Banyan Tree Ringha
by the TopOfHotel team
Banyan Tree Ringha is a luxury resort of suites rebuilt from Tibetan farmhouses in a silent valley, with butler service — scoring 9.4.
Banyan Tree Ringha is a luxury resort of suites rebuilt from Tibetan farmhouses in a silent valley, with butler service — scoring 9.4.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The resort hides at the end of a dirt road in the Hongpo valley, away from Shangri-La town, ringed by fields where yaks graze and prayer flags snap in the wind — the Lost Horizon that James Hilton's book described, except it is real, not imagined. There are 32 suites, each rebuilt from a Tibetan farmhouse more than 100 years old; the Banyan Tree team bought the houses from villagers and reassembled every piece of timber. Our room was a Tibetan Lodge Suite, 85 sqm over two floors — downstairs a living room with a real wood-burning fireplace and a carved Tibetan wood ceiling, upstairs a king bed and a wooden tub for bathing under the stars. The Banyan Tree bedding is spa-soft.
Food and amenities
Every room has an oxygen dispenser, and a private butler is on call 24 hours. The Banyan Tree spa runs a Tibetan Hot Stone treatment using local mountain stones. Across the 3 restaurants — Tibetan and Western — the main dining hall, Gyalthang, serves yak hotpot, tsampa and highland barley wine. There are horse-riding tours and a mani kora walk, plus free private parking and a free airport shuttle. Real guests score it around 9.4.
Location and getting there
You are about 13 km from the old town, roughly a 30-minute drive, among Tibetan barley fields and mountains. Around the resort you can walk through Hongpo Village, where locals still wear traditional Tibetan dress and carved mani stones reading Om Mani Padme Hum line the path. Songzanlin Monastery is about 25 minutes away, and Napa Lake about 35 minutes.
Things to know before booking
The catch is distance: at 13 km out, every trip into the city is a drive, so plan sightseeing in batches rather than popping in and out. Prices start around $166 a night and the larger suites climb to about $429, the top of this group. And because it sits deep in the valley, the amenities and options right outside the gate are limited — this is a place to settle into, not a base for wandering.
Our take
Banyan Tree Ringha is the first choice for honeymooners and anyone who wants a quiet resort in real Tibetan nature over city convenience. Our team votes it the most romantic stay on this list, and the one that gets closest to the soul of Tibet.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A 5-star resort hidden away in a quiet rural valley, about 13 km from the Shangri-La old town.
- Each suite is converted from an original 100-year-old Tibetan farmhouse — the Banyan Tree team bought the houses from villagers and reassembled every piece of timber.
- Rooms come with an oxygen dispenser to help you adjust to the high altitude.
- There is a spa, 3 restaurants and a 24-hour private butler.
- Banyan Tree brand service throughout, plus a free airport shuttle and free private parking.
- It sits about 13 km from the old town, so you have to drive in for anything in the city — plan your sightseeing in batches.
- The top-end suites run up to about $429 a night, the priciest band in this group of resorts.
- It is deep in the valley, so amenities and options right around the resort are limited.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Shangri-La
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Shangri-La — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Plan your city sightseeing in batches, since every trip into town is a drive.
- Spend time inside the resort walking the fields and the valley.
- Book your spa treatment in advance — the Hot Stone uses local mountain stones.