The Best Hotels in Shigatse on the Way to Everest Base Camp: The Hotels Closest to Tashilhunpo Monastery

As the second largest city in Tibet, the hotel and accommodation facilities in Shigatse are almost on a par with those of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. From luxurious five-star accommodation that is as resplendent as it gets to the lowest budget hostels in the city, travellers in Shigatse are spoiled for choices when it comes to finding somewhere to stay.

Shigatse is the main gateway to the Mount Everest National Park area, which includes the Rongbuk Monastery and the Everest Base Camp (EBC), so is one of the main places to stay on any tour across the plateau. In Shigatse, location is everything, and you can find hotels that are close to the Tashilhunpo Monastery, or those that are closer to the center of the city for shopping and sightseeing.

The Best Hotels in Shigatse on the Way to Everest Base Camp: The Hotels Closest to Tashilhunpo Monastery

Actually, with Shigatse having a large number of hotels in the northwest of the city, there are a number of great hotels that you can stay in that are all within a few minutes’ walk of the monastery.

The Wanrun International Resort Hotel is actually the closest, with just a ten-minute walk to the monastery. The hotel also has a good location for sightseeing around the city, and is set in a peaceful location just off the Bangjiakong Road. A pet-friendly hotel with a free breakfast for all guests, this delightful Tibetan-styled hotel is classed as a four-star hotel in Shigatse, and is well-reviewed on the various travel sites.

Twin bed room in Wanrun International Resort Hotel

Rooms start from around 58 US dollars per person, based on two sharing, and the rooms come with air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, hot tubs, and a free laundry service. Kids and the elderly are well catered for at the hotel, with porter service for luggage and a lot of room for kids to play and run around in the hotel grounds. The main feature of this hotel is the unique views of the Tashilhunpo Monastery, just a few hundred meters away.

Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the most spectacular monasteries in Tibet, and was built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama. Since the main headquarters of the Dalai Lama moved to Lhasa, the monastery has been the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second highest tulku in Tibet and a major figure in the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Best Hotels in Shigatse on the Way to Everest Base Camp: The Most Luxury Hotels

While you will not get the five-star luxury of Lhasa, there are plenty of good hotels in Shigatse, including the Shigatse Zanglong Grand Hotel and the Jiumu Yamei Hotel. Facilities are on a par with Lhasa’s 4-star hotels, and most have elevators and are close to the main attractions of the city.

The best of the three is normally regarded to be the Manasarovar Hotel, which is recommended in particular. It is a Tibetan style hotel; all rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, TV and telephone. Located in the city centre of Shigatse, it is near the ancient local Tibetan village with its trade market, and it is quite convenient to get to Tashilhunpo monastery.

The comfy ambience of the Manasarovar Hotel

The Zanglong Hotel is located on Zhufeng Road, around 900 meters from Tashilhunpo Monastery, and only 1.3km from the Shigatse Dzong, and is in a good location for sightseeing and shopping in the city, as well as being close to the bus depot and the local Bank of China branch. The hotel has more than 100 standard rooms in Tibetan styles and an entire floor of non-smoking rooms. Built to meet international standards, the hotel has business suites, IDD phones, air-conditioning throughout, and is filled with many cultural elements of Tibet.

The Zanglong Hotel is located on Zhufeng Road

The Jiumu Yamei Hotel is located on the Jilin North Road, to the northeast of the Tashilhunpo Monastery and beside the Nyang Chu, and is surrounded by the best restaurants in Shigatse. At 3km from the monastery, it is far enough to need to drive, but this is just a five-minute ride in the car. Rated as an international four-star hotel, it has central air-conditioning, with individual controls in every room and suite, and its 150 rooms include standard rooms, luxury rooms, and luxury suites.

Jiumu Yamei Hotel

The Best Hotels in Shigatse on the Way to Everest Base Camp: The Most Cost-Efficient Hotels

When it comes to cost-efficient hotels in Shigatse, you can look no further than the many three-star hotels in the city. These mid-range hotels usually have good services for a decent price, and are well on a par with quality hotels in Lhasa. Mid-range hotels in Shigatse are in great supply, and are the more popular options for most travellers. Hotels such as the Shigatse Hotel and the Yak Hotel are good 3-star hotels in excellent central locations, with all the amenities you can ask for, including hot water and air-con with heating. Rooms are clean and fresh, and bedding is clean and hygienic, with en-suite bathrooms in all rooms.

The amazing Tibetan-style interior of Shigatse Hotel

Both hotels are located just over 1km from the Tashilhunpo Monastery, and the Shigatse hotel is around 1.6km from the famous Shigatse Dzong, while the Yak hotel is just 900 meters. When it comes to cost-efficient hotels, these two are at the top of the pile, costing from around 30 US dollars per night.

The Best Hotels in Shigatse on the Way to Everest Base Camp: The Hotels with the Best Facilities and Service

When it comes to the best value hotels in Shigatse, there are several to choose from, including the Gesar Hotel, the Shandong Mansion, the Tashi Choten Hotel, VanRay International Resort, and the Jiumu Yamei Hotel as the top five places to stay when it comes to value for money in terms of facilities and services.

In actuality, the Jiumu Yamei Hotel is fifth in the list of the top five hotels in this category, and while it is a four-star hotel that is on a par with the four-star hotels in Lhasa, its location lets it down in terms of quietness, as it is in the centre of the town in the midst of a lot of crowded restaurants.

The VanRay International Resort, while not being one of the best quality hotels in Shigatse, actually has a good reputation among travellers, and is located within 500 meters of the Tashilhunpo Monastery. The exterior of this 3-star resort hotel is clean and brightly coloured, with great views of the monastery, and the rooms are clean and decent, if not high quality. And with prices at just 30 dollars per night, it is well worth considering.

VanRay International Resort

The Shandong Mansion is a traditionally Tibetan-styled hotel located on Shandong Road around 1km from the Tashilhunpo Monastery. A good three-star hotel with classic Tibetan décor throughout, the rooms are fresh and clean, with private bathrooms containing showers only, but with hot water 24/7. And its “European” restaurant has some of the best steaks this side of Lhasa.

Shandong Mansion

The Gesar Hotel on Longjiang Road is one of the best value hotels in Tibet, with large spacious rooms that are clean and have good showers in their private bathrooms. The Wi-Fi is excellent quality, and can handle VOIP calls with video, which is unique in Tibet outside Lhasa. With some of the best reviews and prices that start from just 39 dollars per night for a single room, this is one of the best hotels in Shigatse in terms of value and service.

The Gesar Hotel is one of the best value hotels in Tibet

The traditionally-decorated four-star Tashi Choten Hotel is undoubtedly the best value hotel in Shigatse when it comes to service and facilities. Breakfast is included in the price, free hi-speed Wi-Fi is available in all rooms, the hotel is completely non-smoking (an issue with western travellers in Tibet where smoking is not regulated in public areas), air-conditioning is standard throughout, and the rooms make you feel like you are staying in a Tibetan palace. While it may be a costly hotel, from around 60 dollars per night, the service you get and the amenities of this amazing hotel are second to none.

Cozy twin bed room in Tashi Choten Hotel

Conclusion

While Shigatse does have a huge number of hotels, it is a good idea to do a little research before booking your trip to Tibet. While the more expensive hotels may be the four-star luxury hotels, when it comes to good value and service, there are a lot of less expensive hotels. The best hotel is not always the most luxurious or most expensive, and in Shigatse, even the lower standard guesthouses pride themselves on great value and excellent service. You can tell our consultant your needs and requirements and we’ll find the hotel that suits you as much as possible.