andBeyond Punakha River Lodge opened in September 2023 as andBeyond's first fully owned lodge in Asia. It sits beside the Mo Chhu river among paddy fields and forested hills, with views to the Himalaya and private access to the water, and only around seven of its more than 50 acres are built on. The tented suites hang inside traditional Bhutanese timber frames; each is 89 square metres, with a brass-clad bath beneath a skylight and showers inside and out. Bhutanese craft is everywhere: headboards woven from national-dress fabrics by RENEW, a social enterprise supporting disadvantaged women, throws from home weavers and brasswork by Ap Gembo, all under a blue-poppy motif, the national flower. Days might bring archery, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, a monk's blessing or the hanging of prayer flags, and Punakha Dzong is 10 minutes away by car. An outdoor Bhutanese kitchen with a rammed-earth oven and an organic garden hosts cooking classes, and the spa, set in an orange orchard, offers the traditional Dotsho hot-stone bath. The lodge borders Jigme Dorji National Park, and 46 of its 49 staff are Bhutanese.
- Nearest airport
- Paro International Airport (PBH), 77 Miles / 124 Kilometres
- Rooms
- Nine rooms: six tented suites, a River House and a two-bedroom Family Suite
Insider tip Walk out early through the paddy fields to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, about 45 minutes along the river, and take breakfast with the view down the valley.
Why I choose it Bhutan with andBeyond's craft and conservation ethos. Every visitor pays Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee for each night in the country.