Paying it Forward in Bhutan
Luxury lodge guests are invited to give back to the local Himalayan community in A Quest for Happiness
Described as an isolated utopia, the fabled lost valley of Shangri-La has drawn visitors to the Himalayas for decades in search of paradise on earth. And now, somewhere just as enchanting has opened up, for adventurers and dreamers to fill their senses with. But also, where they can truly give something back.
From 23 September 2022, like the petals of a lily, Bhutan once more its borders to international travellers – and from December, the Annan group, owner of 34 luxury hotels and spa resorts in 20 global destinations, is offering stays at one of its stunning Himalayan lodges, the Amankora.
Branded ‘A Quest for Happiness’, the stay, in time-honoured fashion, aims to work on guests’ minds, bodies and spirits, “inviting guests to find their own pathway to contentment, through sustainable and responsible travel”. But, importantly, the kind of travel that also “uplifts local Bhutanese communities along the way”.
Inspired by the Himalayan Kingdom’s dedication to the happiness of its people, guests are encouraged to give back to these local communities, via “culturally transformative experiences and activities”. In turn, Amankora will reward them with complimentary nights, spa treatments and domestic flights.
The Quest for Happiness properly commences in Bhutan’s capital: using the 16-suite Lodge of Amankora Thimphu as a base, guests are invited to partake in a number of visits and activities to help the Bhutanese locals. These might include helping out at the Gawaling Happy Home, a shelter and orphanage for vulnerable women and children. Elsewhere, they can visit the Draktsho Vocational Training Centre, a learning institution for underprivileged children, where vocational courses in tailoring, pottery and carpentry can help promote financial independence later in life. Here, visitors can purchase the craftwork made by the young people – and, even better, help run workshops for them, given their own area of expertise, be it in design, marketing or e-commerce.
Meanwhile, at Amankora’s Punakha Lodge, visitors are invited to support residents at the first-ever retirement home for Buddhist monks, by offering them a meal or spending some valuable time with them; while at Amankora’s Gangtey Lodge, located on the fringes of a wildlife reserve, visitors may offer meals or warm clothing to the Vajrayana Buddhist hermits.
Sustainability is very much key to this journey: guests are also invited to assist in the producing of home-grown fruit and vegetables, while helping to clear and clean the hiking paths during pilgrimage to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro Bhutan. Other drives include assisting local communities in creating proper irrigation channels or engaging in the Drukgyel Central School’s agricultural programme, contributing farming or gardening tools, seeds, saplings. A Quest for Happiness ensures a transformative experience for visitors and locals.
A Quest for Happiness will be available from 1 December 2022 to 28 February 2023 and 1 May to 31 August 2023.