Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan, is a serene and picturesque valley that feels like a slice of paradise where time stands still. Nestled between the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, Punakha is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. The majestic Punakha Dzong, often called the “Palace of Great Happiness”, stands as a testament to Bhutanese architecture and history, surrounded by blooming jacaranda trees in spring. This stunning monastery in a fortress is a landmark in the valley that hosts significant events offering a glimpse into Bhutan’s spiritual life. Wandering through the lush rice terraces and quaint villages, you’ll encounter friendly locals who embody Bhutan’s warm hospitality, also imbibed by the hotels in Punakha.
The hotels in Punakha seem to have aced the art of offering slow luxury to their guests. Expansive, palatial and extravagant without being ritzy, the hotels in Punakha, Bhutan, offer some of the best staycation destinations in South Asia. Here are a few that T+L Southeast Asia recommends staying in.
How to find the best hotels in Punakha?
Finding the best hotels in Punakha involves a few key steps to ensure you get the perfect stay for your needs and preferences. Start with online travel agencies that offer extensive listings with reviews, ratings, and photos, allowing you to filter options based on price, amenities, and guest ratings. Once you shortlist a few hotels, visit their official websites, as they sometimes offer better rates or exclusive packages. Finally, consider your specific needs — luxury amenities, proximity to local attractions, wellness offerings, price, etc. — and prioritise those factors in your search. By combining these resources, you can find the best hotels in Punakha, Bhutan, that suit your preferences and ensure a memorable stay.
Also, explore more with our guide to the best time to visit Bhutan.
Best hotels in Punakha, Bhutan
Dhensa Boutique Resort
Dhensa Boutique Resort in Bhutan’s Punakha Valley evokes a sense of nostalgia with its serene environment, which celebrates the vibrant simplicity of life with its small details. Nestled in the heart of the lush Punakha Valley, the resort is surrounded by thick pine forests, offering breathtaking views of the Punakha River and terraced paddy fields. Dhensa features 24 spacious suites across six cottages, each with a private balcony, designed to cater to modern travellers. The resort’s Kibu Spa provides a range of treatments aimed at rejuvenating guests. Visitors can enjoy a variety of well-being rituals, including herbal baths, steam and sauna rooms, and an outdoor wood-fire hot tub. Additionally, there is a Yoga and Meditation room available in the spa. A standout treatment is the Kibu Signature Touch, a 4-hand massage that blends Eastern Meridian and Western classical techniques using house-blended oils, delivered by two skilled therapists. Guests can also experience local activities like Bhutan’s traditional dart game Khuru, river rafting, rice threshing, prayer flag hoisting, visiting the Sangchhen Dorji Luendrup Lhakhang nunnery and the Punakha Dzong.
Follow Dhensa Boutique Resort on Instagram.
Also, explore our selection of luxury wellness and self-care resorts around the world.
Address: Wolakha Punakha 117, Bhutan, Punakha 13001, Bhutan
Book your stay at Dhensa Resort via Booking.com
Book your stay at Dhensa Resort via Agoda.com
Pemako Punakha
Pemako, inspired by the remote Himalayan sanctuary of the same name, is a hidden paradise in the fertile Punakha Valley known for its year-round temperate climate, vibrant Buddhist festivals, and the majestic Punakha Dzong. Each of the 21 tented villas at Pemako is a luxurious retreat, designed to offer a deeper, more mindful experience. The villas feature private heated pools, expansive decks, Bhutanese-inspired design, Serge Ferrari fabrics, and copper fixtures, creating a serene and indulgent escape. You can embark on a sensory journey, exploring Bhutan’s culinary heritage with fresh delights from the Punakha Valley. The hotel’s farm-to-table approach applies to all three of its restaurants – Soma, Alchemy House, and Sura. Pemako also houses its Lotus Realm Spa, inspired by traditional Bhutanese medicine (Sowa-Rigpa), which offers treatments that restore balance and harmony to the mind and body, enhancing the tranquil experience at Pemako. With dedicated attention to wellness for its guests and immaculate design in its build, Pemako Punakha is the perfect hideout for those who love to surround themselves with beautiful things, both natural and man-made.
Follow Pemako Punakha on Instagram.
Address: Punakha, Bhutan
Book your stay at Pemako Punakha via Booking.com
Book your stay at Pemako Punakha via Agoda.com
Also read | Top Things To Do In Bhutan: Experience The Best Of Druk Yul
andBeyond Punakha River Lodge
Every inch of andBeyond Punakha River Lodge celebrates its highlight – the gorgeous Punakha Valley. Nestled in the lush green Punakha Valley with exclusive direct river access to the Mo Chu River, andBeyond Punakha River Lodge offers a spectacular and sensory retreat with six intimate luxury tents, a one-bedroom suite (River House), and a two-bedroom suite (Family Suite). Surrounded by verdant paddy fields and forested hills, the lodge is intricately built in the traditional Bhutanese architectural style, harmonising perfectly with the terrain. The lodge is an adventure playground, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts with activities such as rafting, kayaking, hiking, and longer treks in the breathtaking surroundings. However, if you are seeking relaxation, the lodge offers a range of wellness treatments and therapies in a serene spa in an orange orchard near a perennial stream. You can balance your chakras with gentle yoga sessions or enjoy a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath. Enjoy solitude amidst awe-inspiring vistas, write in journals, read books, or partake in intimate lunches in the paddy fields. Sundowners on the suspension bridge adorned with prayer flags and traditional cuisine, blending Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese influences, further add to the experience. With uninterrupted views of the Himalayas and direct river access, andBeyond Punakha River Lodge offers serene notes from the flowing stream and extraordinary mountain views, making it one of the best hotels in Punakha, Bhutan.
