Six Senses Thimphu

Described as a “palace in the sky,” Six Senses Thimphu sits at a breathtaking altitude of 8,695 feet on a verdant mountaintop gazing down upon Bhutan’s capital city. But it’s not the lofty placement among pine groves and apple orchards that takes your breath away. Rather, it’s the sweeping, heady vistas of the emerald forests, stately Buddhas, and snowcapped Himalayan peaks of the Thimphu Valley that illicit gasps of wonder.

From the mirror-like reflecting pools fronting the hotel’s dzong fortress-inspired exterior to curlicue calligraphy drawings of clouds adorning suite walls, many aspects of this chic property’s design make you feel one with the sky.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and private decks are standard features in each of the 25 villas and suites, where wood-paneled walls, rich textures, natural shades, and sun-imbued spaces evoke the softness of the clouds that float past your windows. Another unmissable feature? Standalone tubs with uninterrupted valley views. One-, two-, and three-bedroom villas handily accommodate small groups or multi-generational families.

The same jaw-dropping views continue in Namkha, Six Senses Thimphu’s skyline restaurant where seasonal organics are always on the menu. Garden-grown ingredients are presented in Asian, Bhutanese, and Western dishes, served indoors or out. Walk a short distance from the lodge to reach a secluded picnic spot in a serene pine tree setting to enjoy daily afternoon tea and Bhutanese snacks.

Days at this mountaintop sanctuary can start with meditating in a golden-wood pavilion perched in the center of the reflecting pool, followed by yoga, archery lessons, hikes to remote monasteries, or having a Buddhist monk read your fortune. Ending the day with a hot stone bath and watching the sunset in the reflecting pool’s sunken seating area with the bar’s signature butterfly-pea flower daiquiri in hand, it’s easy to see why this mountain kingdom prides itself on being one of the happiest places on Earth.

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