Amankora Bhutan

Amankora offers a number of enriching journeys through Bhutan’s spectacular central and western valleys, Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang.

Five distinct lodges offer a circuit of Himalayan sanctuaries, inviting guests to embark on a multi-destination itinerary with the opportunity to experience the Kingdom of Bhutan’s remarkable landscape and rich cultural heritage. To best experience all that Bhutan has to offer, Amankora’s reservations team tailors personalised journeys to include a combination of its lodges.

The first resort in Bhutan and with five lodges across its central and western valleys, Amankora has been a part of this legendary Buddhist Kingdom for almost 20 years.

Dedicated to providing an unparalleled experience of this pristine, year-round destination – one of the happiest places in the world – Amankora’s five lodges are each a sanctuary designed to complement its uniquely beautiful setting.

THE HISTORY
Occupying the high mountain valleys between China to the north and India to the south, Bhutan has long been a mystery to the West with only a limited number of visitors each year able to glimpse its traditional Mahayana Buddhist way of life and unspoiled Himalayan vistas.

In 2004, Amankora’s journey marked a unique entry into the secluded Kingdom, whose pristine Himalayan landscapes and remarkably preserved way of life have fascinated travellers the world over.

This symbiotic union between Amankora and Bhutan traces its origins back to January 1989, when the inaugural flight from Bangkok to Paro first connected the small Himalayan kingdom to the Thai capital.

At this time, Aman was still in its infancy – having just opened its first retreat, Amanpuri on the shores of Phuket – yet this new connection to Bhutan sowed the seeds for the birth of Amankora.

After a long period of pursuit, the first lodge sites were acquired in the year 2000 after which land was surveyed, and the late Kerry Hill appointed to realise Aman’s architectural vision.

This marked a significant milestone as Aman became the first international entity permitted to establish a presence in the Kingdom. It took several years for Aman’s vision to materialise, culminating in the opening of its first lodge.

Marking the next chapter in Bhutan’s enchanting tale, the opening of Amankora Paro introduced a new kind of sanctuary, inviting visitors to embark on an immersive journey through the Kingdom, guided by a circular route known as the kora, the Dzongkha word for pilgrimage.

The route was eventually complete in 2007 with the inauguration of the Bumthang Lodge. The circle of five lodges created by Amankora would now allow guests to fully experience the diverse valleys of Bhutan for the very first time – a pioneering feat for Aman but also a groundbreaking concept for Bhutan.

Sensitively integrated into their spectacular natural settings, framing valley views and within easy reach of culture-rich communities, Amankora’s lodges were soon established as a gateway to Bhutan’s abundant natural wonders, history and heritage.

Today, this unique concept remains exclusive to the Aman brand. Ensconced from the rest of the world, over the years, lush greenery has grown to engulf each lodge, enhancing the sense of peace synonymous with Aman.

AMANKORA PARO LODGE
At an elevation of 2,250 metres (7382 feet), Paro Valley makes a beguiling start or an atmospheric end to an Amankora journey. Hidden in thick pine the 24-suites, with walls clad in wood and black steel panelling, contrast rustic elements with contemporary design.

Amenities include king-size beds, traditional wood-burning stoves and banquette window-seats, while bathrooms featured terrazzo-clad bathtubs, twin vanities, a separate shower and toilet.

Hiking and cycling are arguably the best ways to explore the incredible landscape, and every lodge offers an exhaustive list of options and routes. In addition, guests will be given a ‘top ten’ list of experiences to try in each locality.

AMANKORA THIMPHU LODGE
Set in the upper reaches of the Motithang area, the 16-suite Lodge of Amankora Thimphu is built in the style of a traditional dzong fortress. Within reach of the capital’s shops and sights, the lodge remains a secluded retreat from which to explore both all the city has to offer and the wild Himalayan landscape.

AMANKORA PUNAKHA LODGE
Reached by crossing a suspension bridge over the Mo Chhu River covered in prayer flags, Punakha Lodge incorporates a traditional Bhutanese farmhouse built by a former Je Khenpo (chief abbot of Bhutan).

Located in a subtropical valley that produces most of the nation’s vegetables, the area is where the Bhutanese royals spend their winters. Eight of the suites are identical in design to those of Amankora Paro, with views across an orange orchard and rice terraces.

The four Mo Chhu Suites are situated in a new building, and two feature separate spacious living areas. The suites can be combined to offer two two-bedroom units. All accommodations offer king-size beds, traditional wood-burning stoves and banquette window-seats, while bathrooms feature terrazzo-clad bathtubs, twin vanities and a separate shower and toilet.

