Six Senses Bhutan Thimphu, Bhutan

• Thimphu: Situated within apple orchards and pine forests, yet still within reach of the capital’s attractions, Six Senses Thimphu is perched on an auspicious hillside overlooking the shimmering lights of Thimphu. With its grand design and outdoor ponds reflecting the sky above, this is a Palace in the Sky.

• Punakha: The Flying Farmhouse amidst the rice fields, this beautiful lodge has a rustic feel and is blessed with a warmer climate. You’ll find a choice of suites and villas, pool, library, yoga and meditation huts, and from here you can visit one of the highlights: the majestic Punakha Dzong. 

• Paro: Designed to maximize what is surely one of the most scenic settings within the Six Senses Bhutan journey, this lodge, perched high above the valley floor, is known as Stone Ruins – you’ll understand why when you dine among them. Surrounded by pine forests and within walking distance of several ancient monasteries, Six Senses Paro offers views and authentic experiences at every turn.

• Gangtey: Known as the Traditional Birdwatching Bridge, this lodge is indeed strategically positioned to showcase a 180-degree view of the little-visited Phobjikha Valley, home to the fascinating black-necked cranes and the Black-Necked Crane Conservation Centre. 

• Bumthang: Carefully built as a Forest within a Forest, this is an auspicious base from which you can take in hallowed monuments, monasteries and winter festivals. Set in pine forest above a bubbling, trout-filled stream, Six Senses Bumthang immerses guests in the natural beauty of its surroundings, honoring the natural environment rather than impacting it. 

Sleep and Sanctuary

The five Six Senses Bhutan lodges, comprising 82 spacious suites and one, two and three-bedroom Villas, have been thoughtfully designed to fully immerse travelers in the Kingdom of Bhutan’s natural beauty and culture, offering a contemporary take on traditional Bhutanese architecture and form. The lodges, which vary in style from valley to valley, showcase the diversity and special character of each location. Most take full advantage of Bhutan’s stunning mountain scenery with large decks and dramatic floor-to-ceiling window vistas. In the larger lodges, guests will be charmed by villas with private plunge pools. Across all valley lodges, you’ll be pampered Kindly with Naturalmat organic mattresses, organic pillows and linens, in-room yoga mats, Six Senses bottled water, Bose Bluetooth speakers, tubs and rain showers as well as traditional wood-burning Bukhari stoves.

Six Senses Thimphu

This lodge reflects a particular aspect of Bhutan, offering guests new perspectives along their journey through the five valleys. From any of the 25 spacious Lodge suites to three-bedroom villas, look out across Thimphu Valley to the 170 foot giant Buddha. 

Six Senses Punakha 

As the lowest elevated lodge, you’ll find 19 spacious Lodge suites to three-bedroom villas rustic in feel inspired by the valley’s rice fields and architecture. Villas at this lodge offer plunge pools with valley farmhouse views. 

Six Senses Paro  

The 20 generous suites and villas set amongst stone ruins are designed with large windows and awe-inspiring valley views in mind. Neutral, relaxing tones are complemented by the simple lines of natural timber furniture and the presence of local touches such as Bukhari (traditional wood-burning stoves) and vegetable-dyed, antique-washed Himalayan rugs.

Six Senses Gangtey

The eight suites each have a valley-facing, panoramic view and private outdoor balcony equipped with daybeds as well as binoculars for bird watching. There is also a two-bedroom villa with its own private spa treatment facilities designed to pamper and relax. The architectural design draws on the local hemlock wood and ashlar stone. Interiors are warm and cozy with log fires and beautiful hand-woven rugs which depict the endangered cranes.

Six Senses Bumthang

This lodge offers eight beautifully appointed suites immersed in the surrounding forest and an additional two-bedroom villa with private spa treatment facilities to rejuvenate you as you travel through this beautiful Kingdom. Following the theme of a “Forest within a Forest”, wood is a major feature inside out, and each suite has its own courtyard with a tree planted in the center. All accommodations face across the valley and offer panoramic forest vistas.

Eat. Pray. Eat.

In the dining outposts spread across the five lodges, you’ll be treated to seasonally inspired and healthy menus that suit every taste. You can also enjoy a menu of unique dining experiences ranging from foraging for your own mushrooms, to dining amongst stone ruins, trekking to a local village to breakfast on traditional buckwheat pancakes, to dinners in local farmhouses and monasteries. Six Senses Bhutan chefs work directly with local farmers in each lodge and valley to source seasonal produce for both guests and employees. Bhutan is farmed entirely by small landholders and most use traditional and organic methods to farm. 

Six Senses Thimphu

Be prepared to taste the local environments and traditions at Namkha, where inspiration is drawn from local herbs and plants to create nutritious, and seasonally-inspired cuisine and cocktails. With dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing Himalayan peaks, Namkha excels in healthy cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients picked fresh from the lodge’s own organic gardens. The menu features an eclectic menu of Asian and International specialties, plus authentic Bhutanese dishes such as momos dumplings with a fiery ezay sauce. Lungsigang overlooks the property with breathtaking views of the entire Thimphu valley below. For a cool experience, hike a short distance uphill from the lodge and enjoy afternoon tea and snacks with traditional flavors, prayer flags and pine trees.

Six Senses Punakha 

At the heart of the property, Ari Restaurant has a rustic farmhouse-themed setting incorporating traditional bamboo woven baskets suspended from the ceiling. Flavorful dishes are created from organic local produce with wellness at their core, drawing inspiration from regional herbs and plants, savor hearty Bhutanese and Indian dishes indoors or outdoors poolside.   Start the day with breakfast on the terrace overlooking the rice paddies as the mist clears through the valley, then enjoy a traditional Bhutanese Thali lunch set or a selection of Indian curries served outdoors on the stone terrace overlooking the lodge’s own rice fields, then follow with traditional Bhutanese dishes at Ari for dinner. Late afternoon cocktails served riverside with majestic Punakha Dzong as a backdrop are an absolute must. Your GEM will make all the arrangements for you, complete with your own private bartender.

