Songtsam Opens First Glamping Resort in Tibet

Dark/Light Mode (14/06/23)  Songtsam has expanded its portfolio of luxury boutique hotels with the opening of its first glamping property in Tibet, the Songtsam Glamping Palpa.

Located in Baiba Village, approximately 13,989 ft above sea level on the Niyang River in Nyingchi, the Songtsam Glamping Palpa provides guests with a luxury outdoor camping experience where they are surrounded by snow-capped mountains, forests and pastures.

Glamping allows guests to stay in luxury tents in some of the world's most remote locations, such as Tibet, without having to give up comfort, safety, or even good amenities.

As Baiba has only 37 households in the entire village, the conical tents of Songtsam Glamping Palpa extend from the earth like mushrooms, blending into the surrounding village like a new small community.

Luxury Tentipi Tents at Songtsam Glamping Palpa in Baiba Village, Tibet

Songtsam Glamping Palpa has 30 accommodation tents, 4 dining tents and 1 public leisure tent. All tents in the camp are made of Tentipi, which have an unique patented ventilation design that can be adjusted according to the weather conditions. The wind resistant level can reach to level 9.

Aurum33, a Swedish made tent, stands for 'a room like gold', and 33 means that the internal area of the tent can reach 33m² (approx. 355ft²), which ensures that guests never feel constrained inside.

Each tent is equipped with an outdoor table and two outdoor chairs on the balcony outside the tent, a private bathroom, 24 hours of continuous hot water, a copper wash basin, and the toilet not only automatically flushes, but also has heating and other functions.

A camping night light on the bedside table, a B&O portable Bluetooth speaker, multiple charging sockets, textured brass switches, matcha-colored soft leather sofas, Lhasa handmade wool carpets, and cozy bedding complete the luxury camping experience.

The four Stratus 72 (S72) dining tents can accommodate up to 72 people at the same time. Dishes served by the restaurant are all freshly prepared using Tibetan ingredients, with some of the most unusual including: fresh yak meat served with wild bamboo shoots and spices and local wild agera leaves; steaming yak meat hot pot; and yak meat carpaccio.

The camp also provides free afternoon tea, and welcomes guests to sit under a hawthorn tree, while tasting well-paired snacks and refreshments.

Most of the villagers living in Baiba Village are Gongbu Tibetans. Guests are able to learn how to shoot a Gongbu sound arrow, and experience the daily life of Gongbu people, which has lasted for thousands of years.

Songtsam Glamping Palpa in Baiba Village, Tibet

Under the guidance of professional coaches, guests can also learn how to saddle and mount a horse and then later try the "Forest Ride" and explore the secrets depths of the Tibetan forest.

About a 10-minute walk from Songtsam Glamping Palpa, guests will reach a flat river valley pasture where cattle graze leisurely. At dusk, guests may even encounter herdsmen milking cows.

In the coming months, more outdoor activities will be available at Songtsam Glamping Palpa, including the construction of a via ferrata (a protected climbing route), which will be the first via ferrata experience in Tibet.

Other outdoor adventures soon to be added will include: rock climbing, ziplines, rafting, mountain biking and perhaps the most surprising, off-road motorcycles.

The Palpa Glamping site adheres to Songtsam’s principles of sustainability and eco-friendly tourism. Songtsam currently employs 16 of the 178 local villagers. As the resort expands its outdoor projects and activities, more villagers will be hired to join the Songtsam family.

"The income of local employees used to be mostly seasonal, from farming and grazing, to digging caterpillar fungus. The presence of Songtsam not only provides local villagers with a stable income, but also professional training skills," said Tuo Qing, the local village store manager.

Songtsam has also pledged to distribute 200 Yuan (approximately US$28) from the income of each tent per night to Baiba for the further development and construction of the village.

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