AMANKORA GANGTEY LODGE
In the little-visited Phobjikha Valley near the village of Gangtey, the eight-suite Amankora Gangtey Lodge is set on a forested knoll with scenic views of the valley floor and the 16th-century Gangtey Goemba monastery.

Part of the Black Mountains National Park wildlife reserve, the valley is home each winter to a flock of 300 endangered black-neck cranes. Suite interiors are identical to those of Amankora Thimphu, each enjoying a view across the valley.

Amenities include king-size beds, traditional wood-burning stoves and banquette window-seats, while bathrooms feature terrazzo-clad bathtubs, twin vanities, a separate shower and toilet.

AMANKORA BUMTHANG LODGE
Bumthang, directly translating as ‘beautiful field’, is home to 29 temples and monasteries, including the ancient Jambay Lhakhang, and is a treasure-trove of Bhutan’s art and painting traditions. The 16-suite Amankora Bumthang Lodge rests adjacent to the Wandichholing Palace, within the town of Jakar in the Choekhor Valley.

From here, guests can embark on a multitude of cultural and spiritual experiences, including the unforgettable experience of the 108-butter lamp offering at Jambay Lhakhang.

Amenities include king-size beds, traditional wood-burning stoves and banquette window-seats, while bathrooms feature terrazzo-clad bathtubs, twin vanities, a separate shower and toilet.

DINING
An array of Bhutanese, Western and Indian dishes are served across all five Amankora Lodges, using local ingredients such as yak meat and fresh honey from the Bumthang Valley. Private dining can be arranged both inside and outside the Lodges, whether for an intimate dinner or group celebration.

A rich, nourishing cup sipped in bed is a traditional Bhutanese morning ritual, and these teas can also be soothing after a long hike. At our lodge in Gangtey, the Potato Shed Dinner is an experience not to be missed. Enjoy a delicious Bhutanese evening surrounded by hundreds of flickering candles and warmed by a traditional bhukari wood-burning stove.

Enjoy a barbecue under the stars accompanied by live Bhutanese music. Personal chefs can tailor menus to individual tastes, to be enjoyed amid fresh mountain air and next to a roasting fire.

COOKING LESSONS
Take part in a cooking lesson and learn about traditional Bhutanese cuisine. Taking in the natural landscape surrounding the Mo Chhu River, one of our experienced chefs will guide you through a selection of traditional dishes, all to be enjoyed after the class.

WELLNESS & SPA 
The serenity of the mountain landscape makes Bhutan the ideal destination to refresh and rejuvenate body and mind, with Himalayan plant- and herb-based therapies and traditional wellbeing rituals available in Amankora’s five cedar-scented spas.

Known in Bhutan as khempa, the herb artemisia is a natural analgesic, used as a healing addition to the traditional Himalayan bathing ritual. A short walk from Aman Gangtey, atop a hill above the picturesque Phobjikha Valley, a wooden hut with bamboo doors houses Aman’s Bhutanese hot-stone bath. Soak in candlelight in waters rich in minerals and floating sprigs of khempa, and enjoy a hot apple cider as the sun sets.

The Amankora day begins with morning yoga in the spas’ dedicated mountain-view studios. The Lodges also run a programme of yoga-focused wellbeing retreats and monks frequently visit from Bhutan’s monasteries to lead meditation sessions, share their teaching and offer blessings to Lodge guests.

Inspired by ancient Buddhist teachings, grounding sensory experiences give guests an opportunity to pause, focusing only on listening, breathing and feeling. Forest bathing involves take tranquil walks through pristine wilderness, absorbing the forest’s healing ambience.

An iconic part of Bhutanese culture for centuries, prayer flags are mounted to encourage happiness and prosperity. The sight and sounds of the colourful flags as they flutter on the mountainside create a focal point for transformative meditation.

ACTIVITIES & EXPERIENCES IN BHUTAN
Bhutan is a global pioneer, the first nation of the world to systematically measure its success not by the strength of its economy but by the happiness of its people. Such a unique approach befits a country unlike any other – a wild, spiritual and majestic mountain kingdom where tranquility reigns and everything is off the beaten track.

Whether travellers visit in the height of summer, when the Himalayas are carpeted with wildflowers, or the depths of winter, when cobalt skies segue into spectacular starscapes – Bhutan is a year-round revelation.

AUTUMN 
Cooler and with clearer skies, but still mild and dry, the autumn months of September to November bring prime conditions for trekking and biking on Bhutan’s mountain trails.

