Just 20 minutes’ drive from town, the 24 suites that make up the Amankora Paro resort are nestled within a forest of blue pines. While the lodge’s appearance shares much in common with Bhutan’s many imposing fortresses, you’ll find unmatched luxury inside each room. The walls of each suite are paneled with wood and black steel and contain king-sized beds, traditional wood-burning stoves, and banquette window seats. Each room is also designed with a combined bedroom and living area for maximum flexibility and comfort. And thanks to the hotel’s convenient location, you can scope out interesting attractions like the ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong or a local temple and school known as the Karma Leksheyling Foundation. The hotel restaurant is also a great place for dinner; you can enjoy Bhutanese, Indian, or Western cuisine and catch a glimpse of Jomolhari from the dining room.

Amankora Paro is perhaps best recommended on the basis of the exclusive activities the resort can arrange for its guests. You can take a yoga lesson from a respected instructor in the hotel’s glass-walled yoga studio or enjoy a grounding body polish and wrap at its two-story spa. The hotel can also provide a barbecue-style lunch right at the base of the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery, schedule you for participation in a butter lamp ceremony at a nearby temple, or allow you to renew your wedding vows in a Bhutanese marriage ceremony.