Amankora
རི་བོ་ཇིཀྲུ་ཌེཀAmankora Thimphu is a peaceful luxe resort on a forested hillside of blue pines northwest of the capital city, close to Kuenga Chhoeling Palace. It is one of five Amankora lodges in Bhutan's central and western valleys, offering service that is exceptionally attentive to guest needs. “The Amankora experience” is what sets it apart from other luxury chains. That's how guests encapsulate the feeling of having all of one's travel needs taken care of end to end, by staff who exemplify the warm hospitality for which Bhutanese are so renowned. No need is too small. One guest who had the Amankora experience when he toured Bhutan in April 2016 with his wife related a story about asking one day for olive oil instead of butter for his bread. At every meal after that — at every Amankora resort along the tour — the staff brought olive oil to their table automatically. The layout of Amankora Thimphu fosters a community feeling that also characterizes the Amankora experience. The spare, elegant design draws inspiration from dzong architecture, with whitewashed stone buildings arrayed alongside a courtyard. All 16 suites are wood-paneled and laid out identically: a spacious, open floor plan that combines bedroom, bathroom, and lounge areas. The open plan is ideally suited to couples or sing...