There is not place on earth quite like Amankora. Located in Bhutan’s central and western valleys, it consists of five unique lodges linked throughout the Kingdom of Bhutan’s countryside by paths that weave through the natural surroundings. Made up of mountains that dip into valleys and rivers, Bhutan is a destination unlike anywhere you have ever been, and one you will never want to leave.
The resort is made up of Amankora Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang – each of which are unique in their own way, but also come together to create the spiritual and welcoming whole that is Amankora. You can choose to stay at just one, or embark on a tailor-made, 11-night journey throughout Bhutan to see each of the amazing locations of The Amankora Resort. This journey will include complimentary road permits, private transports with a driver and a guide, and a 60-minute massage to be enjoyed at any one of the five lodge-spas. Additionally, decide whether or not to add an all-inclusive package to your stay.
Amankora Paro is located in Balakha Village, a 30 minute trip from Paro International Airport and has 24 suites. The rooms carry a rustic feel but with contemporary design and have rammed earth walls, wood paneled interiors and slightly sloped roofs. Suites feature a combined lounge and bedroom with a cozy window seat and a bakhari – a traditional wood burning stove. The bathrooms are spacious and have a bathtub you will want to sink right in to. Centered around a beautiful courtyard are the Living Room and Dining Room. The Living Room has floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look out to a blue pine forest, the 17th-century Drukyel Dzong, and Mount Jhomolhari – this is the perfect place for a cocktail. The Dining Room, located below the Living Room, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and specializes in Indian, Western and Bhutanese dishes. This property is also home to the two story luxury Spa Bhutan. You will arrive in the upper level, which has the lobby, changing areas, sauna, steam room and glass-walled yoga studio. Downstairs has a double treatment room and four single treatment rooms, each of which have a shower and outdoor bath.
Amankora Thimphu has the same amenities, and the window seat looks across a beautiful courtyard, or at a stream that runs through a nearby pine forest. Close to Bhutan’s capital, sights and shopping, Amankora Thimphu remains a tranquil retreat in the Kingdom. The Living and Dining Rooms are combined, and the Spa has three treatment rooms, a steam room and a changing area.
Accessed by crossing a suspension bridge over the Mo Chhu (Mother River), Amankora Punakha’s eight suites also feature the same in-room design, but the three buildings that hold the suites are situated in an orange orchard with views of rice paddies and Punakha Valley. The property was designed around a traditional Bhutanese farmhouse. Above the Dining Room are relaxation areas and a traditional Bhutanese altar room for prayer and meditation. This is the perfect place to stay in the summer – the Courtyard is perfect for outdoor dining. It also has a two-story spa with a yoga/meditation room, views of the surrounding rice fields, two private treatment rooms, a steam room and changing areas.
Amankora Gangtey mimics Amankora Thimphu, and looks across the valley. It is located in the picture-perfect yet relatively unheard of Phobjikha Valley and has gorgeous views of the sweeping valley and the 16th-century Gangtey Goemba Monastery. The cozy, combined Living and Dining Room has floor-to-ceiling walls that give you amazing views of the valley and surrounding mountains. The Spa has two treatment rooms and changing areas.
Amankora Bumthang has 16 suites and is accessed through a stone hallway. The suites are in four separate buildings, with two suites on the ground floor and two above. The rooms come with the same luxuries as the other four settings, however the daybeds overlook the courtyard and the nearby Wangdichholing Palace and Monastery. It is located in the town of Jakar in the Choerkhor Valley, which is commonly known as Bumthang. The lodge is surrounded by an apple orchard, and has pear trees all around the property as well. The Living Room and Library open after a dzong-inspired hallway and both have lounge chairs, daybeds and a buhkari, like the ones found in each suite. The Dining Room has an unbelievable ceiling, as well as outdoor dining areas under the shade of fruit trees. There is also a spa with three treatment rooms and a steam room.
So, if these five lodges’ uniquely tranquil yet stunningly perfect settings don’t scream “Next Stop: Bhutan!”, scroll through the gallery one more time and think again. Though the options may seem endless, and the task of choosing one daunting, you cannot go wrong with a suite in any of these five spiritual and serene spots.
Photographs courtesy of the property.
