Yamdrok Lake or Namtso Lake

Yamdrok Lake, with an altitude of 4,718 meters (15,479 feet), is only about 110 km away from Lhasa city and you can transfer between them within 2.5 hours usually. Therefore, you are able to have a great day tour to Yamdrok Lake from Lhasa and you will get enough time to sightsee, hike around and photograph. Moreover, Yamdrok Lake is located beside the road to Everest (Gyantse and Shigatse as well) from Lhasa. If you plan to travel to Shigatse and Everest, you will pass through Yamdrok Lake and there is no need to spend another day traveling Yamdrok Lake.

Namtso Lake, with an altitude of 4,441 meters (14,470 feet), is located 230km away from the city area of Lhasa, and it needs more than 5 hours’ driving to get there. It is possible to travel Namtso Lake in one day, but your sightseeing trip will be too short to have a wonderful time in Namtso Lake. If you want to stay more time in Namtso Lake, you can accommodate in Damxung County, which is only about 60km away (1.5 hours driving). Compared with Lhasa, the hotels in Damxung are rather basic.

Yamdrok is suitable to visit all the year around. No matter when you plan to travel to Tibet, you can visit Yamdrok Lake conveniently. The lake is always beautiful in every season. If you want to travel in the most comfortable weather, May ~ July and September ~ November are the best. In the winter, the scenery is always spectacular when the surrounding mountain ranges are covered with snow. The water might be frozen for a short time, but the beautiful color can be savored as well. Traveling in winter also allows you to enjoy a rather peaceful environment.

It’s is only available to visit Namtso Lake from May to early October. In other months, the temperature is rather cold and the road to Namtso Lake is frozen and icy. It is too dangerous to drive on the road. The scenic area is always closed for maintenance in December, January and February. You are suggested to visit Namtso Lake during June to September, especially August, when the temperature is most pleasant, the sky is pure and the grasslands are green.

Beautiful Natural Scenery

Yamdrok Lake is Tibet’s largest fresh water lake enjoying a unique coral shape with numerous streams feeding it from nearby snowcapped peaks. The color of Yamdrok Lakes usually takes on crystal blue, and it changes to surprisingly different hues from the reflection of sunlight.

Travelers get amazed by Yamdrok Lake in three viewing-decks with different heights. You are not only able to walk along the lake and get a close view of its clear water, but also see the lake in its higher places. The view delivered from the highest view-deck - Kambala Pass (altitude: 4,900 meters) is most stunning. In the middle viewing deck, there is a stone tablet inscribed with the name of Yamdrok and some tourists prefer a photo with it to record their wonderful journey.

Buddhist Cultural Significance

Yamdrok Lake is quite sacred because of the famous Samding Monastery. Located on the peninsula of Yamdrok, Samding Monastery is said to be the home of the Second Buddha, Padmasambhava who brought Buddhism to Tibet in 8th Century. Tibetans also devotedly deem that many gods of Tibetan Buddhsim live in the mountains around Yamdrok Lake. Many Buddhist pilgrims choose to kora around Yamdrok Lake to wash sins and accumulate merits. Generally, it takes about one month to complete the circumambulation around the whole lake by riding a horse and about 3 months by walking.

Birding Experience in Yamdrok Lake

Yamdrok Lake is the largest habitat of migratory birds in Tibet. There are over 10 islands in Yamdrok Lake and there are over 150 species of birds on the islands, including black-necked cranes, egretta garzetta, tufted duck, tufted duck, etc. The best time to see birds is from May to November, etc. Summer is the breeding time for birds and you can spot some eggs and chicks. When winter comes, you can observe winter migratory birds.

Photo with Tibetan Mastiffs

Many travelers are attracted by the huge seemingly-fierce but well-trained dogs - Mastiffs. It is available to take a paid photo with them while traveling to Yamdrok Lake and you can even stroke their thick fur. Before photographing the Tibetan Mastiffs and yaks, remember to ask the keepers’ permission and needed fees. It’s also important to avoid using flashes or you may scare these beautiful animals.

☛ 5 Days Lhasa and Yamdrok Holy Lake Tour

☛ 8 Days Everest Base Camp Tour via Yamdrok Lake

Beautiful Natural Scenery

Namtso Lake presents dazzling blue colors as well. Integrated with the water-reflected clear sky and snow mountains in distance, it makes every traveler awestruck at their first sight. The multicolored flowers, the flying pray flags, the solemn marnyi stones, all enhance the beauty of Namtso Lake and add a sense of vitality. No matter which direction you stand beside Namtso, you will gladden the heart and refresh the mind.

Most Glamorous Sunrise and Sunset of Namtso Lake

What makes Namtso Lake a paradise for photographers? It must be a large turquoise lake, mysterious temples, continuous snow mountains as well as sunrise and sunset, especially sunset. Namtso Lake is one of the best places to record the precious moments of sunrise and sunset. Usually, the sunrise occurs around 07:00am while the sunset occurs around 20:30. The time changes a bit in different seasons. Tashi Peninsula is the best place to enjoy or photograph the awe-inspiring sunrise and sunset. You are suggested to photograph sunrise on the southern side of Tashi Peninsula and sunset in the northern lakeshore of Tashi Peninsula.

Buddhist Cultural Significance

Namtso, literally meaning "heavenly lake" in Tibetan language, is the closest lake to heaven. Both Tibetan Buddhsim and Bon honor it as the holy lake. It is regarded as the ashram of Cakrasamvara of Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism. It has become a tradition for Buddhists to make kora around Namtso lake. Pilgrims always walk or prostrate along the lake or pray to the lake. There are different ways to do Namtso Lake kora, including car-driving (about 2 days), trekking with prayer wheel rolling or walking with prostrate kowtow, which will last 20-30 days to finish one round. Among travelers, it is most popular to have a trek to the Tashi Peninsula, which takes about only several hours to complete one round.

Photos with Tibetan Yaks

Many travelers show a strong interest in Tibetan yaks during their Tibet tour. Some travelers, especially kids, are quite interested in riding a yak and taking picture with them. It is also available in Namtso Lake. These yaks are always decorated in a typical Tibetan style.

☛ 5 Days Lhasa City and Holy Lake Namtso Tour

☛ 6 Days Holy Lake Namtso In-depth Tour

☛ 7 Days Lhasa Namtso Memorable Circut Tour