Review: Six Senses Thimphu, Bhutan
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Guest Room
My room, 8, was located toward the rear of the property on the upper level of a two-story building.
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.
It was a bit nippy to sit out on the terrace (but such a delight after the heat in Kathmandu).
…and there was a wood-burning stove to warm up.
The bathroom included two large closets, an oversized bathtub, shower, water closet, and large basin with two sinks and plenty of counter space.
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.
There were also two snacks placed on the coffee table (popcorn and veggie chips) that were made on-site.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
I dined in Namkha for lunch, dinner, and breakfast.
Here’s the lunch menu:
A bread basket with salted butter and baba ghanoush was offered along with a strong shot of ginger.
My friend had Coca-Cola to drink, beautifully served as if it was wine, and I had a green drink.
My friend ordered minestrone soup and we shared a green salad and sweet potato side.
I was going to order trout, but there was a wagyu beef tenderloin special that I could not resist..and it was perfect!
We took coffee and dessert outside on the beuatiful Pavillion terrace.
I had a late dinner, which turned out to be another feast.
Dinner began with more delicious bread…
I ordered a risotto with beetroot, goat cheese, walnut, and arugula to start…it was, like lunch, perfect.
For the main course, I once again was pulled away from sampling the Bhutanese because of the lamb…so, so delicous.
Dinner concluded with an espresso macchiato, tiramisu, and chocolate ice cream.
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.
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.
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.
Bar
The bar is part of Namkha but has a beautiful seating area of its own.
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.