The Bhutanese hot stone bath (dotsho) is a centuries-old wellness ritual that pre-dates modern spas by hundreds of years — a wooden tub of mineral-rich river water heated by red-hot river stones, infused with medicinal artemisia leaves, and considered remedy for joint pain, skin conditions, and the muscle exhaustion of mountain travel. After a long day at Tiger's Nest, a hot stone bath at a farmhouse stay is the textbook Bhutan evening.
The experience is rustic and authentic, not spa-style. River stones are heated for hours over a wood fire until they glow red, then transferred (carefully, with iron tongs) into a sealed compartment at the foot of a long wooden tub. The water in the tub is heated by direct contact with the stones; you bathe in an adjacent compartment, separated from the stones by a perforated wooden screen so you don't burn yourself. Fresh artemisia (a wormwood-like herb, said to have detoxifying properties) is added to the water for fragrance and skin benefit. Soak for 30-45 minutes; more stones can be added on request to keep the water hot. A second person can join in a parallel adjacent tub.
Most farmhouses pair the bath with a traditional dinner — ema datshi (the national dish, hot chillies stewed in yak cheese), kewa datshi (potato and cheese), shakam paa (dried beef with red rice and vegetables), and the famous Bhutanese red rice. Many farmhouses make their own ara (rice or wheat fermented liquor) — strong, smoky, and offered as the meal-opener. The best farmhouses double as homestays where you can stay overnight; most just offer the bath-and-dinner combo for around 2,500-4,000 BTN per person.
Leading operators arranged through your tour operator include Lhozhi Farmhouse, Tendrel Farmhouse, and Cosmos Farmhouse — all in the Paro valley within 15-20 minutes of town. Book a day ahead because the stone-heating starts in the early afternoon. Bring a swimsuit or shorts (though some farmhouses provide cotton bathing wraps) and skin-care products if you're particular — the artemisia leaves the skin slightly resinous for a few hours after. Avoid if you have heart conditions or are pregnant; the heat is significant.