Four-star Wolakha, Punakha valley, Punakha
Dhensa Resort
Twenty-four suites in six cottages on a pine-covered slope above the Punakha river, with rice terraces below and a nunnery a short walk up the hill.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.
- Classification
- Four stars, Bhutan Department of Tourism
- Suites
- 24, in six cottages
- Opened
- 2014
- From the airport
- Three to four hours by road from Paro, our estimate
The hotel
Six cottages above the Punakha river.
Dhensa opened in the spring of 2014 as the first property of Dhensa Boutique Resorts, a company based in Singapore. It stands at Wolakha on the side of the Punakha valley, among pines, with the river and its terraced paddy fields below. The 24 suites are spread across six cottages at different heights, joined by granite steps, and each has a balcony facing the hills.
The design keeps to clean modern lines with Bhutanese detail. A glass-fronted dining room looks over the valley, and the spa has an outdoor bath heated by wood fire. About ten minutes' walk away is the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery, home to a large bronze of Chenrezig, and Punakha Dzong is about fifteen minutes by car. Guides from the resort lead treks and picnics to the dzong.
- Kibu Spa Two double treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room and a yoga room, with an outdoor wood-fired bath and treatments using hand-blended oils.
- Farm to table Home-style Bhutanese cooking alongside Western and Asian dishes, made with local and organic produce, served inside or on the terrace.
- Valley days Hikes and treks, rafting on the river, hoisting prayer flags and threshing rice with the farmers in season.
Rooms & suites
A balcony over the river.
Every suite has its own balcony facing the hills and the river, and a large bathroom with a freestanding bath and a separate shower.
- Twin Twin suite Twin beds, in about 45 square metres.
- King King suite A king bed, in a suite of the same size, with a daybed on the balcony.
Good to know
Before you go.
- Meals Rates are usually on a half-board basis, with dinner taken at the resort's restaurant.
- Extras At last report the resort did not take cards for drinks and other extras. Carry some cash, or check with the resort before you go.
Getting there
Flying to Punakha.
Paro is the only airport for both scheduled and private flights. From there the road runs through Thimphu and over the Dochula pass into the valley: allow three to four hours, our estimate.
- Kathmandu 50 min
- Kolkata 1 h 00
- Delhi 1 h 55
- Bangkok 2 h 50
- Singapore 4 h 40
Questions
What guests ask first.
- How many stars does Dhensa Resort have?
- Four. Dhensa Resort appears with four stars on the Bhutan Department of Tourism's list of certified hotels.
- How far is Dhensa Resort from Paro airport?
- Three to four hours by road by our estimate, through Thimphu and over the Dochula pass. Punakha Dzong is about fifteen minutes from the resort.
- Is there a spa at Dhensa Resort?
- Yes. Kibu Spa has two double treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room and an outdoor wood-fired bath.
- Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Punakha?
- Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Punakha, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.
Also in Punakha
Other hotels worth the trip.
- COMO Uma Punakha Ten rooms on a rise above the Mo Chhu, listed as five-star on Bhutan’s official tourism register.
- Amankora Punakha Reached over a suspension bridge, the lodge is built around a traditional farmhouse among rice fields.
- Six Senses Punakha One of the group’s five lodges, the one MICHELIN describes as pastoral and agricultural in feel.
Staying at Dhensa Resort?
Book the room, then the flight.
Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Punakha, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.