YUNNAN & TIBET | Tea horse trail expedition

Hidden in the city’s peaceful and green valleys between Tibetan villages and Himalayan barley fields,

our retreat faces the back of Songzanlin Monastery which can be seen across a meadow and is located only a short distance away. According to the mountain, the retreat uses the Tibetan stone-house buildings with Kham style, and all of them are well arranged among each other with flowers and trees. There are monks, local people and horses passing by the path of pine forest beside the retreat, which are natural harmony and full of Zen

Offering breathtaking views of Meili Snow Mountain, Songtsam Lodges – Songtsam Meili offers Tibetan-style accommodation. Each year, local Tibetans and global travelers come to worship Kawagebo, the major peak of the Meili Snow Mountain Range and one of the holiest mountains in the larger Tibetan region. Specifically designed as a respite along this spiritual pilgrimage to Kawagebo, the Songtsam Meili lodge was built in an untouched village away from any tourists and overlooking the majestic mountains.

Songtsam Meili is a 30-minute drive from Meili Snow Mountain Scenic Area. Mingyong Glacier is a 1-hour drive away. All rooms come with a fireplace, a seating area with sofa and an electric kettle. Free toiletries, hairdryers and shower facilities can be found in the en suite bathroom. The hotel offers on-site free parking and a terrace where guests can relax. Guests can store luggage at the 24- hour front desk. Simple Chinese and Western cuisine can be enjoyed at Songtsam Meili Restaurant.

From the window of Songtsam Lodge Rumei, Lancang (Upper Mekong) River, green terrace with the window frame make up a landscape painting. At an altitude of 2,600 metres, this remote oasis is situated at a point where the first stop from Yunnan to TAR for Songtsam Tea Horse Road Expedition.

Nestled away in a valley, the lodge is located next to Zhuka Village in the north and vast farmland in the south. Guest rooms all face Lancang River, ensuring views of the natural stream outside and the green terraces nearby. The lodge embraces bright colours such as green, yellow, white, and peacock blue, mirroring the colours of the sky and surrounding snow-capped mountains, rivers, and fields.

Facing Laigu glaciers, Songtsam Lodge Laigu (4200m) locates between snow mountains, glaciers and lakes under the sky, this a mystery place beyond the world. As the highest property 4200m and the most difficult construction miracle of Songtsam, Laigu lodge was awarded as Winner for best Architectural Design / Heritage Architecture by The Architecture MasterPrize 2019. With the prime consideration given to the preservation of natural and Tibetan cultural heritage, the building was designed with modular prefabrication and embedded under a high cliff hidden from sight. The project keep a very harmonious relationship with the texture of the original village.

The lodge uses state of art oxygen concentrator technology to achieve a 24-hour closed oxygen supply. The floor heating is imported from Denmark and the floor-to-ceiling triple-layered vacuum glass windows provide warmth and UV protection whilst at the same time offering breathtaking views of Rawu Lake.

New Tibetan style lodge at 2700m altitude with 32 rooms overlooking river and majestic mountains and valleys. All rooms exhibit a unique combination of modern and traditional Tibetan aesthetics that are elegantly decorated with wooden floors,handmade wooden furniture, and handcrafted copperware, which create a cozy and pleasant atmosphere.

Bome lies in the neighbouring area between the Himalaya and Nyenchen Tanglha mountain range of east Tibet. Also known as the “Swiss Alps of Tibet”, Bome is a paradise with its weather being warm in the winter and cool in summer. The area features primeval forests, snow-capped mountain
ranges, stunning rivers and holy lakes and splendid glaciers.

Built on the edge of an old park at 3700m altitude our retreat offers spectacular views of the nearby Potala Palace located only 5 kilometers away. From the hotel’s slaked lime coloured walls to the indigo carved windows and fish-fin shaped facade, all of these architectural details pay great respect to traditional artisans, Tibetan culture, and ancient wisdom. Rooms exhibit a unique combination of modern and traditional Tibetan aesthetics that are elegantly decorated with wooden floors, wall tapestries, and handcrafted copperware. Each room is also fully equipped with oxygen concentrators to relieve AMS and ensure good rest.