Amankora — five lodges, one circuit, the original premium accommodation in Bhutan.

The five-lodge circuit

Amankora operates one lodge in each of the principal western and central valleys — Paro (24 suites, the original 2004 lodge), Thimphu (16 suites on a forested ridge above the capital), Punakha (8 suites in a converted 300-year-old farmhouse beside the Mo Chhu), Gangtey (8 suites at 3,000m overlooking the Phobjikha valley and its winter cranes), and Bumthang (16 suites beside the Wangduecholing heritage palace). Seventy-two suites total. The circuit is the product, not the individual lodge — the journey is the experience.

The architecture — Kerry Hill's modernist-vernacular register

All five Amankora lodges were designed by Australian architect Kerry Hill (1943-2018), Aman's principal architect across the brand's global portfolio. The aesthetic tradition is modernist take on Bhutanese vernacular — courtyard layouts, white-and-wood facade material palette, decorative window frames, steep-roof profiles, all referencing traditional Bhutanese architecture but rendered with modernist restraint. Each lodge responds to its particular setting: Paro is the principal arrival building, Punakha is the converted farmhouse, Gangtey is the high-altitude valley overlook, Bumthang is palace-adjacent, Thimphu is the forest ridge. The interiors carry natural-material palettes (stone, wood, linen) and subdued colour ranges; the maximalist decorative tradition of Bhutanese interiors is referenced lightly rather than reproduced.

Common questions

Is Amankora the same as Aman?

Amankora is the Bhutanese operation; Aman is the global brand. Amankora is one of approximately 35 Aman properties globally; the brand operates in 15+ countries including Indonesia, Cambodia, Japan, Greece, France, the United States, and others.

Can I stay at one Amankora lodge rather than the full circuit?

Yes, single-lodge stays are available. But the brand is structured around the multi-night circuit; the value proposition is the journey. Most visitors who book Amankora book three or more lodges.

Why do Paro and Punakha close for four months?

Partly weather-driven (the monsoon makes the riverside Punakha and pine-forest Paro locations problematic) and partly business-model-driven (the lodges are refurbished annually during the closure window). Thimphu, Gangtey, and Bumthang operate year-round.

Does Amankora arrange my international flights?

No. Amankora handles the in-country circuit (lodges, transfers, excursions, visas) but does not book international long-haul or the regional Drukair to Paro. Customers arrange these separately, often through a Bhutan-specialist.

How does Amankora compare with Six Senses Bhutan?

Both are five-lodge circuits across the same five valleys; Six Senses opened 2018-2019 explicitly modelled on the Amankora structure. The two brands operate at comparable price; Amankora has the longer operating history and the architectural-restraint; Six Senses has the spa-and-wellness-forward register.