Touring this Himalayan kingdom with Aman, Six Senses or COMO – a (price) comparison:

If you think about traveling Bhutan in style, you might have come across the one or other luxury hotel brand that offers private guided tours in this country. The most known name in this context is probably Aman Bhutan, yet also Six Senses Bhutan might have caught your attention. There is one more, COMO Bhutan, which my husband and I chose for exploring this fascinating Himalayan kingdom. Originally, our trip should have taken place in spring 2020 yet we had to postpone it until spring 2023 – because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Find in the following an overview how the three big players in Bhutan’s luxury travel segment compare to each other, also price wise.

Before delving into the topic, a quick look at the blogposts that I have already done about Bhutan and what still follows in this respect.

My mini-series about Bhutan travel

A travel guide made the start, followed by the perfect 9-day-itinerary in Buthan’s west, the country’s heartland. This very post shall be about what the three luxury hotel brand of Aman, Six Senses and COMO Pura have in store for discerning travelers who plan to travel The Land of the Thunder dragon. Then I will of course inform about how our journey with our choice of hotel (COMO) was. And finally in a post to come, there will be information about possible pre- and post-Bhutan stays as it is usually not possible to fly in directly from a more distant country.

Bhutan travel in general

Already before the Covid-19 pandemic, Bhutan had a reputation of being an expensive travel destination. Its motto always was “high value, low impact”, and this meant great benefits for travelers but also high revenues from tourism without causing too much damage by it.

While this certainly is a good stance in view of the overtourism in many popular places, it did not stop there. When the country reopened to tourism in September 2022 after the pandemic, a major overhaul of its already strict tourism regulation came into effect. For details, refer to my travel guide. In short, foreign travelers are now charged a 200 US$ fee per person per day for sustainable development (SDF)!

It goes without saying that this pricing makes a trip to Druk Yul unaffordable for most travelers. And this might be true for many well-heeled ones too. I am not sure whether my husband and I would have come to Bhutan if we had to pay 3,600 US$ for just spending nine days here. Fortunately, we had an “old booking” (pre-pandemic), so we did not fall under this new travel rule.

In this context, you also have to consider that before the pandemic more than 70% of the tourists were Indian residents. And this country is exempt from this tourist fee. So, you cannot help but asking yourself why the group that makes the most impact should not contribute their part too. But it is complicated, Bhutan depends on India in many areas.

After having established that a Buthan trip is going to cost you a lot, now to travel arrangements here (private guided tour) by a luxury hotel brand.

Bhutan travel plans set by luxury hotels (Aman, Six Senses & COMO)

As hinted, three international luxury hotel brands have ready made – and also bespoke – travel arrangements for Bhutan on offer. This is about Aman Bhutan, Six Senses Bhutan and COMO Bhutan.

Competitor comparison at the time of our booking

When my husband and I booked our Bhutan journey about four years ago (for spring 2020), we opted for COMO. This because we knew and liked the luxury hotel brand from stays at other locations (my posts: London, Miami Beach). And we were in favor of their itinerary as it offered lots of opportunities to explore the Land of the Thunder dragon by walking.

Of course we had also checked out its competitors, Aman and SixSenses. Yet, the latter was still completing their market entry (first lodges in 2018, opening Gangtey and Bumthang branches in 2019). And we were not overly inclined to play guinea pigs. Although, I have to admit, the individual properties looked – still do – absolutely stunning.

As to Aman, we were tempted to book with them, yet the price tag was higher (nine nights costed about 20,000 US$ for two persons, COMO was priced at 13,351 US$). In this context I have to mention that Aman scored better – still does – in several aspects. Yet, you have to weigh it up.

How the big three – Aman, Six Senses & COMO – compare to each other

As mentioned, my husband and I did not have to pay the new tourist fee (SDF: 400 US$ for two per day) on our recent Bhutan stay (because of our “old booking”). Once back home, I was wondering how much a trip would cost in 2023 in case of a “new booking”. Thus, I did the math for all the three players in the luxury segment, i.e. Aman, Six Senses and COMO.

Before it is about money, I want to have a closer look at the threesome’s appearance in Bhutan. It goes without saying that I only have a closer insight of COMO, although we had the one or other look at Aman or Six Senses properties from far away.For this reason, I will refer to two bloggers who stayed at Aman Bhutan respectively Six Senses Bhutan.

I start with Aman, continue with Six Senses and end with COMO. From this threesome, Aman has the most transparent offer plus you can book their “journeys” (private guided tours) online. As to Six Senses, you can see room prices (full board, without SDF) online, yet not book them. When it comes to “journeys”, there are detailed descriptions, yet the pricing has to be enquired. COMO is yet another case. Room bookings are possible online, but only with half board (without SDF) . As to “journeys”, you can find a range of example ones online (with starter prices).

Aman Bhutan essentials

Aman Bhutan goes under the name of Amankora, which can be translated with “peaceful pilgrimage”. Together with COMO, it was a pioneer in terms of luxury travel in Bhutan. In 2004, these both high-end hotel brands opened their first properties in the Land of the Thunder Dragon, and this in Paro.

Through the years, Amankora grew to five hotels. Properties in Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey (Phobjikha) and Bumthang were added to the portfolio. All in all, 72 rooms are now available, from what you can conclude that the individual hotels are small.

