This little hotel is situated in a pretty orchard on a ridge on the edge of Jakar overlooking the Chamkhar Chu, Jakar Dzong and the valley. In the 1970s the old house served as the headquarters of the Dairy and Forestry Project and was often visited by Swiss project workers so it later became known as the ‘Swiss Guesthouse’.
New buildings have since been added, with the last construction completed in 2009 to provide 10 simple wood panelled guest rooms with attached shower room. In common with most standard accommodation in Bhutan your stay here will be fairly rustic, but the guest house is still more charming than some other options. In this rural area the power supply can be erratic and the rooms can be chilly in winter. The owner trained as a cheese maker in Swizterland so you can expect the best cheese and dairy produce from the kitchen as well as home-made beer and spring water straight from the tap. Western dishes are the norm here, and can make a welcome change to the usual fare, but Bhutanese specialities can be made on request.
Simple 10 room guesthouse with wood panelled rooms and en-suite shower room
Four valleys make up the Bumthang region of Central Bhutan; Chumney, Cheokhor, Tang and Ura range in altitude from 2600-4000m (8530-13125ft) and are reached from the west by crossing the Yotung La pass, marked with a Tibetan chorten and prayer flags blowing in the wind. Both Chumney and Cheokhor are agricultural valleys while the remoter Tang and Ura depend on yak and sheep breeding in addition to cropping potatoes. Many of the houses are sturdy little stone buildings and the whole region has more of a medieval feel than the settlements to the east and west. Read more?
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Self-isolation has helped Bhutan preserve its unique culture of timeless traditions and to protect its pristine environment of sacred mountains, fast flowing rivers and over 5000 species of plants. This mystical Himalayan kingdom only opened its doors to tourism in the 1980’s and continuously strives to maintain its cultural identity by resisting western influences. Read more?
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Andrea Hulme joins Natural High with a wealth of knowledge, first-hand experience and love of the Indian Subcontinent gained from more than 15 years living, working, volunteering and travelling in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.