Discover the Amankora Wellness Trail in Bhutan, a journey focusing on rejuvenation through nature, traditional practices and serene lodges nestled in spectacular landscapes
BY RUPALI DEAN
In the heart of the Himalayas lies Bhutan, a country that feels like a beautiful secret among wanderlust-filled souls. As I embarked on the Amankora Wellness Trail, I expected relaxation; what I found was a deep reconnection with myself and the world around me.
The journey unfolds through Amankora’s five lodges, each a sanctuary echoing the quiet wisdom of nature. Waking up amidst cedar-scented air, sunrise yoga sessions, and the flutter of colourful prayer flags, I was enveloped in an experience that transcended ordinary travel. This was not just a holiday; it was an invitation to rediscover peace and purpose, one mindful moment at a time.
WHISPERS OF BHUTAN’S SOUL
As I journeyed between the lodges nestled like bird’s nests in the valleys of Paro and Thimphu, it felt as though the landscape was sharing its secrets to me. Bhutan, with its untouched grandeur, doesn’t shout, it hums.
The lodges seemed to emerge organically from the earth, cradled by the mountains. With earthy wooden accents, inviting communal spaces, and views that could stop the most seasoned traveller in their tracks, they embodied Bhutan’s ethos: simple, authentic, and rooted in harmony.
Each Amankora lodge was its own symphony, creaking timber harmonised with murmuring winds and the faint chants of distant monks. The highlight of my stay was forest therapy, though calling it ‘therapy’ felt clinical for such a spiritual experience.
This wasn’t a walk, it was communion with nature’s soul, a slow immersion into its quiet majesty. Standing beneath towering pines, their needles stretching skyward like seekers of wisdom, I felt the hushed breathing of the earth.
The guide, with a voice as soft as mountain streams, led us to pause, to listen, and to breathe deeply, recalibrating what it meant to be present. The prayer flags, strung delicately between trees, fluttered like whispers to the wind. Each flag carried mantras of peace and prosperity, their colours vivid against the quiet. Walking past them felt like moving through someone’s woven dreams.
Even now, back amid urban chaos, Bhutan’s stillness lingers, a reminder to slow down, to breathe, and to see the sacred hidden in the everyday.
REVIVE, CONNECT, BREATHE
After a long day of wandering Bhutan’s mist-draped landscapes, the hot-stone bath at Amankora Paro felt nothing short of magical. It began with the glow of anticipation as I slipped into a hand-hewn wooden tub, the steam curling into the evening like whispers of a secret.
The water, infused with herbs whose names I couldn’t quite pronounce but whose scents sent me spiralling into serenity, cradled me in a hug only nature could give. Smooth river stones, heated until they glowed ember-red, transformed the bath into a blend of warmth and quiet crackles.
A mug of hot apple cider rested on the edge, its cinnamon-kissed steam mingling with the aroma of the wild. And as the setting sun streaked the sky with fiery hues, I felt it, a deep, elemental peace taking root.
Mornings began with yoga, led by smiling monks who seemed to carry the wisdom of the mountains in their calm gaze. “Awareness is the bridge between body and spirit,” one of them said, as the wind whispered through the ancient pines. Their presence grounded us, turning mere stretches into something sacred. By the time I rolled up my mat, it wasn’t just my body that felt stronger, my soul had room to breathe again.
Mealtimes were just as nurturing. Bhutanese feasts, shared around a communal table, became occasions to connect through steaming bowls of ema datshi (a fiery chilli-cheese stew) and hearty laughter.
In Bhutan, life slows to a rhythm that feels borrowed from another time. The Amankora lodges, scattered like secret sanctuaries across this mountainous kingdom, don’t just host you, they heal you.
Bhutan gave me more than tranquil views and immersive experiences – it gave me a reminder. A reminder to lean into gratitude, to breathe with intent, and to see the sacred even in the ordinary. And isn’t that the greatest souvenir?
