The LUNGMĀR's Accommodations
Exclusivity and an intimate approach to the wilderness are key features of the LUNGMĀR. We have just ten rooms in two different styles for adventurous travelers in search of the grey ghost.
Four PREDATOR SUITES, with en-suite bathrooms are housed in the SUMDO SARĀI building. Six Quonset-style KURKHANG Tents offer a traditional take on the remote bush camp. They provide a warm and well furnished bedroom in the main tent and separate showers and toilets.
All of the LUNGMĀR’s accommodations are centrally heated and beautifully appointed. Rooms feature hand-knotted rugs, Tibetan inspired furniture, king or twin sized beds, and comforts unseen before in remote winter accommodations in High Asia.
THE PREDATOR SUITES
The SUMDO SARĀI is a beautiful stone, earth, and wood building that houses the camp dining and lounge on the lower level and our PREDATOR SUITES on the upper level.
The LUNGMĀR’s suites are singularly unique. They are the finest accommodations available for snow leopard trips throughout any of the twelve nations these elusive big cats call their home. Large, spacious, centrally heated rooms, the PREDATOR SUITES are the pinnacle of what’s possible in remote High Asia.
The Eee (lynx), Shanku (wolf), and Denmo (bear) Suites have king sized beds. The Watsey (fox) and Kogar (stone marten) Suites have single beds. All suites are insulated, centrally heated, have full bathrooms with 24/7 running hot water.
All Predator Suites are beautifully decorated with wood-work and local mud-plaster. Each Suite features tsug-den rugs hand-woven by Changpa nomads of the Tibetan Plateau, spectacular traditional poplar and willow roofs, gorgeous brocades of the Silk Road, and wooden floors done in a local style. All suites have windowed views of the surrounding mountains. Bathrooms are stocked with the the finest soaps and shampoos from Forest Essentials.
The SHAN Suite
THE KURKHANG TENTS
Our Kurkhang Tents are designed for warmth and comfort. These tents provide a classic ‘bush glamping’ experience. They have taken years of R&D and testing to perfect for our needs - peak winter temperatures in our area of operation can go down to -20ºC. Regardless of outside conditions, our tents remain comfortable on the inside. In Ladakhi, Kurkhang translates to tent home - an ideal description for this comfortable bedroom in the wilderness.
Utilizing hand-stitched canvas, multiple layers of high-tech custom insulation, central heat, and furnished with one king sized or two twin beds, the unique structures offer warmth and a good nights rest.
Guests staying in a Kurkhang have access to the LUNGMĀR Hammām. Our Hammām is a modern interpretation of a Turkish Bath combined with a banya, a traditional Russian sauna. The Hammām is a heated stone building, with three full bathrooms and a small wood-lined sauna. To prioritize warmth and reduce our carbon footprint, spaces are kept small.
The Sumdo Sarāi
A stunning stone and carved wood building, sheltered within the mountain, is the elegant heart of camp. With a commanding south-facing view of the mountains and a gorgeous traditional skylight, this warm building draws inspiration from local caravansaries; fortified road-side inns that housed intrepid travelers on the Great Silk Road.
The SUMDO SARAI serves as a central dining and lounge space where meals are served and stories are shared. The menu is designed by acclaimed Master Chef Corey Ferguson of the famed El Five, Denver. It explores classic cuisines of the Great Silk Road with a smattering of Indian and Ladakhi favorites. From pan-seared roast duck, to classic fettuccini Alfredo, the kitchen puts out some spectacular food. The kitchen is helmed by Chef Sajan Rai and supported by Sous Chef Gagan Rai, an uncle-nephew team of mountain chefs. The two have worked their way up from cooking on some of the toughest mountaineering expeditions on the planet, to serving delightful meals at the world’s premier snow leopard camp. Our restaurant caters to all sorts of dietary preferences, be it vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, or halal.
Mornings see espressos being pulled, pots of tea brewing, and the bustle of breakfast, while evenings buzz with guests socializing over libations after a day of searching for snow leopards. Stocked with a small specialized library, board games, and much more, our SUMDO SARAI is designed to make memories.
The SUMDO SARAI has incredible old maps showcasing the documentation of High Asia's rugged terrain and remote cultures over two hundred years of exploration during the Great Game between Czarist Russia and Great Britain.
Art, Texture, Textile
The entire camp celebrates the glorious heritage of the Great Silk Road and our location on it.
Local materials, used all over the camp, give a deep sense of place. Richly hued red and green rocks from our valley blend perfectly with carved local wood beams and roofs. The textures connect you to the great mountains that surround us - the workmanship to our neighboring communities.
The rooms and tents continue this exploration of the region and the Great Road. Stone and wood framed beds ground our guests to the land, while the textiles used within perfectly blend a high-end safari with the expedition life.
Hand-embroidered throw pillows, handwoven sheep and yak rugs from the Changthang, Afghan killims, and downy duvets are paired with spectacular paintings by Nicholas Roerich, the acclaimed 19th century Russian painter who traveled the Silk Road in the 20s. Each tent has unique art work.
