About this hotel
General information
Six Senses Punakha is the rustic, farmhouse-spirited member of the brand’s Bhutan collection, a lodge set among rice terraces in the Punakha valley and nicknamed the Flying Farmhouse. Lower altitude and a mild climate make this the warmest of the Six Senses valleys: produce grows all year, and many Bhutanese come down here for the winter. Timber, stone and wood-burning bukhari stoves keep the interiors simple and warm, while the decks look over paddy fields and old farmhouses scattered across the slopes.
With just 19 suites and villas, three of them with private pools, it stays intimate. There is an outdoor pool, the Ari restaurant, a spa with a yoga hut and meditation pavilions, and a boutique, and the lodge keeps its own rice fields right below the dining terrace. Punakha is often combined with the other Six Senses lodges in Bhutan on a journey through several valleys.
Location
The lodge sits in the Punakha valley at about 1,540 m, one of the lowest-lying valleys in the country. The drive from Thimphu takes around 90 minutes, climbing through pine forest to the Dochu La pass (3,116 m), with its 108 chortens, prayer flags and Himalayan views, before descending to the valley floor. The lodge arranges transport with a driver, and helicopter charters from Paro airport can be organised.
Spa
Six Senses Spa Punakha has four treatment rooms, a gym, two meditation pavilions, a herb garden and the Alchemy Bar. Rituals open with a herbal footbath, Bhutanese chanting and singing bowls, and the menu leans towards easing tension and restoring sleep: the Sleep Well Journey of breathwork and massage, a four-hand Shirodhara, the Advanced Blissful Marma Massage and Yoga Nidra.
Sports & leisure
Mornings can start in the lodge’s own yoga hut, followed by laps in the outdoor pool or a session in the gym. The team also arranges time out in the valley:
- a riverside bike ride to Punakha Dzong
- an early walk to a neighbouring monastery for breakfast and prayers with the monks
- river rafting, mountain biking, hiking and birdwatching
- a hands-on session making ara, the local home-brewed spirit
- guided meditation paired with a spa treatment
For children
Younger guests have the Grow With Six Senses programme, with family activities planned by the lodge’s specialists, and babysitting can be arranged on request.
Restaurants & bars
Cooking draws on organic produce from the valley and on regional herbs and plants, pairing Bhutanese dishes with Western technique:
- Ari — the main restaurant, a farmhouse-style room hung with woven bamboo baskets; Bhutanese and Indian dishes inside or by the pool
- The stone terrace — breakfast above the paddies, and a Bhutanese thali or Indian curries at lunch overlooking the lodge’s own rice fields
- Poolside — barbecue lunches
- Riverside cocktails — sundowners with Punakha Dzong as the backdrop and a private bartender
Swimming
The lodge has an outdoor pool, and each of the three villas has a private pool of its own.
Rooms
The 19 suites and villas range from 104 m² suites to a 337 m² three-bedroom villa. All of them face the mountains and the valley, and the villas come with their own plunge pools.
Every suite and villa has a Naturalmat organic bed with Beaumont and Brown linen, a wood-burning bukhari stove, an espresso machine and tea and coffee, a TV, Wi-Fi, a safe, a yoga mat, a Bose speaker, and a bathtub with a rain shower.
Lodge Suite
A suite with an oversized deck facing the mountains and valley, a writing desk and an optional screen between bedroom and bathroom; sleeps up to three.
Upper Lodge Suite
The same deck-fronted suite on the top floor, where the valley views open up further; sleeps up to three.
One-Bedroom Villa
A villa set among planting, with a private plunge pool, a large terrace, indoor and outdoor living areas and dining for six; sleeps up to four, with a dedicated GEM on call around the clock.
Two-Bedroom Villa
Two bedrooms, a private plunge pool, a double spa treatment room and dining for eight; sleeps up to eight.
Three-Bedroom Villa
The lodge’s largest villa, with three bedrooms, a private plunge pool, a double spa treatment room and dining for eight; sleeps up to twelve.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.