You are here:      Home Travel Articles Hotel of the Month - Banyan Tree Ringha

Ask us about this!

To enquire about a holiday please use our enquiry form or phone us on 0121 270 2889. You will get great customer service AND prices that compete with online booking sites AND you will benefit from our exclusive extras. With 100% financial protection, you'd be mad to go anywhere else!

If you prefer to chat FACE TO FACE, then scroll down the boxes on the right of the screen and see if we are online for a skype video call right now!

Hotel of the Month - Banyan Tree Ringha

DESTINATION OVERVIEW

n the tranquil highlands of Shangri-la in Yunnan, China, each season offers a unique experience: serene winters; spring fields with flowers in full bloom; fresh green meadows in summer; forests cloaked in rich autumn colours.

At 3,200 metres above sea level, you are almost amongst the clouds, amid majestic mountains, deep canyons and valleys, crystal-clear streams, where yaks and wild horses roam free.

While the fastest way to get to Shangri-la would be a 50-minute flight from Kunming International Airport, we would recommend a leisurely journey from the nearby city of Lijiang for gradual acclimatisation. Banyan Tree Lijiang provides a private four-wheel drive (4WD) transfer to Banyan Tree Ringha in Shangri-la. This scenic four-hour drive takes you along a winding mountain road, passing the Yangtze River and dramatic gorges.

RUSTIC GETAWAY AND INNOVATION

Located by the Ringha River,Banyan Tree Ringha opened in Shangri-la in 2005 with 32 Tibetan suites and lodges with private balconies, with either valley or river views. The interiors are decorated with Tibetan craft like woven rugs and woodcarving. Each room comes with an open fireplace, as well as a luxuriously designed bathroom fitted with a handcrafted wooden bathtub.

Did you know that the resort is made up of unwanted, original Tibetan farmhouses, which were bought from local families and reconstructed in the traditional style at the hotel site?

In recognition of its innovative design, Banyan Tree Ringha has won various awards like the Gold Key Award and Design for Asia in 2006.

DISCOVERING SHANGRI-LA

Banyan Tree Ringha has a dedicated team of local guides and offers a series of specially developed treks and tours, available on foot, horseback, and in a 4WD.

A favourite is the Shangri-la Cultural Tour, where guests are welcomed into the homes of local villagers for some freshly made yak butter tea and a home-cooked lunch. During this leisurely walk, learn about Tibetan architecture and craft traditions; pass through an ancient forest and fluttering prayer flags, before ending the journey at the 800-year-old Ringha Da Bao Si Monastery.

RECHARGE: DINE AND SPA

After a day of exploration, a pampering session at Banyan Tree Spa beckons with a selection of Himalayan techniques like Gui Shi Hot Stones treatment and Ringha massage.

A wide selection of Chinese tea is served at Jakhang, while Chinese and Western menus are available at Llamo, the all-day dining restaurant. Don't miss the hearty Tibetan hotpot at Chang-Sa, served in an aromatic broth of local herbs.

Banyan Tree Ringha also offers unique destination dining experiences: A re-enactment of a Tibetan matrimonial ceremony in a traditional farmhouse;a horse-riding trek complete with a gourmet dinner by the river.

Top three memories in Shangri-la
1

Walk three times around a stupa and, following Tibetan traditions, place a stone on its ridge to represent your prayer

2

Hiking or trekking by horse around May, June amid flowering rhododendrons and azaleas

3

Sitting by the stove in a villager's home and enjoying yak butter tea with tsampa (Tibetan roasted barley wheat flour pancake)




Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
Digg! Reddit! Del.icio.us! Mixx! Free and Open Source Software News Google! Live! Facebook! StumbleUpon! MySpace! TwitThis Joomla Free PHP
 

Book your holiday with Top Drawer Holidays and benefit from:

  • 100% Financial Protection
  • ATOL Protection
  • Trust Account Protection
  • Personal service here in the UK
  • Book from a brochure or
  • We tailor make your perfect trip
  • Free honeymoon gift list*
  • Free VIP airport lounge pass*
  • We give 5% of profits to charity

* click here for more information

Skype Video Call Us

Talk to us face to face about your holiday requirements using Skype video chat!

My status

Just click on the image above when it displays a green tick to show we're online (if it says "I'm away" please try later).

If you can't get through, please complete the details below and we will get back to you.

