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Home » Reviews » Hotel Reviews » Review: Six Senses Thimphu, Bhutan
BhutanHotel Reviews

Review: Six Senses Thimphu, Bhutan

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 22, 2024October 22, 2024 16 Comments

a room with a table and chairs and a view of the mountains

Do you remember that time you flew in a premium cabin for the first time and knew it would never be the same flying in economy class again? That was my experience after staying at the Six Senses in Thimphu, an uber-luxury hotel and resort in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

In This Post:

Toggle
  • Six Senses Thimphu Review
    • Check-In
    • Guest Room
    • Pool
    • Spa + Wellness
    • Fitness
    • Archery
    • Food + Drink
      • Namkha
      • Room Service
      • Bar
    • Service
    • CONCLUSION

Six Senses Thimphu Review

Ok, the rate was $1,600/night and I received no discount or blogger special. My friend spent three nights here…I spent one; not because the Le Meridien Thimphu was bad, but because I wanted to give it a try and see if Six Senses are worth the hype. The $1,600 includes a full board package but does not include alcohol, which is taxed at 100% in Bhutan.


Note: Six Senses partners with IHG Hotels & Resorts, but at 350,000 points per night, it is not a great redemption value.


Check-In

My guide, who worked for Six Senses, picked me up at the Le Meridien and drove me up the hill to the hotel. It’s quite a drive from town and once you’re here, you’re going to want to stay. The hotel brands itself as a “palace in the skies” and its an apt characterization.

a road with trees and a hill

a person standing on a road

a stone path with a white tower on the side

I was met outside by a gracious hostess and welcomed inside the “Pavillion,” where the floor-to-ceiling window with a beautiful panoramic view of the valley below was simply stunning.

a stone walkway with pillars and a door

a room with a window and a view of the mountains

a tripod in front of a large window

a telescope on a tripod overlooking a body of water

Check-in was simple: my passport was scanned, I tapped my card, and soon I was in a golf cart to my suite. The Pavilion was very spacious for such a boutique hotel and included ample seating and a separate library.

a room with large windows and furniture

a room with a fireplace and chairs

a room with a fireplace and chairs

a sign on a wall

a room with a table and chairs

a room with a long table and couches

That turned out to be the only time I used the golf cart..the room was quite a distance from the lobby, but the air was so fresh and pristine that I used every moment to walk outdoors.

a golf cart parked under a roof

a mountain with trees and buildings

a stone path with trees and a hill in the background

a path leading to a building

a tree on a hill

a stone path with trees and mountains in the background

a stone path leading to a building

a group of trees with mountains in the background

a landscape of mountains and clouds

a stone path leading to a house in a grassy field

Guest Room

My room, 8, was located toward the rear of the property on the upper level of a two-story building.

a two white buildings with a green lawn and trees

a sign on a brick wall

a white building with a wooden roof

a stone stairs leading up to a building

a wooden stairs in a house

a wooden door and bench in a white house

Wow, the room was remarkably beautiful. The colors, the wood, the accents, and especially the views and terrace.

There was a lovely sitting area, bedroom area (not in a separate room), large bathroom, and outdoor terrace.

a room with a view of mountains and a couch

a living room with a couch and a fireplace

a coffee table in a room with a couch and a large window

a desk with a lamp and a chair

a bedroom with a bed and a bench

a bedroom with wood ceiling and a bed

It was a bit nippy to sit out on the terrace (but such a delight after the heat in Kathmandu).

a balcony with a view of mountains and a city

a couch and table on a balcony

a landscape with mountains and trees

…and there was a wood-burning stove to warm up.

a wood stove with wood logs in it

The bathroom included two large closets, an oversized bathtub, shower, water closet, and large basin with two sinks and plenty of counter space.

a bathroom with a wood floor and a wood bench

a bathroom with two sinks and a heater

a bathtub in a bathroom

a closet with a door open

a shower with a shower head and soap dispenser

a shower with a light fixture and a window

a toilet in a bathroom

I loved the thoughtfully sourced coffee pods (delicious) and the three limes with a knife to garnish beverages…great little touches that show such high attention to detail. Non-alcoholic drinks in the minibar were complementary.

a cabinet with a mini fridge and bottles of alcohol

a coffee machine and a bottle on a shelf

a paper in a wooden box

a kitchen utensils and a knife on a wooden surface

a shelf with bottles of liquid and menu

a refrigerator with bottles of beer

a wooden drawer with wine glasses inside

a drawer with teacups and saucers

There were also two snacks placed on the coffee table (popcorn and veggie chips) that were made on-site.

a couple of glass jars with food on top

Bhutan uses types D, F, and G power plugs and sockets…bring your adapters along and hope for a British-style plug. The room also had USB-A ports and a Bluetooth speaker from Bose.

a red book on a wooden surface

Very cute: when you wanted your room to be serviced, you slid the horns on the door ornament out so the animal’s head came out. When you wanted privacy, you slide the animal’s head in.

a wooden wall mounted object with a bull carved into it
a wooden elephant on a wall

The bedding was excellent and I slept very soundly with the terrace door open ajar and plenty of fresh air.

