Bhutan: A Journey Inward with Louk Lennaerts

When Louk Lennaerts first set foot in Bhutan in 2013, he had no idea the journey would change the course of his life. At the time, Bhutan was an unknown, almost mystical destination to him — a place he knew only faintly from a documentary his son had once mentioned. Yet, the moment he stepped off the plane, he felt it: a profound stillness, a sense of tranquility unlike anything he had experienced in his two decades living and working in Vietnam.

When Louk Lennaerts first set foot in Bhutan in 2013, he had no idea the journey would change the course of his life. At the time, Bhutan was an unknown, almost mystical destination to him — a place he knew only faintly from a documentary his son had once mentioned. Yet, the moment he stepped off the plane, he felt it: a profound stillness, a sense of tranquility unlike anything he had experienced in his two decades living and working in Vietnam.

Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary

That feeling planted the seed for what would become the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary — a place not built for tourists chasing bucket lists, but for travellers searching for something far deeper: themselves.

Louk’s path to Bhutan wasn’t straightforward. His life has been a series of experiments in redefining hospitality. In Vietnam, he co-created pioneering wellness concepts that challenged conventional ideas of travel. He saw, time and again, that guests didn’t necessarily know what they were seeking until they experienced it. Give them the gift of stillness, of care, of daily wellness woven naturally into their stay — and transformation would happen almost effortlessly. Faces softened, couples reconnected, stressed minds quieted.

Bhutan felt like the natural next step, though Louk insists it wasn’t planned. “I believe in flow,” he told me. “Every step in my life had to happen to bring me here. Bhutan was not on my list — it was a gift.”

And perhaps that is the essence of the Sanctuary itself: a gift. Nestled in the Paro Valley, opposite a monastery long known for its healing energy, the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary feels as if it has always belonged there. Built in harmony with the land and Bhutanese tradition, it carries the quiet strength of a fortress, softened by the warmth of a family project — Louk designed it with his eldest son.

But more than the architecture, it is the philosophy that makes this place extraordinary. On arrival, guests don’t face the usual check-in desk or a barrage of paperwork. Instead, they are welcomed like family. Every stay begins with a consultation with traditional Bhutanese doctors, who guide each guest through treatments, rituals, and practices rooted in centuries of wisdom. Wellness here is not an indulgence; it is an invitation to pause, to breathe, to listen inward.

And this is what Louk hopes travellers will understand: Bhutan is not a place to “see everything.” It is a place to feel. “Travel is no longer about how many monuments you visit,” he explained. “It’s about sitting quietly on a terrace, looking out at the valley, and rediscovering yourself.”

Many guests arrive with packed itineraries, determined to tick off temples, treks, and cultural sites. Yet time and again, Louk has watched them soften into stillness. By day three, the urgency fades. They linger over long meals, embrace daily treatments, wander slowly with guides who connect them to farmers and monks, and perhaps most importantly — they give themselves permission not to do.

This shift, Louk believes, is the real magic of Bhutan. “It’s not about the photos you take home. It’s the feeling you carry back with you. The memory of quiet, of inner clarity, of being cared for. That’s what lasts.”

Often travel is about speed, lists, and comparison, Louk’s vision feels almost radical. To journey not outward, but inward. To find, in the silence of Bhutan’s valleys and the generosity of its people, a mirror for your own wellbeing.

The Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary is more than a hotel. It is an invitation to rethink what travel can be — a sanctuary for the soul.

Bhutan’s Only All-Inclusive Wellness Retreat

Perched in the serene Neyphu Valley, just 15 minutes from Paro International Airport, Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary offers an immersive journey into holistic healing, balance, and renewal.

Here, every stay begins with a personal consultation with traditional Bhutanese doctors, followed by a curated wellness programme. Guests enjoy daily yoga, meditation, herbal treatments, hot stone baths, and therapeutic bodywork—all seamlessly included.

The Sanctuary’s philosophy is simple: remove stress, invite stillness, and create space for true transformation. With just 24 intimate rooms, nourishing multi-course dining, and uninterrupted mountain views, this is a rare chance to experience Bhutan not as a tourist, but as a seeker.

Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and rediscover yourself in the Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Travel: Drukair and Bhutan Airlines.

DISCOVER: bhutanspiritsanctuary.com