Amankora

Bhutan’s secrets are revealed through a stay at 5 intimate lodges

For the past 16 years, Amankora has found its home in these peaceful valleys where time stands still. In the classic style of Aman, the 5 lodges that are situated here don’t just offer their guests flawless services and the breathtaking vistas that stretch from the Jhomolhari Mountains to the Phobjika Valley, but, rather, an active immersion in the region’s mystical heritage.

Each of these accommodation is like a new side of the same coin, different and yet familiar. Separate elements of Bhutanese customs are interwoven with the impeccable Feng shui and rustic luxury of interiors curated by architect Kerry Hill. To discover each of these 5 lodges, guests have but to embark on a 12-night journey into the heart of local culture, led by a private guide and suited to individual requests.

A haven in Bhutan’s illustrious capital

Beginning in Thimphu Lodge, which is nestled in the higher stretches of Motithang, travelers are invited into accommodations built like a traditional Dzong fortress, where each suite offers fragrant wood-burning stoves, free-standing wooden tubs, and window seats that peek out to the wilderness. Apart from exploration of the country’s storied capital, as well as Cheri Goemba, home to the country’s first community of monks, stays here are accompanied by the signature hot-oil Ayurvedic head massage, while guests may also receive a private lecture on Bhutan and Buddhism from the Mynak Rinpoche. 

A taste of Bhutan at Gangtey Lodge

The journey continues at the Gangtey Lodge, situated at the crest of the Phobjikha Valley, where visitors are a rarity and the centuries-old Gangtey Goemba monastery is a sight to behold. Here, endangered black-neck cranes flock carefree in the safety of the Black Mountains National Park wildlife reserve, and nearby, at the village of Gangtey, traditional homes are a sight to behold. At the Lodge, guests are invited to savour an authentic Bhutanese meal in the potato hut, where hundreds of flickering candles and live folk music accompany every moment, or enjoy the hand-picked collection of books at the library as they sit comfortably in view of the valley.

The natural lure of Bumthang Lodge

Bhutan is a place of ‘beautiful fields’ — the direct translation of Bumthang, after which this lodge has taken its name. This next destination is set in the town of Jakar, alongside the majestic Wandichholing Palace, and offers guests the opportunity to experience a myriad of local customs, including Taktsang Monastery’s 108 butter lamp offering. The area of Bumthang itself is interspersed by 29 places of worship, where sacred art is created and showcased, and astrology readings are administered by monks; on their return to the lodge, guests are invited to dine al fresco beneath blooming fruit trees or in a cozy interior lit by a hearth, after receiving the signature Zen Massage.

Punakha Valley’s unseen splendour

Palatial visits give way to hikes through unspoilt natural areas here, as surely as day gives way to night. Crossing a long suspension bridge that hangs over the Mo Chhu River leads to the Punakha Lodge, which, amongst its structures, includes a traditional farmhouse built by a former monastic head. Here, a subtropical forests calls out with its own series of diversions, including long nature hikes in view of Bhutan’s highest peak yet to be climbed, its mysteries thoroughly unreachable as it has never been explored. At the lodge, guests are invited to soak in an infinity pool that sees to endless tiered rice paddies, or to discover the local market with the Chef and learn about Punakha Valley’s culinary secrets.

Experiencing antiquity through Paro Lodge

The journey ends — or even begins — through a glimpse of hospitality peeking among the conifers. Paro Lodge is set just by a refreshing stream with a lull that can be heard through open windows; here, pine needles crunch underfoot on long hikes, and yoga lessons take place in a glass-walled studio that acts as a lookout to the Jhomdhari Mountains. The Wang and Paro River Valleys hold their share of religious monuments and ruins dating back to antiquity; Bhutan’s earliest artefacts can also be viewed at the National Museum, graced by certain pieces with great significance that were crafted as far as 4,000 BCE. Guests can also choose to discover one of the region’s oldest monasteries; the Tiger’s Nest was brought to life in the 7th Century and remains a poignant place of worship to this day.

By creating 5 unique lodges, Amankora invites its guests on an immersive experience in the vast wilderness of Bhutan, and a series of customs that have stood the test of time.