Just as Amankora’s competitors, they offer a multi-destinations itinerary through the Kingdom of Bhutan. For stays of seven nights and more, a tailor-made travel plan is included in the room rate. It covers everything from accommodation, full board, private transport with a driver and guide, entrance fees to attractions, laundry plus one 60-minute spa treatment. Even house wines and spirits are included at Aman. And this makes a bit of a difference as wine is extremely expensive in Bhutan.

I will not go more into details, only two more remarks. All five lodges seem to share the same basic room layout and design. And only one property features a pool (Punakha). The least expensive room is already on the spacious side (from 52 sqm). And from what I read, they have a communal dining approach at Amankora. For more information, check out the post from a fellow blogger about his (pre-pandemic) stay at Aman Bhutan.

Six Senses Bhutan essentials

Six Senses was not exactly a pioneer in terms of Bhutan travel, as you know by now. They only started in 2018 and actually copied what Aman did before. They chose the same locations and kept their lodges at a similar size (five properties with 82 rooms).

Exactly as Aman and COMO, multi-destinations itineraries for exploring the Land of the Thunder Dragon as its fullest are available. And they include everything that was mentioned above under Aman. This except alcoholic beverages, yet the non-alcoholic ones are part of it (as to the massage and the laundry, I did not find any indications).

In terms of rooms, Six Senses Bhutan seems to feature the most luxurious ones of the threesome, at least from pictures. And of course they are also the newest (lodges opened in 2018/19). Plus, the least expensive room is also rather sizable (60 – 73 sqm). As to pools, two hotels have them. As far as dining is concerned, it does not look like they are into communal dining. If you care for more details, here are (pre-pandemic) posts from a fellow blogger about three properties (Paro, Thimphu, Punakha).

COMO essentials

In contrast to the competition, COMO only has two hotels, one in Paro (opened in 2004), the other in Punakha (opened in 2012). While the former has quite a number rooms (29 units) – it is actually the largest of all the threesome’s properties – , the latter is small (11 rooms). There is a general manager for both hotels, residing in Paro.

If you care for more destinations than two – highly recommended – , it seems that they partner up with other providers. In our tour – booked pre-pandemic – , they offered lodging for the Phobjikha (Gangtey) Valley, and this at the Gangtey Lodge. Currently, I could not find “our” itinerary online. Instead they have travel plans on offer where you stay at a fully serviced overnight camp in addition to their two locations.

COMO’s multi-destinations Bhutan itineraries include everything what Aman does with the exception of the laundry and the beverages. For both, you have to pay extra. As to the rooms, they are well-appointed, but of average size (the second least accommodation – Valley View – measures 32 sqm) and not recently updated. If you care for a pool, the Paro property has an indoor one. And dining takes place at a “normal” restaurant (no communal dining).

For more details about both COMO properties plus Gangtey Lodge, my next blogpost will go into this topic.

Price comparison for multi-destination Bhutan itineraries in 2023 at Aman, Six Senses & COMO 

It is no easy thing to do a price comparison for the three big players regarding their offers for multi-day travel plans in Bhutan. If you decide to base it on online research only, you cannot help including some estimates. In case you do want more specific indications, you have to start an enquiry with the hotel in question. This is especially true for Six Senses, but partly also for COMO. As to Aman, I must sing my praises for their rates transparency!

Find in the following what I found out price wise about a tour in the low season (high season is from March to May and from September to November). Be advised, that it is about approximate starting prices, all in. That means accommodation, full board, beverages (alcoholic with Aman, non-alcoholic with Six Senses), driver and guide, entrance fees, laundry (Aman), one massage (Aman, COMO) are covered. I also added the SDF and the visa fee as well as service charge and sales tax, where necessary. But of course I cannot take any guarantee for the correctness of the information.

For a seven-night tour for two – subject to all the mentioned conditions – , expect to pay from 17,894 US$ with Aman, 14,055 US$ with Six Senses and 12,372 with COMO. Please take note, this is for the Bhutan “journey” only, without any flights. And the greatest uncertainty with the accuracy is in the case of Six Senses, as elaborated above.

Overall (price) comparison touring Bhutan with Aman, Six Senses and COMO

If you want to travel the Kingdom of Bhutan in style, you have to be ready to dig deep into your pockets. Should you ask the question whether it is worth the expense, there is no easy answer. The Land of the Thunder Dragon is for sure an exclusive, remote destination. You have to look far to find another desirable country that is lesser traveled than Druk Yul. And it definitely is a place of longing where you can make experiences that are second to none. And that is for once not an empty phrase!

Yet on the negative side, a Bhutan trip comes with a hefty price tag! And the new Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of 400 US$ for two per day does not help. Especially if you take into account that this Himalayan kingdom was already an expensive destination without it!

Looking back and forward as to my Bhutan posts

As to my previous Bhutan content, I started with a travel guide, continued with a perfect 9-day itinerary and now compared the three luxury hotel brands in Bhutan offering multi-destinations tours. Next on my blog, you will get insights how it is traveling the Land of the Thunder Dragon with COMO, one of the three big names in the country’s luxury travel sector. And the mini series will find an end with a fifth blogpost going into possible pre- and post-Bhutan stays, as there are usually no direct flights possible from further away.

Date of stay: April 2023

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