The season is the photographer’s friend, as willow trees shed their golden leaves and the changing light casts Himalayan summits – including some of the world’s tallest unclimbed peaks – into sharp relief.

Autumn is also a season of festivals, such as the annual celebration of the return of the kingdom’s beloved bird, the endangered black-necked crane, which returns to winter in the Phobjikha Valley every November.

WINTER
December onwards brings crisp air, clear skies and snow-capped summits to the mountain realm, and winter nights are characterised by a pinprick panorama of stars. Although the temperature drops after dusk, days are still warm and pleasant – ideal conditions for hiking and exploring Bhutan’s western districts of Paro, Punakha and Thimphu.

From Aman Gangtey, the Phobjikha Valley is especially enchanting this season, as the rolling plains and bamboo shrub lands are populated by roosting cranes, and nomadic yak herdsmen usher their cattle down from the snowy highlands.

SPRING
Between March and May, the season of renewal sees Bhutan at its most beautiful, when the Himalayan landscape comes alive with colour. Hikes around Gangtey are enlivened by forests of resplendent rhododendrons, while the jacaranda trees surrounding Punkaha Dzong erupt into mauve clouds of blossom.

The pleasant warmth of the air is perfect for picnics, and the rivers around Punakha – replenished by meltwaters from the past winter – offer perfect conditions for whitewater rafting.

SUMMER
From June to August, the Bhutanese summer brings sapphire skies, balmy temperatures and refreshing rains. It is the ideal time to explore the historic monasteries and dzongs scattered throughout the valleys, or to embark on personal wellbeing journeys on a yoga-enriched spiritual retreat.

The land turns lush and green, and a cornucopia of rare ingredients come into season, including Bhutan’s legendary green chilli – only available for a few months – making summer ideal for gastronomic experiences.

ACTIVE ADVENTURE
Discover the natural beauty of the Himalayas with hikes, cycling and eye-opening experiences in Bhutan’s magnificent mountain landscape. Each of Amankora’s five lodges promises unique wildlife encounters and breathtaking mountain vistas, as well as a variety of exhilarating adventures such as white-water rafting and Bhutan’s national sport, archery.

A kingdom of forests and plains and valleys, dramatic inclines and 7,000-metre peaks, Bhutan is replete with opportunities for high-altitude adventure. Each of Amankora’s five Lodges promises unique wildlife encounters and breathtaking mountain vistas, with hiking and cycling trails to suite every level of ability.

Embark on a guided trek across forest trails, cross rope bridges adorned with prayer flags, and follow winding paths clinging to vertiginous Himalayan mountainsides.

Encounter yaks grazing on the plains of Gangtey, winter home of the black-necked crane, and discover old-growth rhododendron forests, alive with springtime colours. From short hikes to ancient monasteries to multi-day excursions, camping overnight, the most adventurous way to discover Bhutan is by foot.

Literally translating as ‘Male’ and Female’, the two rivers flow through rocky gorges, pristine plains and terraced fields to meet at Punakha Dzong. Amankora arranges white-water rafting excursions on both, rewarding adventurers with challenging rapids and unforgettable valleys views.

Archery – or ‘Da’ – has been Bhutan’s official national sport for five decades, but the importance of the bow and arrow has been celebrated in the country’s myths for thousands of years. Join the ever-passionate audience at one of the frequent archery tournaments on the festival calendar, or arrange a personal class at Amankora Thimphu and learn how to master the bow.

Known for their mild temperament and impeccable sense of balance, Yuta horses are a distinct Himalayan breed unique to Bhutan. Encounter these prized highland horses with an exploration of Gangtey’s pristine corners, reliving the early days of Bhutan’s wild frontiers when the hidden kingdom’s rough and rugged terrain could only be accessed through these gentle creatures.

Begin your expedition from Gangtey Lodge’s grounds, passing through scenic traditional farming villages, Bayta Community School and fields scattered with prayer poles gently flowing with the breeze.

Village-dotted valley roads, winding forest paths and rugged mountain trails provide peerless terrain for cycling adventures and bikes and biking tours are available at all Amankora lodges.

Every September, cyclists from around the world gather in Bhutan for the Tour of the Dragon – an intensely challenging 268km mountain-bike race through some of the most dramatic scenery of the Himalayas.

SOUL & SPIRIT
Bhutan is a land of temples and monasteries, deeply touched by Buddhist thought. Amankora gives guests opportunities to tap into Bhutan’s soulful character, through immersive cultural experiences and personal encounters at dzongs, monasteries and other sacred sites.