Pool

There is so much beauty at this hotel, but perhaps the most beautiful part of the hotel was the indoor pool.

a building with a roof and trees and mountains in the background

a glass doors with a view of a pool and a deck

a pool inside a building with chairs and a view of mountains

a pool with chairs and a large window

a indoor pool with blue tiles

Spa + Wellness

The spa complex (open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm) includes a full-service spa with a wide range of beauty treatments plus steam room and sauna in the locker rooms.

a door to a building

a building with glass walls and a roof

a hallway with wood walls and a stone wall

a hallway with wood walls and a shelf

a wooden sauna with a railing

a shower with a stone bench

Full spa menu (.pdf)

I did enjoy a one-hour Abhyanga (warm oil) massage for $135 (price included 10% tax and 10% service charge) and wish it would have gone on for 10 hours…

Spa relaxation room:

a room with chairs and a table

a room with chairs and a table

chairs in a room with wood walls

a tray with tea cups and teapots on a wooden table

Fitness

A fitness center included soaring views of the valley and modern Life Fitness equipment (and I’m squarely in the Life Fitness camp versus TechnoGym). A free guided yoga was available each morning.

a group of treadmills in a room with large windows

exercise bikes in a room with a view of mountains in the distance

a gym with exercise equipment

a room with treadmills and exercise equipment

a room with a large rack of weights and exercise equipment

a table with bottles and objects on it
Nuts and bottled water. No plastic bottles at this property.

Archery

I never got around to trying it, but you can practice your archery skills in the large grassy area between guest rooms. Keep an eye out for the beautiful and frinedly hotel dog.

a landscape with mountains and trees

a group of flags in a field

a dog lying on the ground

Food + Drink

As I mentioned above, all food is included along with non-alcoholic drinks.

Namkha

The hotel’s main restaurant, Namkha, includes floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of Himalayan peaks and a beautiful atmosphere to enjoy a delicious meal. Many fruits and vegetables are from the hotel garden and the hotel offers both Bhutanese and international cuisine.

a room with a wood floor and a large window

a hallway with a wood floor and a wood floor

a room with a table and chairs

a room with a fireplace and chairs

a room with tables and chairs

  a room with a fireplace and chairs

a room with a large window and tables and chairs

a room with a table and chairs and a view of mountains

a room with a fireplace and tables

a patio with chairs and umbrellas by a lake

a pool of water with a couch and pillows

a building with a body of water and a dock with pillows

I dined in Namkha for lunch, dinner, and breakfast.

Here’s the lunch menu:

a paper with text on it

a menu on a table

A bread basket with salted butter and baba ghanoush was offered along with a strong shot of ginger.

a glass of water on a table

a plate of food and bread on a table

My friend had Coca-Cola to drink, beautifully served as if it was wine, and I had a green drink.

a woman pouring coffee into glasses

a glass of green juice on a table

My friend ordered minestrone soup and we shared a green salad and sweet potato side.

a bowl of soup with vegetables and a glass of green juice

a plate of salad on a table

a plate of food on a table

I was going to order trout, but there was a wagyu beef tenderloin special that I could not resist..and it was perfect!

a plate of food on a table

We took coffee and dessert outside on the beuatiful Pavillion terrace.

a bowl of ice cream on a plate

a mountain with trees and buildings

a fire pit on a stone patio with mountains in the background

a building with a pool of water

a building with a pool of water

I had a late dinner, which turned out to be another feast.

a menu on a table

a paper with text on it

Dinner began with more delicious bread…

a plate of food on a table

I ordered a risotto with beetroot, goat cheese, walnut, and arugula to start…it was, like lunch, perfect.

a plate of pink risotto with a goat cheese on top

a plate of pink risotto with a goat cheese on top

For the main course, I once again was pulled away from sampling the Bhutanese because of the lamb…so, so delicous.

a plate of food on a table

a plate of food with a cup of coffee and a basket

a plate of meat with vegetables

Dinner concluded with an espresso macchiato, tiramisu, and chocolate ice cream.

a cup of coffee on a saucer

a bowl of food on a table

a bowl of ice cream and a cracker

Dinner could not possibly have been better.

I returned for breakfast and was again very impressed.

Great coffee to start, along with fresh-squeezed orange juice, green juice, and another ginger boost.

a cup of coffee on a saucer with a spoon

two glasses of liquid on a table

I ordered a fruit dish, an omelet with herb, avocado, and gouda, a warm croissant, and a waffle. What a treat! Berries would have made the meal even better, but I understand those are quite difficult to source in Bhutan.

a hand holding a menu

a plate of fruit and a glass of juice on a table

a plate of food on a table

a plate of bacon on a table

a croissant in a basket

a waffles on a plate with fruit on a table

In short, the food is a delight here.

