Aman vs Six Senses vs COMO in Bhutan: Lodges, Routes and What's Included
By Best of Bhutan Research Desk · November 5, 2026 · 10 min read
If you are planning a luxury trip to Bhutan, you will soon be choosing between Aman (Amankora), Six Senses and COMO (Uma Paro and Uma Punakha), with newer options from Pemako and andBeyond. Searches for "aman bhutan", "amankora bhutan" and "six senses bhutan" are especially common from Hong Kong and Singapore. This guide compares the groups on the things that decide a trip: where the lodges are, how big they are, what the rate includes, and how they fit into a route.
The Short Answer
- Choose Amankora if you want the most complete all-inclusive package: meals, house drinks and laundry are always included, and longer stays add a guide, car and a domestic flight. Five lodges, all in the same style.
- Choose Six Senses if you want five lodges that each look different, with a strong spa and wellness focus, and you like the idea of mixing and matching.
- Choose COMO for a shorter trip (5–8 nights) in Paro and Punakha, with smaller hotels known for their spa and food.
- Add Pemako Punakha or andBeyond Punakha River Lodge for a resort-style stay in the warm Punakha valley, often combined with one of the groups above.
Where the Lodges Are
| Valley | Amankora | Six Senses | COMO | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paro | Amankora Paro: 24 suites, ~2,250 m | Six Senses Paro: 16 suites + 4 villas, ~2,675 m | Uma Paro: about 29 rooms and villas | — |
| Thimphu | Amankora Thimphu: 16 suites, ~2,350 m | Six Senses Thimphu: 20 suites + 5 villas, ~2,650 m | — | Pemako Thimphu: 66 rooms |
| Punakha | Amankora Punakha: 12 suites, ~1,300 m | Six Senses Punakha: 16 suites + 3 pool villas, ~1,400 m | Uma Punakha: 10 villas and rooms | Pemako Punakha: 21 pool villas; andBeyond: 8 units |
| Gangtey (Phobjikha) | Amankora Gangtey: 8 suites, ~3,000 m | Six Senses Gangtey: 8 suites + 1 villa, ~2,950 m | — | — |
| Bumthang | Amankora Bumthang: 16 suites, ~2,580 m | Six Senses Bumthang: 8 suites + 1 villa, ~2,700 m | — | — |
Sources: Aman's Amankora factsheet (2026), the Six Senses Bhutan factsheet (published before opening, so numbers may have changed), COMO's accommodation pages, and press releases for Pemako and andBeyond.
The pattern is simple. Aman and Six Senses each cover the same five valleys, so you can build a full west-to-central route with one brand. COMO covers Paro and Punakha only. Pemako and andBeyond are concentrated in Punakha, with Pemako also in central Thimphu.
Amankora
Aman opened its first lodges in Bhutan in 2004 and completed the circuit with Bumthang in 2007. The five lodges total 76 suites and share one design: rammed-earth walls, timber and large windows facing the landscape.
What's included: according to Aman, all Amankora stays are all-inclusive of meals, house drinks and laundry. Stays of seven nights or more add a private English-speaking guide, a car and driver, and Paro airport transfers; stays of ten nights or more add a one-way domestic flight between Paro and Bumthang (Aman). The Sustainable Development Fee is charged separately.
Journeys: Aman publishes several set journeys, from short trips in the west to a 14-night route across all five lodges.
Best for: travellers who want one consistent standard and as much as possible included in the rate.
Six Senses Bhutan
Six Senses opened its five Bhutan lodges from 2019. Each lodge has its own architecture: the Thimphu lodge is the largest; Gangtey and Bumthang are small, with eight suites and a villa each.
What's included: Six Senses' published offers change. Its current Extended Stay offer, for six nights or more across its lodges, includes full board, a private guide, driver and vehicle, daily touring with entrance fees, and visa and SDF processing (Six Senses). Check what applies to your dates; standard room rates may include less.
Best for: travellers who want variety between lodges and a strong wellness programme.
COMO Uma Paro and Uma Punakha
COMO has run Uma Paro since 2004. It has about 29 rooms and villas in pine forest above Paro town. Uma Punakha, above the Mo Chhu, has 10 villas and rooms. The two are often combined, with Thimphu in between.
