Spirit Sanctuary is located high in the beautiful Neyphu valley in Paro, where the beauty, peace and tranquillity hits you instantly.

Architecturally, it’s both elegant and simple with open spaces, stunning views and lovely seating areas.

This resort is designed to meet, and nurture all your needs in the one place. It has everything you need for a revitalising retreat.

Upon arrival, we headed straight to the spa where we consulted with the resident traditional doctor for our recommended treatment plan during our stay. This is something that all guests are provided, and we highly recommend it.

He was spot on with identifying our ailments (all with the taking of our pulse) and recommended an amazing full body massage, moxibustion and herbal teas, which was the rest of the day taken care of. Followed by a rest in our open and comfortable rooms, then dinner. Really there is no need to go anywhere!

The check-in process was effortless and more of a welcoming ritual by staff and management.

The rooms

The rooms are modern and provide a spectacular view over the Neyphu Valley and the Eutok Goenpa monastery.

There are 24-rooms all up: 12 balcony and 12 terrace rooms.

The balcony rooms have 46 square metres of floor space and an eight-square-metre balcony, along with a sitting area with a sofa and comfortable chair.

The terrace rooms have 54 square metres of floor space and an eight-square-metre terrace, as well as a sitting area with a sofa and comfortable chair, a dinner table with two chairs and a work desk.

King or twin bed configurations are possible in either room.

All rooms have outdoor furniture, and given the views is a great place to sit to read or contemplate in peace and privacy.

The bathroom amenities are locally made, with zero plastic anywhere, even the toothbrush and toothpaste are made from sustainable materials. You get to choose your own scented soap, that is locally made when you first arrive at the Spirit Sanctuary.

Dining

Now let us make this very clear, the food is to die for! Each meal is a surprise and delight situation, with no menu, but a daily chef’s special degustation feast.

All dietary needs are taken into account and the presentation of each of the meals is a creative sensation, in taste, variety and visual appeal.

Some features worth noting include:

• Farm-to-table whenever possible. The sanctuary has its own greenhouse and vegetable/herb garden and uses products from the local community.
• No fixed menus, you enjoy a different chef’s special every day.
• No fixed times, you can eat meals at the time of your choosing.
• All meals take into account any dietary requirements that you might have, including any dietary advice given by the traditional medicine doctors.
• You can eat in the restaurant, or on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace, or in their room or on their room’s balcony or terrace.
• Snacks on request throughout the day.
• Complimentary picnics.
• Alcohol is discouraged due to a focus on wellness
• We got a snack pack for our hike to Tigers Nest Monastery

Other features

• Wellbeing services: consultations with Bhutanese traditional medicine doctors, traditional medicine treatments from the doctors and well-being therapists, herbal compression, hot oil compression, moxibustion, herbal jacuzzi, hot stone bath, Ku Nye massages and beauty treatments.
• Wellbeing facilities: lounge area with comfortable chairs, six treatment rooms, two jacuzzis, two hot stone baths, saunas and steam rooms (M/F), indoor heated pool with outdoor scenic terrace with deck chairs, yoga and meditation room,
• Nutritious and locally sourced farm-to-table restaurant is a highlight with open kitchen, bar, family dining table, tea bar and outdoor scenic terrace with fireplace
• Classes: pottery in the art studio, cooking with the chefs, yoga, meditation, traditional Bhutanese sports (darts and archery).
• Multi-purpose lounge area and conference room (up to 50 participants).
• Free WiFi throughout the sanctuary.

Verdict: 10/10

Spirit Sanctuary’s unique offering is that it classifies itself as a wellbeing-inclusive resort: not only are all meals, snacks, drinks (excl. alcohol) included in the room rate, guests also have access to all the wellness facilities and services, as well as yoga and meditation sessions, pottery and cooking classes, even laundry and hiking boot cleaning is included.

Given all of this, it really is great value for money in the five-star luxury category in Bhutan.

Spirit Sanctuary specialises in Bhutanese traditional medicine, with in-house traditional medicine doctors, as well as a culinary concept focused on creating unforgettable personalised meals. Staff are always attentive, friendly and prompt.

Its high-quality, nutritious and creative food, along with its spacious and parred-back surrounds, support an opportunity to completely transform your mind, body and spirit into a state of contentment and bliss.

The Sanctuary’s peaceful and calm ambience combined with meditation, rejuvenating spa therapies and a hike to Bhutan’s famous Tiger Nest Temple will inspire you to a heightened sense of wellness and spirit wholeness.

To find out more, email sales@bhutanspiritsanctuary.com. Our itinerary for this trip to Bhutan was organised by andbeyond travel.