Follow andBeyond Punakha River Lodge on Instagram.
Also, check out our selection of breathtaking Himalayan treks to savour rhododendrons in full bloom.
Address: Punakha River Lodge, Punakha 13001, Bhutan
Six Senses Punakha
Six Senses Punakha is a stunning lodge with a rustic charm inspired by the valley’s farmhouse architecture. This retreat offers a variety of suites and villas, a pool, a boutique, yoga and meditation huts, and convenient access to the majestic Punakha Dzong, Punakha’s top highlight. The lodge features 19 spacious villas and suites, ranging from 721 square feet for the Lodge Suites to 2,949 square feet for the Three-Bedroom Villa for guests and guest parties of all sizes. Here, you can explore the area on bikes, and visit local attractions like Punakha Dzong and Choten Nyingpo. Crossing the Khuruthang Bridge over Pho Chhu, you can witness the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu. Here, sip on a glass of pomegranate martini while marvelling at the grand Punakha Dzong, followed by a walk across Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge. The lodge also features a wellness centre that customises guided meditation, yoga, and spa sessions. With a wide range of activities, experiences, and stunning architecture, Six Senses Punakha makes it on the list of the best hotels in Punakha, Bhutan, you must experience.
Follow Six Senses Punakha on Instagram.
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COMO Uma Punakha
COMO Uma Punakha is a gem among the hotels in Punakha, Bhutan, perched on a small hill at the western end of the Punakha Valley above the Mo Chhu river, a location that’s perfect for Himalayan exploration, village treks, temple visits, festivals, and whitewater rafting. A five-hour drive from Paro International Airport, the resort offers a remote experience deep into the Himalayas. Each room at COMO Uma Punakha provides sweeping views of the Punakha Valley and the Mo Chhu River as it winds through rice fields and orchards. The resort features 10 villas and rooms with cosy mountain interiors showcasing stone, wood, and tile, along with locally crafted bedcovers, furniture, and rugs. Bukhari, named after the traditional Bhutanese fireplace, serves as the resort’s warm heart. This restaurant offers healthy, wholesome, and flavorful food sourced from the Punakha Valley, including Bhutanese and Indian dishes, along with some international favourites. COMO Shambhala Retreat, nestled in a serene woodland glade with expansive views, offers holistic massages, body and facial care, yoga, and meditation. The Bhutanese Hot Stone Bath experience, using heated river stones, helps relieve deep-set aches and pains, releasing key minerals to aid stress and soothe the body, and concludes with the signature COMO Shambhala Massage, one every guest must experience.
Follow COMO Uma Punakha on Instagram.
Address: Botokha Kabesa Punakha, Punakha, Bhutan
Amankora, Punakha
A luxurious lodge accessed by a suspension bridge over the Mo Chhu River, Amankora Punakha incorporates the design of a traditional Bhutanese farmhouse, surrounded by rice paddies and fruit plantations, offering breathtaking views of the Punakha Valley and Mo Chhu River. The lodge features eight suites and four Mo Chhu Suites with spacious living areas. The highlight of the lodge, however, is its wellness offerings. Its cedar-scented spas provide Himalayan plant- and herb-based therapies and traditional wellbeing rituals, including herbal healing and hot-stone baths. Morning yoga and meditation sessions led by visiting monks enhance the rejuvenating experience. You can also enjoy forest bathing and mount prayer flags for transformative meditation and an experience like no other. Dining options include Bhutanese, Western, and Indian dishes, using local ingredients like yak meat and fresh honey. Savour a hot cup of ngaja or suja butter tea and experience unique offerings like the Potato Shed Dinner in Gangtey or barbecues under the stars with live Bhutanese music. Amankora Punakha, near the Punakha Dzong and the winter residence of Bhutan’s King, is one of the best hotels in Punakha, Bhutan, for exploring the valley’s natural and cultural attractions, including river rafting, hoisting prayer flags, visiting historic sites, and experiencing some of the best wellness services in the country.
Follow Amankora Punakha on Instagram.
Address: Habesa Guma Geog, 13001, Bhutan
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(Feature Image Credit: sixsensesbhutan/Instagram)
Related: Top Tourist Places In Bhutan: Exploring The Land Of The Thunder Dragon
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
COMO Uma Punakha, Amankora Punakha, and Dhensa Boutique Resort.
Punakha Dzong, Suspension Bridge, and Chimi Lhakhang.
River rafting, hiking, and visiting temples.
Hotel Vara, Zhingkham Resort, and Meri Puensum Resort.
Amankora Punakha and Pemako Punakha.
Yes, COMO Uma Punakha and Amankora Punakha.
Yes, several private homestays are available.
Ema Datshi, Phaksha Paa, and red rice.
Dhensa Boutique Resort and COMO Uma Punakha.
Punakha is best accessed by road from Paro airport; no nearby railway station.
Written By
Shubhanjana Das
An English Major, Shubhanjana is an independent culture and lifestyle journalist with extensive experience ..Read More