WELLNESS

Paro’s two-story spa is surrounded by glistening conifers in the forest. Try a herb-infused hot stone bath, followed by a traditional massage. Facilities include a glass-walled yoga studio, a sauna, steam room, changing areas. The five treatment rooms each have a shower and an outdoor bath.

Thimphu’s signature treatment is a hot-oil Ayurvedic head massage. Facilities include three treatment rooms, a steam room, and changing areas.

At Punakha, try a holistic facial made with locally sourced products such as homemade yogurt, Bumthang honey, and orange. The two-story spa includes a yoga/ meditation room with views of rice paddies, two treatment rooms, a steam room and changing areas.

At Gangtey, experience a candlelit hot stone bath; a sliding bamboo door reveals a panorama of the valley. Spa facilities include two massage rooms and changing areas.

Zen massage is the signature treatment at Bumthang. There are 3 intimate treatment rooms, a steam room, and changing areas.

DINING

An array of Bhutanese, Western and Indian dishes are served across all five Amankora lodges, using local ingredients such as yak meat and fresh honey from the Bumthang Valley. Private dining can be arranged, indoors or outdoors, for intimate dinners or group celebrations.

The dining room at Paro features an external terrace overlooking a small stream. Views extend to snow-covered Jhomolhari and the ruins of the ancient dzong.

Soaring ceilings and wood-paneled walls complement an outdoor dining deck at Thimphu, with views of the nearby stream and surrounding forest.

Gangtey Lodge has large family-style dining tables and floor-to-ceiling windows, complemented with sweeping views of the valley and a 16th-century monastery.

Occupying an old farmhouse, the dining room at Punakha extends to an outdoor deck, enjoying views of the valley and rice fields.

At Bumthang Lodge, shaded by fruit trees, the courtyard provides an alfresco dining venue. The interior dining area features a cozy fireplace, with views of the courtyard and the palace.

EXPLORE

Hiking and cycling are arguably the best ways to explore the incredible landscape, and every lodge offers an exhaustive list of options and routes. In addition, guests will be given a ‘top ten’ list of activities and experiences to try in each locality. Below is a selection of those available.

From Paro, embark on the exhilarating four-hour hike to the Tiger’s Nest, the iconic 7th-century monastery that clings to the mountainside, 900 meters up. Take a guided cultural tour of Paro, taking in the major museums, institutions, and sights. Enjoy a private lecture on Bhutan and Buddhism with the Mynak Rinpoche, the twelfth spiritual leader of the Mynak province in Eastern Tibet.

From Thimphu, guided tour taking in the major museums and cultural institutions, as well as exploring shops, boutiques markets, and the city’s best bars and restaurants. Take an archery lesson and discover more about Bhutan’s national sport. Pay a late-afternoon visit to the 12th-century temple overlooking Thimphu, before watching the sunset from the Radio Tower.

Relax in a traditional outdoor hot-stone bath with magnificent views of the countryside at Gangtey. Donate a meal to the monks, join them for evening or morning prayers, or experience a spiritual cleansing ritual. Enjoy a Bhutanese meal in a candlelit potato hut, warmed by a Bukhari stove and accompanied by folk music and song.

At Phunakha, visit the beautiful 17th-century Punakha Dzong, and the 15th-century ‘fertility temple’ Chime Lhakhang. Enjoy a four-course barbeque at a peaceful spot on the Mo Chhu river, surrounded by pines and rice fields, and watch the stars rise over Himalayan peaks. Visit the morning market with the chef and take part in a Bhutanese cooking class at the lodge.

When you stay at the tipton Bumthang, lunch on local produce at a nearby farmhouse, tour the Red Panda brewery, the country’s sole producer of weiss beer, and explore the Wangdichhoeling palace, next to the lodge. Cultural and spiritual experiences include visits to monasteries and nunneries, butter lamp lighting, astrology readings and evening prayers with the monks. Enjoy a private barbeque by the firepit with a personalized menu.

Paro Suite
52 sqm

Hidden in thick pine forest, Paro suites feature walls clad in wood and black steel panelling.

Thimphu Suite
52 sqm

Located in the capital’s Motithang area, and built in the style of a traditional dzong fortress, it is an open-plan wood-panelled suite.

Punakha Suite
52 sqm

Reached by a suspension bridge over the Mo Chhu River, this suite incorporates a traditional Bhutanese farmhouse built by a former chief abbot. Suites are identical to those at Paro, with views of an orange orchard and rice terraces.

Gangtey Suite
52 sqm

Set on a forested knoll within a wildlife reserve, with views of a 16th-century monastery, these suites are identical to those at Thimphu.