Punakha, Bhutan

Accommodation at this simple but homely hotel opposite Wangdue town comes in spacious, chalet-style rooms with polished wood floors and large windows. Some benefit from pillared verandas facing the valley, where you can relax on wicker chairs as the jade-coloured waters of the Puna Tsang Chhu river tumble south from the Punakha confluence. The buildings are modern, but made using traditional Bhutanese mud bricks, ensuring the rooms inside stay cool in summer and cosy in winter. Their interiors won’t win any design prizes, but are spotless and well maintained, with generous sized beds and comfy mattresses.