One of the country's most recognisable religious landmarks, the National Memorial Chhorten's golden spires and bells attract Thimphu devouts and fascinated visitors alike. This Buddhist shrine and stupa (a mound or structure used as a place of meditation) was built in 1974 to honour Bhutan's third king, or Druk.

Though still largely traditional in many ways, Bhutan's fascinating capital is going through something of a transformation. It remains the only world capital without a single traffic light, yet Thimphu is in many ways rapidly modernising, with several 5-star hotels and increasing numbers of restaurants and nightlife venues.

To really get a deeper understanding of the area, head inland towards the golden sand dunes that are home to a myriad of hidden treasures. One not-so-hidden treasure is the amphitheatre of El Jem which was a set for the film Gladiator and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to its size and importance during the Roman Empire. Due to the drifting sands of the desert, archaeologists periodically make discoveries here, the most recent of which is a large racetrack that had gone unnoticed for centuries. A private tour, which can last anywhere between four hours and three days, will take adventurers from Monastir through the surrounding Bedouin villages, past Kairouan to El Jem.

Once a prayer hall, the Ribat Museum showcases a varied collection of traditional fabrics and objects such as coins, jewellery and pottery that will transport visitors back to a time when Islamic art was highly coveted the world over. It also displays an astrolabe (a device which measures the distance between stars) dating all the way back to the year 927, right at the time when pivotal discoveries in astronomy and mathematics were taking place. The museum is accessible from the south wing of the Ribat.