Amankora is a series of five lodges spread across the central and western valleys of Bhutan, the Himalayas’ last Buddhist Kingdom, in Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang. Together the lodges offer 76 contemporary suites with rustic finishes: Paro (24 suites) sits within a blue-pine forest beneath the ruins of the 17th-century Drukgyel Dzong; Thimphu (16 suites) is tucked into the pine woods of the Motithang area and built in the style of a traditional dzong fortress; Punakha (12 suites) occupies a 300-year-old farmhouse built by a former chief abbot and has a heated infinity pool; Gangtey (8 suites) is set on a forested knoll overlooking Gangtey Goemba in the Phobjikha Valley; and Bumthang (16 suites) rests adjacent to the Wandichholing Palace in the Choekhor Valley. Open-plan bedrooms and living rooms feature king-size beds, window seats and traditional bukhari wood burners, with terrazzo-clad bathrooms. Each lodge serves Bhutanese, Western, Indian and Asian cuisines made with ingredients sourced from local farmers, offers a spa incorporating Himalayan herbs, and provides complimentary morning yoga. Guests explore through bespoke Amankora Journeys that connect the lodges, with private vehicles, personal drivers and English-speaking guides, and a choice of wellness, adventure, cultural, culinary and spiritual experiences in each valley.
A secluded log cabin moments from Amankora Paro, at the base of the climb to the clifftop Tiger’s Nest, hosting private dining experiences.
Housed in the 300-year-old farmhouse, the dining room extends onto an outdoor terrace with views of the valley, fruit orchards and rice fields. Private rooms on the first floor of the farmhouse are available for intimate candlelit dining.
Dinner under the stars beside a stream in a pine forest overlooking the historic Drukgyel Dzong, with tables set in a clearing or under a traditional Bhutanese dragon tent lit with lanterns. Guests enjoy cocktails and canapes followed by an authentic Bhutanese dinner, with woollen shawls, hot water bottles and heaters on chillier evenings.
A morning hike through farmyards and rice paddies to the 30-metre-high Khamsum Chorten, followed by a picnic breakfast in the gardens with views over the valley.
A romantic dinner in a stone potato shed a 10-minute walk from Amankora Gangtey, warmed by a wood-burning bukhari oven and lit by candles. The evening starts by a bonfire with ara, the local wine, followed by a traditional Bhutanese meal accompanied by a local musician.
Paro: two-storey spa with five treatment rooms, each with its own outdoor hot stone bath, private shower, steam room, sauna and changing area, plus a glass-walled yoga studio. Thimphu: three treatment rooms, a steam room and changing areas. Punakha: two-storey spa with two treatment rooms, a steam room and a yoga and meditation room. Gangtey: two treatment rooms, changing areas and the Hot Stone Bath experience. Bumthang: three treatment rooms, a steam room and changing areas.
A heated outdoor infinity pool at Punakha Lodge overlooking the rice terraces and farmland, set against the forest-clad Himalayan mountains.
An Aman signature Tibetan-inspired Ku Nye full-body massage incorporating cupping along meridian lines, acupressure, kneading, deep-tissue techniques, warmed rose-quartz crystals and hot Himalayan salt poultices, finishing with a Tibetan head massage.
A therapeutic facial using Tibetan massage techniques, rose-quartz crystals, frankincense, hyaluronic acid and liquorice extract, with heated Himalayan salt poultices, a Peruvian black mud and amethyst crystal mask and a Tibetan head massage.
A full-body polish and cocooning wrap featuring amethyst powder; the 120-minute option includes a Himalayan Hot Stone Bath and a smoked body butter.
A 180-minute journey combining the Grounding Body Polish & Wrap Ritual, Massage Ritual and Face Ritual.
A detoxifying massage using lymphatic drainage techniques at lower pressure to restore the body’s natural flow and clear the mind.
A tension-releasing facial combining soft-tissue therapy and lymphatic drainage with pearl, copper and marine extracts.
A ritual featuring quartz, fucus oil, raw honey and essential oils, a marine-flora mud wrap with kaolin, sea lavender and seaweed, and a Palo Santo Salve; the 120-minute option includes a Himalayan Hot Stone Bath.
A 180-minute journey combining the Purifying Body Polish & Wrap Ritual, Massage Ritual and Face Ritual.
A massage for emotionally or physically exhausted guests using marma-point therapy, rhythmic massage techniques and sound healing.
A brightening, moisturising facial with honey, rosehip, cactus oil, jasmine and silk, using the Light Technique.
A jade-powder scrub and wrap with calendula oil, amethyst powder, Himalayan salts, rose hydrolat and argan oil, ending with a Sacred Heart Balm; the 120-minute option includes a Himalayan Hot Stone Bath.
A 180-minute immersive journey combining the Nourishing Body Polish & Wrap Ritual, Massage Ritual and Face Ritual.
A traditional therapeutic bath in which heated natural river stones release minerals and the local Khempa herb infuses the water; recommended as a 30-minute start to any spa treatment. Offered at Paro and Gangtey, where the bath is set in a stone hut on a hill a 10-minute walk from the lodge with bamboo doors opening to valley views.
A flowing massage using heated basalt stones as an extension of the hands to soothe and relax muscles.
A tailor-made treatment combining diverse techniques to focus on specific areas of tension or promote overall relaxation.
A bodywork therapy of yoga-style stretches and acupressure, performed over loose comfortable clothing, to improve movement and flexibility.
A massage concentrating on foot reflexology points and leg muscles, using peppermint and rosemary to soothe tiredness after a long day of walking.
A 60-minute facial using Aman’s Essential Skin collection with formulas made in Japan, combining ultrasonic scrubbing, microcurrent stimulation and massage, cryo bulbs, red and blue light therapy and an Aman Nourishing Gold Algae Face Mask.
An Ayurveda-based treatment using warmed coconut oil for the hair and scalp, with a back, neck and shoulder massage.
A ritual beginning with a hot-stone massage, followed by neck, shoulder and scalp massage, a nourishing facial massage, foot reflexology and a short breathing-technique session.
A Banya sauna crafted from Canadian Hemlock wood, set among towering pines beside a glacial stream with panoramic windows framing views of a 12th-century fortress. The ritual combines therapeutic heat with a venik (branch) massage, followed by time on an outdoor terrace with a warm pool and cold plunge.
A wellness sanctuary with a hammam, double treatment room, relaxation lounge, heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi, offering signature hammam rituals combining steam, exfoliation and invigorating massage.
Holistic healing treatments offered at Paro and Thimphu lodges by Dr Dorji Gyeltshen, who brings expertise in endocrinology and mind-body medicine, spanning Moxibustion Acupuncture to Meridian Therapy.
A meditation in a nearby temple or in the forest beside the lodge, led by a master Lama, to cultivate mindfulness, peacefulness and compassion.
A traditional Bhutanese astrology reading by a local astrologer or monk, drawing on the five elements, twelve animal zodiac signs, nine mewas and eight parkhas.
A complimentary morning yoga session at all lodges hosted by an experienced teacher, suitable for all ability levels, with guided breathing followed by a series of asanas; no equipment is needed. Private yoga sessions are also available.
A therapeutic practice at all lodges in which guests lie down surrounded by the sounds and vibrations of instruments such as Tibetan singing bowls to induce relaxation and balance the body’s energy centres.
