Times isn’t the only major publication to notice all

of Bhutan’s alluring attractions. Forbes also recently named Bhutan among its “10 Best Once in a Lifetime Trips: Best of 2013 Bucket List Travel,” where it referred t

o the destination as an “outdoor recreation wonderland for hikers and mountain bikers to explore” and “one of the most uniquely individual places on earth, physically and culturally.”

To read the full Forbes article on “10 Best Once in a Lifetime Trips: Best of 2013 Bucket List Travel,” go towww.forbes.com/pictures/ehkj45jdlj/exotic-journey-bhutan/. The full New York Times article entitled “The 46 Places to Go in 2013,” can be found at www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/10/travel/2013-places-to-go.html?ref=travel.