South Asian Travel Awards 2026: Bhutan Wins 11 (Full List)
By Best of Bhutan Research Desk · October 9, 2026 · 7 min read
Bhutan won 11 awards at the South Asian Travel Awards 2026 (SATA), the regional tourism and hospitality awards held in the Maldives. BBS reported on 9 October that Bhutan was again named Best Leading Heritage Destination, and that seven Bhutanese hotels and resorts won 10 awards between them. Five of the seven are in Paro.
The ceremony was the 10th edition of the awards. Hotelier Maldives reported that the gala took place on the night of 8 October 2026, with entries from India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
In short: if you are choosing where to stay in Paro, Thimphu or Punakha, the list below is a useful shortlist of properties that a regional jury rated well this year. It is not a ranking of every hotel in Bhutan, and it does not replace checking location, room type and price for your own trip.
The Paro valley. Most of Bhutan's 2026 SATA winners are here, close to the country's international airport.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Event | 10th South Asian Travel Awards (SATA 2026) |
| Gala | Night of 8 October 2026, Maldives |
| Countries taking part | Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
| Bhutan's total | 11 awards |
| Destination award | Best Leading Heritage Destination (second year in a row) |
| Hotel awards | 10, shared by 7 hotels and resorts |
| Locations of winning hotels | Paro (5), Thimphu (1), Punakha (1) |
| Bhutan's shortlist | 7 hotels, chosen after a jury assessed 21 in June |
| Next year | Bhutan is in talks to host SATA 2027 (unconfirmed) |
Full List: Bhutan's South Asian Travel Awards 2026 Winners
These are the winners as reported by BBS. Award names follow the BBS report.
| Hotel or resort | Location | Award(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Paro Kaachi Grand | Paro | Leading City Hotel (above 40 rooms); Leading Airport Hotel |
| Zhiwaling Heritage | Paro | Leading Designer Hotel; Leading Heritage Hotel or Resort |
| Dumra Farm Resort | Punakha | Leading Boutique Resort; Leading Eco-Friendly Resort |
| Hotel Druk | Thimphu | Leading Food and Beverage Hotel |
| Dawa Hilltop by Heeton | Paro | Leading Hill Hotel/Resort |
| Le Méridien Paro, Riverfront | Paro | Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort |
| Rema Resort | Paro | Outstanding Young Hotelier |
| Bhutan (destination) | — | Best Leading Heritage Destination |
Three hotels won two awards each: Paro Kaachi Grand, Zhiwaling Heritage and Dumra Farm Resort.
SATA gives awards at gold and silver level. The BBS report does not give the level for each award. Zhiwaling Heritage's general manager, Rinzin Lhamo, told BBS the hotel received "two silver certificates" and is aiming for gold next year. For the other hotels, the level has not been reported, so we have not listed it.
The Outstanding Young Hotelier award won by Rema Resort is one of two individual categories added this year. According to Travel Talk Asia, the new categories were Outstanding Chef and Outstanding Young Hotelier (Under 40 Years). Rema Resort's owner, Tshering Phuentsho, spoke to BBS about the win.
How the Hotels Were Chosen
Two steps fed into the 2026 results:
- Jury assessment. BBS reported on 3 October that an international jury assessed 21 Bhutanese hotels and resorts in June, and seven, ranging from three-star to five-star, were invited to the awards.
- Public voting. Travel Talk Asia reported in May that SATA had opened online voting to travellers, tourism professionals and the industry, running until 10 July 2026, with almost a thousand nominations across the region.
The awards cover six countries, so Bhutanese hotels compete against properties in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Maldives in the same categories.
Repeat Winners From 2025
The 2025 awards were held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Daily Bhutan reported that 2025 was the first time Bhutan won Best Leading Heritage Destination, so the 2026 win makes it two years in a row.
Some hotels also won in both years:
| Hotel | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Zhiwaling Heritage | Gold, Heritage Hotel; Silver, Leading Eco-Friendly Resort | Leading Designer Hotel; Leading Heritage Hotel or Resort |
| Le Méridien Paro, Riverfront | Gold, Best Riverfront Resort | Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort |
| Hotel Druk, Thimphu | Leading City Hotel (above 40 rooms) | Leading Food and Beverage Hotel |
Other 2025 Bhutanese winners included Terma Linca Resort (spa and wellness, and conference) and Dralha Hotel (city hotel, below 40 rooms). They did not appear in the 2026 list reported by BBS.
