In 2025, MICHELIN — the guide best known for its restaurant stars — awarded hotels in Bhutan its Keys for the first time. Three Bhutanese properties made that first list. MICHELIN's current Bhutan selection now names five, and the distinction is starting to shape how travellers choose where to stay in the Kingdom.
Five hotels in Bhutan currently hold a MICHELIN Key. Amankora and Gangtey Lodge hold Two Keys. Six Senses Bhutan, Zhiwaling Heritage and Zhiwaling Ascent hold One Key each. No hotel in Bhutan holds Three Keys.
The Five Hotels at a Glance
Source: the MICHELIN Guide's Bhutan hotel listing, checked in September 2026. MICHELIN updates its selection periodically, so it's worth confirming on the guide itself before you book.
What a MICHELIN Key Actually Means
MICHELIN launched its Keys in 2024 as the hotel counterpart to its restaurant stars, and widened the selection to a global list in 2025 — the year Bhutan first appeared. Anonymous MICHELIN inspectors assess each hotel against five criteria: architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for price, and the hotel's contribution to its surroundings.
There are three tiers. One Key is a very special stay. Two Keys is an exceptional stay. Three Keys is an extraordinary one. Unlike a five-star rating, a Key can go to a small, characterful hotel as readily as to a grand resort — what counts is personality and sense of place, not just the thread count.
Two MICHELIN Keys
Amankora
Amankora is the name most closely tied to high-end travel in Bhutan: five small lodges in Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang that work as a linked journey across the country. They were designed by the late architect Kerry Hill. MICHELIN lists Amankora as a single entry, filed under Paro, with Two Keys — so the distinction belongs to the collection rather than to any one lodge. See Amankora on our Lodges page →
Gangtey Lodge
In the glacial Phobjikha Valley, Gangtey Lodge also holds Two Keys — notable for an independent lodge. It looks out over the valley and Gangtey Monastery, and it's the natural base for the Gangtey Nature Trail and, in winter, for the valley's black-necked cranes. See our Gangtey Lodge page →
One MICHELIN Key
Six Senses Bhutan
Six Senses Bhutan is, like Amankora, a collection of five lodges — in Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang — and MICHELIN lists it as one entry, filed under Thimphu. Its Punakha lodge, where a dining pavilion appears to float above an infinity pool, is one of the collection's most recognisable. See Six Senses on our Lodges page →
Zhiwaling Heritage
In the Paro Valley, not far from Tiger's Nest, Zhiwaling Heritage has 45 rooms and suites, hand-painted detailing and traditional Bhutanese architecture. Set on 12 acres, it describes itself as wholly Bhutanese-owned and staffed, and its buildings were handcrafted by local artisans.
Zhiwaling Ascent
The sister property, Zhiwaling Ascent, sits on a ridge above Thimphu with 20 rooms, a rooftop lounge, a yoga room and a small spa. It stands next door to the Royal Institute for Tourism and Hospitality, whose trainees gain experience in the hotel, and it describes itself as Bhutan's first contemporary concept hotel.
Choosing Between Them
All five are strong choices, but they suit different trips. If you want a single, seamless standard across several regions, Amankora and Six Senses are the two collections that let you do it — both also have lodges in Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang. If you want a night or two somewhere intimate and quiet, Gangtey Lodge in Phobjikha is hard to beat, particularly in crane season. And if you'd like a Bhutanese-owned base in Paro or Thimphu, the two Zhiwaling hotels are worth a look.
One caution: absence from the list isn't a verdict. The selection is new, it's small, and MICHELIN says its coverage is still expanding. Bhutan has other excellent places to stay, and you'll find the wider range on our Lodges page.
Where This Meets Your Itinerary
Several of our journeys already include Key-recognised stays. Our Bhutan Highlights Journey includes Amankora in Paro and Six Senses in Punakha. Our Best Bhutan Journey stays at Six Senses in Punakha and at Gangtey Lodge, and our Authentic Bhutan Tour adds Amankora in Bumthang.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many MICHELIN Key hotels are there in Bhutan?
Five, according to MICHELIN's current Bhutan listing: Amankora, Gangtey Lodge, Six Senses Bhutan, Zhiwaling Heritage and Zhiwaling Ascent.
Which hotels in Bhutan have two MICHELIN Keys?
Amankora and Gangtey Lodge each hold Two MICHELIN Keys, the highest distinction currently awarded to any hotel in Bhutan.
Does any hotel in Bhutan have three MICHELIN Keys?
No. MICHELIN's current listing shows no Three-Key hotels in Bhutan. Two hotels hold Two Keys and three hold One Key.
When did Bhutan first appear in the MICHELIN Key selection?
In 2025, when Gangtey Lodge, Amankora and Six Senses Bhutan were recognised. MICHELIN's current selection lists five Bhutanese hotels.
Are Amankora and Six Senses Bhutan single hotels?
No. Each is a collection of five lodges across Bhutan. MICHELIN lists Amankora as a single entry under Paro and Six Senses Bhutan as a single entry under Thimphu.
Can I stay at a MICHELIN Key hotel on a private journey with Ultra Dewa?
Amankora, Gangtey Lodge and Six Senses Bhutan all feature in our itineraries and on our Lodges page. Tell us where you would like to stay and we will build the journey around it.