Six Senses Paro 

Eat With Six Senses is the guiding philosophy for tasty and memorable dishes created from organic local produce. Head back in time for a feudal dinner set among 12th-century ruins. Immerse yourself in the romance of the 12th-century Chubjakha Ruins next door. This one-of-a-kind exclusive candle-lit feast is held under the stars among aromatic pine trees, creating an awe-inspiring setting including traditional Bhutanese music (don’t forget your dancing shoes). You’ll also have the opportunity to dine at a local farmhouse for a truly authentic Bhutanese dining experience. 

Six Senses Gangtey

The intimacy of the Gangtey lodge will most certainly find you dining and lounging on the “Birdwatching Bridge.” You’ll also most assuredly want to take part in a candlelit dinner at the cowshed at Damchen Lhakhang, with dinner cooked on a traditional clay stove. 

Six Senses Bumthang 

At this “forest within a forest,” you will enjoy seasonally-inspired refreshments on the deck followed by a traditional Bhutanese dinner.

The Art of De-stressing

Six Senses Thimphu 

The wellness experiences at Six Senses Spa Thimphu focus on bringing the body into balance, boosting the immune system and helping to open the mind and expand consciousness to aid spiritual healing. Bask in a combination of massage and relaxation therapies, yoga and meditation programs as well as fitness facilities that include heated pools, gyms, hot stone baths and a sauna are available, helping to promote happiness and well-being. Apropos, we recommend the Jet Lag Soother, this re-balancing journey starts with dry body brushing to stimulate blood circulation and continues with a stimulating back, neck and shoulders massage using a personalized blend of essential oils. A relaxing scalp and face acupressure follows, along with a lower leg and foot massage to release muscle tension and reset your internal clock. Follow up with a healthy tonic from the Alchemy Bar. 

From cultural activities to hiking and discovering nature, Six Senses Thimphu has something special for everyone. For blissful refuge, treat yourself to a Guided Meditation and Buddha Dordenma Tour. Experience a guided meditation session in the lodge’s Prayer Pavilion, with 180-degree views of the valley and nearby monasteries. Promoting peace and serenity, the pavilion offers direct views to the 170 feet Buddha Dordenma across the valley.

For an exclusive offering to Kind Travelers, you can hike for one and a half hours with your guide to the beautiful mountaintop Talakha Monastery, sitting at 3050 meters. You will light a traditional butter lamp offering, which dispels the darkness of ignorance and tie prayer flags to carry your wishes out to the universe. Commemorate the ceremony by planting a tree or flower. 

Six Senses Punakha 

Relaxation highlights the bill at Six Senses Spa Punakha, local practitioners have created an entire journey to assure better rest, so you can restore the mind, rejuvenate the body and prepare for many cultural experiences and adventures that await you each day. The signature Sleep Well Journey is based on clinical research and ancient practices to alleviate sleep concerns. It begins with visualization and deep breathing which positively impact the flow of energy. A full body massage brings the body’s rhythm back into balance, while the facial marma massage stimulates the pineal gland using potent active ingredients. It concludes with the Nasya (nasal oil application). 

For other activities, hike to a nearby monastery for breakfast and prayers with young monks, or retreat to the yoga hut for asanas or a guided Yoga Nidra practice promoting sleep and a deep meditative state of consciousness. 

Six Senses Paro 

The Six Senses Spa Paro has all the blissful trimmings you’ll come to expect such as an indoor pool, fitness center, meditation cave, outdoor sauna, yoga studio, herbal garden and Alchemy Bar. However, since Paro may be your last stop on the tour of the Land of the Thunder Dragon, the focus is on setting intentions for going back to life at home and for the future. Bring the body back into balance with a Bhutanese Body Scrub, this cleansing treatment involves blending your own traditional Bhutanese herbs with essential oils and Himalayan salts which are used in the treatment afterward. Or, simply relish with a Memories of Bhutan treatment, and reflect on the unique gifts the pilgrimage has had to offer in the private meditation room followed by a full body massage. 

Paro offers you a diverse menu of local experiences, too. Set out on a sunrise hike to Tiger's Nest or a sundown lamp lighting at Samtenling Monastery are a great start and ending to your day. And there's a whole day in between with time to hike to Jele Dzong or join a mushroom foraging tour. Paro Valley is also the starting point for many of Bhutan’s treks that cater to all ability levels, from short hour-long valley floor walks to more strenuous full-day hikes over mountain trails where trekkers can sight wild mountain goats, langur monkeys and the occasional leopard. Overnight treks can also be organized.

Six Senses Gangtey

Your reconnection to nature at this special valley lodge will be highlighted by ancient monastery visits, exploring rural villages by bike or foot and gazing at the renowned black-necked crane population at the Black-Necked Crane Conservation Centre, nestled just below the lodge. You’ll have the pleasure of relaxing with a Swedana herbal steam therapy while enjoying breathtaking views of the valley, or the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Gangtey Goemba, joining the monks for meditation. 

Six Senses Bumthang

Being in the spiritual heart of Bhutan, you’ll have plenty of time to relax and reflect. Along with yoga and guided meditations, you can experience the 16th-century Tamshing Lhundrup Lhakhang temple, wander through three very important monasteries, go horseback riding to the Kencho Sum Lhakhang monastery, witness the spectacular burning lake and hike to Padseling Goemba hilltop fortress. Upon return to the lodge, we recommend a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath.