The Story (Behind)

Although he had been living in Asia for more than 25 years, Louk Lennaerts never visited Bhutan until 2008, when a good friend invited him to visit the last Shangri-La on earth.
Never could he have imagined what would come from that sole invitation…

From the moment he arrived in Bhutan, Louk felt something special. At that time, it was just a sensation, but it soon grew into a deep sense of ´homecoming´. This was the place he had been looking for, the perfect place for his wellness dream. A place where wellness would not be an add-on, but an integral part of how people look at and engage with life.

For Louk, wellness is not limited to food, a spa, or the gym. In his view, wellness refers to a holistic view of one´s well-being. All aspects of life play a role, as a country´s culture, history, spirituality, tradition, and nature work together to create the most respectful environment for all human beings. A place where there is room for everybody, where everyone´s talents have the chance to develop and shine.

Bhutan became this place for Louk, and he wanted to share it.

So, he built the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, the first and still only wellness-inclusive 5-star luxury property in Bhutan. Not a hotel, not a resort, not a retreat, but a Sanctuary. 

A place built with respect for the natural environment and architectural traditions, embedded in the local farmers´ community and employing more than 80 Bhutanese. 

A place where guests can discover the essence of Bhutan in all its aspects and beauty.

All they need to bring is time and attention.

Time to let go of the (work) hassle at home, time to relax, time to sit and look around, to wonder, observe, and inhale. And then it will happen… they will experience it and feel it with all their senses: the wonder of Bhutan, where it all comes together.

When Louk introduced the wellness-inclusive concept of the Sanctuary, and the need for long stays to truly experience the essence of Bhutan, he was met with skepticism and doubt. That was 10 years ago…

The world has changed.
Nowadays, many people feel the need for slow and restorative travel, where they take home a feeling of inner wellness, energized by new rituals, a true understanding of a different culture, and maybe even some new friends.

From feedback from Sanctuary guests, we understood there was a need for different ways to travel in Bhutan. Besides traditional tours, where guests move from one valley to another and spend hardly more than a night in one place, there seemed to be a need for more personalized journeys with a different focus.

It’s not about how much you will see; it’s about what you will experience.

That brought us to Bhutan à la carte.

Based on our experiences and communication with our guests, we built a new model for travel in Bhutan. A model that starts with guests’ personal wishes and interests, rather than a map of Bhutan.

On our website, we provide a mix of experiences based around eight themes: culture, wellness, nature, food, arts & fashion, spirituality, social, and mindfulness.
Based on these choices, we develop a dream journey that starts with a night at the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary. This gives guests a soft landing in this overwhelmingly beautiful country. From there, it will be a journey into a different world, creating lifelong memories and a mindful impact on guests’ well-being.

We look forward to welcoming you to Bhutan.

Louk Lennaerts & the Bhutan à la Carte Team