Aman Unveils Major Wellness Upgrades at Two Bhutan Lodges

Luxury hospitality brand Aman is preparing to unveil a new chapter for its Bhutan circuit, with two of its signature lodges set to reopen following a significant wellness-focused refurbishment.

The renovations at Amankora Paro and Amankora Punakha mark one of the most substantial upgrades to the collection in recent years, reinforcing Bhutan’s growing appeal as a destination for travellers seeking immersive wellness experiences alongside cultural discovery.

Aman first entered Bhutan more than two decades ago as the country’s first international luxury hospitality brand, establishing a network of lodges across five valleys that has become one of the kingdom’s most exclusive travel experiences.

Among the most notable additions is a new Aman Signature Spa House at Amankora Paro, designed by Kerry Hill Architects and set within the property’s pine forest.

The standalone wellness retreat features a private hammam steam room, treatment rooms, relaxation areas, hot and cold bathing facilities and an outdoor pool designed to create a secluded spa experience for individuals and couples.

The Paro lodge has also introduced a riverside banya sauna inspired by Eastern European and Scandinavian traditions. Surrounded by forest and overlooking the river, the experience combines heat therapy, cold-water immersion and traditional venik massage rituals.

Further wellness enhancements include upgraded treatment rooms, refreshed spa facilities and a new yoga pavilion overlooking the valley landscape.

Guest accommodation has also been comprehensively updated.

All 24 suites at Amankora Paro have undergone refurbishment, including new timber finishes, upgraded climate-control systems, enhanced lighting, and elevated in-room amenities. Communal spaces, including the lounge, dining room and library, have also been redesigned.

In Punakha Valley, Amankora’s lodge, centred around a restored 300-year-old farmhouse, has similarly received extensive upgrades. The property’s 12 suites have been refreshed with new interiors and technology while preserving the building’s historic character.

The spa has been expanded to include hydrotherapy facilities such as a steam room, Jacuzzi, cold plunge, bucket shower and relaxation lounge, alongside upgraded treatment rooms and yoga spaces.

Additional changes include a new private dining room within the historic farmhouse and redesigned communal areas intended to offer greater privacy and a stronger connection to the property’s heritage. The farmhouse’s original altar room remains intact, with a resident monk continuing to perform traditional Buddhist ceremonies and blessings.

The renewed lodges are scheduled to reopen on 15 September 2026, further strengthening Bhutan’s reputation as one of the world’s most sought-after luxury wellness destinations.

Aman has named its first Maldives destination Amanolu, setting the stage for a 2028 opening in the comparatively secluded Vaavu Atoll.

The name combines Aman—Sanskrit for peace—with “Olu”, inspired by the water lily. It is a fitting identity for a project intended to extend the brand’s restrained approach to luxury across a private-island setting.

Current plans describe a 52-key resort and 16 Aman Residences. The residential proposition is extraordinary even by Maldives standards: each five-bedroom home is expected to occupy its own private island, with a 25-metre swimming pool and private jetty.

The resort is also expected to devote an entire island to wellness. That physical separation could allow treatments, movement and restoration programs to operate away from the social energy of the main resort, although the exact facilities and practitioner program should be confirmed as the opening approaches.

Vaavu Atoll offers a different context from the archipelago’s more intensively developed resort regions. Its appeal rests on marine environment, privacy and the sensation of remoteness. Access, transfer times and seasonal conditions will therefore form an important part of the guest experience.

For prospective residence owners, the romance of a private island comes with a demanding operational model. Marine infrastructure, utilities, staffing, maintenance, insurance, management fees and resale provisions require close scrutiny. Ownership structure and local legal rights should be assessed with specialist advisers.

Amanolu also enters a competitive field. The Maldives already contains some of the world’s most ambitious resorts, so novelty cannot rest on an overwater villa alone. Aman’s opportunity is to translate its signature privacy, spatial calm and service into a destination where the physical landscape is already spectacular.

With opening still two years away, design, pricing, booking dates and residence availability may change. For now, Amanolu’s most compelling promise is radical separation: fewer keys, a dedicated wellness island and residences that turn the idea of a private island from marketing language into a literal address.

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Resort: Amanolu

Location: Vaavu Atoll, Maldives

Expected opening: 2028

Resort scale: 52 keys

Residences: 16 private homes

Residence concept: Five bedrooms, 25-metre pool and private jetty; each reportedly on its own island

Wellness: Dedicated island planned

Aman Unveils Major Wellness Upgrades at Two Bhutan Lodges

Luxury hotel group Aman will reopen its Paro and Punakha lodges in Bhutan this September following an extensive renovation centred on wellness, guest comfort and cultural preservation.

Opening in 2028, Amanolu is planned as a 52-key resort with 16 private residences in the Vaavu Atoll, including five-bedroom homes occupying individual islands.

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