Songtsam Linka Retreat Lhasa in Tibet has become a Virtuoso Preferred Partner. Recently named one of the “Best Hotels & Resorts in the World” on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2022, the 50 all-suite luxury property offers its guests an authentic Tibetan Experience. Songtsam Linka Retreat Lhasa is part of Songtsam’s award winning boutique luxury group of Hotels, Resorts & Tours, which recently joined the Virtuoso Global Program.
Located at an elevation of 11,975 feet, Songtsam Linka Retreat Lhasa, offers a spectacular view of the Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The hotel itself, architecturally designed and built to reflect the work of traditional artisans, Tibetan culture and ancient wisdom, was built with slaked lime color walls, indigo carved windows and fish fin shaped facade. The interior design was inspired by the lifestyle of the local Lhasa people, decorated with Thangka paintings and wall tapestries, a decor that was typical of noble families living there centuries ago. All suites are decorated with a blend of modern and traditional Tibetan aesthetics that feature wooden floors, Tibetan carpets and handcrafted copperware. Very important at this elevation, each suite is fully equipped with oxygen concentrators to relieve AMS and ensure good rest.
The hotel features a library, café, bar area and a boutique which displays handcrafted artisan items. Songtsam Linka Retreat Lhasa provides its guests with two dining options: one is a Chinese & Tibetan restaurant serving local specialities, and the other is a Western restaurant offering guests an array of unique fusion dishes, a breakfast buffet, à la carte, and a selection of handpicked wines harvested from the nearby valley. The Michelin starred trained local Songtsam Linka Lhasa Chefs, incorporate farm-to-table menus, using yak meat, yak butter, milk dregs as well as other local dairy products together with highland barley and Lhasa potatoes.
Virtuoso Travelers Will Receive
Songtsam Tours Highlights Lhasa
Songtsam offers tailor made tours in the Lhasa region featuring visits to the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street to experience the most vibrant bazaar in Lhasa.
An amazing day trip from Lhasa with Songtsam Tours is a drive to the Basong Tso Holy Lake and Tsozong Gongba Monastery located in the middle of the lake on Tashi Island. Following a lunch stop in a local restaurant, guests return to the Songtsam Linka Retreat Lhasa.
For guests who are interested in experiencing the full Tibet/Yunnan exploration, Songtsam Tours has an 11-night/12 day Ancient Tea Horse Road Expedition from Lhasa to Shangri-La (or vice versa).
The Songtsam Experience
Guests will enjoy experiencing the local culture when staying at The Songtsam Hotels & Lodges. Usually located near a remote village, the hotels and lodges employ local staff and are an integral part of the surrounding landscape. Founded by Mr. Baima Duoji, in 2000, the Songtsam Group, on the 2018 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List, is the only collection of luxury Tibetan-style retreats. The 12 unique properties, found across the Tibetan Plateau (including Yunnan), offer guests luxury with authenticity, within the context of refined design, modern amenities, and unobtrusive service in places of untouched natural beauty and cultural interest. Mr. Baima’s desire is for guests to be inspired by the ethnic groups and cultures of the region, and most importantly to understand how the local people pursue and understand happiness.
