Following Bill Bensley-designed Shinta Mani Mustang being named number one in Robb Report’s 50 Greatest Luxury Hotels on Earth 2026, Pemako Punakha offers another opportunity to experience the renowned designer’s vision in the Himalayas.
Conceptually designed by landscape architect and interior designer Bill Bensley – and Brit List 2021 International Award winner – Pemako Punakha is home to Bhutan’s first luxury tented villas. The property is also the flagship of Pemako, the country’s first Bhutanese-owned and managed luxury hotel group.
The sense of discovery begins on arrival, as guests cross a bridge draped in fluttering prayer flags before receiving a traditional blessing from the resident Buddhist monk. From here, the hotel’s interiors provide a rich reflection of Bhutanese culture, incorporating the yellow, white and orange of the national flag, black tones reminiscent of traditional highland tents and furnishings inspired by ancient Dzong architecture – the distinctive fortress-monasteries found throughout the country.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Hotel Designs.
