Luxury holiday in Bhutan: five Aman lodges in the Buddhist kingdom | Voyageurs du Monde

100% customisable travel idea

Sublime Quintet The Amankora Experience in the Buddhist Kingdom

Bhutan

The Kingdom of Gross National Happiness

From $13800 to $19200 per person for 12 days Price depends on departure city, season, accomodation types and selected activities

Itinerary highlights

  • Bhutan from the comfort of five exceptional Aman lodges
  • A luxury holiday to the Buddhist kingdom, the perfect blend of culture and comfort
  • Stress-free travel with visas & entry permits included and private guides
  • Voyageurs du Monde special touches: priority seating, our recommendations, 24/7 assistance, customised tours, complimentary massage and dinner
Bhutan is a kingdom isolated by the high peaks of the Himalayas that remains a unique enclave - peaceful and ecological. Unspoiled wild landscapes stretch out at the foot of the Himalayan Range, full of rhododendron, oak and pine forests, interpersed by rivers and glaciers. Bhutanese architecture is also unique, bearing witness to the kingdom’s ancestral culture. Villages are composed of traditional, slate-roofed houses and dzongs: former fortified Buddhist monasteries, where monks continue to practise unreformed Lamaist Buddhism. Ancestral rites, religious iconography, and traditional clothing customs are particularly well preserved. Despite its gradual opening to the world, the number of visitors is limited by quotas. Thus, Bhutan remains an almost-medieval, mysterious universe. Paradoxically, for over 40 years, the kingdom has been at the forefront of a novel way of measuring wealth, based on four pillars: environmental protection, cultural preservation and promotion, good governance, and sustainable, responsible economic development that priorities inhabitants’ quality of life rather than their capacity to produce. This concept is measured on a “Gross National Happiness” index, which may have seemed amusing just a few years ago, yet resonates particularly strongly in our Western societies today.

Amankora’s five outstanding lodges

Known for its taste for refinement and unique places, Aman Resorts has introduced this spirit to Bhutan in five lodges brought together under the Amankora name. In Sanskrit, “aman” is associated with peace and “kora” refers to a circular pilgrimage. Spread across Paro, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang and Thimphu, you will stay in each of these exceptional lodges on your journey through Bhutan. While they all share refinement, comfort and amenities, each has its own unique style and setting. A subtle balance between Bhutanese culture and 21st century luxury, these lodges also promote well-being by using natural materials, open fireplaces and spas inspired by local practices. This tour at the peak of harmony will appeal to all aesthetes who love open spaces, travellers in search of meaning infused with the soothing values of Buddhism or, perhaps, honeymooners seeking a truly original experience.
Paro - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Paro - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Punakha - Bhoutan © Wirestock/Adobe Stock
Punakha - Bhoutan © Wirestock/Adobe Stock
Paro - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Paro - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Paro - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Paro - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Monastère Taktshang  - Bhoutan © Romain Laprade
Monastère Taktshang - Bhoutan © Romain Laprade
Bhoutan © Jetsun / Etho Metho
Bhoutan © Jetsun / Etho Metho
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhutan © Droits réservés
Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Paro - Bhoutan © Romain Laprade
Paro - Bhoutan © Romain Laprade
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhoutan © SituGupta / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Thimphou - Bhoutan © SituGupta / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Paro - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Paro - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés
Thimphou - Bhoutan © Droits réservés

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Delhi, along with Kolkata and Kathmandu, is one of the main gateways to Bhutan. Overnight stay at The Oberoi Gurgaon, a true haven set away from the city’s bustle.

Flight to Paro, followed by a drive to Thimphu, set in a valley at 7,874 feet (2,400 metres) above sea level. Combining tradition and modernity, the country’s political and economic capital is rapidly expanding, yet remains a small, calm and pleasant city. It's dynamic and cultural, with bustling markets and local crafts, making it an essential stop in Bhutan.
Check in for two nights at Amankora Thimphu, perched above the city in a forest overlooking a gently flowing river. Built like a dzong around a grand ceremonial courtyard, the lodge offers sixteen spacious, elegant and welcoming rooms opening onto the courtyard or the river. The spa offers a full range of Ayurvedic treatments.
Already included - Accompanied by your private guide, you enjoy a day discovering Thimphu. Visits include the Memorial Chorten, built in memory of Bhutan’s third king; the weaving centre, where you observe traditional techniques and meet local artisans; a workshop producing traditional paper; and the VAST Gallery, an NGO supporting contemporary artists and emerging local talent.

For this final day in India, the Oberoi Gurgaon, a concept hotel combining stylish rooms, fashionable restaurants and luxury boutiques on the outskirts of Delhi, offers a moment of calm before your international flight. Guests can enjoy a 60-minute Padabhyanga Ayurvedic massage at the spa, signed “JIVA”, followed by dinner at the hotel - a graceful way to bring the journey to a close.
Later in the evening, transfer to the airport and Night on board.

À la carte

This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.

Trek departing from Paro

Walkers can select from a two-day or longer trek (various levels of difficulty) setting out from Paro. This offers another way to discover the mountains and valleys, and to experience the country and scenery off the usual tourist routes.
Optional

Discover Tang Valley

On leaving Bumthang, head out to Tang Valley - on horseback, if you wish! We can arrange for your to meet a Bhutanese writer and visit a beautiful museum. If selecting this option, add an extra night.

Optional



Extend your stay in Gangtey

Take part in a meditation session while you are here, or meet an English-speaking monk who will be happy to chat with you.

Why visit Bhutan with Voyageurs du monde?

Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)

Let us create your trip

A few of the advantages of travelling with us to Bhutan

  • CO2 absorption

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Estimated budget

Price depends on departure city, season, accomodation types and selected activities

The estimated budget for this trip is $13,800 to $19,200 per person.

A fixed price is rarely applicable to a bespoke journey. The final cost depends on various factors, such as the level of service, travel dates, and booking lead times. The only definitive price will be the one provided in your personalized proposal.

The average price for this trip is $16,600 per person

Included in this suggestion

  • International flight with a scheduled airline
  • Airport taxes and fuel surcharges
  • Carbon absorption contribution for your trip's CO2 emissions through reforestation projects (via our Philippe Romero Insolite Bâtisseur Foundation)
  • Return flights between Delhi and Paro
  • One night in Delhi, at The Oberoi Gurgaon, in a double room with breakfast included
  • Two nights at Amankora Thimphu, in a double room with full board
  • Two nights at Amankora Gangtey, in a double room with full board
  • Two nights in Amankora Bumthang, in a double room with full board
  • Two nights at Amankora Punakha, in a double room with full board
  • Two nights at Amankora Paro, in a double room with full board
  • Transfers and transport in a private vehicle with driver
  • One-day tour of Thimphu with a private English-speaking guide
  • One-day tour of the Gangtey Valley with a private English-speaking guide
  • One-day tour of Bumthang with a private English-speaking guide
  • One-day tour of the Tang Valley with a private English-speaking guide
  • One-day tour of the Punakha Valley with a private English-speaking guide
  • One-hour Ayurvedic massage and dinner at The Oberoi Gurgaon
  • Visa and local tourist tax
  • Our on-site Concierge service
  • A travel booklet with useful information (your day-by-day itinerary, hotel contact details, a personalized selection of our recommendations, etc.)
  • Our recommendations and reservations at selected restaurants
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