Room Service

I had a snack in my room between lunch and dinner that included fresh-squeezed orange juice and a cheese plate.

a table with plates of food and drinks

a glass bottle and a glass of orange juice on a table

a plate of cheese and grapes

Bar

The bar is part of Namkha but has a beautiful seating area of its own.

a room with a bar and chairs

a room with chairs and a table

a room with chairs and a table

a room with a round table and chairs

a wall with musical instruments on it

a shelf with bottles of alcohol

While I don’t have a menu to share, expect cocktails will run about $30 each.

Service

Expect impeccable service here: staff will learn your name immediately, be available when needed but out of site when not, and all staff communicate clearly and gracefully in English. The guide and driver also come as part of the rate (I’ll highlight them in a separate post) and were two very kind gentelmen.

CONCLUSION

So is this one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at? Oh, yes. In fact, it’s hard to determine whether I liked this one or The Brando more…

Look, it’s out of my league right now…except for a rare special splurge. Maybe one day, but not now. But if you can swing it, it’s a beautiful hotel with pristine views of the Thimphu Valley, lovely staff, delicious food, excellent amenities, and spacious rooms.

a building with lights on it

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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16 Comments

  1. Mick Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 7:21 am

    Lovely review. Looks superb.

    So what’s the benefit of visiting Bhutan over say Iceland or nz? Everyone loves it and I’d be keen for your rundown as to why exactly. Not many tourists?

    • Alert Reply
      October 22, 2024 at 8:31 am

      For myself , Buddhist chanting is delightfully relaxing , similar to Mozart or Rodgers and Hart .

      Takes my mind off of tribal Biblical or political conflict . Buddhist chanting would make Trump reticent and shy .

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 22, 2024 at 11:41 am

      @Mick: I love New Zealand and Iceland too, but there is something very specail almost Bhutan, almost like an oasis in the desert. The clean air, natural beauty, and greenery is available elswhere in the world, but there’s someting almost magical about this in South Asia. And yes, part of the draw is that it is empty. No traffic between cities and not much even in the cities. The hospitality was so warm and genuinely excellent and the people friendly and forthright. I know that”s also true for Kiwis, generally, but I would return tAo this place (and as a contrast, I see no need to return to the Maldives and now prefer French Polynesia).

  2. Greg Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 8:14 am

    The right comparison is to another outside the city property like the Postcard Dewa which also has stunning views.

    The concept of generic western pseudo michelin star / intl first class apps and mains while in the himalayas seems incongruent.

    Postcard runs 40% less a night though dinner not included so more like 30% less.

  3. Maryland Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 10:13 am

    Beyond beautiful. This a most enticing review that itself delivers a sense of peace. While I was disappointed you didn’t try the trout, the excellent menu , views and architecture indeed make it a must do. Thank you for this.

  4. Santastico Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 10:57 am

    This is the type of place where spending that money makes total sense. I looked at the Six Senses in Rome and think it is a waste of money since I don’t go to Rome to spend time inside a hotel.

  5. Michael Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 1:14 pm

    Matt,
    This has been on my list for a long time and likely booking for fall 2025. What were some of the reasons you selected Six Senses over Aman, Spirit Sanctuary (SLH), or One & Only? Thank you for a fantastic review.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 22, 2024 at 1:41 pm

      My friend chose this property so I chose it on that basis. But I was so happy to stay here, even for just one night.

      While my friend moved to the Six Senses in Paro (which I dined in, but will not review), I moved to Spirit Sanctuary, which I will review later this week.

  6. Aaron Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 2:16 pm

    The scenery looks amazing.

    Does the hotel offer any sort of private or guided hikes in the area?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 22, 2024 at 2:43 pm

      Not to my knowledge

  7. Mike Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 2:21 pm

    Did you also stay at the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary or just these two hotels? that was on points with Hyatt, now Hilton with SLH…Curious how you would compare the two if you stayed there..

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 22, 2024 at 2:31 pm

      I stayed at Spirit Sanctuary as well…review coming later this week.

  8. Tennen Reply
    October 22, 2024 at 5:02 pm

    @Matthew, what a great review! Those prices are insane (well, I guess not as much as the Brando), but at least the experience matches. I’ll also say that I appreciate how, unlike others, you usually/always disclose your paid/reward rates. You probably mention it somewhere, but do you ever accept comped or discounted stays?

  9. Ded Turbin Reply
    October 25, 2024 at 10:50 pm

    Does the $30 for the cocktail include the tax? Ie it’s $60 all-in?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 26, 2024 at 12:14 am

      Yes, tax/service included.

  10. Enjoy Fine Food Reply
    October 26, 2024 at 9:31 pm

    Nice review. Just right commentary.

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