 
 

Testimonials-click for more

<<Pause>>
  1. "The holiday you organised was amazing and definitely exceeded our expectations. Thanks so much for all your hard work, we loved every minute of it. All the hotels were perfectly placed for what we were after, and we definitely felt we got great value for money. It may be a while before our next big holiday, but we'll be sure to keep your details for when we get an idea of where to go. We'll also be sure to recommend you to all our friends who are looking to go away, and will enure they are all aware of how well this was organised by yourself (and how stress free this was on our part) . Thanks again for all you hard work." September 2011 from Nathan & Zoe, Hildonborough who visited Hong Kong and Fiji.



    read more >>>
  2. "Thank you for your email. Basically we had a fantastic time. You helped us organise the honeymoon that we dreamned of. I have only praise for the hotels you found and advice you gave. The service really was Top Drawer - sorry I bet everyone writes that.  Thank you for all your help." October 2011 from Richard & Joanna, Newbury who did a tailor made trip through France and Spain combining planes, trains and automobiles visiting Paris, Bordeaux, Carcassonne, and the Spanish coast near Barcelona.



    read more >>>
  3. "Thanks for your email. We were actually planning to write you but got totally entangled with work and stuff. The holiday was absolutely fantastic and the organization spot on. We are completely satisfied with the services offered, both in terms of the actual arrangements and the customer service provided at all times.  There's no doubt we will recommend your services." January 2012 from Fabio & Ioanna, London who spent Christmas and New Year visiting the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney, Australia.



    read more >>>
  4. "Thanks we had a wonderful time and enjoyed being on a cruise for the first time. The boat was very big, and full of some very big people too, but it was great to have so much to see and do.The food (evening meals) was surprisingly really really good too. I would certainly recommend you to others." September 2011 from Amanda & Derek, Dubai who went on their first ever cruise.



    read more >>>
  5. "We had a great weekend thankyou. The hotel was in a great position - very easy to drive to, and only a short cab / bus ride into town. Also we used the boat to come back on sunday, which was fab. The rooms were big, clean and comfy - all you want them to be really! We did have a small issue with room keys at the start, but it was quickly rectified and all was good. Staff were very nice, friendly and helpful - lunch a little slow, but great when it arrived. All in all we had a lovely time - thankyou for your help with organising it." October 2011 from Nicki and girl friends who had a spa weekend in Bath.



    read more >>>
  6. "Once again everything went according to plan and we had an excellent holiday. The lounge pass starts the holiday on the right footing, the flights were on time, the holiday rep. at the airport was welcoming and the hotel was great. The service was absolutely first class and there was an amazing selection of food at breakfast and dinner all presented in a very attractive way (similar to a cruise ship). The weather was extremely hot so we didn't attempt any excursions. We spent the time relaxing by the pool keeping in the shade as much as possible. No complaints at all you will be pleased hear. Thank you once again for your attention to detail. " October 2011 from Dorothy and Graham, Coventry who visited a luxury hotel in Tenerife.



    read more >>>
  7. "Just to say...THANK YOU! For all your help and planning. We had a fabulous honeymoon and loved each part. I really liked the Argonaut in terms of location and the free glass of wine from 5-6pm every day. They were so friendly and helpful at the hotel and it made a great first stop. The Kauai Beach Resort had a great hot tub outside, good food and the concierge helped organise a number of trips for us. The room was a good size and we were given a free bottle of very nice champagne. Finally, the Plantation Inn in Maui, was wonderful. A great little location and it made our stay in Maui so enjoyable. Again a hot tub and breakfast was included - great chef. Such easy access to La Haina and the shops and away from the noise and scale of the big hotel complexes further up the coast. The four, four, four also worked well...had we had the time we would have loved to do four days in New York..would recommend that to anyone thinking of doing the same trip. So thank you again for your help, we really appreciated it and would use you and Top Drawer again!" January 2012 from Sarah & Ian, Chiswick who visited San Francisco before heading to the Hawaiian island of Kaui and then onto the Hawaiian island of Maui.



    read more >>>
  8. "Thanks for your email. All your arrangements were excellent and we had a brilliant honeymoon. No problems whatsoever. Flights and transfers happened without a hitch. The company that you used for the transfers and their drivers were very professional. The hotel and its staff were fantastic - exactly what we were hoping for. All in all, you have provided an excellent service building up to the honeymoon and the trip itself was great. Will definitely recommend you to family and friends." November 2010 from Kerstin & Mark, Bradford on Avon who visited Nice in the South of France.



    read more >>>
  9. "The holiday was lovely thank you. There was evidence of a lot of damage on our way up to our hotel from the airport, and the 4x4's were definitely needed! Once we were in Rodney Bay, there wasn't really much evidence of the hurricane. We found the Top Drawer service to be very helpful and we were kept up to date with information, following the devastation of the hurricane. We would definitely recommend Top Drawer to friends. Thank you for all your help." December 2010 from Karen & Simon, Tunbridge Wells who visited St Lucia very shortly after the hurricane in 2010.



    read more >>>
  10. "It has to be said that we had a brilliant holiday not least down to Top Drawer!!! The arrangement between Top and Bottom Drawer is really convenient and just what i wanted. The route that you planned and the hotels that we stayed at were just right although it must be said that we preferred the national parks to the cities!! Thank you for a great level of service and I would definitely recommend your company in future." October 2010 from Emily & Philip, London who did a fly drive around California in a 2 door open top sports car visiting San Francisco, Yosemite, Death Valley and Las Vegas.



    read more >>>