Manas River Lodge
Lodging Details
Manas River Lodge features six spacious, air-conditioned riverfront bungalows, each with private en suite bathrooms, daily laundry services, air conditioning, and 24-hour electricity. Each room is set up with a comfortable queen bed, a desk and work area, A/C, ceiling fan, refrigerator, and plenty of storage for equipment and clothing. The lodge is equipped with reliable Starlink Wi-Fi, a full-service dining room, bar and lounge, and outdoor decks with panoramic views of the river valley. Guests enjoy a relaxed yet refined atmosphere with Bhutanese-inspired design, excellent cuisine, and warm local hospitality. Evenings at the lodge often include riverside cocktails, an outdoor fire pit, wildlife viewing, and conversations with guides and other guests. There is also a guest-friendly archery range (the national sport of Bhutan) and Khuru –a lively, social version of darts that’s played outdoors with wooden targets and heavy, hand-carved darts. One of the most unique characteristics of Manas River Lodge is that the operation directly supports nearby communities and is built around principles of low-impact tourism and local engagement.
Before and after your lodge stay, nights in Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha are included in all packages, with accommodations in comfortable boutique hotels. All programs are single occupancy throughout. For those seeking legitimate five-star hotels in Bhutan, upgrades are easily arranged for the front or back end of the lodge package, including stays at the Aman Hotel Amankora network and even the Six Senses Bhutan. Yellow Dog can fully customize pre- and post-trip itineraries to include cultural touring, additional trout fishing, or extended travel across Bhutan.
Food and Beverages
The culinary program at Manas River Lodge is exceptional – led by a Bhutanese chef who previously worked with the Aman Hotels Amankora collection. Breakfasts and dinners are cooked to order from a rotating menu blending continental fare with classic Bhutanese dishes. Expect vibrant flavors, spice, and creativity at every meal. Lunches are typically packed riverside picnics during fishing days, though anglers can occasionally return to the lodge for a mid-day break. On travel and cultural days in Paro or Thimphu, meals are enjoyed at select local restaurants highlighting regional specialties.
Typical Length of Stay
Manas River Lodge packages are 11 days in length, including time spend in Paro, Thimphu, and Panakha on the front and back end of the trip, and seven nights at the lodge. All packages usually include six full days of mahseer fishing. Lodge trips usually begin with your international arrival into Paro, with the first two days spent in Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha visiting some of the amazing cultural sites in the Kingdom (including the Tiger’s Nest monastery, the Punakha Dzong, and the world’s largest sitting Budha). Day three through nine of the lodge package consist of a full week spent at Manas River Lodge, with a return to the capital city of Thimphu on the afternoon of day ten. Note that all itineraries can be extended and customized to add trout fishing or see more of the country. Contact Yellow Dog for more details.
Non-Angling Activities & Options
Whether you are visiting the Kingdom to find inner peace amidst majestic mountains and serene rivers, or you’ve come to learn more about the country’s culture and Buddhist philosophies, Bhutan constantly delivers a sense of wonder. Wedged in the high Himalayan region between India and China, Bhutan existed completely undisturbed and largely unvisited for centuries, allowing unique traditions and ways of life to thrive. In fact, it was not until the mid-70s that the Kingdom first began to engage with the “modern world.” Today, arts, crafts, cultural events, and colorful celebrations showcase this remarkable country and the 700,000 Bhutanese people who collectively prioritize happiness above all else. In fact, the country makes “Gross National Happiness” a huge part of daily life – a measure of economic and moral progress that the country of Bhutan first introduced in the 1970s as an alternative to gross domestic product.
To complement the exciting fishing for Golden Mahseer, Chocolate Mahseer, brown trout, and snow trout, the line-ups of non-angling activities in Bhutan are endless. Options include visiting temples, museums and cultural sites in cities such as Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, and throughout the more rural areas of the country. You can trek, hike, and experience nature at its wildest, often surrounded by the awe-inspiring peaks of the Himalayas. Archery (the national sport), wildlife viewing, trekking, visiting festivals, whitewater rafting, and so much more are all possible, and sightseeing extensions and cultural tours can easily be added on to any fishing package. In addition to being home to large mammals such as the Asian elephant, tiger, red panda, Himalayan black bear, blue sheep, and snow leopard, Bhutan also features 783 unique bird species, more than 800 butterfly species, and upwards of 120 indigenous fish species.
Royal Manas National Park
The lodge sits on the banks of the Mangde Chhu River inside Bhutan’s oldest and most celebrated protected area, Royal Manas National Park – a 400-square-mile reserve known as the “conservation showpiece of the Kingdom.” The park connects via biological corridors to multiple other preserves across Bhutan and directly adjoins India’s famed Manas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For anglers and naturalists alike, it’s hard to imagine a more unique setting to fish and explore.
Internet / Communications
Bhutan’s infrastructure has improved dramatically, with strong Wi-Fi in all hotels and surprising cell coverage even in rural areas. Upon arrival, guests are set up with a local e-SIM card (included on your trip package), making phone and data communication seamless throughout the trip. At the lodge, Starlink internet ensures reliable, high-speed coverage for messaging, calls, and file uploads.
