A remote mountainous country with 25C September temperatures and minimal visitor numbers has been named the world's quietest nation. Bhutan in South Asia secured the top position in a ranking compiled by travel operator Go2Africa, achieving a Quiet Score of 89.44.
Go2Africa investigated the notion of national "quietness" to produce a top 10 ranking of the most peaceful destinations. The factors examined included a nation's population and tourism density, the amount of rural and protected land, and traffic levels. The data itself comes from sources such as online databases, global studies and government reports.
Bhutan's preserved landscape and tourism rules
Previously recognised as a hermit kingdom, Bhutan only began welcoming visitors from 1974 onwards. Go2Africa notes on its site: "The country, sitting in the shadow of the Eastern Himalayas, is well known for being beautifully preserved, with tourists only able to visit through licensed local tour operators and by paying a daily Sustainable Development Fee."
"The country ranks particularly high for rural land density with 39,041km2 of forested mountains, terraced valleys, and sparsely populated highland terrain and an exceedingly high percentage of protected areas."
The nation offers 39,041 km2 of forested mountain ranges, valleys and sparsely inhabited highlands. Travellers seeking a trip this month will find that September, October and November offer temperatures of about 25C in the sun, though temperatures can vary depending on the valley. It's also an ideal time for hiking and taking in festivals like Thimphu Tshechu.
Visitor fees and iconic sites
The country also earns its tranquil reputation by implementing a mandatory visitor charge of about £70 daily for adults. Known as the Sustainable Development Fee, the revenue supports environmental conservation, education and healthcare.
Among its most iconic sites stands the Taktsang, or "Tiger's Nest", a 17th-century monastery carved into the mountainside at 3,000 metres elevation. Prospective guests should note, however, that reaching it requires a two to four-hour trek.
Other rankings
In second place was Namibia in southern Africa, which achieved a Quiet Score of 86.69. An arid nation, Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, with Go2Africa describing it as "built on scale and emptiness" and offering "complete solitude".
Botswana claimed third spot, followed by Zambia, Gabon, Venezuela, Chad, the Central African Republic, Mongolia and Bolivia. Conversely, the loudest nation was identified as Singapore with a 6.78 Quiet Score.
