Amankora Punakha

We booked dinner at Aman Punakha for a birthday celebration and, given Aman’s reputation, expected an effortless luxury experience. Unfortunately, it fell considerably short. Arrival at night is already problematic: the beautiful suspension bridge is barely lit, leaving us to use our phone lights just to see where we were stepping. The staff were friendly and welcoming, but clearly lacked the training expected at this level. They struggled to distinguish between the identical-looking food, wine and bar menus, and forgot to explain the soup and fish of the day. More concerning was the service sequencing. We ordered celebratory cocktails before our starters, mains and wine. The starters arrived in under 15 minutes, while the cocktails were still being prepared. We were almost finished eating before they arrived. We then had to specifically ask the team to hold our mains to avoid the rest of the meal being similarly rushed. Payment was another frustrating experience. The card terminal had almost no connectivity, my card repeatedly failed, and it was suggested that perhaps I had insufficient funds available, which was unnecessarily embarrassing. Eventually, at my request, they emailed me a payment link. I paid it immediately using the exact same card. For a dinner costing over USD 800, this simply isn't the level of experience one expects from Aman. Nothing was offered or done to acknowledge the succession of issues. We work in hospitality design, so naturally pay close attention to guest experience, but these are not minor technicalities: arrival, product knowledge, service sequencing, payment handling and service recovery are hospitality fundamentals. The staff themselves were genuinely nice and clearly trying their best, which makes this more disappointing. The issue seems less about the individuals and more about insufficient training and operational standards. Aman has an extraordinary reputation, but reputation alone cannot deliver hospitality. On this occasion, the word that best summarises our experience at Aman Punakha is complacency.

A private car picked us up and took us across the bridge to a five-star hotel nestled deep in the mountains. Only 10 people were staying there that night. The price was over NT$40,000 per night, all-inclusive. Amazing… This was once a royal residence, now managed by the Oman Group. It has five rooms and ten suites, accommodating a limited number of guests. There are many dining options, all-you-can-eat. There's an all-you-can-drink bar and aromatherapy massage. The hotel is surrounded by bamboo trails and a swimming pool, offering relaxing and enjoyable facilities. Another unique option is breakfast in a dry field surrounded by mountains – incredibly romantic! Two cows are nearby, and birds and roosters chirp. Dedicated staff prepare exquisite meals, and enjoying the aroma of rice paddies while savoring the food is a truly unique experience.

Amankora Punakha is one of Bhutan’s most enchanting retreats — a serene riverside sanctuary wrapped in emerald rice fields and mountain calm. The moment you cross the suspension bridge to reach the lodge, it feels like stepping into another world. The suites are warm, minimalist, and deeply peaceful, blending Aman’s signature design with Bhutanese craftsmanship. Service is exceptional: attentive, personal, and offered with genuine Bhutanese warmth. Whether you’re dining farm-to-table meals overlooking the valley or soaking in the quiet beauty of the Punakha landscape, every moment feels purposeful and restorative. Amankora Punakha isn’t just a hotel — it’s an experience of stillness, culture, and rare luxury.

After a leisurely morning drive from Thimphu through the scenic valley and stops at 2 monasteries, we arrived and a non-descript car park and our guide told us we had arrived - keeping a hidden smile as he said this. As we get out of the vehicle, we then saw the suspension bridge and he grinned and said that we had to cross it to get to the Punakha lodge! A little nerve wrecking if you are scared of heights and fast flowing water beneath you but safe and easy. We were picked up by a buggy on the other side and driven to the lodge where the lodge manager Choni was all smiles and welcoming. This lodge was a former farmhouse that is connected to the Bhutanese royal family - and it was simply magical. The setting, views across the Punakha valley and the swimming pool (the only Amankora lodge that has one) are simply glorious. The rooms are in separate buildings scattered around the compound and although slightly different from Thimpu, everything is still familiar and one feels as if it is the same as there is continuity in all the decor and little touches. Love the kettle in the room which is simply operated by pressing down on the handle - perfect for making that quick cuppa (although the staff keep telling you to let them know if you ever want anything). The food is absolutely delicious - you can basically have anything you want (within reason and provided the chef can make it) so you don’t have to stick to the menu.There is a wonderful royal dining room on the top floor of the farmhouse (where we had dinner one evening). Beautifully set up, one felt so special and spoilt as the chef and entire kitchen crew came up to serve us and explain the Bhutanese feast we had. We spend 3 nights and could have easily stayed a week or more! Our daily activities exploring the area were well planned by our guide Tashi who ensured we arrived back at the lodge with enough time to enjoy the pool (really so relaxing) and viewing the sunset from the pool deck was just out of this world. Everything takes a step down from the frantic world and one even feels that time slows down to appreciate the simpler things - it slowly dawns on us why happiness is used as a factor in Bhutan’s GDP! The lodge host Prasad suggested we get truly local by dressing up in the local Bhutanese national costume “Gho” - wearing it required some help from the housekeeping team who came to our room to “dress us up”. One did feel regal and very special wearing them! Each evening on our bed was a little gift left by housekeeping and throughout our 2 weeks stay, we had a collection of mementoes of Bhutan (all different)! We were absolutely spoilt staying here and felt a little sad upon leaving after 3 nights. As intrepid travellers, we felt this was as close to the perfect stay one could ever have. Amankora Punakha will always remain special in our hearts! Kudos to Choni, Prasad and the entire team!