'I've visited every country in the world - you'll never have heard of my favourite'

A globetrotting YouTube sensation who has visited every country on Earth has shared her favourite spot – and it's one many Brits have never heard of.

By 21, Lexie Alford had set a record as the youngest person to traverse all 196 countries. In the process, she amassed an impressive fanbase of over half a million subscribers on YouTube, where she shares her tales.

On her LexieLimitless YouTube channel, Lexie unveiled the destination that stole her heart. "I've traveled to every country in the world, and there's one question that nearly every single person I've ever met has asked me," she said, setting the stage for her big reveal.

And the winner is... the secluded mountain realm of Bhutan. Nestled between India and China, Bhutan is often dubbed the "world's happiest country" due to its government prioritising citizen happiness over mere economic metrics.

Comparable in size to Belgium but with fewer than 800,000 inhabitants, Bhutan boasts a landscape that is 85% forested. Lexie praised the nation for having "the freshest air she's ever breathed" during a recent visit.

Although her first journey to Bhutan was back in 2018, Lexie couldn't resist a return trip this year to explore the mythical Paro Taktsang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery. Perched around 3,000 metres above sea level in the Paro valley, this sacred site dates back to 1692.

The monastery suffered a devastating fire in the late 1990s but was meticulously restored to mirror its original splendour. Bhutan's allure extends beyond its breathtaking landscapes and pristine natural beauty, according to traveller Lexie, who believes the nation's unique culture propels it into a league of its own.

She highlighted a compelling reason for Bhutan's distinctiveness: "The most significant thing that makes Bhutan so different from every other country is that it's ranked the happiest country in the world."

Lexie hailed Bhutan as "one of the world's best-kept secrets." sharing her awe with her avid followers. She went on: "The most significant thing that makes Bhutan so different from every other country is that it's ranked the happiest country in the world."

She notes that the country's governance and spiritual practices have fostered incredibly hospitable people, some of the kindest she's ever encountered.

In addition to its welcoming citizens, Bhutan boasts singular culinary experiences, offering intensely spicy dishes that Lexie describes as being "filled to the brim" with fiery chillies.

Lexie also experienced a traditional Bhutanese bath, in which red-hot stones are immersed in water, creating steam to heat the bath. She explained: "The stones start sizzling and vibrating and creating all this steam and it heats up the water that way."

Tourism significantly contributes to Bhutan's prosperity. The nation witnessed one of the world's most rapid economic expansions in 2007. However, the travel sector suffered a severe setback from the coronavirus pandemic, with tourist numbers still struggling to recover to pre-pandemic figures.

Yet, it's Bhutan's unique emphasis on measuring national well-being through its "National Happiness Index" that provides the country with a novel appeal. Reflecting on its significance,

Lexie shares her sentiment: "I think that the world has so much to learn from this tiny country." The index springs from a detailed survey of nearly 300 questions, taking a good three-hour stretch to finish.

But there's a sweetener: everyone who hands in a completed survey gets paid a full day's salary. This isn't where the government's kindness ends; citizens often receive a gift of five acres of land and "all the basic necessities to settle down in that new place".

Such generosity has stirred deep fondness for King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and his Queen Jetsun Pema, who is endearingly dubbed the "Kate Middleton of the Himalayas".