Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa

Naksel is located on a ridge above the Paro Valley, and you get there by driving along a bumpy dirt road past apple orchards, potato fields and rice paddies. When you arrive into the village of Ngoba, turn back and you will see the shimmering snow-clad peak of Jumolhari popping up above the foothills with the Tigers Nest Monastery in the foreground – quite the view! The architecture is very Bhutanese, with a main building surrounded by various cottages containing more rooms. Local ornate wooden carvings and traditional windows really make you feel like you are in Bhutan. In the main house, you will find the restaurant and bar and a few of the rooms. Move into the grounds and you will find the spa, offering a range of treatments and a welcome relief after walking up Tigers Nest Monastery.

The pine-clad rooms are tastefully furnished featuring Bhutanese rugs and local artwork, underfloor heating in the bathrooms, excellent views, flatscreen TVs and minibars. You get more space as you go up through the various room categories, with the addition of bathtubs. Our pick of the rooms are the Deluxe Rooms in the cottages which have a nice balcony overlooking the mountains.