Amankora's Paro And Punakha Lodges Reopen Following Refurbishment

Amankora announces the reopening of its Paro and Punakha Lodges following an extensive period of careful refurbishment. Now welcoming guests once again, both lodges emerge renewed, with fully refreshed suites, reimagined social spaces and considered additions to their wellness experiences. 

Combining the Sanskrit-derived word for ‘peace’ with kora, meaning ‘circular pilgrimage’ in Dzongkha, Amankora has offered transformative journeys through Bhutan for more than 20 years. Across five distinct valleys – Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang – each lodge provides an insightful perspective on the Kingdom, while together they form a unique journey through one of the world’s most remote and pristine landscapes. Further enhancing the experience, the recent updates invite guests to connect with nature on a deeper level, finding restoration through the elements. 

Amankora Paro

Set at 2,250 metres in Bhutan’s serene Paro Valley, Amankora Paro is hidden within a blue-pine forest beneath the ruins of the 17th-century Drukyel Dzong fortress. A gateway to Bhutan’s monasteries, hiking trails and cultural landmarks, the lodge offers a feeling of remote seclusion yet rests just 20 minutes' drive from the country’s only international airport. Following its refurbishment, Paro introduces two distinctive new wellness experiences, each offering a different path to restoration.

Tucked away beyond the pine forest, the new Spa House provides a tranquil sanctuary enveloped in nature. Designed by long-time Aman collaborators, Kerry Hill Architects, the standalone wellness retreat features a private hammam, double treatment room, relaxation lounge, heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi, creating an intimate setting for private retreats. 

Guided by hammam tradition, Spa House signature experiences combine steam, exfoliation and invigorating massage techniques using aromatic soaps and oils to cleanse and restore body, mind and spirit. Options include a 60-minute Hammam Treatment, including a body scrub and bathing experience followed by time in the relaxation lounge, or a more all-encompassing Half-Day Journey, which combines the hammam ritual with a 90-minute body massage, refreshments and extended time to reset.

In addition to the Spa House, the new Wild Nature Banya Experience offers a more invigorating expression of wellness, shaded by towering pines and resting beside a glacial stream. Crafted from Canadian Hemlock wood, the banya’s panoramic windows frame views towards the historic fortress, connecting guests with the landscape as therapeutic heat gives way to the contrast of cold water. The ritual combines intense sauna heat with traditional venik massage using oak and birch branches to stimulate circulation, before culminating outdoors with a warm pool and cold plunge or an invigorating dip in the river. Drawing on Eastern European and Scandinavian traditions, the experience creates a powerful connection between the self and the elemental nature of Bhutan.

Elsewhere, the lodge’s existing spa has also been enhanced, with upgraded interiors and timber finishes across its five treatment rooms, yoga studio, sauna and steam room. Each treatment room opens onto a private terrace with its own traditional hot stone bath, while a new yoga pavilion among the pines provides a spectacular setting for private yoga and wellness sessions overlooking the river and fortress. The Spa House also features new bespoke artworks inspired by traditional Bhutanese wooden books, combining mandala motifs and healing scriptures to evoke blessings and good health, while celebrating the country’s rich tradition of local craftsmanship. Created by six artisans over two months, the artworks reflect the time, skill and care invested in this distinctive craft.

In addition to the enhanced wellness experience, all of Paro Lodge’s 24 suites have been fully refurbished with new timber flooring, ceilings and wall cladding inspired by the surrounding landscape. Climate control systems, lighting and in-room amenities have also been modernised, while the lodge’s social spaces have been subtly redesigned to create an even more intimate and residential atmosphere, true to Aman’s ethos of welcoming guests into the comfort of home. The dining room and kitchen have been reimagined, a new bar introduced and the library enhanced to serve as both a tranquil retreat and intimate private dining space. 

Amankora Punakha

Further east, in Bhutan’s Punakha Valley, Amankora’s Punakha Lodge occupies a meticulously restored 300-year-old farmhouse once owned by a former Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s chief abbot. Surrounded by rice fields, the lodge invites guests to experience the spiritual and agricultural heritage of the valley while residing in a piece of Bhutanese history.

Following its reopening, the lodge’s communal spaces have been thoughtfully reimagined. The first floor of the original farmhouse now houses an intimate dining room for up to 18 guests alongside a dedicated Aman retail space, while the second floor retains the farmhouse’s original altar room, where a resident monk continues to perform traditional Buddhist blessings. A refreshed library, media room, workspace and lounge provide additional spaces for calm reflection.

The lodge’s 12 suites emerge fully refreshed, with new timber flooring, ceilings and wall cladding complementing the original character of the farmhouse. Meanwhile, upgraded climate control and lighting futureproof the lodge for generations to come. 

Wellness is also central to Punakha Lodge’s renewed guest experience with the spa’s upper floor now home to three new treatment rooms and a yoga studio. In addition, the ground floor introduces a suite of new hydrotherapy facilities including a steam room, Jacuzzi, cold plunge and bucket shower, alongside a relaxation lounge and contemporary changing facilities.

Journey Through Bhutan

While Amankora’s five lodges each offer a unique experience, their greatest expression is realised journeying between them. From the blue-pine forests of Paro and the subtropical valleys of Punakha to the high-altitude landscapes of Gangtey and Bumthang and the cultural heart of Thimphu, each lodge reveals a different facet of Bhutan’s beauty. Personalised journeys can combine multiple lodges, allowing guests to travel at their own pace. Along the way, restorative wellness rituals and refined dining experiences offer moments to pause and reconnect in line with Aman’s philosophy.