village · Paro, Bhutan
Farmhouse dinner and a hot stone bath
The Bhutanese hot stone bath, dotsho, is simple. River stones are heated in a wood fire for several hours until red hot, then lowered with tongs into a chute at one end of a wooden tub filled with water. They hiss, crack and release heat and minerals into the water. Leaves of artemisia, known locally as khempa, are often added. A wooden screen stops the stones from touching you. Bhutanese use it to ease aching joints and tiredness, and after a 6-hour hike most visitors agree.
Many farmhouses in the Paro valley offer it, usually in a small wooden shed beside the house. You soak for 30–60 minutes and call out when you want another stone. Afterwards the family serves dinner in the kitchen or the main room: red rice, ema datshi, a vegetable, perhaps pork or chicken, butter tea and a glass of ara, the home-distilled spirit, if you want it. Guests sit on cushions on the floor.
Book through your guide a day ahead so the fire is lit on time. Expect ₹1,500–3,000 per person for bath and dinner, indicative 2026; hotels charge more for the same thing. Bring a towel and swimwear, and remove jewellery. Pregnant women and anyone with high blood pressure or heart conditions should skip the bath or keep it short and warm rather than hot.
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How much is a hot stone bath in Paro
At a farmhouse, about ₹1,500–3,000 per person including dinner, indicative 2026. Hotel spas charge more, often ₹3,000–6,000 for the bath alone. Book a day ahead through your guide so the stones are heated in time; it takes several hours to get them red hot.
Is the Bhutanese hot stone bath safe
Yes for most healthy adults. A wooden screen keeps the stones away from your body and the family controls the temperature. Pregnant women, people with heart conditions or high blood pressure, and young children should keep it short and only warm, or skip it. Do not drink much ara before bathing.
What should I wear for a hot stone bath in Bhutan
Swimwear or shorts and a T-shirt. Bring your own towel, though some farmhouses supply one. Remove jewellery, because the minerals and heat can discolour silver. Baths are usually private for couples or families, in a small shed beside the farmhouse, with a door that closes.
