Amankora Gangtey

2 hours from Punakha- near the Jigme Singe Wangchuck National Park (formerly Black Mountain) where you can find key species like tiger, red panda, golden langur and musk deer.

Much like the rooms of the Amankora Thimphu, the eight open plan suites in the Amakora Gangtey are minimalist with large king-sized beds, banquette window seats, terrazzo-clad bathtubs and dark wood interiors. The dark chocolate walls and traditional bukhari create exceedingly cosy rooms with views through the floor to ceiling windows across the beautiful valley landscape and fields of dwarf bamboo and potato crops.

The combined living and dining room is well appointed with comfortable chairs, sofas and large family style dining tables, which serve communal meals of both Western and Bhutanese cuisines.

Concentrating on joint flexibility and re-hydration through herbs and hot oil, the spa offers oil massages to release any tension; however, this Amankora hotel is particularly special for its location. Using the hotel as a base, explore the ancient alters and ramparts of the Gangtey Goemba, which is an important monastery of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism (the main seat of the Pema Lingpa tradition). If you are interested in the local wildlife and natural history of Bhutan then, located near the hotel, the important sanctuary, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, is the perfect place to try and catch a glimpse of the wondrous animals, especially the endangered black-neck crane.