What's included: COMO does not publish package inclusions on its Bhutan pages. We confirm the board basis and any included activities when we quote.
Best for: shorter trips focused on the western valleys, spa time and food.
Pemako and andBeyond
Pemako is a Bhutanese brand owned by the Tashi Group. Pemako Punakha opened in September 2023 with 21 tented villas, each with a private pool. Pemako Thimphu is the former Taj Tashi in central Thimphu, with 66 rooms, and is being renovated with completion planned by the end of 2027.
andBeyond Punakha River Lodge opened in September 2023, andBeyond's first lodge in Asia. It has six tented suites and two villas on the Mo Chhu, near Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten.
Both are single-valley options, so they are usually combined with Aman, Six Senses, COMO or a boutique hotel for Paro and Thimphu.
What About Rates?
None of these groups publish fixed nightly prices for Bhutan, and rates change by season, room type and length of stay. The SDF (US$100 per person per night, set until 31 August 2027) is always charged on top of the room rate, and international visitors need a licensed guide for the whole stay, which some lodge rates include and others don't. When you compare quotes, check:
- Are meals included, and are drinks?
- Are the guide, car and driver included, and from how many nights?
- Are monument entrance fees included?
- Is the SDF included or added on?
- Is a domestic flight (for example Bumthang–Paro) included?
We quote luxury trips with the lodges, guide, car, visa and SDF in one price. See our luxury Bhutan tours.
Sample 7-Day Lodge Route (Western Bhutan)
| Night | Valley | Example lodges |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Thimphu | Amankora Thimphu, Six Senses Thimphu or Pemako Thimphu |
| 3–4 | Punakha | Amankora Punakha, Six Senses Punakha, Uma Punakha, Pemako Punakha or andBeyond |
| 5–6 | Paro | Amankora Paro, Six Senses Paro or Uma Paro |
| Day 7 | Fly out from Paro |
Start in Thimphu (about an hour from the airport), cross Dochula Pass to Punakha, and finish in Paro so the Tiger's Nest hike comes after a few days at altitude.
Sample 10-Day Lodge Route (West and Central Bhutan)
| Night | Valley | Example lodges |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Paro | Amankora Paro or Six Senses Paro |
| 3–4 | Thimphu | Amankora Thimphu or Six Senses Thimphu |
| 5–6 | Punakha | Amankora Punakha, Six Senses Punakha or Uma Punakha |
| 7 | Gangtey | Amankora Gangtey or Six Senses Gangtey |
| 8–9 | Bumthang | Amankora Bumthang or Six Senses Bumthang |
| Day 10 | Fly Bumthang → Paro, connect home |
This route uses one brand from start to finish. The domestic flight from Bumthang saves a full day's drive back west; on Amankora stays of ten nights or more, Aman includes a one-way Paro–Bumthang flight. Allow an extra night in Paro if your international flight leaves early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amankora or Six Senses better in Bhutan?
It depends on what you value. Amankora's rate is all-inclusive of meals, house drinks and laundry, and longer stays add a guide, car and a domestic flight. Six Senses offers more variety between its five lodges and a strong wellness focus. Both cover Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang.
How many Aman lodges are there in Bhutan?
Five: Amankora Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang, with 76 suites in total. The circuit was completed in 2007.
How many Six Senses lodges are in Bhutan?
Five: Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang, opened from 2019.
Is the SDF included in luxury hotel rates in Bhutan?
Usually not in the room rate itself. The Sustainable Development Fee of US$100 per person per night is charged on top. Some lodge packages include SDF processing, and our tour prices include it.
Can you combine Aman, Six Senses and COMO on one trip?
Yes. Many travellers mix brands, for example COMO in Paro, Six Senses in Thimphu and Pemako or andBeyond in Punakha. We arrange the guide, car and transfers between them.
What is the best luxury hotel in Punakha?
Punakha has the most choice: Amankora Punakha, Six Senses Punakha, COMO Uma Punakha, Pemako Punakha and andBeyond Punakha River Lodge. Pemako and andBeyond suit travellers who want a resort feel; Amankora and Six Senses fit a multi-lodge circuit.