Aman’s two Bhutan lodges are open again after a refurbishment. Paro now has a hammam and a riverside banya, and Punakha’s 300-year-old farmhouse has been restored.
Below the ruins of a 17th-century fortress in Bhutan’s Paro Valley, a glacial stream runs fast and cold through the blue pines. At Amankora Paro, it’s now part of the spa menu.
Aman has reopened Amankora’s Paro and Punakha lodges after a refurbishment that adds indulgent new wellness facilities at both iconic properties. Paro gains a standalone hammam Spa House and a riverside banya, while Punakha adds hydrotherapy facilities and new treatment rooms, and suites and shared spaces at both lodges have also been fully refreshed.
For more than 20 years, Aman has run five lodges across the valleys of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang. Most guests travel between several of them on one luxurious adventure through this mysterious mountain kingdom, with Paro, a 20-minute drive from the country’s only international airport, a natural starting point.
Among Paro’s Blue Pines
The 24-suite Paro lodge, which sits at 2,250 metres below the ruins of Drukyel Dzong, is now home to a heavenly Spa House designed by Kerry Hill Architects, who have worked with Aman for years. Tucked beyond the pine forest, it has a private hammam, a double treatment room, a relaxation lounge, a heated pool and a Jacuzzi. Treatments range from a 60-minute hammam ritual to a Half-Day Journey that includes a 90-minute massage.
For us, the most appealing arrival is the Wild Nature Banya, which has been forged from Canadian hemlock and is perched beside the stream, with its windows looking towards the timeless fortress. Guests can expect intense heat and a traditional venik massage with oak and birch branches, best followed by a dip in the warm pool, a bracing cold plunge, or, if you’re feeling particularly brave, the river itself.
The lodge’s original spa has also been refitted. Each of its five treatment rooms opens onto a terrace with a traditional hot stone bath, and beyond, a new yoga pavilion stands among the pines. The lodge has also welcomed a new bar for those post-river-dip libations, a redesigned dining room, and a library that doubles as a private dining space.
Punakha’s Farmhouse Renewed
Further east, Amankora Punakha occupies a 300-year-old farmhouse set among rice fields. It once belonged to a former Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s chief abbot. Today, the first floor is now an intimate dining room for up to 18 guests. Upstairs, a resident monk still performs blessings in the original altar room.
The lodge’s 12 suites have also been lovingly refreshed, while three intimate treatment rooms, a yoga studio, a steam room and Jacuzzi, and a cold plunge with bucket shower have been added to the spa.
Bhutan’s Getting Easier
With the launch of Drukair services between Singapore and Paro and Bhutan Airlines‘ new services between Hong Kong and Paro, getting to Bhutan has never been easier.
After two decades, Amankora’s bet in Bhutan is unchanged: the landscape is the luxury. Now there’s a hammam to warm up in afterwards.
If you’re contemplating a visit to Bhutan, be sure to read about our helicopter adventures in the Kingdom and check out our favourite luxury mountain lodges.
