Go andBeyond in Bhutan
in very exciting news, andBeyond has just opened their first lodge in Asia, the stunning andBeyond Punakha River Lodge in Bhutan.
Photo courtesy of andBeyond
With the lodge having just opened in September 2023, you can be one of the first to experience this brand-new gem. The lush, green Punakha Valley the lodge calls home is home to one of Bhutan’s oldest traditional structures, the Punakha Dzong, and is the winter home to the royal family of Bhutan.
The other great news is that andBeyond has some of the best guides on-the-ground in Bhutan, so they can help with your stay at Punakha and beyond—see what we did there? We worked with them to put together a beautiful Bhutanese itinerary featuring a stay at Punakha.
Let’s take a look at the lodge first. . .
Introducing andBeyond Punakha River Lodge
Draped on the banks of the Mo Chu River, you’ll find a spectacular lodge featuring six intimate luxury tented suites, a one-bedroom two-story villa (the River House), and a two-bedroom interconnected villa (the Family Villa). The lodge has been created in the traditional Bhutanese architectural style, in perfect harmony with its surroundings.
The lodge is an adventure playground, perfect for the intrepid outdoor enthusiast. Choose from an array of activity-based experiences including rafting, kayaking, and a variety of hikes and longer treks in your breathtaking surroundings.
There’s time for relaxation too, with a range of treatments and wellness therapies in the spa, located in the orange orchard near a small perennial stream. Gentle yoga sessions and traditional Bhutanese hot stone baths are also not to be missed.
Appreciate solitude amidst awe-inspiring vistas as you scribe in your journal or lose yourself in a book. Take yourself into the paddy fields or surrounds for intimate lunches, enjoy a sundowner on the suspension bridge colored by row upon row of prayer flags, and dine on traditional cuisine, a delicious fusion of Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese influences.
Breathe In Bhutan
Sample Itinerary
Days 1-3: Punakha
Visit the stupas at Dochu la Pass built in honor of fallen Bhutanese soldiers
Visit the Punakha Dzong, the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan, where every Bhutanese king has been crowned and where the official monk body of the kingdom still resides in winter
Drive to the Sangchhen Dorji Lhendrup Lhakhang Nunnery and engage with the nuns
Hike to Chimi Lhakhang temple, dedicated to the “Divine Madman” and adorned with phallic symbols and fertility blessings
Photo courtesy of andBeyond
Days 4-6: Gangtey & Phobjikha Valley
Enjoy views of Jhomolhari Mountain and Jichu Drake on a drive as the road climbs to Lawa La Pass
Explore the Gangtey Goemba Monastery on an exclusive tour and spectacular views of the Phobjikha Valley, including a Tshewang prayer ceremony with the monks and a personal blessing from the Tulku followed by a private breakfast
Meander the Gangtey Nature Trail, crossing streams, rhododendron gardens, and villages
Attend devout prayers at the monastic school Shedra, where 300 monks chant every evening
Hike to Longteng, weaving your way through bush bamboo and passing colorful village houses
Visit the Crane Information Center, and if in season, spot the cranes with binoculars
Days 7-9: Paro
Visit Ta Dzong or the national museum to view religious Thangka paintings, art, relics and postage stamps
Visit a traditional farmhouse to learn the life of a local farmer
Hike to the iconic Tiger’s Nest and marvel at the beauty of the gorge and waterfall
Take in the beautiful scenery of the kingdom of Bhutan on a helicopter tour
To be one of the first to visit andBeyond Punakha River Lodge—and to be one of the lucky to explore the wider Kingdom of Bhutan—contact your Poe Travel advisor for a personalized itinerary.