Must-see hotels in Bhutan

  • Taj Tashi

    Thimphu

    The striking dzong-like architecture of the five-star Taj Tashi fits effortlessly into the valley, and the elegant interior is full of Bhutanese motifs …

  • Dumra Farm Resort

    Western Bhutan

    With just six rooms, this rural retreat has an exclusive, relaxed vibe that offers the prefect antidote to a day's sightseeing. The main farmhouse has…

  • Gangtey Lodge

    Phobjikha Valley

    This 12-suite hotel combines pampered but understated luxury and charming Bhutanese decor, with chunky farmhouse-style wooden beams and an earthy palette…

  • Nemjo Heritage Lodge

    Paro

    For something rural and exclusive, this lovely 70-year-old farmhouse is a tasteful blend of the traditional and stylish, offering just five comfortable…

  • Ogyen Chholing Heritage House

    Bhutan

    The family living quarters of the superb and sublime Ogyen Chholing Palace have been renovated, with modern bathrooms (the best in Bumthang) and…

  • Hotel Druk

    Thimphu

    This understated but stylish place is the closest Thimphu has to a grande dame hotel, with an old-world charm that sets it above some of the pricier five…

  • Six Senses

    Thimphu

    Set in carefully tended grounds high above Simtokha, the immaculate new Six Senses is effortlessly refined. There are no TVs in the graceful, timber…

  • Lechuna Heritage Lodge

    Western Bhutan

    This beautiful lodge occupies a wonderfully restored farmhouse of just seven rooms sharing five showers and four separate toilets. It's much more…

  • Yangkhil Resort

    Bhutan

    This resort, 1.5km west of Trongsa, is an excellent choice, with 21 rooms constructed in five blocks on a terraced hill facing the dzong. All rooms are…

  • Zhiwa Ling

    Western Bhutan

    This impressive complex, 8km from Paro, boasts an imposing central lodge and lobby, surrounded by a collection of stone towers. Antiques, plush sofas and…

  • Jakar Village Lodge

    Bhutan

    This hotel, situated down a quiet village lane below the dzong, is run by a former dzongdag (district administrator) who will regale you with stories as…

  • Swiss Guest House

    Bhutan

    It doesn't get more bucolic than this wooden farmhouse surrounded by apple and pear orchards on a hill overlooking the valley. In 1983 this was the first…

  • Wangdue Ecolodge

    Western Bhutan

    Sustainable initiatives lie at the heart of this stylish rural retreat of four cottages, from the biogas used for cooking dinner to the organic food in…

  • Dewachen Hotel

    Phobjikha Valley

    This impressive stone-and-wood building is a top choice for most travellers. The rooms are large and stylish (corner rooms are best), and the good…

  • Tashi Namgay Resort

    Paro

    This well-run three-star place, on the west bank of the Paro Chhu across from the airport, features great views of the Paro Dzong. Deluxe rooms are well…

  • Namgay Heritage Hotel

    Thimphu

    A top-end tourist-class hotel, Namgay Heritage is a riot of hand-carved timbers. The rooms are less traditional than the five-storey atrium, but are warm…

  • Gangtey Palace

    Paro

    This 19th-century Bhutanese manor was once the residence of the penlop of Paro and it oozes historical charm. The spacious deluxe rooms in the creaking…

  • Uma Punakha

    Western Bhutan

    Upstream along the Mo Chhu valley, 11km (20 minutes) from Punakha, in a lush rural location just north of the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, the Uma is…

  • Uma Paro

    Paro

    Kudos goes to the Uma for combining traditional architecture with top-of-the-line facilities to create the best hotel in town. Highlights are the…

  • Village Lodge

    Western Bhutan

    This charming converted farmhouse, set in rice paddies 9km north of Paro, achieves that rare balance of style, tradition and comfort. Wooden windows and…

  • Meri Puensum Resort

    Western Bhutan

    This very popular hotel is 6km south of Punakha, 1.2km up the side road to Talo Goemba. Comfortable, cosy rooms are in cottages that hug the terraced…

  • Heritage Home Babesa

    Thimphu

    A gorgeous restoration of a traditional rammed-earth farmhouse, this place feels more like a homestay than a hotel. The home, which is more than 120 years…

  • Mountain Resort

    Bhutan

    This hotel has undergone a stylish makeover, with modern interpretations of traditional stone and wood in its new reception and dining areas and…

  • Dhensa

    Western Bhutan

    Dhensa is an excellent top-end choice, mixing clean, modern style with elements of traditional Bhutanese architecture. The calming rooms come with a…

  • Hotel Jumolhari

    Thimphu

    This centrally located hotel swaps the usual Bhutanese interior design for a smart art deco feel and lots of brown and gold tones. The rooms are snug but…

  • Norkhil Boutique Hotel & Spa

    Thimphu

    One of a new breed of boutique hotels in Bhutan blending designer decor with a modern, international outlook. It's all tastefully done, and the spacious…

  • Hotel Druk Phuentsholing

    Western Bhutan

    The salmon-pink Druk is the best tourist hotel in town, boasting comfortable, tastefully furnished rooms (but small bathrooms) spread out around a…

  • Hotel Lobesa

    Western Bhutan

    Excellent value for money and super-attentive staff make Hotel Lobesa a popular choice, with 14 spacious rooms and a bright and airy restaurant decorated…

  • Wangchuk Hotel

    Thimphu

    This well-cared-for hotel overlooks Changlimithang Stadium and is a favourite with expats. The wood-panelled, carpeted rooms are spacious, light and…

  • Lingkhar Lodge

    Eastern Bhutan

    The Lingkhar comprises a charming collection of spacious, well-appointed boutique cottages surrounded by bird-filled gardens and fruit trees. There is a…

  • Kisa Villa

    Thimphu

    Feeling more like a family home than a hotel, this cosy stone property looks out across the river towards Trashi Chho Dzong. Two houses with snug, wood…

  • Marang Forest Lodge

    Bhutan

    This 'lodge' run by the River Guides of Panbang comprises nine tents mounted on platforms beside the Marangang Chhu. Tents are simple but comfortable,…

  • Wangchuk Hotel

    Eastern Bhutan

    The impressive Wangchuk dominates the Mongar accommodation scene with 32 spacious rooms, good food and a delightful setting. The large rooms, all equipped…

  • Tashi Gasel Lodge

    Eastern Bhutan

    Probably the best option in Samdrup Jongkhar, this hotel is 3.5km north of town by the Pinchigang check-post. The eight spacious rooms are colourful and…

  • Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary

    Western Bhutan

    From the moment you select your bath products at check-in, it's clear that this five-star rural resort is all about the spa experience. Rates include a…

  • Amankora

    Thimphu

    A 'less is more' philosophy presides at this exclusive five-star resort, Thimphu's finest, edging into the forest by a tinkling brook northwest of town…

  • Termalinca Resort & Spa

    Thimphu

    Perched beside a peaceful stretch of the Wang Chhu, about 7km south of Thimphu, Termalinca packs a lot of comfort into its stone and timber buildings…

  • Amankora

    Western Bhutan

    'Designer dzong' is the theme here, with the half-dozen sleek, rammed-earth buildings secreted among the blue pines. The rooms benefit from the serene…

  • DusitD2 Yarkay Thimphu

    Thimphu

    This new Bhutanese-Thai venture is on the road to the National Memorial Chorten. Each floor has an animal theme, inspired by the Buddhist legend of the…

  • Amankora

    Western Bhutan

    This place is the most intimate of Aman's uberluxury resorts, with only eight rooms in three buildings. The main farmhouse (now the restaurant and reading…

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