Songtsam, the award-winning group of  boutique luxury Hotels, Lodges and Tours in the Tibet and Yunnan Provinces of China, and Land Rover, the leader in luxury, off-road capable vehicles, have launched a campaign together to promote Songtsam’s new, off the beaten path, self-drive route through the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Songtsam guests will be able to drive a Land Rover equipped with the most advanced all-terrain driving technology, which include the newest models of the Land Rover Discovery, Discovery Sport P300e, Defender 110 and Defender 90.

Land Rover and Songtsam initiated this strategic partnership in 2018. This began as a cooperation to inspire and enable  travelers to “discover Yunnan-Tibet without borders.” In 2019, Land Rover and Songtsam strengthened their collaboration by creating the new “Yunnan-Tibet Route,” the star-rated route of Land Rover's Discover the Borderless project, which successfully upgraded Songtsam’s Yunnan-Tibet exploration experience. This new Eastern Tibet Route is the most recently launched of these borderless experiences and hopes to encourage more Songtsam guests to Discover Endless Journeys.

Over the years, Songtsam has been deeply involved in the sustainability of the local villages,  mountains and rivers of Yunnan and Tibet, and is committed to improving the travel experience of the Yunnan-Tibet route. In parallel with the Songtsam commitment, the Land Rover brand focused on creating excellent all-terrain SUVs, using innovative leading technology to create a rich all-terrain driving experience. Earlier this year, Land Rover delivered 10 brand new Defenders to Songtsam which became the designated car of Songtsam Tours, providing guests with  a more secure and comfortable travel experience.

The goal of launching this new off the beaten path, self-drive route is to showcase local, ancient architecture while at the same time experiencing the breathtaking views of the sky-high mountains and rushing rivers of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the Roof of the World, the World’s Third Pole. The new route departs from Lhasa, the City of Sunlight, where guests can have an opportunity to visit the beautiful Potala Palace while staying at the Songtsam Linka Retreat Lhasa. The route continues through the Yamdrok Lake, passes through the Mira Mountain Highway Tunnel, deep into the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, and arrives at the final destination, the striking Namcha Barwa snow mountain. While enjoying a stay at the Songtsam Lodge Namcha Barwa, drivers can continue this exploration along the routes carved into the mountainside and discover the unique landscape, local villages and learn about the history and myths of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Songtsam Lodge Namcha Barwa, the newest Songtsam property, was opened in early 2021. The new all-suite (33) lodge features balconies with a panoramic view of Namcha Barwa, the 15^th Highest Mountain in the World. Located in Dalin Village in Tibet, the Namcha Barwa lodge plays an integral role in providing employment for the local communities as well as supporting their economic growth.

*Please note: Songtsam guests can rent a Land Rover and drive themselves. However, international travelers may require more documentation than domestic travelers to participate in the self-drive route.*