Paro, Bhutan

Draped over a high ridge above Paro town, Como Uma Paro is a mere 15-minute transfer from the airport: you can step out of the arrival’s hall and be reclined in your rustic-luxe boutique room in a shake of a yak’s tail. Framed by giant pines, the panoramic views are the hotel’s USP, but its décor is no less serene and soothing. Expect luminous limewashed walls decorated with exquisite hand-painted Bhutanese murals, banquette window seats, polished wood floors and gorgeous stone terraces looking across the valley. Deep, free-standing, roll-top tubs dominate the Swedish-style bathrooms. The gourmet food is another highlight. A superbly talented team of chefs blend traditional Bhutanese delicacies such as fiddlehead ferns, forest mushrooms and buckwheat noodles with European and Indian twists to create memorable dishes that perfectly complement the views from the circular dining hall. And there’s an indulgent CocoShambala spa should you feel in need of pampering after a day exploring the nearby monasteries, forests and villages.