Dewachen

If you are looking for something very Bhutanese in style, then Dewachen might well be your answer. It reflects the traditional farmhouse architecture that you will see all around you as you experience a tour of Bhutan. It won’t win any awards in terms of luxury accommodation, but its simplicity is its main charm. It is located in Tabiting village, very close to the black-neck crane centre and is positioned on a ridge overlooking the valley below where the cranes congregate from late October to March and about 3 kilometres from Gangtey Goenpa Monastery. The rooms are either in the old wing or the new wing, and both have fantastic views over the valley. Rooms are simple, yet comfortably furnished with wood panelling, en suite bathrooms and wood-burning Bukhari to keep you warm in the colder months (the elevation is 2900 metres). Don’t expect much else such as TVs, minibar or room service – the beds are very comfortable and is perfectly acceptable for a night or twos rest. At night they even put in toasty hot water bottles. At the centre of the grounds, you find the dining room, serving up traditional buffet-style Bhutanese meals, with a well-stocked bar, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the valley. The electricity can be a little temperamental, along with the lighting so it’s worth bringing a torch.