Hotels/Accommodations

We use what we consider to be the nicest accommodations in Bhutan (with the exception of the new resorts, which we can book. Hotels in western Bhutan have better standards than ones in the Central and Eastern part of the country. All accommodations are approved by the Department of Tourism, Royal Government of Bhutan. Each one is clean, comfortable, offering a warm welcome, friendly smile and restful haven that are much appreciated after a day of cultural exploration. Your hotels in Bhutan will provide you pillows, blankets, sheets, towels, bathroom tissue, and soap. You have to take your own toothbrush, toothpaste, lotions, and other items. All the hotels, lodges and guesthouses are equipped with telephones, fax machines and international dialing.

LUXURY HOTELS

HOTEL ZHIWA LING, PARO:
The 45-room Zhiwa Ling combines the sensibilities of a fine Bhutanese guesthouse with the best of 21st Century technology. Envisioned and created by a local Bhutanese company, the hotel’s elaborate hand-carved wooden cornices and masterful stonework coexist beautifully with cutting-edge telecommunication systems and Swedish under-floor heating.

The spa offers all the amenities of a modern fitness center - sauna, steam room, gym - as well as a traditional Bhutanese outdoor hot-stone bath. There is a Business Center, and a Tea House, two fully-equipped conference rooms and a Meditation House. One restaurant specializes in contemporary international cuisine, the other classic Bhutanese dishes. And everyone gathers at the Mad Monk Bar for after-hours fun.

Honoring the spiritual heritage of this ancient Buddhist kingdom, a temple has been built into the second floor of the hotel, made with 450-year-old timbers from the famous Gangtey Monastery, the crowning glory of this new ten-acre cultural landmark in the quiet Paro Valley where Zhiwa Ling fully lives up to its name: Place of Peace.

UMA PARO: The Holistic Adventure
With Uma, expect an holistic, cultural adventure, complemented by the core of the COMO Shambhala experience, featuring yoga and Asian-inspired therapies devoted not just to the body but to spiritual wellbeing.

Uma is ecologically aware, respecting the land in which its retreats are located. In design, each hotel reflects local aesthetics, combining indigenous detailing with a serene modernity, keeping the number of rooms deliberately limited.

In cuisine, Uma incorporates local organic foodstuffs with sophisticated Asian-led traditions. Uma also acknowledges the greater wisdom of ancient cultures and the powerful salve of un-spoilt spiritualism.

Indeed, Uma offers more than the usual five-star hotel experience, but the opportunity to discover subtle layering of landscapes and forgotten people. Enjoy this within the calming environment of each hotel’s location or by active exploration of the surrounding region.

TAJ TASHI, THIMPHU:
The Taj Tashi, Thimphu is an ideal place from which to discover Bhutan’s spectacular monasteries and centuries-old street festivals, or explore its pristine wilderness areas, much sought-after by adventure and wildlife enthusiasts.

Located in the heart of Bhutan’s capital city, Taj Tashi is a blend of traditional Bhutanese Dzong architecture and modern design. The 66 elegant guestrooms, with dramatic hand-painted walls and ceilings motifs, offer majestic views of mountains surrounding the Thimphu valley.

Well-appointed spaces within the hotel reflect the charm of Bhutan’s art and culture. Burnt ochre and charcoal walls contract with intricate hand-painted Buddhist murals.

AMANKORA - PARO, THIMPHU, PUNAKHA, GANGTEY GONPA & BUMTHANG:
Combining the word “aman” (or peace in Sanskrit) with “circular journey” in Dzongkha, the Bhutanese language, Amankora is a series of lodges in Bhutan’s central and western valleys Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Phobjikha. Amanresorts has been accorded a great privilege in being the first international hotel company permitted to open in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Together they provide an ideal circuit for discovery of cultural traditions unchanged over centuries.

AMANKORA PARO
There are six dwellings with four suites each, two on the ground floor and two on the upper floor. The 24 suites are similar in design featuring natural rammed-earth walls, gently sloping roofs and wood-panelled interiors with a king-size bed, a traditional bukhari (wood-burning stove) and a large terrazzo-clad bath.

AMANKORA THIMPHU
Two dwellings house a total of 16 suites, featuring a combined living and bedroom that includes a king-size bed, a reading chair and a window banquette providing views across a landscaped courtyard or directly onto the nearby stream and pine forest. Room interiors feature combined wood panel and chocolate brown walls. The traditional bukhari is positioned between the bedroom and the bathroom. The spacious bathroom opens from the bedroom and provides a terrazzo-clad bath that enjoys a view through a vertical slot window. A shower, toilet and twin vanities and hanging space complete the bathroom. The suites are individually heated during the cold winter months.

AMANKORA PUNAKHA
Eight suites, located in three rammed-earth dwellings, are situated in an orange orchard with views across the rice fields and back up the Punakha Valley. The suites are identical to the design of the suites at Amankora Paro, featuring wood panelled interiors, a traditional bukhari, king-size bed, terrazzo-clad bath, shower and vanities, and day bed. Suites are individually heated during the cooler winter months and air-conditioned in the summer months.

AMANKORA GANGTEY
The eight suites are identical to those of Amankora Thimphu, offering an open plan bedroom and bathing area. The aesthetics combine wood panelling and chocolate brown walls, the traditional bukhari, terrazzo-clad bath, shower and vanity, and daybed offering views across the valley. Suites are individually heated during the cold winter months.

AMANKORA BUMTHANG
Accessed through an impressive stone-clad hallway, 16 guest suites are situated in four separate dwellings, each containing two suites on the ground floor and two on the upper floor. Each suite features wood-panelled interiors, a traditional bukhari, king-size bed, terrazzo-clad bath, shower, twin vanities and daybed overlooking the courtyard and nearby Wangdicholing Palace and monastery.