Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) is delighted to welcome its very first member hotel in the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Perched above the mystical Gangtey (Phobjikha) Valley with sweeping views of towering mountains above and the valley floor dotted with traditional farmhouses and the occasional yak, multi-award-winning Gangtey Lodge delivers a genuine and authentic experience in one of the world’s most undiscovered destinations.
Designed in harmony with the local village and its famous 17th-century monastery, the Gangtey Lodge resembles a traditional farmhouse with its Bhutanese-style pitched roofs and arched window frames. The main lodge captures the vibrancy of Bhutanese artwork and monastic design, accented by the murals and carvings created by local artists and masons reflecting images and landscapes from the valley. Its 12 beautifully appointed guest rooms, each with their own sweeping views of the valley below, a cozy fireplace and spacious private bathroom, reflect Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage with warm fabrics and earthy red and yellow furnishings. National styles are complemented with international luxuries such as slate underfloor heating, Swedish log-burning stoves, and English roll-top baths, ensuring a toasty viewing platform even when a winter mist rolls through the valley. The lodge is very eco-friendly, designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding landscape. Local, recycled and eco-friendly materials were used in construction, the building designed for maximum energy efficiency, wastewater is recycled and food waste is composted.
Mark Wong, Vice President Asia Pacific of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, said “The hotel’s philosophy to create amazing experiences that have a positive impact on their local communities and enable travelers to make connections physically, spiritually and emotionally is totally in line with SLH’s vision of a future where people explore the world with intention, experience its intensity and protect its integrity. We are very pleased to welcome Gangtey Lodge to the SLH brand.”
Activities are endless in the valley whether finding spirituality through morning prayers at the Shedra (Monks College), meditation class with the Lama at the 17th century Gangtey Goenpa (monastery), or spending the day at the neighborhood farm, engaging in a game of archery and darts (Bhutan’s national sports) or venturing further into the valley on foot or mountain bike, adventure beckons into an environment unchanged for centuries. During winter months of October to March, guests are treated to views of one of the world’s rarest migratory birds – the Black-necked Crane. After a day’s of activities, indulge in “Dotsho“, a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath which uses heated river rocks and herbs from the surrounding Bhutanese forests to release curative powers both for the body and mind.
Gangtey Lodge owner Khin Omar Win said “We are thrilled to be the first and only hotel in Bhutan for Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and joining the SLH family feels like the perfect partnership in a portfolio of so many remarkable hotels.
At Gangtey Lodge we seek to offer immersive and one-of-a-kind experiences with the highest standards of genuine hospitality, so we see much synergy with the brand’s core values. We look forward to welcoming SLH’s independently-minded guests to our lodge and sharing with them about the culture of this spiritual kingdom.”