Why the Awards Matter for Bhutan
Bhutan does not compete on price. Most international visitors pay the Sustainable Development Fee on top of their accommodation, so hotels need other ways to stand out. Regional awards give Bhutanese hotels a way to be seen next to much larger markets such as India and the Maldives.
Several hotel managers said this to BBS. Hotel Druk's manager, Ugyen Dorji, said the event helps introduce Bhutan to people across the region. Dumra Farm Resort's owner said the team plans to keep entering.
The heritage destination award fits how Bhutan presents itself to visitors: dzongs, monasteries and festivals still in daily use, rather than ruins or museums.
Bhutan may host next year. Kuenzang Thinley, who chairs the SATA programme in Bhutan, told BBS that Bhutan plans to host the awards in 2027 and that discussions are underway. No venue or date has been announced. Treat this as unconfirmed until the organisers say so.
What It Means for Travellers
Paro has the most award-winning choice. Five of the seven winners are in Paro. Paro is where most international flights land and where most itineraries start and end, often with the hike to Tiger's Nest on the last full day. Paro Kaachi Grand won the Leading Airport Hotel award, which is relevant if you have an early departure. Browse our Paro hotel listings or the Paro destination guide to compare locations.
Punakha has one winner. Dumra Farm Resort won both its awards in boutique and eco-friendly categories. Punakha is usually the second or third stop on a western Bhutan itinerary, for Punakha Dzong and the subtropical valley.
Thimphu's winner is for food. Hotel Druk in the capital won Leading Food and Beverage Hotel.
Use the list as a shortlist, not a verdict. Award categories are narrow. "Leading Riverfront" or "Leading Hill Resort" tells you about setting and style, not about whether the hotel suits your budget, your travel dates, or how much time you want to spend on the road. Ask your tour operator about room types, heating in winter, and distance to the sights you care about.
Awards do not change costs. Hotel prices are set by each property. The daily SDF is separate: The Bhutanese reported in September that the current USD 100 rate for most international visitors runs until August 2027, and that a review of the concession was being sent to the cabinet. For a full breakdown of what a trip costs, see our Bhutan vacation cost guide.
Looking for higher-end options? None of the big international luxury lodges appear in the 2026 SATA list. That does not mean they were judged and lost; we do not know which properties entered. Our guide to the best luxury hotels in Bhutan covers those separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the South Asian Travel Awards?
Annual awards for tourism and hospitality businesses in six countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. They have run since 2016. The 2026 edition was the 10th and was held in the Maldives.
How many awards did Bhutan win at SATA 2026?
Eleven. One destination award (Best Leading Heritage Destination) and 10 awards shared by seven hotels and resorts, according to BBS.
Which Bhutan hotels won at the South Asian Travel Awards 2026?
Paro Kaachi Grand, Zhiwaling Heritage, Dawa Hilltop by Heeton, Le Méridien Paro Riverfront and Rema Resort in Paro; Hotel Druk in Thimphu; and Dumra Farm Resort in Punakha.
Is Bhutan the best heritage destination in South Asia?
SATA named Bhutan Best Leading Heritage Destination in both 2025 and 2026. It is one regional award, decided by a jury and public voting, not an official ranking.
Will the South Asian Travel Awards be held in Bhutan in 2027?
Possibly. The Bhutan programme chair told BBS that Bhutan plans to host next year and talks are underway, but nothing has been confirmed.
Sources
- BBS, Bhutan wins 11 awards at South Asian Travel Awards, 9 October 2026
- BBS, Seven Bhutanese hotels to represent country at South Asian Travel Awards, 3 October 2026
- Hotelier Maldives, Kandooma Maldives named leading family resort at South Asian Travel Awards 2026, 9 October 2026 (gala date and participating countries)
- Travel Talk Asia, South Asian Travel Awards 2026 opens online voting, 7 May 2026
- Daily Bhutan, Bhutan honoured as Best Leading Heritage Destination at SATA 2025, 22 September 2025
- The Bhutanese, USD 100 SDF concession review recommendation to be submitted next week, September 2026
Spotted an error or have the gold/silver level for a 2026 award? Please get in touch and we will update this page.