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Your trip to Bhutan will almost certainly begin in the Paro valley, home to the country's only international airport. It's a gentle first base, and the old watch tower of Ta Dzong, now the National Museum, is a short climb above town. From Paro, the road runs east. Thimphu, the capital, sits beneath a giant golden Buddha on the hillside, while honeymooners tend to linger in the Punakha valley, where the pilgrims' path to the fertility temple of Chimi Lhakhang crosses tiered rice paddies. Walkers will love the Gangtey valley, whose marshy Phobjikha flats make for long, level rambles, and repeat visitors usually push further east to the Bumthang valleys, where Bumthang Mountain Lodge is a warm, welcoming stop. You can choose between 61 properties across Bhutan, with prices ranging from USD 275 to USD 2,000 per person per night. At the top end, Amankora Thimphu Lodge sits among blue pines, with a traditional hot stone bath waiting after a day of temples.
Thimphu
Bhutan's laid-back capital isn't exactly short on charm, but tucked into the pine-covered hillside of Upper Motithang, this boutique newcomer adds something a little different to the Thimphu scene. With just 12 glass-fronted cottages scattered through the forest, each individually named and deliberately spaced for privacy, it's a genuine retreat — even though you're only ten minutes from the Memorial Chorten and the buzz of the town. The setting does most of the heavy lifting here: birdsong, mountain streams and views across the valley to rolling hills. Add genuinely warm Bhutanese hospitality, a spa steeped in local wellness traditions and food made with organic, locally sourced ingredients, and you've got a pretty compelling base for exploring Thimphu.
Namibrand, Namibia
