Unveil the Wonders of Bhutan

Set in the heart of the lush Bumthang Valley, the Village Lodge is a welcoming guesthouse-style lodge that blends traditional Bhutanese warmth with simple, comfortable comforts. Just outside town, this intimate property has nine thoughtfully appointed rooms with private bathrooms and easy access to gardens and valley views. Village Lodge offers a warm, authentic experience that feels more like a welcoming home than a typical hotel.

The word Gangchenta translates to 'Great Tiger Mountain'. The mountain is shaped like a tiger with its head on its eastern side (right), ears at the eastern peaks, arms in the middle, and stripes throughout. In the past, nomadic villages would report tiger sightings near Tiger Mountain. Locals believed that a tiger’s journey to Tiger Mountain was a spiritual pilgrimage that many tigers would take at least once in their lifetime. Wildlife experts initially disregarded these sightings, claiming that it was impossible for tigers to survive in these high-altitude conditions. Later, these sightings were verified.

Food is one of the most important aspects of any traveler’s experience. We have found that the usual model of hotel & restaurant food available in Bhutan is not offered at as high of a standard as it could be, so we have supplemented those offerings with a food program of our own. Of course, one method is to bring our guests into the homes of exemplary locals who cook some of the best meals in the country. Beyond this, we have also collaborated with our favorite Bhutanese village chefs to offer a picnic and catering program that merges traditional ingredients with contemporary culinary concepts. To further advance the experience, we plan picnics in culturally and/or historically significant environments as well as natural settings. One of the standout features of the Comfort Picnic program is the challenge we give to our chefs to source ingredients solely from the valley in which the picnic is happening. This approach not only ensures that the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced, but it also allows guests to taste the authentic flavors of that particular valley. This aspect of the program adds an educational element to the experience as guests can learn about the unique ingredients and culinary traditions of each valley in Bhutan. The combination of locally sourced ingredients, stunning natural settings, and expertly prepared meals by talented Bhutanese chefs, creates a one-of-a-kind picnic experience that is memorable for any traveler visiting Bhutan.

Situated in regions beyond the common travel circuit, Sangwa takes guests to the heart of Bhutan, reaching its most pristine villages and untouched natural landscapes. 'Sangwa,' meaning 'hidden' or 'secret,' is privately arranged for each guest. As Bhutan’s highest standard of luxury camping, Sangwa’s structure is non-permanent and operates on 100% renewable energy. The journey to Sangwa Camps is an experience in itself, leading travelers far off the beaten path into the raw beauty and cultural richness of Bhutan, with no hotels in sight. With camps located in Haa, Tsirang, and Gasa, guests connect deeply with the heart and soul of the nation, discovering the Bhutan that few witness. The cornerstone Haa Sangwa Camp spans 10 acres of wild forest, embodying refined luxury through years of thoughtful planning to create a green sanctuary in Bhutan’s untouched wilderness. Entering this hidden retreat—its exact location revealed only to those who arrive—guests are welcomed by Haap villagers with traditional songs and dances as they walk through forested trails. Sangwa has become a point of pride for the entire valley, not only for its secluded beauty but also as a favored sunset gathering spot for villagers, who take joy in witnessing rare performances of ancient Chundu dances, preserved by the valley’s elders who safeguard this cultural treasure. As night falls, Sangwa transforms into an even more magical retreat. Trails subtly light up throughout the forest, guiding guests beneath a sky where the Milky Way casts a soft glow over the mountain walls. The gentle sound of the nearby river blends with the quiet of the night, creating a serene backdrop. Candlelit dinners are served in a cozy Yak Herder’s Hut, while breakfast is savored amidst the ancient remnants of forest ruins, deepening the connection with Bhutan’s timeless landscape. Other experiences include forested massages, riverside hot stone baths and natural cold plunge river baths, after-dark wildlife tracking, tasting Bhutanese whiskey, personalized astrology readings, learning traditional Bhutanese games like archery and darts, yoga sessions, biking through the serene Haa valley, trout fishing, and bamboo crafting with the Doyas—a distinct cultural group in southern Haa. With 85% of its staff from the nearby village, Sangwa Camp has become a pillar for offering local employment while preserving the Haap way of life. Here, guests experience more than just a retreat into nature; they become part of a cultural bridge where the valley’s traditions come alive, and every moment is steeped in the authentic spirit of the Haaps.

