Amankora
Minimalist Bhutanese-contemporary. Rammed-earth walls, dark timber, wood-burning bukhari stoves. No coffee machines in rooms — hot drinks come on demand. No gym, no city-hotel frills. The design deliberately turns your attention outward: toward pine forests, rice paddies, snow-capped peaks, and 7th-century monasteries.
Book the Himalayan Summer Retreat package if visiting May–September 2026, as Paro and Punakha are closed for renovation
Why It Matters
One of the most logistically complex luxury stays in the world, set inside one of the world's most restricted destinations. Bhutan limits visitor numbers by design, and Amankora has been operating here for over 20 years — the longest-running Aman property in the Kingdom. The multi-lodge circuit concept, with a dedicated guide and driver throughout, is genuinely unique. The Punakha lodge is the only property in the circuit with a swimming pool.
Amankora isn't one hotel — it's five lodges strung across the central and western valleys of Bhutan, the last Buddhist Kingdom in the Himalayas. Each sits in its own world: pine forests in Paro, a dzong-style fortress above Thimphu, a 300-year-old farmhouse in Punakha, open farmland in Gangtey, and temple-dotted hills in Bumthang. You don't just check in; you move through the country like a pilgrim, with the same guide and driver the entire way. The name says it all: 'aman' (Sanskrit for peace) plus 'kora' (Dzongkha for circular journey). With only 72 suites total across five locations, this is about as exclusive as Himalayan travel gets.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Amankora Bumthang Suite
From USD1,764 / nightSixteen suites adjacent to the Royal Wandichholing Palace in the town of Jakar. Bumthang is Bhutan's spiritual heartland — 29 temples and monasteries, including the ancient Jambay Lhakhang, are within reach. The architecture here is markedly different from Paro and Gangtey: whitewashed stone walls with intricate carved timber window frames. Same suite format, same king bed and terrazzo bathtub, but the spiritual energy of the location is unmatched across the circuit.
King · 52 sqmAmankora Gangtey Suite
From USD1,764 / nightEight suites in the Phobjikha Valley — one of Bhutan's glacial valleys rarely visited by tourists. The view of the 16th-century Gangtey Goemba monastery is the centrepiece. Suites are identical in layout to Thimphu, with king beds, wood-burning stoves, and terrazzo baths. Between October and February, hundreds of black-necked cranes from Tibet winter in the valley below. This is the most intimate and remote of the five lodges.
King · 52 sqmAmankora Paro Suite
From USD1,764 / nightAll 24 suites at Paro are set in thick pine forest at 2,250 metres. Wood-panelled interiors, king-size beds, and banquette window seats looking directly into the trees. The open-plan bathroom puts a terrazzo-clad bathtub front and centre, with twin sinks and a walk-in rainfall shower off to the side. The bukhari wood-burning stove is lit by staff on request — essential in winter. No coffee machine: hot drinks come on call. Views of snow-covered Jhomolhari mountain from certain suites.
King · 52 sqmAmankora Punakha Suite
From USD1,764 / nightEight suites inside a 300-year-old farmhouse near Punakha Dzong. This is the warmest, most fertile valley of the five — subtropical fruits, rice paddies, and the Mo Chhu River below. Punakha is the only lodge in the collection with a swimming pool: a 30-metre outdoor pool at 1,250 metres altitude, with the Himalayan landscape spreading to the sky. Same suite format as the other lodges, but the farmhouse architecture brings an extra layer of genuine history.
King · 52 sqmAmankora Thimphu Suite
From USD1,764 / nightSixteen suites in a dzong-style fortress above Bhutan's capital. The architecture leans heavily traditional — timber-heavy, slightly moody, with windows cut into white rammed-earth walls overlooking misty blue-pine forest. Same 52-square-metre layout as Paro, same bukhari stove and terrazzo bathtub, but the palette here is darker and the forest feel more enclosed. You're 55 kilometres from the airport but it feels like a completely different world.
King · 52 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
5 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Bhutan's national sport, available at all five lodges. Both traditional hunting bows and modern versions are on offer. Staff will happily issue a challenge.
