As soon as the Drukair plane begins to descend into the Kingdom of Bhutan, passengers excitedly congregate around the nearest window, taking pictures and letting out audible gasps. The narrow landing into Paro International Airport is known as one of the most difficult in the world, yet the pilots execute it effortlessly. As we are ushered inside to collect our luggage, we found ourselves in what might be one of the most impressive airports on earth; full of Bhutanese art, traditional Bhutanese design, and the feeling that we had arrived to a place untouched by Western influence.
Driving from Paro to Thimphu, tall mountains surrounded us as we weaved through the valley. The sheer amount of nature (70% of the country is protected wildlife) is what draws many visitors, and now we saw why. The landscape was adorned by colorful clusters of prayer flags, and as the sun set over them, the serene beauty and sense of peace was tangible. As most of Bhutan is accessed by car, our eyes could never tire of the views — which was a very good thing, as cell phone service and wifi was rarely reliable throughout our trip!
Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, is home to the famous Great Buddha Dordenma, a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue that overlooks and can be seen throughout Thimphu. It was completed in 2015, erected to celebrate the 60th anniversary of fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck and also intended to commemorate the centennial of the Bhutanese monarchy. Visiting this 54 meter (177 sq. ft.) statue sits atop a large temple filled with smaller Buddhas, shrines, artwork, and artifacts including ancient Buddhist texts. Bhutanese Buddhism is quite fascinating, and though is derived from Tibetan, has its own unique rituals and texts.
Our group had the pleasure of touring some fantastic Five-star hotels in Thimphu, including Amankora, Yarkay Thimphu, Six Senses Thimphu, and Pemako Thimphu. All four were fantastic options, and had their own unique setting, authentic Bhutanese atmosphere, and sense of place.
From Thimphu, we journeyed to Gangtey Valley, where we visited the beautiful Gangtey Lodge and were treated to homemade baked goods, coffee, and decadent hot cocoa before touring the property. This stunning boutique hotel is an absolute must for any clients to stay (or at least visit) while in Gangtey! In the evening, we had an incredible dinner at Six Senses Gangtey, which has an exquisite dining room, sweeping views of the valley, and situated above the visitor center, which they call the ‘Birdwatching Bridge’ due to its very special design and prime viewing spot for the black-necked cranes.
The next morning, we set off to attend the annual Black-Necked Crane Festival, and enjoyed hours of performances by local Bhutanese dancers, students, and teachers. This event is well-known and well-attended by locals and visitors alike, which meant all of the nearby hotels were fully booked. It is definitely important to consider festival dates when planning a trip to Bhutan!
After the festival, we headed to Punakha, which was the former capital of Bhutan until 1955. Known for the Punakha Dzong, a 17th-century fortress at the juncture of the Pho and Mo Chhu rivers, we visited the Dzong, and retreated to the award-winning Pemako Punakha for two nights. This hotel is a collection of 21 luxury tented heated pool villas, spread across 60 acres of forest and riverside landscape. The villas were tucked into the hills, hidden from plain sight, and adorned with two king-sized beds side by side, outdoor showers, beautiful furnishings, and luxurious touches. We each had our own butler to escort us via golf cart to and from the hotel facilities, and we only wish we’d had more time to take advantage of the private Bhutanese astrology readings, guided meditations, yoga classes, spa services, traditional Bhutanese baths, and more!
Our last stop returned us to Paro, where we embarked on the famous Tiger’s Nest hike. The total length all the way to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is four miles, and has a coffeeshop at the halfway point, where those climbing via donkey were left to either complete the hike on foot or return down. The hike was challenging, but certainly doable — as long as you pace yourself! The best reason to save the hike for the end of the trip is to allow your body to acclimate to the elevation, as it is quite noticeable upon arrival and improves gradually.
We were delighted to stay at the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, which is the first and only Five-star wellness-inclusive luxury resort in Bhutan. Guests are offered two wellness treatments per stay, giving them plenty of reasons to slow down and enjoy the spa and the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary’s offerings. Coming from and in lead up to the hike, we took advantage of the spa services and everyone had exceptional treatments. Our dinner with the owner, Louk Lennaerts, was both healthy and delicious, and ignited inspiring conversation about wellness as a lifestyle, reminding us to slow down and enjoy the present moment.
The next morning, we departed for the airport, all of us wanting more of Bhutan. This mysterious, unique Kingdom has so many layers and stories within it, and we will never forget our quick but thrilling adventure in the Land of the Thunder Dragon!
Learn more about the Department of Tourism, Bhutan.
