Uma by COMO, Paro

Think of world travel hot spots and it’s unlikely that Bhutan is the first destination to come to mind. There’s a good reason for that: this tiny Himalayan kingdom strictly limits the number of tourists allowed to enter each year at just a few thousand, fewer than pass through some individual hotels in the same span.

It’s nothing to do, then, with Bhutan’s relative desirability as a destination, as one look at Uma Paro confirms. The latest in Christina Ong’s series of spa resorts, Uma Paro takes advantage of a transcendently beautiful location and a strong indigenous Buddhist tradition in crafting a serene and possibly even spiritual hotel experience.

The main lodge building and nine outlying villas are set into 38 acres of wooded hillsides, with stunning views of the peaks above and the valleys below. Modernist architecture reigns, the clean lines of the Zen-inspired interiors looking right at home in the Himalayas. This is no monastery, though, and features luxury amenities like DVD players and heated towel racks alongside the in-room yoga mats.

It’s the Shambhala Spa, though, that’s the reason for this place’s existence. Four treatment rooms, his-and-hers steam rooms, a modern gym and an indoor pool with an outdoor sun deck look out over the pines, fields and streams of the valleys. The emphasis is less on beauty than on yoga, massage and Ayurvedic medicine, striving to offer wellness not just physical but spiritual as well. And the spiritual experience wouldn’t be complete without an excursion into Uma Paro’s serene mountain surroundings: Himalayan treks and local sightseeing tours are available, along with sporting activities like mountain biking and rafting.

How to get there:

Uma Paro is a 10 minute drive from Paro Airport. Flights are available from Kathmandu, Delhi, Bangkok and Calcutta but all flights at Paro are by visual flight rules only and are restricted to daytime hours.

Important Information about traveling to Bhutan:

The Kingdom of Bhutan requires every foreign national (except Indian nationals) to pay a Daily Government Royalty of $65 USD per person, per day and an FIT surcharge of $30 USD per person, per day. (FIT means "Free Independent Traveler")

Additionally, foreign nationals (except Indian nationals) are required to pay a non-refundable Visa fee of $20 USD per application (one name per application), and a $10 USD Tourism Development Fund Fee. It takes 2-3 weeks to complete the visa formalities. For more information or assistance, please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com.

• 29 Rooms
• Style: Modern Design
• Atmosphere: Secluded
• 2 Guest Reviews

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