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Amankora Paro
Paro, Bhutan · Aman · Grand Luxury
Amankora Paro, opened in 2004 and designed by the late Kerry Hill in rammed earth, stone and local timber, was the first lodge of Aman's five-valley Amankora circuit and the first international hotel permitted to operate in Bhutan. Its 24 suites sit in a pine forest about 20 minutes from Paro airport; the other lodges are in Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang.
- 24 rooms
- Opened 2004
- Rooms from 560 sq ft (52 m²)
- Architect: Kerry Hill Architects
About Amankora Paro
- Amankora Paro (2004) was the first international hotel ever permitted to open in Bhutan, Aman was the first foreign entity the kingdom allowed to establish a presence.
- The name fuses Sanskrit 'aman' (peace) with Dzongkha 'kora' (circular pilgrimage), encoding the five-lodge circuit concept directly into the brand name.
- Architect Kerry Hill specified authentic Bhutanese materials, nettle fibre, yak hair, stone, and rammed earth, but deliberately avoided replicating the kingdom's high-coloured decorative tradition, describing the lodges as 'Bhutanese in spirit' rather than in style.
- Amankora received Two MICHELIN Keys in 2025, the top tier awarded in Bhutan, placing it level with only one other property in the kingdom (Gangtey Lodge).
- The five lodges span elevations and ecosystems from the rice paddies of Punakha to the Black Mountains national park at Gangtey, a 200 km traverse of Bhutan's central and western valleys.
History
Amankora is a multi-lodge circuit comprising five lodges across Bhutan's central and western valleys: Paro (pine forests near airport), Thimphu (forested capital area), Punakha (rice paddies in historic farmhouse), Gangtey (Black Mountains national park overlooking monastery), Bumthang (spiritual heart near royal palace amid orchards). Launched in 2004 starting with Paro, it offers immersive journeys through Himalayan Buddhist kingdom landscapes, blending pristine nature with cultural mysticism.
Restaurants and bars
- The Dining Room — Restaurant · Bhutanese, Western and Indian
- Log Cabin — Restaurant
Experiences
- Tiger's Nest Hike and Recovery Lunch at Amankora's Log Cabin — Hike to Tiger's Nest followed by a recovery lunch at the Log Cabin, a secluded spot at the base of the climb to the clifftop Tiger's Nest.
- Forest and Fortress Dinner — Signature dinner listed among Paro Lodge's Signature Experiences.
- Himalayan Hot Stone Bath — Amankora Paro's own hot-stone bath with river stones and the local Khempa herb; requires a few hours' notice.
- Prayer Flag Printing hosted by a local monk in Paro — In-house guest activity hosted by a local monk in Paro.
- Personalised Calligraphy sessions in Paro — In-house guest activity offered in Paro.
- Archery Lessons — In-house guest activity offered at all Amankora lodges, including Paro.
Amenities
- Spa at each lodge
- yoga
- infinity pool (Punakha)
- hot stone baths
- archery
- guided hikes/cycling/rafting
- cultural tours
- private dining
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- Bhutan's Leading Hotel 2025 (World Travel Awards) (2025)
- International Architecture Award (2011)
- Condé Nast Traveller Gold List (multiple years)
- Two MICHELIN Keys (recent)
Open Amankora Paro in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More Aman hotels
- Amankora Bumthang — Jakar, Bhutan · Grand Luxury
- Amankora Gangtey Lodge — Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan · Grand Luxury
- Amankora Punakha — Punakha, Bhutan · Grand Luxury
- Amankora Thimphu — Thimphu, Bhutan · Grand Luxury
- Aman Kyoto — Kyoto, Japan · Apex Luxury
- Aman New York — New York City, United States · Apex Luxury
More hotels in Paro
- COMO Uma Paro — COMO Hotels & Resorts · High Luxury
- Six Senses Paro — Six Senses · High Luxury
- Taj Paro Resort & Spa — Taj Hotels · High Luxury
- Zhiwaling Heritage — Zhiwaling · High Luxury
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