from
$503
per night
5 Star Hotel
Bhutan Hotels, Hostels & Accommodation
Tour operators should book you into hotels approved by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB). Since most visitors effectively pay the same rate whether staying in a budget or midrange hotel, it makes sense to ask for the best when you make your travel arrangements. The TCB plans to introduce a star rating for hotels and will require that agents book tourists in places with a minimum of three stars.
Gangtey Palace
This 19th-century, traditional Bhutanese courtyard-style building was once the residence of the penlop of Paro and it oozes musty historical charm.
Uma Paro
Kudos goes to the Uma for tastefully combining traditional Bhutanese architecture with top-of-the-line facilities to create the best hotel in town.
Hotel Jumolhari
This centrally located hotel bills itself as a boutique hotel and boasts a classy ambience and stylish decor.
Zhongar Guest House
This government-owned guesthouse is in a charming traditional-style wooden building, complete with royal quarters, great views over the dzong and a fabulous sense of history.
Sinchula Hotel
Preferred mainly by local travellers, this oldish establishment located next to an old peepul tree has clean, tiled rooms with hot-water bathrooms, air-con, a good restaurant and a rooftop terrace bar.
Tourist Hotel Bunagu
As you wind around the huge side valley from Chapcha look back to see the small Chapcha Dzong and, on a cliff far above to the right, the dramatic-looking Thadra Ney Lhakhang, built into the side of a rock face.
Ogyen Chholing Guest House
The superbly rustic Ogyen Chholing Guest House in the palace grounds has two excellent suites and four smaller basic rooms and offers a tranquil overnight retreat. Proceeds go to the trust.
Amankora
On the 'less is more' theme comes this five-star resort on the forested fringes of town. Amankora looks like a mini dzong, its stone-paved passageways inspiring hushed tones in the reverential guests.
Hotel Friends
Hotel Friends, has some rooms with ‘air cooler’, as well as bathroom and satellite TV.
Dechen Hill Resort
Three kilometres from Thinleygang, below Mendigang village, is the small Dechen Hill Resort, which was closed during our visit.
Thegchen Phodrang Guest House
This concrete monastery guesthouse is a last-ditch option, though rooms do come with a private bathroom and renovations are planned.
Nidar Karsum Lodge
Several small, friendly places offer simple wooden rooms upstairs and Tibetan-style restaurants and a shop downstairs. Expect to pay about Nu 60 for a meal of rice, curry and vegetables or Nu 250 for a double room.
Dolma Hotel
A clean and modern place in a shopping plaza, with a balcony and private bathrooms.
Kichu Resort
In Chhuzomsa, 9km east of Wangdi, this tranquil hotel has 24 well-appointed rooms in a lovely landscaped garden overlooking the rushing Dang Chhu.
Hotel Anand
You can get a double with air-con for Rs 1200.
Meri Puensum Resort
This privately run place is 6km south of Punakha, 1.2km up a side road, on a hill above the Punakha valley. It's just below the Hotel Zangto Pelri and is smaller, cosier and has much better service than it's neighbour.
Hotel Druk
Recently touched up, the Druk is an oldie located in a secluded spot behind the customs and immigration office.
Karmaling Hotel And Bakery
This is the main tourist hotel in town, with attached Western bathrooms with hot-water geysers but no showers or tubs – just a bucket. The main building boasts a veranda, bakery and restaurant.
Hotel Arya Zambala
Situated alongside the main road, before the turn-off to Ura, this tavern has rooms for rent, some with attached bathrooms, and can provide basic meals. Their main business is in herbal medicines and dried mushrooms.
Central Hotel
It's central, that's for sure. But that apart, there's little else that can be said about this standard-issue place with air-con. Oh, and there's plenty of noise from the streets below.
Dochu La Resort
On the hill just below the pass is the Dochu La Hotel, actually a restaurant, where many people break for tea.
Hotel Namgay
Overlooking the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang, the Namgay is a step down in quality but is still pleasant, with air-con, tropical plants in the lobby and money-exchange services.
Gakiling Guest House
We like the traditional wooden architecture of this small place and the fact that it's the only locally owned guesthouse in the valley, just behind the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre, but there's no getting away from the fact that you'll s.
Shingkhar Retreat
Shingkhar Guest House is a great base from where to explore the village. The rooms are basic but cosy, with mud walls and solar electricity. Meals are available.
Hotel All Seasons
Gets a few late-booking tourists during tsechu time.
Puenzhi Guest House
A 4km drive above the town leads to this place, run by the former governor of Trongsa. The rooms in the new wing are the best – airy and spacious with eagle-eye views from the balconies down to Ta Dazong and Trongsa Dzong.
Hotel Shambhala
Hotel Shambhala has some rooms with ‘air cooler’, as well as bathroom and satellite TV.