Lhops Village Eco Lodge — Jigme, Samtse
Set deep in the forested hills of Dorokha, in the heart of Jigme village, Lhops Village Eco Lodge offers travelers a rare chance to stay within one of Bhutan’s most distinctive indigenous communities — the Lhop. Built in harmony with the surrounding landscape this cute small lodge offers simple modern comforts, powered by low-impact, eco-conscious design.
Guests wake to stunning views, birdsong and the scent of cardamom drying in nearby fields, share meals of fresh, homegrown produce, and have the opportunity to learn firsthand about Lhokpu language, animist ritual, and centuries-old customs from the community itself. Guided walks through cardamom plantations, encounters with village elders, and quiet evenings under a canopy of stars make for an experience that is as much about connection as it is about comfort.
More than a place to stay, Lhops Village Eco Lodge is a partnership with the Jigme community — supporting local livelihoods while offering visitors an intimate, respectful window into one of Bhutan’s least visited communities.
Meet Your Host: Tshering Wangchuk & Family
Lhops Village Eco Lodge is run by Tshering Wangchuk and his family, who welcome guests into their home in the true spirit of a Bhutanese homestay. Born and raised in Jigme village, Tshering grew up among the cardamom fields and quiet rhythms of Lhop life, and it’s this deep connection to the land and community that shapes every part of a guest’s stay. Alongside his family, he oversees the lodge’s day-to-day life — sharing stories over meals, guiding walks through the village, and introducing visitors to the traditions, language, and customs of the Lhop people. For Tshering, hosting isn’t a business so much as an extension of family life: guests are treated not as customers but as visitors to be looked after, fed well, and sent off with a little more understanding of a culture few outsiders ever get to see up close.
Winter at the Lodge
Winter brings a pleasant climate and a close-up view of village farm life, as families harvest tangerines and cultivate millet and foxtail millet. It’s also a season for slower, hands-on traditions — guests can often watch, or even try their hand at, local basket weaving as it happens around the village.
Lhop Festivals
Between September and November, three distinctive Lhop festivals take place — Chan, Thanglha, and Zipdak — each with its own rituals and sequence of events found nowhere else in Bhutan. For travelers timing their visit around these months, they offer a rare glimpse into Lhop spiritual life and community celebration.