Sessions with a local monk at Paro Lodge, exploring the first of Bhutan's 13 traditional Zorig Chusum arts and crafts.
Evening performances at Thimphu, Punakha, and Bumthang lodges — Bhutanese folk tales, myths, music, song, and traditional dance.
A private monk-led ceremony at Sey Lhakhang monastery in Bumthang, where guests receive a Bhutanese name reflecting the country's cultural emphasis on equality.
Early-morning monk-led cleansing ceremony at Gangtey Lodge's stupa, where selected herbs are burned to dispel negative energy and welcome good fortune.
Ritual lighting of 108 butter lamps at ancient temples including Kyichu Lhakhang (7th century) in Paro and Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang. Available at select temples across all five valleys.
Exchange traditional white scarves, light butter lamps, and receive a blessing from monks at a Paro temple. A deeply personal spiritual ceremony.
Gangtey's Phobjikha Valley is one of the few places on earth where black-necked cranes from Tibet overwinter, arriving October to February. The lodge sits directly above the valley.
After a market excursion, return to the lodge for a hands-on class preparing signature Bhutanese dishes such as ema datshi (chilli and cheese).
Visit local markets across all five valleys — from Thimphu's Centenary Farmer's Market (nearly 400 stalls) to smaller valley markets — to source local ingredients before returning for a chef-led cooking class.
Nine holes at Thimphu Golf Course, the country's only course, set at 7,700 feet (2,350 metres) with Thimphu Dzong as a backdrop. Tee times arranged by the lodge team.
A guided hike from Thimphu Lodge to the ancient village of Dodedrak, where monks may join guests for lunch at the 12th-century frozen-in-time temple.
A four-hour round-trip hike from Paro Valley to the iconic 7th-century monastery clinging 900 metres above the valley floor. Culminates with lunch at Amankora's atmospheric Log Cabin at the base of the monastery — the 'Log Cabin Recovery Lunch'.
All five lodges provide direct access to a variety of scenic trails. Bikes are included in the rate.
Guests purchase ingredients, assist with preparation, and serve a meal to monks at Gangtey Goemba (130 monks) or Gangtey Monastery.
A local monk guides guests through printing traditional prayer flags using carved wooden blocks at Paro Lodge.
Tibetan singing bowls and healing instruments guide a meditative sound journey, available at all lodges.
Choose a gentle float down the Mo Chhu River or tackle the faster-flowing Pho Chu in Punakha. Kayaking is also available. Offers a river-level view of the valleys few tourists experience.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Private multi-use meeting room available at Paro Lodge.
Amankora's reservations team handles Bhutan visa processing, DRUK Air flight coordination, and personalised itinerary planning. Bhutan requires a $65 USD/day government royalty, $40 USD visa fee, and $10 USD Tourism Development Fund fee per person.
Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout all lodges.
Individual lodges can be bought out exclusively for group stays, events, or milestone celebrations.
Library at each lodge, stocked with books on Bhutanese history and culture. Replenished daily with magazines and newspapers.
Central lounge space with fireplaces at each lodge. Complimentary house cocktails and wines, plus a whisky collection.
Full room service available. Hot drinks ordered on demand to the room at no additional charge (no in-room coffee machine).
Laundry included in the rate (excluding dry cleaning). Returned within hours.
Complimentary use of bikes for exploring trails around each lodge.
A 30-metre outdoor heated pool at Punakha Lodge, overlooking the Himalayan valley. The only pool in the Amankora collection.
On-site boutique at Paro Lodge.
Every Amankora guest is assigned a dedicated English-speaking guide and private vehicle and driver for the full duration of their stay — across all lodges and valleys.
Full spa at every lodge. Open daily 2–10pm. Treatment menus vary slightly by lodge. Paro has the largest facility with five treatment rooms, two spa houses, sauna, steam room, and glass-walled yoga studio.
Steam rooms available at all five lodges within the spa.
Daily complimentary morning yoga session at all lodges, including guided breathwork. Suitable for all abilities.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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