The four properties that comprise Songtsam Lodges sit in unique locations around Northern Yunnan Province in China, away from the tourist routes and noisy towns. Each site has been chosen to showcase the region's natural scenery that ranges from green valleys to towering snow-capped mountains. We recommend traveling through this beautiful countryside and staying at several of these lodges as part of a northern Yunnan circuit, experiencing the varied terrains and cultures of each site.
Songtsam Shangri-La - 3,300m
Songtsam Shangri-La is the flagship lodge and located in the heart of the Yunnan region just a short walk to the entrance of the centuries-old Songzanlin Monastery. The rooms are modest in size but very cozy, decorated in Tibetan style balanced with modern comforts. Facilities include a library, open rooftop, Tibetan restaurant, and outdoor seating area. Activities around Shangri-La include guided tours to the monastery, village walks and Tibetan family visits, guided hikes, bicycle rides to Napahai Lake, and horse trekking.
Songtsam Benzilan - 1,900m
Nestled in an intimate green valley by Yunnan's Yangtze River, Songtsam Benzilan features ten spacious guest rooms, all decorated in modern Sino-Tibetan style. The lodge is surrounded by authentic white-walled Tibetan homes and has views of a smaller prayer house resting atop a little hill (great for morning visits when one member from each family in the village hikes to the top to pay their respects). Facilities include a library, rooftop terrace, and restaurant serving fresh food from the garden. Activities include learning how to make traditional black pottery in the nearby Nixi village, guided visits to Dongzhulin Monastery, Benzilan valley hikes through Tibetan villages, and experiencing a night of traditional Tibetan dancing.
Songtsam Meili - 3, 600m
Every year, local Tibetans come to this region to worship Kawagebo, Meili Snow Mountain Range's major peak, and one of the holiest mountains in the larger Tibetan region. Songtsam Meili was built on a hill in an unspoiled village and directly overlooks this magnificent mountain range. The lodge's 17 guest rooms are furnished with large comfortable beds, sofas, and timber flooring. Most rooms also feature a cozy fireplace. Facilities include a library and a rooftop terrace with a fire pit and restaurant. Activities include guided hikes and walks around the Yunnan province, local family visits, and a night of Tibetan dancing and bonfire party.
Songtsam Tacheng - 2,020m
Part of a mixed Tibetan/Lisu farming community, Songtsam Tacheng enjoys a comfortable climate that boasts Yunnan's most fertile land. All nine spacious yet cozy rooms face beautiful terraced rice fields. Tacheng is also home to the endangered Yunnan Golden Monkeys, which make it an endearing wildlife environment, popular for family excursions and romantic getaways. Facilities include an outdoor pool and restaurant serving locally-grown organic vegetables as well as wild honey, fish, and ham. Activities include guided hikes through beautiful villages and rural areas, seeing the Golden Monkeys at the Baima Nature Reserve, walks through local Naxi villages, and local dances arranged by the lodge.
Songtsam Cizhong - 2,200m
Coming next year - watch this space!
Songtsam Lodges Information
Location & Getting There
Songtsam Lodges are comprised of 4 separate properties located around Northern Yunnan Province.
Accommodation
Lodges at Songtsam Lodge are small and intimate featuring between 10 and 17 rooms.
Activities
Various cultural and outdoor excursions are available at all of the Songtsam Lodges.
Weather
Shangri-La is suitable to visit year-round. Winters are cold but see exceptionally clear skies, summers are hot and see the most rainfall. Mid-May to July is when the flowers are in full bloom, and August brings beautiful changing colors.
Children
Children are most welcome at Sonstsam Lodges.
Warm, cozy, and positioned tastefully within their natural surroundings – these three things really sum up the Songtsam Lodges that are dotted throughout Yunnan Province in China, and more recently into Tibet. I loved the tiny Songtsam Benzilan nestled into the valley with little else in the area; Songtsam Linka Shangri-La looking out to the back of the impressive Songzanlin Monastery, and the remote Songtsam Meili with incredible views of the Meili Snow Mountains. This is a unique and diverse part of China and Songtsam Lodges is the perfect base from which to explore.
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