Buddhist philosophy touches every corner of the Kingdom of Bhutan, infusing each day with a profound sense of the spiritual and the serene. Amankora gives guests opportunities to tap into Bhutan’s soulful character, through immersive cultural experiences and personal encounters at dzongs, monasteries and other sacred sites.

Aman travellers have unparalleled access to the Buddhist heritage of Bhutan via monastery visits and guided hikes to ancient temples. Clinging to a near-sheer rock face 900 metres above the valley floor, and reached from Aman Paro, the most celebrated of these is the legendary 9th-century Tiger’s Nest Monastery, but each Lodge acts as a gateway to its own spiritual treasures.

Explore Punakha Dzong, one of the country’s oldest and most beautiful; the colourful,17th-century Gangtey Goemba; and, near Thimphu, Pangri Zampa, the 16th-century astrology school, and nearby Cheri Goemba.

Not far from Amankora’s Lodge at Thimphu, the towering golden monument was completed in 2015, fulfilling an ancient prophecy. Other eye-opening structures on the Amankora pilgrimage trial include Wangdicholing – summer palace of Bhutan’s earliest kings – beside Aman Bumthang; and, attached to Paro’s imposing Rinpung Dzong, the traditional cantilever bridge, Nyamai Zampa.

In November, the return of Bhutan’s beloved bird is celebrated with an exuberant festival of song and dance at Gangtey Goemba. Life in the kingdom infields to the rhythm of such celebrations, with every monastery and temple holding at least one festival, or tsechu, every year. The biggest and most memorable include the events in Paro and Thimphu, which attract thousands of costumed revellers.

Amankora’s Lodges are all closely interwoven with the everyday life of the neighbouring monasteries, and opportunities abound for monks and guests to interact and learn from each other. At Amankora Bumthang, travellers are invited to join young acolytes of Sey Lhakhang at prayer.

Visiting monks frequently lead events, including lectures on Buddhism from the lama Mynak Trulku at Amankora Thimphu, and intimate meditation classes from some of most revered spiritual leaders in Bhutan.

TIGER’S NEST CABIN
Nestled in the foothills where pilgrims begin their journeys in the shadows of the iconic Tiger’s Nest, Amankora’s log cabin offers a breathtaking prelude or a cosy finale for hikes up to the legendary monastery.

Accessible via a hidden path just moments from the main hiking trail, the quaint cabin is surrounded by a verdant pine forest which opens onto tranquil lawns with sweeping vistas of the monastery structures that appear to precariously cling onto the dramatic cliffside.

Originally constructed for its proximity to the monastery and the blessings it endows from the prayer flags that fly above, the cabin’s original prayer room is still intact, making it an ideal place for meditation and self-reflection before or after visiting the Kingdom’s holiest monument.

Inside, the wooden abode provides space to relax and enjoy a refreshing drink or sumptuous meal warmed in the traditional bukhari stove. Meanwhile, outside on the terrace, a hot pot of tea can be enjoyed while under the gaze of the Tiger’s Nest. Enhance your long-awaited visit to one of the world’s most fascinating heritage sites with the following unique experiences in Amankora’s cabin.

Leave the lodge before the break of dawn and awaken to the first light of a rare Himalayan sun as it gently rises over the cliffs, slowly illuminating the structures of the Tiger’s Nest, shrouded in morning mist.

As you observe the historic monastery and its surrounding landscapes as they come into full sight, enjoy a nourishing breakfast served on the cabin’s terrace – a perfect way to energise ahead of the hike – before arriving as one of the first to reach the monastery.

Conclude your experience of Bhutan’s holiest pilgrimage site with a rejuvenating lunch experience in the shadows of the Tiger’s Nest. Upon arrival at the cabin, a refreshing drink awaits before a relaxing 30-minute foot massage to soothe tired limbs. Refreshed and recovered, a sumptuous lunch follows, with the Tiger’s Nest in full view inviting a moment’s reflection on the morning’s adventures.

Whether celebrating a wedding, anniversary or any personal milestone, Amankora’s log cabin offers a unique and memorable backdrop. A serene setting for intimate events of up to ten guests, the cabin’s interior makes for the perfect private dining spot, while it’s grounds can be configured to host up to 50 guests, with verdant lawns, cocooning forest, and panoramic views creating a fitting atmosphere worthy of any occasion.

Rooms: 24

Price: from 1.600 EUR per night

Source: www.aman.com