Dhensa Boutique Resort
Punakha

Thick blankets of pine forests dotted with village houses, the Punakha River carving its way through the vale and hundreds of rice paddy fields stair-stepping down to the valley floor… This is the setting of Dhensa Boutique Resort deep in the heart of the lush Punakha Valley in western Bhutan.

Not only is this location utterly breathtaking, it also offers itself to plentiful walking and trekking trails. In particular the magnificent Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang nunnery, which houses one of the biggest bronze statues of Chenrigzig in the country and is just a 5-minute walk away. Dhensa is also located about a 15-minute drive from the impressive and iconic Punakha Dzong.

Dhensa Boutique Resort seamlessly combines pared back contemporary design with ancient Himalayan customs. The hotel comprises of 24 luxury suites housed in six cottages, which are spread out on different elevations throughout the property. Each en-suite room is light, airy and minimalist, decorated in neutral white tones, and has its own balcony – the perfect spot to soak up the stunning views with a warming cup of Suja, salty butter tea. The spacious bathrooms contain freestanding bathtubs (with more glorious views) and a separate shower. The rooms are more like private sanctuaries, where comfort and peace have been woven into the fabric of the design; there’s no wonder Dhensa means 'Heavenly Abode' in Bhutanese.

There is one restaurant at Dhensa which has a dining terrace for milder weather. The kitchen sources local and seasonal organic ingredients and serves up an elegant dining menu of local and international cuisine – the food is superb, if a little expensive for Bhutanese standards. The hotel completes itself with a restorative spa, which offers various treatments and therapies using their very own hand-blended essential oils. Yoga is also available as well as a steam room and sauna for those looking to treat themselves with a few extra hours in the spa. We highly recommend the Bhutanese hot stone bath too!

The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.
Rudyard Kipling