Exploring Lake Namtso

Located 240km due north of Lhasa, Namtso is considered to be one of the most beautiful sights in Western Tibet. Other than the sheer beauty of this remote natural wonder, the attractions of a visit to Namtso include the chance of coming across the semi-nomadic Drokpa herders, visit meditation caves still inhabited by hermits and to do some high altitude trekking around the shores of the lake. There are some good walking trails that can be explored near the guesthouses that form part of the Kora circumnavigating the lake which takes over two weeks to complete. Sunsets and sunrises can be spectacular here, so find a good spot with a panoramic view of the snow-clad mountains in the background. Accommodation is very basic, but it is well worth putting up with a bit of discomfort for a night to experience the striking beauty of Lake Namtso.