Making the most out of his 15 years of experience as a trekking chef in the tourism industry, S.T has come up with what is arguably the most beautiful campsite facility on the banks of the Pho Chhu river in Punakha. Located just below the road leading to Zombi gewog, the campsite is partially hidden by the lush foliage and has the provision to provide both luxury and standard camping experiences to almost 100 guests at once.

Oddiyana Hotel is a carefully planned travel station, a plan to combine the best of hospitality with the perfect views that the glacial valley of Gangtey has to offer. With 22 well maintained rooms, the hotel also has a massive verandah that provides an outlet to sit back, relax and watch the endangered black necked cranes.

Started in September 2018, the Khimdro Kuenphen Om Detshen (milk processing unit) of Phobjikha is situated below the farm road that leads to the beautiful village of Khimdro. Here, Yethro Lhamo and her colleague keep alive the dream of about 40 rural families, taking in the daily milk produce in exchange for a steady monthly income.

Situated right in the middle of Wangtsa Village, Haa, Kinley Wangmo Farmstay is a two storied traditional house with a history spanning over 3 generations and almost 80 years. A family of five run errands around the house, making sure it is maintained and presented exactly as expected by the guests. There is an attachment of a newly built cottage to the house and this serves as an option for the clients who prefer a better accommodation facility and more rooms than what is present in the old house with just 2 rooms. The cottage has 4 rooms and a shared toilet. The Farmstay is situated above the renowned Wangtsa Lhakhang and stands at the end point of the Haa Valley Viewpoint Trail. Various farming activities to be experienced, delicious organic menu to be tasted and a very soothing hot stone bath to be enjoyed, are some of the highlights of this homely farmstay. Upon request, unforgettable cultural programs will be arranged by the proprietor and special lessons on Hoentay making (buckwheat dumplings) will be conducted.

Situated nearby Paro Rinpung Dzong and the National Musuem of Bhutan, Aum Deki Farmhouse overlooks the fertile Paro Valley while it sits in a well maintained traditional rural setting. With five years of operation experience, Aum Deki and her lovely family makes sure every guest is welcomed into their world, treated with utmost care, fed the tastiest of traditional dishes and, departs with the most memorable rural Bhutan experience.

Pema Choeki is a young woman weaver of Brokpa heritage. Her passion started when Pema once decided that she needed a better cushion to sit on. Traditionally made from yak skin, she decided that “yak skin is dirty” and that she needed a better material. As any clever innovator would, Pema set out to identify what readily available resource she could utilize for her invention. She began “harvesting” plastic with her mother and other family members.

Looking through the panels of three ancient 14th Century doors that frame the temple, you see nothing but the faint outline of a guilded Guru Rinpoche, illuminated by the warm glow of two tiny butter lamps. The locals, all elderly but for one young woman and her toddler, make their way around the temple as they quietly spin each small prayer wheel that outlines the Lhakhang.

The Brokpa yak dance is traditionally performed in the summer months. Two men cozy up inside a bisected wooly yak costume and respectively animate its front and back limbs. Several other men don colorful face masks that conceal their identity but seemingly offer a glimpse of their internal personalities.

This homestay is run by the Merak village head-person, Phurba, and his wife, Rinchen. Rinchen cooks some of the best food in Eastern Bhutan and eagerly greets her guests each morning with hot tea (butter tea or milk tea, upon your preference), along with a plate of biscuits. The accommodations at this homestay are rather simple, with one-room upstairs that provides floor mattresses and bedding on either side of a bucari stove. There are no western toilets or running water here. However, the family treats their guests with sincere hospitality and you will get a true feeling for how life in Merak is lived during these times.