Six Senses Punakha

With its terraced rice paddies, traditional farmhouses, and dazzling temples, the lush Punakha Valley feels like something out of a fairy tale. Stay in a luxury Bhutan accommodation that playfully calls itself “the flying farmhouse,” and the illusion is complete.

So-called both for its hilltop perch overlooking the valley and the cantilevered lounge that stretches out above the landscape like a flying house, Six Senses Punakha translates the rustic charm of this sylvan valley into a sophisticated, luxury escape. From the use of locally sourced wood to the farmhouse design, nearly every element takes its inspiration from both the natural and manmade elements of the valley, creating a true sense of place and connection to the destination.

Six Senses Punakha’s 19 suites and villas are Zen dens of wood-paneled interiors, clean lines, and earthy, organic tones and textures. Austere yet elegant, the Bukhari stove-warmed rooms capture the stillness and tranquility of the valley below, which feels close enough to touch from breezy decks and floor-to-ceiling windows. Families and small groups are handily accommodated in one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas.

Farm-to-table dining takes on a whole new meaning in the valley-view Ari restaurant, where you can see the fields and farms your food came from in pan-Asian preparations. Thali-style lunches are a delightful way to introduce the palate to a parade of flavors.

There are plenty of reasons for guests to linger on Six Senses’ sprawling grounds. Stroll hut-to-hut in the spa village for various treatments (including a 24-karat gold age-defying facial), get centered in a meditation sala, and swim above the rice paddies in the infinity pool, whose design mirrors the water-flooded terraces. Go cycling among the fields, tap into the valley’s culinary traditions with food experiences like learning to make the regional “ara” liquor, and tour 17th-century dzongs. Once you’re ready for a change of pace, venture off-property to visit Punakha Dzong, cross Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge, or enjoy a chef-curated picnic next to the Punatsangchhu River.

Six Senses luxury lodges are also found in Thimphu, Paro, Bumthang, and Gangtey.